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SOUTHWEST BASEBALL PLAYERS SIGN WITH FOUR-YEAR SCHOOLS
 Four
Southwest baseball players have signed national letters of intent to
continue their education and baseball career at four-year colleges,
according to Saluqis’ head coach Johnny Ray.
(left to right: Derrick McBride, Ivan Nails, Chris Crenshaw, Jon
Thurston).
Right-handed pitcher Ivan Nails, the closer for Southwest as a freshman last
season, signed with Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau,
Missouri. Nails, a sophomore from Horn Lake High School, compiled a 2-2
record in 2005 with 25 strikeouts in 26-1/3 innings. He was named second
team all-conference by the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association. “Ivan has
worked very hard to put himself in a position to contribute at the Division
I level,” said Ray. “He has a gifted right arm that afforded him this
opportunity.”
Outfielder Jon Thurston, a sophomore from Belair, Maryland, signed with
Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas. As a freshman, Thurston
was the Saluqis’ starting rightfielder and batted .362 with nine doubles, 21
runs batted in, and 23 runs scored.. “Jon has made great strides on the
field to put himself in this position,” said Ray. “He had a great spring for
us in 2005 and made a strong impression on the coaching staff at Arkansas
Tech this fall.”
Left-handed pitcher Chris Crenshaw, a sophomore from Germantown High School,
signed with Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. “Chris has
matured into the pitcher that we expected him to,” said Ray. “He has the
ability to go a long way in this game if he keeps progressing.”
Sophomore outfielder Derrick McBride, a newcomer to Southwest who
transferred from Louisiana State University – Eunice, signed with Delta
State University in Cleveland, Mississippi. “Derrick is a very talented
athlete who was really impressive in fall workouts,” said Ray. “He will have
a chance to make an immediate impact and help Delta State win another
national championship.”
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