Five new additions will wear the Niner Green in 2008.

Dec. 20, 2006

Charlotte, N.C. - Head Coach Loren Hibbs announced the early signing class for the 2008 Charlotte 49ers baseball team. Already committed to wear Niners green are pitchers Ryan Rivers, Andrew Smith and Joe Yermal, as well as middle infielder Corey Shaylor and catcher Ross Steedley. Three of the list are from North Carolina, with the other pair from Maryland.

Hibbs beamed about this crop of future Niners.

"We lose several outstanding seniors this year and feel like this initial group of recruits can develop into quality players," said Hibbs

"We set several goals with the fall portion of the 2007 recruiting class. We wanted to add quality depth to our pitching staff, as well as the middle of the field. We accomplished both while staying within our philosophy of recruiting the Charlotte metro area, the state of North Carolina and other areas of the country where we have had past success."

Rivers, a right-handed pitcher from Baltimore, also plays at first base. The 6-5, 210-pounder was part of a team that went to the state finals two years in a row, winning one title in 2005 at Eastern Technical High School for Coach Spike McKellfish. Rivers has played for the Hartford Sox summer league team, the Maryland Oriolelanders fall team and accepted an invitation to the East Coast Professional Baseball Showcase last summer. He was a pre-season all-state selection in 2006 & 2007, and was named a 2nd team all-division pitcher in 2006.

Shaylor, who was a teammate of current Niners Tyson Hibbs and Aaron Bray at Independence High in Charlotte, played in NC State Games this past summer. His Patriots participated in the state playoffs in both 2005 and 2006.

Smith played locally at Butler High in Matthews, N.C. for Coach Kim Cousar. He also played for the On Deck O's, coached by former Niner Jason Hill. The 6-2, 185 right-handed pitcher played in the North Carolina State Games each of the last two summers. He was named All Southwestern Conference in 2005 and is a 2007 Pre-Season Under Armour All-American.

Ross Steedley is the brother of current Niner and pre-season All-American candidate Spencer and both are from Granite Quarry, N.C. He also played in the State Games this past summer and spent his summer catching for the Rowan County Legion team. He was the quarterback of the football team at East Rowan High and played baseball for Brian Hightower, where he was a 2006 All-Conference and All-County selection.

Yermal pitched for McDonogh High and is from Bel Air, Maryland. The 6-8, 200-pound right-hander was invited and played at the AFLAC All-American weekend last summer in San Diego. He was a 2006 All Baltimore County selection and is a 2007 Pre Season Maryland All-Star as well as a 2007 Pre-Season Under Armour All-American.

"We are very excited about the early signees," said assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Brandon Hall.

"They are very good players and more importantly they are outstanding people. We are also excited about adding a few more to our roster in the spring signing period."

The 28th season of Charlotte 49ers Baseball begins Saturday, February 3 at 1 p.m. when the Niners travel to High Point University.