Wednesday, May 30, 2001

Johnson City, Tenn. -- The East Tennessee State University athletic department announced today that Mike Giroud (St. Petersburg, Fla.) has signed a National Letter of Intent to join head coach Tony Skole's baseball program for the 2002 season. One of the best high school players in the state of Florida, Giroud amassed incredible statistics during his prep career at Shorecrest High School. He holds the school record for batting average (.451), home runs (15), hits (134), runs (133) and RBIs (110). Giroud also holds the single season record for home runs (6), hits (42) and RBIs (42). A middle infielder., Giroud hit .415 with six home runs and 27 RBIs last season. He belted three extra-inning, game-winning home runs, including one to defeat 19th-ranked Miami Brito. During his junior season, Giroud hit .560 with four homers and 42 RBIs while only striking out one time. The right-hander also went 9-4 on the mound during the last two seasons. He went 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA in 58 innings during his senior season and went 6-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 71 innings as a junior. Giroud played his high school career for head coach Don Reed. Reed is the father of Elizabethton resident and major league catcher, Jeff Reed. "We are extremely excited about the signing of Mike Giroud," Skole said. "Mike is one of the top players in the state of Florida and comes from one of the top high school programs in the country. Mike is extremely intelligent and a student of the game. I have no doubt that he will immediately contribute to our success next season. We are very fortunate to have a player of his caliber come to ETSU." Burklin joins Michael Bauer (Kingsport, Tenn.), Davis Burklin (Knoxville, Tenn.), Justin Clear (La Follette, Tenn.), Keith Davis (Bristol, Va.), Caleb Moore (Knoxville, Tenn.), Trevor Smith (Newport, Tenn.) and Matt Traylor (Knoxville, Tenn.) in the 2002 recruiting class.