Wednesday, July 30, 2003

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (July 30, 2003) - David Yates, a highly rated right-handed pitcher/first baseman from Douglasville, Ga., has committed to play baseball for East Tennessee State beginning in the 2004 season, Buccaneer head coach Tony Skole announced Wednesday afternoon. Yates, a powerful athlete at 6'6 and 230 lbs., was a three-year baseball letterwinner at Landmark Christian High School in Fairburn, Ga. As a junior in 2002, the Atlanta-Journal Constitution named Yates to the Fulton County All-Star Team after going 7-1 on the mound and hitting .450 with 27 RBI. He led the Eagles to a runner-up finish in the region and to the second round of the state playoffs. As a senior, he batted .480 with seven home runs and was 7-2 as a pitcher. He led Landmark Christian to the regional championship and to the third round of the state tournament. Following the season, he was named all-area by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. After both his junior and senior seasons, he was rated by Baseball America as one of the top pitching prospects in the state of Georgia. "We are very fortunate to add David to this year's recruiting class," said Skole. "He is a young man who has a huge upside and could really develop into a special player. David is very athletic and will be a factor as a pitcher and as a hitter. He possesses tremendous power at the plate and is a strike-thrower on the mound. David is a great student and a fine young man. He will be a tremendous asset to the ETSU campus community." Yates is the ninth commitment that the Buccaneers have received for next season's recruiting class. He joins outfielder Richie Billings (Leesburg, Fla.), first baseman Ryan Spriggs (Crossville, Tenn.), third baseman Greg Roberts (Douglas, Ga.), infielder Josiah Glafenhein (Corryton, Tenn.), right-handed pitcher/outfielder Caleb Glafenhein (Corryton, Tenn.), right-handed pitcher/outfielder Stephen Douglas (Kennesaw, Ga.), outfielder Matt Haynes (Cumberland, Ky.) and pitcher Brandon Summey (Kingsport, Tenn.).