Friday, July 18, 2003

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (July 18, 2003) - East Tennessee State baseball coach Tony Skole announced Friday that Ryan Spriggs (Crossville, Tenn.), a powerful first baseman from Roane State Community College, has committed to play baseball for the Bucs beginning in the 2004 season. A left-handed hitter, Spriggs batted .362 last year for the Raiders with eight home runs and 46 RBI. Spriggs also excelled at Cumberland County High School, earning rookie-of-the-year honors in 1997 and being named to the all-district team in each of his four seasons with the Jets. "Ryan is an outstanding student and a quality young man who has an opportunity to come in and fill a specific need for us," Skole said. "He was one of the top left-handed hitters among the Tennessee junior colleges last season. Ryan has proven he has the ability to drive in runs and should add some punch to our lineup." Spriggs is the seventh commitment that the Buccaneers have received for next season's recruiting class. He joins 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.).