Wednesday, July 09, 2008

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (July 9, 2008) - ETSU head baseball coach Tony Skole announced Wednesday that the Buccaneers have added another player to their 2008-09 recruiting class, signing Matthew Scruggs (Knoxville, Tenn.).

Scruggs, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound, outfielder comes from Bearden High School where he hit .410 with 13 doubles, 13 home runs and 25 stolen bases his senior season. Scruggs was named First-Team All-State by the TSSAA, First-Team All-Prep Xtra, the District 4A Offensive Player of the Year and the team's Offensive Player of the Year.

"Matthew was one of the best high school players in the state of Tennessee this past season," Skole said. "Our staff felt he was the best outfield prospect in the Knoxville area and on our side of the state, and had a tremendous senior season and was one of the most dominant players our staff saw this past season.  Matthew has great tools and we are really excited about his upside.  He is a physical player who has a ton of offensive and defensive potential.  He is a tremendous young man who will instantly make our program better, and will be a great addition to our program and our campus community."

Scruggs is the eighth player to sign in the 2008-09 class that includes infielder Bo Reeder (Cookeville, Tenn.), right handed pitcher Taylor Gouffon (Knoxville, Tenn.), catcher Skyler Barnett (Erwin, Tenn.), middle infielder Garrett May (Marietta, Ga.), left handed pitcher Josh Gonzaga (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), shortstop Cody Bentley (Pound, Va.), and left handed pitcher Pete Whittingslow (Kennesaw, Ga.).

Reeder added to his list of accolades as he was recently named to the Louisville Slugger High School All-American First-Team which includes 24 players who were chosen in the first three rounds of the MLB draft. The Cookeville native was also named First-Team All-State by the TSSAA.

Please visit www.ETSUBucs.com for more information on ETSU baseball and all other Buccaneer athletic news.