For Immediate Release: Wednesday, July 9, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

ENGLISH SIGNS WITH BRONCS

EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American's baseball team has signed its fifth recruit this spring, and its tenth recruit overall.

Righthanded pitcher Sam English of Magnolia, Texas and Magnolia High School will transfer from the University of Central Arkansas, where he pitched as a freshman. He will enter UTPA as a sophomore, with three years of eligibility remaining.

English was 5-4 with a 4.98 earned run average last spring for UCA, starting all 12 of the games he appeared in, and recording four complete games. He walked only 14 batters in 59 2/3 innings, and led the Bears in innings pitched, in fewest walks, and in ERA. He pitched a complete-game victory against Valdosta State in the Gulf South Conference Tournament, and won a pivotal game against Harding in GSC play.

As a senior at Magnolia HS, English went 6-3 with a 2.80 ERA. He walked just 12 and struck out 78 in 57 innings. He was even more effective in district play, posting a 3-1 record, a 1.12 ERA, and walking just seven while striking out 37 in 31 innings. In his last two years at MHS, English walked just 26 hitters in 116 innings.

"We're glad to have Sam join us for the fall," said UTPA Head Coach Willie Gawlik. "His forte will be his control, he'll pitch a lot of innings and he'll throw strikes. His innings pitched to walks ratio is magnificent. As a freshman at Central Arkansas, he pitched a complete game against Valdosta State in the conference tournament and won. He knows how to pitch, and he can throw his breaking ball for strikes at any time in the count, and that's a key."

English joins infielder Austin Hoffman of Kempner High School and Sugar Land, Texas, outfielder Alfred Padron of Alvin Community College and Pasadena, Texas, pitcher Nick Gregory of Angelina Junior College and Mesquite, Texas, Philip Rodriguez of Edinburg North High School and Edinburg, Texas, Zach Smith of Sanger High School in Sanger, Texas, Ricky Glazier of Eastfield College in Mesquite, Texas, Ryan Grimet of Pearland High School in Pearland, Texas, Brian Ballew of Channelview High School in Channelview, Texas, and Ryne Foster of Cedar Park High School in Cedar Park, Texas in joining Texas-Pan American for next fall.

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