For Immediate Release: Friday, July 11, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

LINDER SIGNS WITH BRONCS

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

Pitcher/outfielder Chad Linder of Rusk, Texas and Rusk High School will join the Broncs this fall. He will enter UTPA as a freshman, with four years of eligibility.

Linder went 9-2 with a 1.13 earned run average as a senior, allowing only 40 hits in 80 2/3 innings, striking out 135 batters, and pitching two no-hitters. He also hit .337 with three home runs and 19 runs batted in.

Linder also earned first team Class 3A All-State and All-District honors as a senior, and was named All-District as a junior after being named honorable mention All-District as a sophomore. Named second team All-East Texas Baseball in 2003, Linder was also chosen for both the Ryan Simmons All-Star Classic and the Texas High School Baseball Coaches' Association All-Star Game, and was named to the All-Tournament Team at both the Crockett Baseball Classic and at the Tri-Cities Tournament. He received the Rusk Quarterback Club Baseball Award, as well as the E.M. Whitehead Award.

A talented student-athlete, Linder was also first team All-District as a quarterback and second team All-District as a punter for the RHS football team, was named honorable mention All-East Texas as a quarterback, and was chosen Academic All-District and Academic All-State. He was also named second team All-District and Academic All-District in football.

"We're excited about Chad coming on board with us," said UTPA Head Coach Willie Gawlik. "We look for him to contribute on the mound and in the field as a freshman. He's a six-foot-two left-handed pitcher, and he pitched in the Texas High School Baseball Coaches All-Star Game, which has the best talent from around the state. He has good athletic ability, he loves to compete, and he loves to win."

Linder joins pitcher Sam English of Magnolia, Texas and the University of Central Arkansas, infielder Austin Hoffman of Sugar Land, Texas and Kempner High School, 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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