MSSU adds eight players for 2010

Missouri Southern baseball coach Bryce Darnell has announced the signing of eight new players to begin play with the Lions in the 2010 season.

This group of eight athletes includes four high school players, three junior college transfers and one Division I transfer. Darnell felt each of these players will be great additions to Southern.

"We feel like we have had a successful recruiting class," Darnell said. "Adding these players to the players we signed in the fall gives us a great mix of pitching and speed. We needed to address our pitching depth and our ability to steal bases. We are looking forward to the start of fall practice."

Taylor Byrd (Joplin High School), Kyle Coatney (Monett High School), Grant Thompson (Galena, Kan., High School) and Trey Carlton (Springfield-Kickapoo High School)  join the Lions as first- year freshmen.

Byrd is a 5-foot-11, 170-pound middle infielder from Joplin High School where he played for coach Kirk Harryman and the Eagles. A second-team All-Conference and All-District selection, Byrd helped the Eagles to a conference and district championship in 2009. A two-year starter, he also lettered two years for the football team at Joplin. The son of Stephen and Teresa Byrd, Taylor plans to be a nursing major at Southern.

Coatney, a 6-for-3, 180-pound pitcher/infielder from Monett, played for coach Michael Calhoun and the Cubs. He holds the school record for career strikeouts, innings pitched, complete games, and games pitched, while starting every year at Monett.

A member of the Cubs' district championship teams in his freshman and sophomore campaigns, Coatney was an honorable mention All-Conference selection at pitcher as a sophomore, while picking up first team nods as a junior at first base. He was also a second team All-Conference selection as a pitcher in 2008, while being named a first team selection at pitcher this past year and also picking up All-District honors. Coatney also started two years for the Cubs' basketball team, while earning three letters. The son of Mark and Penni Coatney, Kyle is undecided on his future major at Southern.

Thompson is a 6-foot-0, 170-pound outfielder from Galena High School where he played for coach Kenny Cook and the Bulldogs. A three year starter on the baseball team, Thompson started two years as a wide receiver and defensive back for the Bulldogs' football program.

An honorable mention All-Conference selection his sophomore season, Thompson was a first team All-conference and All-State selection as a senior this past season, helping his team to a regional championship and the Kansas State 3A  runner up title. He also helped the Bulldogs to a regional title in 2008. Thompson was a participant in the KABC All-Star game and had a milestone this past year, going the entire regular season without striking out. The son of Dale and Debbie Thompson, Grant plans on majoring in business management at Southern.

Carlton is a 5-foot-9, 170-pound outfielder from Kickapoo High School where he played for coach Jason Howser and the Chiefs. He was a member of two district championship teams in his sophomore and junior seasons, while leading the Chiefs in stolen bases in 2008. He was a three year varsity starter and an American Legion All-Star in 2008. The son of David and Donna Carlton, Trey plans on majoring in business at Southern.

Patrick Deao (Neosho County CC), Tyler Jinks (Three Rivers CC) and Mitch Albright (Fort Scott, Kan., CC) will join the Lions as junior college transfers.

Deao is a 6-foot-3, 185-pound native of Omaha, Neb., where he prepped at Skutt Catholic High School before enrolling at Neosho County. At Skutt, he was a two year starter in the outfield for coach Keith Englekamp. He also participated in wrestling and cross country for the Skyhawks.
The past two seasons, he's played for coach Steve Murray at Neosho.

This year, Deao hit .345 with five home runs and 30 RBIs and was a first-team All-Conference selection, while being named the Regional Defensive Player of the Year and was a runner up for National Defensive Player of the Year. He set school records for triples in a season (5), as well as 15 outfield assists in a season and 21 over two years. The son of Dave and Ellen Deao, Patrick will be a secondary education major at Southern.

Jinks is a 6-0, 205 pound native of Springfield where he prepped at Glendale High School before enrolling at Three Rivers Community College. A four year starter for coach Howard Bell at Glendale, Jinks served as a pitcher and outfielder. As a sophomore he hit .405 with 38 strikeouts on the mound and he followed that up with a junior campaign where he struck out 42 batters and hit .350. As a senior, he was a first team All-Conference selection after striking out 52 batters in 42 innings and