Press Release: For Immediate Use

For Further Information:  Katy Ebersole (252) 482-4080

Monday, March 1, 2010

Edenton Steamers Raid the State of Texas for Trio of Players

Edenton, NC – The Edenton Steamers announced today the signing of three players for 2010 – Phillip Clinard, Adam Miller, and Greg Herbst. All currently play for NCAA Division II institutions in the state of Texas.  This includes Angelo State University, providing both pitchers, with Head Coach Marty Smith having moved on to Division I Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.  In his previous two stints (2007, 2009) with the Steamers, Smith was the number two man on the Angelo staff, precluding his players from coming to Edenton.  In the off year (2008), two of our top pitchers were Angelo State products in Joe Key and Kenny Elkind.

Clinard is a junior from Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, where the Rams often rank in the Top 25 in the nation for Division II, reaching the World Series as recently as 2007.  He is a transfer from Richland College, a Division III junior college national power in Texas, where he led the Thunderducks to the 2009 national championship preceded by a runner-up finish in 2008. The right-handed pitcher is from Rockwall, Texas and checks in at 6’3” and 225 lbs.

He was a key component to Richland’s team success the last two springs, as he combined for a 16-2 overall record with a 3.60 ERA, 151 strikeouts, and 42 walks in 155.2 innings pitched.  This was highlighted by a 2^nd Team All-American selection in 2008 following his freshman campaign.

Clinard currently finds himself as the #1 starter in Angelo and has performed solidly to begin 2010.  In four starts, covering 21 innings, he has posted a 3.43 ERA and 21 Ks.

Miller is also a junior at Angelo State University, which plays out of the Lone Star Conference, and has begun the 2010 season in the bullpen. The right-hander stands 6’4” and 195 lbs. and comes from Rock Creek, Ohio.  He is with his third program, in as many years, and looks to settle in with the Rams for the next two to finish out his college career.  Out of high school he played his freshman year at Tennessee Tech in the Division I Ohio Valley Conference.  He transferred for his sophomore season to Grayson County College (Texas), which ultimately led Coach Smith to recruit him last year to Angelo.

He has found success early on in 2010 in the Rams bullpen.  With four appearances and 7.1 innings, Miller has been rather stingy, allowing only seven base runners, a .154 batting average against, and a perfect 0.00 ERA.

2010 Steamers Head Coach Marty Smith, who recruited Clinard and Miller to Angelo State before departing after the 2009 season, commented on both with:

“I am really excited about the opportunity to coach two really competitive right-handers.  These two guys have great stuff and throw a lot of strikes…”

Herbst is in his junior year of eligibility at Saint Mary’s University in San Antonio, a member of the Heartland Conference. He presently is splitting at bats and time between first base and designated hitter.  He bats/throws right-handed and spent his two underclass seasons at the University of Kansas as a reserve corner infielder/designated hitter.  Herbst is a San Antonio native and came home to school this year to try and jumpstart his NCAA career.  Switching to a Division II school allows him to play in 2010 without sitting out a year, as would be required if he transferred to another Division I program.

The potential is certainly there, as he combines tremendous power in his 6’6”, 230-pound frame along with quality hitting ability that has served him well in both of the previous summers.  In 2008 with the Watertown Wizards of the New York Collegiate League, Herbst put up .321-.425-.455 averages with three homers, which tied for the team lead, and 19 walks versus 24 strikeouts, while splitting time at both infield corners.  As an encore last summer for the Greeley (Colorado) Grays in the Mountain Collegiate League, he was even more impressive, batting .331 with a .437 on-base average, while slugging .556.  This included 6 doubles, 8 homers, and 35 RBI in 37 games, along with 21 walks versus 28 strikeouts.

 “Greg is an interesting player.  He hasn’t really had a chance to get his college career going but he’s been a monster each of the last two summers in a couple undergraduate leagues.  We like him because he’s hit a ton with the wood and is, obviously, a big strong guy.  He also has some positional versatility in that he’s played both corners in the summertime.  The bat is what sold us and, if he can translate his success to this level, he could provide some impact presence or protection in the middle of the order.”

The Edenton coach ended by saying,

            “Phillip, Adam, and Greg give us three more of our type of player – experienced, mature, and from established quality programs.  Obviously, my familiarity with Clinard and Miller was a big part of our comfort level on their backgrounds; and Herbst was a bat whose track record we felt like we just couldn’t pass on.”