Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Valparaiso University baseball coach Tracy Woodson has announced the addition of five players to the Crusader baseball program beginning with the 2008 season.

Joining the Brown and Gold are Tim Barnum, Steve Godawa, Damon McCormick, Jarad Miller, and Bryce Shafer.

Barnum is a 6'0" infielder/right handed pitcher from Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He hit .386 as a junior for the Class 3A state champions last season with 12 doubles.

Godawa is a 6'0" infielder/right handed pitcher from Buffalo Grove High School in Buffalo Grove, Ill. He has been named one of the top 100 players in the state of Illinois and is a member of Top Tier Baseball.

McCormick is a 5'11" shortstop/right handed pitcher from Saint Xavier High School in Louisville, Ky. As a junior, he earned All-District and All-Region honors after hitting .360 with 32 stolen bases and 36 runs scored. On the mound, McCormick went 7-1 with a 1.13 ERA.

Miller is a 6'1" right handed pitcher from Carroll High School in Fort Wayne, Ind. He helped lead his school to sectional and regional championships as a sophomore and junior, and has posted a 9-1 career mark with a 2.50 ERA.

Shafer is a 5'11" right handed pitcher from Northfield High School in Wabash, Ind. A First Team All-Conference and All-County selection, he has posted a 20-5 record in his career with eight saves and 270 strikeouts in 176.2 innings.

?For our first recruiting class we are very excited about these young men that will be attending Valparaiso University," Woodson said. ?We are hoping these players will be the start of success for us as we move into the Horizon League next season."