Redhawks baseball adds 3 players for '07 season

Southeast Missouri State baseball coach Mark Hogan has announced the early signing of three more players -- including two from junior college -- for the 2007 season.

James Leigh is a left-handed pitcher at Texarkana College who last year helped lead his team to the Junior College World Series. He has twice been drafted by the major leagues, in the 39th round by the Chicago White Sox in 2004 and the 37th round by the Minnesota Twins in 2005.

Andrew Cella is a first baseman at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He batted .300 with two home runs and 25 runs batted in last season.

The third signee is Josh Syberg, a senior left-handed pitcher at Vianney High School in St. Louis County. Last year he had a 6-2 record with a 1.27 earned run average.

Southeast signed 11 players -- five from junior college and six from high school -- during the week-long early signing period that ended this week.

"We're really excited about this recruiting class," Hogan said.

Three gymnasts signed

Southeast gymnastics coach Tom Farden landed three high school seniors during the early signing period.

The signees are Amber Garlotte from Lee's Summit, Mo.; Jena Nguyen from Sioux Falls, S.D.; and Rikara Turner from Hastings, Minn. All have fared well in regional and national competition for their various club programs.

"We worked very hard on recruiting this past year and I believe the dividends paid off," Farden said. "The quality of this recruiting class is going to have a huge impact on Southeast Gymnastics for years to come."

-- From staff reports