FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6-12-01

AASU's Ross Koenig Signs Free Agent Contract With Detroit Tigers

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Junior pitcher Ross Koenig signed a free-agent contract with the Detroit Tigers organization on Friday, joining the same organization that boasts the Pirates' only major league player, Adam Bernero. Koenig is in extended spring training with the Tigers and will most likely be assigned to Oneonta in the NY-Penn League when the season begins on June 16.

A 6-2, 175-pound righthanded pitcher, Koenig pitched in 14 games for the Pirates this season, compiling a perfect 5-0 mark and a 4.26 ERA, hurling 50.2 innings, giving up 54 hits and walking 35 while striking out 48 batters. A native of Festus, Mo., Koenig transferred to AASU in 2000 after pitching two seasons for Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo.

Koenig is the 28^th player in the last 10 seasons to go on to play professional baseball and is the 47^th professional player to come out of AASU since head coach Joe Roberts took over the program 21 seasons ago.

AASU finished the 2001 season with a 38-15 record and narrowly missed an NCAA Regionals berth, finishing fifth in the South Atlantic Region. The Pirates won at least 35 games for the 17^th time in the last 20 seasons and won a school-record 10 straight conference games in April.

- Pirates -