FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6-5-02

AASU Baseball Signs Two Junior College Players For 2003

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Armstrong Atlantic State announced today the signing of two outstanding Florida junior college players to National Letters of Intent to play for the Pirates in 2003.

Josh Kranawetter, a 5-11, 180-pound righthanded pitcher from Jacob, Ill., pitched last year for Polk CC in Winter Haven, Fla. He earned second-team All-State honors after finishing 7-2 with a 2.80 ERA in 2002, pitching 83 innings and allowing just 64 hits while striking out 116 batters. Kranawetter ranked second among Florida junior college pitchers in strikeouts and defeated NJCAA runner-up Manatee JC during the season.

Brandon McKinnon, a 6-1, 205-poind outfielder from St. Mary's, Ga., played for two seasons at Pensacola JC, who made the state junior college final four each of the past two years. He hit .285 with six home runs and 17 stolen bases as a freshman and hit .292 with 13 home runs and 14 stolen bases while battling injuries in his sophomore season. McKinnon played high school baseball at Camden County HS.

These are the first two signees in AASU's 2003 signing class. The Pirates return seven players from last season's squad that recently had three players - David Harriman, Kirk Nordness and Mike Roga - drafted in the top 17 rounds of the 2002 MLB First-Year Player Draft.

- Pirates -