Sept. 24, 2008

TUSCON, Ariz. - For the first time in school history the Southern Miss baseball team was listed in Collegiate Baseball Magazine's annual recruiting poll. The Tuscon-based publication has been ranking school's signing classes for the last 26 years.

The Golden Eagles reeled in the 23rd best signing class in the nation according to the magazine. Only one other Conference USA school was listed in the top forty schools, Rice at No. 17.

The only other 2009 opponents that were listed in the top 40 were Cal State Fullerton at 14 and Ole Miss at 25.

Recruiting Coordinator Chad Caillet joined head Coach Corky Palmer's staff before the start of the last season and the impact was felt almost immediately as the Golden Eagles signed 16 players in the 2009 class.

"We had some holes to fill this season and I feel like we have brought in a good mix of players to help us almost immediately," Palmer said. "It is an honor to be recognized nationally for the class we brought in and shows that we are committed to putting the best possible team on the field year-in and year-out."

Included in the 2009 signing class is three players taken in last June's Major League Baseball Draft, five junior-college All-Americans, seven all-state players, five all-region players, three all-conference players and one national Defensive Player of the Year.

-southernmiss.com-