Sept. 3, 2008

ARLINGTON, Texas - The UT Arlington baseball team began its voluntary skill instruction workouts on Tuesday, as the Mavericks squad welcomed five newcomers to their program for the fall season.

With a total of 29 returners from last season, the Mavericks coaching staff focused on bringing in players that could make a difference for UT Arlington in 2009. The Mavericks have added four junior-college transfers and one high school product to their mix for the fall season.

"Although we have only five newcomers, I'm very pleased with the quality of player that we have joining our program," second-year head coach Darin Thomas said. "I think that each player will help us fill the needs that were created with the loss of our five seniors from last season. We will need for most of them to be major contributors right away for us to be successful this spring."

UT Arlington signed three players out of JUCO powerhouse Central Arizona College, one player from Howard Junior College and a high school graduate from Keller High School.

UT Arlington assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Jay Sirianni feels that this group will make a significant impact to the Mavericks in 2009.

"We feel like we brought in several players that will make an immediate impact," Sirianni said. "We are happy to have all of our recruits here on campus."

Joe Anson - Junior (Central Arizona College) 6-foot-0, LHP
Anson won 12 games with a 1.94 ERA at Central Arizona College the past two seasons. Anson was a major contributor to the Vaqueros success the past two seasons, pitching 153 innings with 113 strikeouts in 26 starts on the mound. Academically, Anson was named to the Academic Honor Roll during all four semesters at CAC.

Shane Hopkins - Junior (Howard Junior College) 6-foot-2, First Baseman
Hopkins had a standout sophomore season at Howard in 2008. He posted a .381 batting average, with seven doubles, two triples and 14 RBI.

Steven Krolick - Freshman (Keller High School) 6-foot-1, RHP
Krolick is the lone high school newcomer for the Mavericks this fall season. He posted a 5-2 record with 31 strikeouts in 50 innings as a senior.

In 2008, Krolick helped lead his team to a 25-9 overall record and to a District, Bi-State and Area championship. Krolick has also seen success in the classroom earning the 2008 PSAT Commended Scholar award.

Jason Mitchell - Junior (Central Arizona College) 6-foot-2, RHP
Mitchell played his sophomore season at Central Arizona after beginning his collegiate career at Arizona State in 2007.

Mitchell was one of the top pitchers in the Region during his sophomore season, posting an 11-3 record with a 3.17 ERA in 116.1 innings pitched. He was second on the team with 100 strikeouts and walked only 18 batters. As a senior at Mountain Pointe High School (Phoenix, Ariz.), Mitchell was named the Scholar Athlete and Athlete of the Year in 2006.

Tim Steggall - Junior (Central Arizona College) 6-foot-1, INF/OF
Steggall began his collegiate career at the University of Puget Sound. In 2007, Steggall broke the Puget Sound school record for stolen bases in a single-season (24-for-26) and batted .315 with five home runs.

His sophomore season, Steggall helped power the Vaqueros to a third-place finish at the JUCO World Series, leading the team with a .398 batting average and 100 base hits. He was named a NJCAA First Team All-Region I pick and was an Arizona Community College Athletic Conference First Team selection.

He posted 14 doubles, eight triples, five home runs and was the team-leader with 28 stolen bases. While in high school, Steggall helped lead Justin Siena High School to a 42-0 overall record, winning four consecutive league championships.

As a senior, Steggall was selected First Team All-Conference, First Team All-Region, Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a Puma High School All-American. In addition, he was a two-semester Honor Roll member at Central Arizona.