Panther Baseball Team Adds Three In Late Signing PeriodMay 10, 2007 MILWAUKEE - Ben Long of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., Brad Lusti, Jr., of Menahga, Minn. and Jeff Gordon of Santa Clara, Cal., have all signed national letters of intent to play baseball at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, head coach Scott Doffek announced today. Long and Lusti, Jr. are currently sophomore teammates at Madison Area Technical College, while Gordon is attending the College of Marin in Kentfield, Cal., after spending two seasons at the University of San Francisco. "We are very excited to have landed a group of quality kids like this to add to our program," Doffek said. "These signings, along with the players we signed in fall, gives us much reason for optimism for the future." Long has helped lead the MATC Wolfpack to a 38-13 record, batting .336 in 44 games while making 41 starts. He leads the team with seven home runs, 46 runs batted in, a .617 slugging percentage, 25 walks and a .450 on-base percentage and has also scored 36 runs and recorded a total of 19 extra-base hits overall. He was a Second Team Wisconsin Valley All-Conference choice as a senior in 2005 at Wisconsin Rapids High School and was also selected to play in the WBCA All-Star Classic as a senior. "Ben Long is a physical kid with a high ceiling," Doffek said. "He can play first base or catcher and brings raw power, a good arm and - most importantly - a great work ethic." Lusti, Jr. is 3-2 with a 3.05 ERA at MATC. He has appeared in 10 games, making seven starts. In 38.1 innings pitched, he has struck out 33, walked just seven and recorded two complete games and one shutout. As a high school player, he was a Minnesota High School Baseball Coaches Association All-State selection in 2005 at Menahga High School. He went 26-1 in his prep career, including 9-0 with a 1.48 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 56 innings as a senior. "Brad Lusti is a kid who can command three pitches," Doffek said. "He has a lot of natural movement on his pitches, fields his position well and is very competitive."
Gordon is currently at the College of Marin in California after spending the 2005 and 2006 seasons at San Francisco. In 2006, he appeared in 15 games for the Dons, starting three times and saving three others. He struck out 17 in 26.0 innings that season. As a freshman in 2005, he was a medical redshirt, striking out one batter in two innings before suffering an injury. He was a teammate of current Panther Rob Brockel this past summer with the Twin City Stars of the Central Illinois Collegiate League. While there, he was 3-1 with a 2.12 ERA in seven games, striking out 21 in 29.2 innings. "Jeff Gordon is a highly-competitive athlete on the mound," Doffek said. "He throws 88-91 with a short slider and a good overhand breaking ball. He will be a great addition to our staff." |
