Wednesday, May 16, 2007

FORMER PIONEERS ERIC BUTLER, BRANDON DICKSON PLAYING WELL IN PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL

TAMPA --- As the Tusculum College baseball team prepares to compete in its third NCAA Division II Tournament in the last five years, the Pioneers can celebrate the professional success of two of their former pitchers. Eric Butler and Brandon Dickson are shining so far with their respective minor league teams.

After a brief stay with the Tuscon Sidewinders, the AAA affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Butler is pitching for the South Bend Silverhawks (A), located in South Bend, Ind. Butler has made three appearances out of the bullpen where he has not allowed a run in his 4.1 innings of work. The former All-South Atlantic Conference standout has been credited with a save and five strikeouts.

Dickson is pitching for the Swing of the Quad Cities, the A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, located in Davenport, Iowa. He has made nine appearances, including six starts where he has posted a 6-2 record, one save and a 3.43 earned run average. Dickson has tossed 39.1 innings while striking out 22 batters versus just five walks.

Butler made his professional debut last year with the Yakima Bears (A) in Yakima, Wash. Butler was selected by the Diamondbacks in the 43^rd round of the 2005 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. At Yakima, Butler went 3-5 with a 4.15 earned run average in his 15 starts. He tossed 78 innings where he struck out 65 and limited the opposition to a .256 average.

Butler, a 6-4, 235-pound right-handed pitcher, went 8-6 in 2005 for Tusculum where he posted a 3.31 earned run average. In his 15 starts in his senior campaign at TC, he tossed four complete games, struck out 76 and limited the opposition to hit only .226 against him in his 98 innings of work. He shined late in the season as he won four of his last five starts, posting a 1.65 ERA during that span. In his last collegiate start, he tossed a two-hit shutout against No. 9 Tampa in the opening game of the 2005 NCAA II Tournament. For his efforts, Butler was named to the NCAA South Region All-Tournament squad. In his two seasons with the Pioneers, Butler went 15-11 with a 3.35 career ERA. He was named to the 2004 All-South Atlantic Conference First Team as he went 7-5 during his freshman season with a 3.40 ERA.

Butler played his prep baseball at East High School where he was an All-State selection on the mound.

Dickson made his professional debut last summer with the Johnson City Cardinals (rookie affiliate) where he posted a 1-0 record in his nine appearances. He tallied a 6.35 ERA and a save with the Red Birds.

Dickson went 5-2 with a 3.39 earned run average in his first and only campaign with the Tusculum in 2006. Dickson tied a school single-season record with his 24 mound appearances, all in relief. He tallied four saves in his 58.1 innings of work, as he allowed 59 hits while walking a dozen and striking out 37.

Dickson garnered South Atlantic Conference Pitcher of the Week honors once. Tusculum posted a 40-14-1 record in 2006, while capturing the program's second South Atlantic Conference Championship.

Dickson attended Central Alabama Community College prior to Tusculum. In his two seasons at the Alexander City, Ala. School, Dickson went 11-7. In 2004, he posted a 7-3 record with a 3.31 ERA, hit .292 and was named the team’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Tusculum, ranked No. 10 in the nation, will open NCAA South Regional play on Thursday when they face No. 17 Florida Southern at 3 p.m. The South Regional is being hosted by the University of Tampa in Florida.

- TC -