Wednesday, June 6, 2007

FORMER PIONEER BRANDON DICKSON NAMED MIDWEST LEAGUE BASEBALL ALL-STAR

BELOIT, Wis. --- Former Tusculum College pitcher Brandon Dickson has been selected to play in the 2007 Midwest League Summer All-Star Classic.

Dickson, who is playing in his first year with the Swing of the Quad Cities, the A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, was one of six players from the Swing to be named to represent the Western Division in the MWL Summer All-Star Classic, which will be held June 19 at Phillip B. Elfstrom Stadium – home of the Kane County Cougars – in Geneva, Ill.

Dickson leads the Swing in wins with his 7-3 record to go along with a 3.08 earned run average. He has made 14 appearances this season, including eight starts while posting a save. Dickson has tossed a team-high 61.1 innings where he has struck out 37 and walked 10.

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 then 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 SAC 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.

The Pioneers accounted for their best season in school history as TC finished with a 50-14 record.  The 50 wins are the most in school and South Atlantic Conference history as Tusculum was one of only seven schools in Division II to post 50 or more victories.  The Pioneers won their third straight SAC Championship while advancing to the NCAA II Tournament for the third time in five years.  The Pioneers established numerous school records including a TC and SAC best 23-game winning streak.

Tusculum College, located in Greeneville, Tenn., is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA and is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference which is comprised of eight colleges and universities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.

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