Thursday, July 5, 2007

FORMER TUSCULUM CATCHER ADAM BEACHAM SET TO RETURN TO PIONEER PARK THIS WEEKEND

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Former Tusculum College catcher Adam Beacham will be returning to Pioneer Park this weekend when he and the Burlington Royals come to the TC campus to face the Greeneville Astros. The Astros host the Royals for a two-game series, this Saturday and Sunday. Beacham, who was signed as a free agent with the rookie league affiliate of the Kansas City Royals this past January, is in his first season with the Burlington, N.C. ball club.

Beacham, a native of Atlanta, Ga., starred on the Tusculum diamond from 2003-06 where he played in 160 games, including 122 starts behind the plate. He batted .284 for his career, including .329 in 2006, earning All-South Atlantic Conference Second Team honors. In 2006, he recorded seven doubles, two triples and seven home runs to go along with 42 runs batted in. He also demonstrated speed on the base path, recording 11 stolen bases in 15 attempts.

Beacham's 13 career home runs are tied for 10^th in the Tusculum record books. He is also tied for eighth in career sacrifice flies (8), 10^th in sacrifice hits (11), third in put outs (765) and tied for sixth with his .985 career fielding percentage.

At the 2005 Food Lion SAC Tournament at Pioneer Park, Beacham shined hitting .500 with four home runs as the Pioneers captured the tournament title. For his efforts, Beacham was named the SAC Tournament Most Valuable Player.

This marks the third time since 2004 that a former Tusculum baseball player has returned to Pioneer Park to play as a professional. In 2004, former All-SAC shortstop Robbie Bouman returned to Greeneville as a member of the Princeton Devil Rays, the rookie affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Last summer at Pioneer Park, former TC reliever Brandon Dickson made his third professional mound appearance against the Astros as a member of the Johnson City Cardinals, the Appalachian League affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.

In 2007, Tusculum broke or tied 45 team and individual records, including seven SAC marks. The Pioneers tallied an impressive 50-14 record and finished third at the NCAA South Regional. The Pioneers' 50 victories are the most in school and conference history. Tusculum captured its third straight league championship, while advancing to the NCAA Tournament for a third time in five years.

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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