Thursday, July 19, 2007

TUSCULUM'S BRANDON TUTEN SIGNS WITH DODGERS

VERO BEACH, Fla. --- Tusculum College pitcher Brandon Tuten has signed a free agent contract to play with the Los Angeles Dodgers announced College officials.

Tuten, a 6-2, 185-pound right-hander, made his professional debut Wednesday night, while playing for the Gulf Coast Dodgers in the Gulf Coast League. The Mt. Pleasant, Tenn. product pitched a perfect eighth inning as he struck out two and recorded a hold in the Dodgers 9-8 win over the GCL Cardinals.

In his first and only season with the Pioneers, he posted a 5-4 record with a 2.20 earned run average which was third best on the team. Tuten made 15 appearances including 11 starts as he tossed 61.1 innings, walked 17 and struck out 61. He pitched a complete game victory against Lenoir-Rhyne College in the 2007 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament. For his efforts, he was named to the SAC All-Tournament team.

Tuten came to Tusculum from Motlow State Community College where he garnered All-Conference recognition. He played his prep career at Mt. Pleasant High School as his squad captured three District championships and won a pair of Region titles.

In 2007, Tusculum broke or tied 45 team and individual records, including six SAC marks. The Pioneers tallied an impressive 50-14 record and finished third at the NCAA Division II South Regional. The Pioneers' 50 wins 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.

Tuten is one of seven former Tusculum players who are currently playing professionally and ninth player during the Coach Doug Jones' era. He joins fellow Pioneers Robbie Bouman (Tampa Bay Devil Rays), Eric Butler (Arizona Diamondbacks), Brandon Dickson (St. Louis Cardinals), Brent Gabel (Washington Wild Things), Bobby Darling (Rockford RiverHawks/Rio Grande White Wings), Adam Beacham (Kansas City Royals), Kevin Hammons (Florida Marlins) and Ben Swaggerty (Royals).

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 nine colleges and universities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.

- TC -