Monday, July 21, 2008

 

CARLOS RIVERA INKS PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT WITH ROCKFORD

 

Carlos Rivera                LOVES PARK, Ill. --- Former Tusculum College outfielder Carlos Rivera has signed a professional contract with the Rockford RiverHawks announced College officials. 

 

                Rivera, who played the previous two seasons with the Pioneers, made his professional debut on Friday night against River City in a Frontier League contest.  The two-time All-South Atlantic Conference honoree went 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI in a 10-9 loss.

 

                Rivera becomes the third Tusculum player this season and the 11th Pioneer overall during the Coach Doug Jones’ era to play professional baseball.

 

                The Leesburg, Va. product garnered All-Region honors the past two seasons at Tusculum, including 2007 when he earned All-American distinction by the American Baseball Coaches Association and the National Baseball Writers Association.  In 2008, Rivera batted .392 with 12 doubles, seven triples, eight home runs and 47 RBI.  During his two-year career in Greeneville, he batted .395, which is the fifth best average in school history.  He also accounted for 15 career triples, which are the second most ever by a Pioneer.

 

                The Pioneers posted a 41-15 record and ended the season ranked 30th in the country, marking the fourth straight year Tusculum has finished the season nationally ranked.  Tusculum closed out the season on a 17-4 run, including four in a row to win the Food Lion SAC Tournament title, earning TC its second straight trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament and fourth postseason berth in six 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 nine colleges and universities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.

 

- TC -