Nov. 10, 2000
Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University Baseball Coach Joel Murrie has announced his first Hilltopper signees of the Fall, 2000, signing period. WKU has inked Ryan Arnett of New Palestine, Ind., along with Jacksonville, Fla., standouts J.C. Faircloth and Ross Lewis to national letters of intent.
Arnett earned four letters at New Palestine High School, where he also lettered two seasons in basketball and one in football. He earned All-County laurels four times, was a three-time All-Conference pick and added All-State honors once. His senior year, he played on the Indianapolis Super Team. Arnett was coached by Marvin Shepler.
As a junior, Arnett batted .461 with 12 home runs, two triples and 10 doubles. In his first prep start as a freshman, he recorded 18 strikeouts, punching out every batter he faced in that game. He won his team's Outstanding Outfielder Award as a senior after scoring 45 runs and coming up with 37 runs batted in and 11 stolen bases. On the mound, Arnett was 5-2 with 50 strikeouts in 34 innings. His earned run average was a solid 3.40 for his prep career. And, his 1999 summer league team, Coach Craig Moore's Indiana Bulls, won the NABF Summer League World Series in the 17-year-old age group.
Arnett has been rated among the top five players in the Indiana high school ranks by Perfect Game, a baseball recruiting publication.
Faircloth comes to Western from Wolfson High where he was coached by Scott Marshall. As a four-year starter and letterman, he was twice named All-Conference and once selected on the All-Academic Team. His senior season, he pitched 50 innings while racking up 81 strikeouts and allowing just 29 walks.
Lewis played for Coach John Brown at University Christian High School where he won the Coach's Award last season. In 2000, Lewis finished with a 5-4 record and 86 strikeouts in 56 innings pitched. The 6-7, 185-pounder was a two-year starter and letterwinner in high school. He has been selected by Perfect Game as a Top 100 prospect in the nation.
Both Lewis and Faircloth played on Coach Ron Slusser's NABF college division national champion Dayton Warhawks last summer.
"All three of these young men were instrumental in leading their teams to national championships in the past year," said Murrie, who will be in his 22nd year at the helm of Hilltopper baseball next spring. "And, that is exactly the mentality we desire in our program. Each is very talented. This is an excellent way for us to begin our 2002 recruiting class."
The Hilltoppers open the 2001 campaign on the road against Florida State on Feb. 3.
