NORMAL, Ill. – Former Mercyhurst College baseball standout #
Jordan Backes# has signed a professional contract with the Normal CornBelters.
He joins four other former Lakers players currently playing professional baseball: David Lough (Omaha Royals; Kansas City Royals Triple-A Affiliate);
Steve Grife (Peoria Chiefs; Chicago Cubs Single-A Affiliate);
Jamie Walczak (Dayton Dragons; Cincinnati Reds Single-A Affiliate); Rico Santana (El Paso Diablos; Independent – American Association).
Backes, a lefty from Mt. Zion, Illinois, gathered four postseason honors in his final campaign at Mercyhurst, including first-team ABCA All-Atlantic, first-team Daktronics All-Atlantic, first-team All-PSAC West and NCBWA Honorable Mention.
He was the Lakers' most dependable starter during his senior season after transferring from Quincy, leading the team with a 6-3 record, 2.67 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 63 2/3 innings pitched. He ranked highly among PSAC starting pitchers, ranking second in ERA and third in strikeouts. He went 4-1 with a 2.37 ERA in PSAC West competition. Backes threw a masterful, two-hit complete-game shutout against eventual PSAC champion Cal March 19, earning PSAC West Pitcher of the Week in the process.
His 69 strikeouts are tied for the ninth-best single-season total in program history. He struck out seven or more batters in seven out of his 11 starts, including back-to-back eight-strikeout contests to close the regular season.
About the CornBelters: The Normal CornBelters are starting their 2010 inaugural season as a member of the West Division of the independent Frontier League. The Frontier League is comprised of twelve teams in the Midwest and is not affiliated with a Major League Baseball team. Today, the West Division consists of Evansville Otters (Evansville, Ind.); Florence Freedom (Florence, Ky.); Gateway Grizzlies (Sauget, Ill.); River City Rascals (O'Fallon, Miss.); Southern Illinois Miners (Marion, Ill.).
The Normal CornBelters gives players between the ages of 21 to 27 years old an opportunity to showcase their baseball skills. Players that are selected come from a minor league farm system ball or who went undrafted in Major League Baseball Amateur draft. The 24 man roster must meet Frontier League requirements and therefore teams must recruit and sign their own players.
