Rams Baseball Reloads for Next Season

MOBILE, Ala—The University of Mobile baseball team announced the signings of 7 players, including 6 that played high school ball locally.

The only out-of-stater that the club signed was Derrick Bourgeois, a short stop / pitcher from Bruley High School in Bruley, Louisiana. According to Rams’ Head Coach Mike Jacobs, he will play mostly as a pitcher this year and has a live arm.

Mobile also brought in David Cramblitt who is transferring from Alabama Southern and played at Theodore High School. At Alabama Southern, the utility infielder hit .402 with 50 RBI’s and slugged .533.

“He’s a really good hitter,” Jacobs said. “We got him to play somewhere in the infield and swing the bat.”

The Rams also brought in a pair of catchers, Matthew Sparks from Thomasville High and Bishop State, and Cliff Downey from Satsuma and Faulkner State. Downey last played at Faulkner State in 2006 and hit .293 in 99 at bats, while Sparks posted a .324 average in 38 games for Bishop State last season.

“We’ll be really deep at catcher,” Jacobs said. “Downey and Sparks will split time back there.”

Coach Jacobs and the Rams also signed a short stop in Stephen Stork, who attended Alma Bryant High School and is transferring from Faulkner State. Stork hit .385 with 12 doubles and 45 runs scored last season for the Sun Chiefs. “He’s expected to come in and play short stop.”

Faulkner sent another player to the Rams in Brad Sheffield who played locally at Satsuma High School. Sheffield is fast and is a “big strong kid with pop in his bat who will compete for playing time in the infield.”

Lastly, Mobile inked John Powell who is transferring from University of West Florida. The former Faulkner State and McGill High School star fanned 47 batters in 50.1 innings and went 3-2 in 12 appearances for UWF last season.

“He’s a kid we really tried to get last year, and now he’s transferring back,” Jacobs said.

Aside from the good numbers all of the kids put up, coach Jacobs is excited to have so many local players coming in.

“All of these kids except Derrick are local kids coming back, and we look forward to having a lot of local kids play for us,” Jacobs said. “Hopefully that will encourage the community to come out and watch the kids play.”