Dec. 29, 2006

ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis University head baseball coach Bob Hughes announced that Joe Baumgartner, Mike Corrigan, George Hebert, Chris Merrick and Mike Zimmerman have signed National Letters of Intent to attend the University and play baseball for the Billikens. All but Merrick will have four years of eligibility beginning with the 2007-08 academic year. Merrick, a junior college transfer, will have three years of eligibility beginning in 2007-08.

Baumgartner posted a 3-1 record on the mound for Francis Howell last season. His 1.59 ERA in 26-1/3 innings ranked fifth in the Gateway Athletic Conference South. Additionally, Baumgartner hit .325 with 18 RBI.

Corrigan is an All-Conference catcher who helped St. Charles (Ill.) North High to an Upper Eight Conference championship in 2006. He hit .341 with five home runs and 18 doubles as junior and threw out 21 of 25 potential base stealers.

Hebert hit .439 for Clover Hill in 2006 with five home runs and 24 RBI. He was a first-team All-District and second-team All-Region selection in 2005 after hitting .448 with four home runs. Additionally, Hebert is a second-team All-District wide receiver on the Cavaliers' football team.

Merrick will join the Billikens after a season at Community College of Baltimore County - Catonsville. The 6-foot-6, 210-pound right-handed pitcher was a Baltimore Sun All-Metro second-team selection as a senior at Fallston High in 2005.

Zimmerman is in his third season on coach Greg Vitello's varsity team. As a sophomore, he was 2-0 with a 1.24 ERA in 2005, helping DeSmet to a second-place finish in the state tournament.

The group will help replace 11 seniors set to graduate at the end of the 2007 season.