Louisville Baseball Inks Two More
August 16, 2006 | Baseball
Aug. 16, 2006
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Pitcher Kyle Thornton, who lead the nation in saves with 17 last season, and fellow hurler Tyler Mathis, who pitched his high school team to a Tennessee state title this past spring, have both announced they will play baseball at the University of Louisville.
Thornton, who pitched at Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, Kansas was drafted in the 2006 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins in the 31st round after posting a 1.29 ERA while compiling his school-record and NJCAA-leading 17 saves in 20 appearances. The 17 saves would have placed him third in the nation among NCAA pitchers last season.
He was named to the NJCAA All-District, All-Region and All-Conference teams, striking out a staggering 35 batters in just 21.0 innings of work.
The 6-3 righty from Lawton, Oklahoma was tabbed in the 2005 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 47th round after posting a 3-0 record, a 2.46 ERA and three saves while pitching at Odessa College with fellow Cardinal signee Kyle Hollander.
Mathis, a 6-0 right-hander from Covington, Tennessee was named First Team All-State by the Tennessee Baseball Report his junior and senior seasons, following second team honors as a sophomore. He went 38-4 during his four seasons of prep baseball at Covington High School, with the win total placing him in a tie for second in state history.
During his senior campaign he compiled a 12-2 record, to go with a 0.85 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 99.1 IP, compiling three shutouts. He also hit .441 with 33 RBI for the AA Tennessee State Champions, pitching his team to the 9-1 win with a complete game effort in the title game.
As a junior, Mathis was 11-1 with 97 K's and a 1.08 ERA, nearly identical to his 11-1 record, 96 strikeouts and 1.04 ERA as a sophomore.
He was the TACA Player of the Year as a junior and Leader Elite Baseball Player of the Year his senior season.
Both will report to class this fall and will compete for the team during the 2007 spring season.
The Cardinals will be in their first season under Head Coach Dan McDonnell, after finishing third in the BIG EAST and runner-up in the 2006 BIG EAST Championship last season.
