FGCU: Eagles add four baseball players

The baseball field at Florida Gulf Coast University is barely

finished, yet the Eagles might want to consider putting stadium

seating in the dugout.

The Eagles' crowded roster will continue to expand next year

with the addition of four players Thursday -- Alex Newman (Bishop

Verot), Tucker Pearce (St. Petersburg Community College), Shawn

Griffin (Chaminade- Madonna) and Roy Morlock (Wellington).

Newman, a second-team Class 2A selection for Bishop Verot last

spring, will play either third base or pitch for the Eagles.

Pearce, who attended Lake Mary High before moving on to St.

Petersburg Community College, holds Lake Mary's all-time stolen

base record. Last spring as an outfielder at St. Petersburg CC,

Pearce was named to the Florida State Junior College All- Star

team.

Griffin is a skinny 6-foot-3, 190-pound utility player who has

power from both sides of the plate. Griffin, a senior at Madonna,

hit .345 with three homers and 15 RBIs last season.

Morlock, like Griffin, brings plenty of pop to FGCU. The

Wellington senior hit .339 last year.

FGCU opens the 2004 season Feb. 1.