Raiders sign 6-foot-5 pitcher

By ALEX ABATE ~ Sports Writer

The Three Rivers Raiders baseball team is getting a pitching boost this winter that is hard to miss.

The Raiders recently signed Taylor Reeves, a 6-foot-5 right-hander who pitched last season at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Reeves attended Norfolk State University this year but transferred to Three Rivers after he learned he wouldn't be eligible to pitch there this season.

"There were two other schools that I was looking at," Reeves said. "I decided to come to (Three Rivers). I thought it would be a better fit."

Reeves finished last season at Mississippi Gulf Coast with an earned run average of 5.61 and went 2-5 in eight starts. Three Rivers coach Stacey Burkey likes what he has seen from Reeves so far.

"He is obviously a big strong kid that has a good arm," Burkey said. "I think he is a 90-mph-potential-type guy. Time will tell where he pitches at velocity-wise."

Reeves went to Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Va. where he was a started the last three years of his career. Reeves spot in the Raiders' pitching rotation is still up in the air.

"I am not sure what role he will be whether it be starting or closer," Burkey said. "It just depends on the health of the staff and what takes place over the next 3-4 weeks."

Reeves is hoping to bring his experience from Mississippi Gulf Coast to the Raiders.

"I've already been starting at college last year, I know what to expect this year," Reeves said.

The Raiders are returning pitchers Josh Cruse and Tyler Jinks from last season to go along with the sophomore Reeves.

"It is a pretty young team, it nice to be able to get a kid like Taylor who is not a true freshman," Burkey said. "We will be able to throw him in with some experience at the college level. He is going to help our staff with Jinks and Cruse not having to carry quite the load and having to do everything."

Reeves' arsenal, which he is constantly trying to improve, features a fastball, changeup and curveball

"I am always working on velocity and throwing less pitches in games and throwing more strikes," Reeves said. "There is always something that any pitcher can improve on."

Reeves could also be a plus in the batters box for the Raiders, Burkey said.

"He does have some good power hitting-wise," Burkey said. "He could potentially see some hitting time at designated hitter or first base. Primarily, he is going to be a pitcher."

NAYLOR ALUM Hailee Deckard is having a solid season at University of Missouri-St. Louis so far as she is averaging 7.6 points per game and 3.7 rebounds per game. Deckard is second on the team in minutes as she is averaging more than 26 per game.

DEXTER ALUM Rachel Blunt is averaging 5.4 points per game so far during her senior season at Southeast Missouri State. She also is second on the team in rebounding with an average of 4.4 per contest. She is one of just two Redhawks to have started every game so far this season.

DONIPHAN ALUM Matt Rogers is averaging 18.7 points a game for Southwest Baptist, which is ranked sixth in the latest NCAA Division II poll. Rogers is averaging 8.2 rebounds per game and is shooting 3-pointers at 44 percent as he has made 33-of-75.

Rogers is one off the team lead in steals with 19 and has 73 blocks on the season, more than fifty more than the next-closest player.