April 10, 2008

By Tyler Koonce, Baseball Contact

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Southeast Missouri State received a National Letter of Intent from Greg Hendrix (Atlanta, Ga./Shelton State CC) Thursday to play baseball beginning with the 2009 season. Hendrix is a 6-5 left-handed pitcher at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 45th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft.

"Greg is a tremendous sign for our program," head coach Mark Hogan said. "He is a power left-hander that tops out in the lows 90s and his 6-5 frame makes us believe there is a lot more in there."

Hendrix helped lead Shelton State to their first ever JUCO World Series appearance last year, finishing 4-1 with 38 strikeouts in 35.2 innings pitched. He held opposing hitters to a .190 batting average. Shelton State is the reigning Alabama Community College Conference champion, coached by Bobby Sprowl.

"Greg is a great fit, not only for our program, but Cape Girardeau as well," Hogan said. "He is a tremendous young man and our fans will love to watch him pitch."

Hendrix is averaging 13.24 strikeouts per game in 2008 and is ranked the nation's 79th best junior college prospect by Perfect Game Crosschecker.

"We expect nothing but great things from Greg in a Southeast uniform," Hogan said.

As a senior at North Atlanta High School, Hendrix was selected to play for Team Georgia by the Georgia High School Coaches Association, which consisted of the state's top 20 graduating seniors. He was named all-city by the Atlanta Journal & Constitution after registering 80 strikeouts in 52 innings on the mound. He also batted .436 with hit four home runs at the plate.

Hendrix was voted Pitcher of the Year by his high school teammates as a sophomore and led his school to its first ever AAAA quarterfinal appearance. He defeated the No. 5 team in the nation for their only in-state loss.