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Posted: Jun 16, 2003

Saint Louis Assigns Weagle to Johnson City Cardinals

Charlton, Mass., native's Appalachian League team opens season tonight

RINDGE, N.H. (June 16, 2003) - Franklin Pierce All-America right-hander Matt Weagle (Charlton, Mass./Shephard Hill), a sixth round (185th overall) draft pick of the Saint Louis Cardinals in the 2003 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft, has been assigned to the Johnson City (Tenn.) Cardinals of the Appalachian League (Rookie).

Johnson City opens its 2003 season at the Kingsport (Tenn.) Mets tonight. The Appalachian League plays a 68-game schedule among ten Rookie League affiliates.

Weagle, the first Division II player selected in the 2003 Draft, was the third-straight Franklin Pierce pitcher drafted over the last three years after former teammates Justin Blood (Seattle, 9th round, 2001) and Chris Shank (Oakland, 23rd round, 2002). Weagle's sixth-round selection is the highest in program history.

Weagle earned the first American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings Division II All-America selection in the program's NCAA era (since 1989) last week after also copping ABCA/Rawlings Northeast Region and Northeast-10 Conference Pitcher of the Year accolades this spring.

Weagle, whom Baseball America tabbed as the No. 4-ranked Pro Prospect in Division II back in February, was 9-2 this season with a program-record 1.99 ERA (3rd NE-10) to go with 103 strikeouts (1st NE-10) and just 19 walks in a program-high 99.2 innings (1st). Opposing batters hit a Conference-low .198 against him this season. He rounded out his collegiate career by winning 13 of his final 15 decisions in a Ravens uniform.

Weagle, a two-time All-Region and All-Conference pick, ranks first all-time at the College with 257 career strikeouts, a 3.54 ERA, 254.1 innings pitched and 17 complete games. He also ranks among career leaders in appearances (37 - 5th) and wins (19 - 3rd).

Franklin Pierce (32-17), which finished the season ranked No. 7 in the final Collegiate Baseball magazine Division II poll, advanced to the semifinal round of the 2003 Division II College World Series last week after earning the program's first NCAA Tournament bid.