Valparaiso University baseball coach Tracy Woodson has announced that Sam Carius and Kris Singh will join six others that have already committed to play baseball for the Crusaders beginning in 2011. 

Carius, a 5-foot-11, 160-pound, right-handed hitting third baseman/utility player from Waubonsie Valley High School in Naperville, Ill., hit .425 with 31 RBIs his junior season.   He accumulated many honors for his outstanding season including unanimous All-Upstate Eight Conference, IHSABCA All-Area, Beacon News All-Area Honorable Mention, Chicago Sun Times 2009 All Area Baseball-Infield Honorable Mention, and Stevenson Showcase Tournament selections.

“Sam is an exciting addition to our team,” said Woodson.  “He can really swing the bat.  Sam is the type of player coaches love to have because he is usually the hardest worker and expects nothing handed to him.  He has raw hitting ability but also possesses a determination that will give him that extra edge. We expect him to be in the mix to compete for a position next fall.”

Singh, a 5-foot-11, 160-pound, left-handed pitcher/utility player, had a 2.70 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 57 innings pitched his junior season at Waubonsee Valley High School in Naperville, Ill.  He also hit .369 with six homeruns and 28 RBIs.  Singh was selected for Upstate Eight All-Conference Award, 2008 and 2009 IHSBCA Phil Lawler Summer Classic All-Tournament Team, and attended the 2009 Stevenson Showcase.

“Kris gives us many options with his game and as he physically matures we expect him to have a great college baseball career here at Valparaiso,” Woodson added.  “He is a left handed pitcher who commands three pitches with a plus change.  We believe he has a lot of potential from the mound and knows how to get batters out.  A bonus is that he can also swing the bat from the left side.  Kris has surprising power which shows by his ability to drive in runs.”  

“We believe in the overall picture we have assembled the best recruiting class in my time here at ValparaisoUniversity,” Woodson concluded.  “Adding Sam and Kris to this incoming class gives us even more confidence about the future of our baseball program.  Both of these players have the work ethic and character that we strive to find when recruiting.  Overall, we have found players that can help us elevate to new levels of competition, and, most importantly, we have found players that are the right fit for this program and this university. ”