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Blue Hen baseball team announces signings

10:55 a.m., Nov. 30, 2004--The University of Delaware baseball team has signed eight scholar-athletes, Head Coach Jim Sherman announced Monday.

The players are Alex Buchholz of Millersville, Md., Paul Chmiel of Pittston Township, Pa., Kyle Davis of Ewing, N.J., Ryan Engelhart of Newtown, Pa., Bill Merkler of South Plainfield, N.J., Brad Miller of Ellicott City, Md., Dan Overcash of Wyndmoor, Pa., and Drue Thomas of Oneonta, N.Y.

Buchholz is an infielder who is coached by Mel Montgomery at Old Mill High School. Buchholz was a first team All-County selection last season, hitting .485 and fielding .978.

Chmiel is a first baseman who is coached by Paul Zaffuto at Pittston Area High School. This past fall, Chmiel played for the Moosic Mets Scout Team and hit .459 with eight home runs, 13 doubles and 35 runs batted in. As a junior at Pittston Area High, Chmiel was named first team All-Conference after hitting .426 with seven doubles, three home runs and 16 RBI in 17 games. Last summer, he hit .405 with five doubles, two home runs and 23 RBI in 25 games for the Plains American Legion team.

Davis is a middle infielder who is coached by Jim Kovalsky at Ewing High School. Perfect Game USA lists Davis as the second best middle infield prospect in New Jersey. Davis played this past fall for an Atlanta Braves Scout team that went 23-5. In his junior season, Davis hit .472 with 17 stolen bases and 15 doubles, scoring 26 runs in 21 games for Ewing. During his junior season, Davis was named a first team All-League and All-Area shortstop.

Engelhart is a catcher who is coached by Lance Manek at Baltimore City Community College. During the summer, Engelhart played in the Shenandoah Valley League for the Staunton Braves, who finished in second place at 34-19. As a senior at Council Rock North High School, Engelhart was the team’s most valuable player, hitting .475.

Merkler is a catcher who is coached by Ray Ciecwisz at South Plainfield High School. Merkler played this past fall for a Colorado Rockies Scout team. In his junior season, he helped lead South Plainfield High to an 18-8 record, a division championship and a state sectional final appearance. Merkler was the All-Division catcher and was the division defensive player of the year.

Miller is a right-handed pitcher coached by Dave Norton at Mount St. Joseph's High School. Miller pitched for the Baltimore Orioles Scout Team this past fall and in his junior season helped lead Mt. St. Joseph’s to a 28-6 record, a conference championship and a No. 6 regional ranking. Miller was the winning pitcher in the Maryland state championship game, pitching a complete-game shutout.

Overcash is a utility player who is coached by Craig Conlin at Germantown Academy. Overcash helped lead Germantown Academy to a 32-2 record, a prep state championship and a national ranking. During his junior year, Overcash hit .340 with 32 RBI, four home runs and 17 stolen bases. During the summer, he played for the Fort Washington Generals American Legion team, hitting .402 with 28 RBI.

Thomas is a utility player who is coached by Joe Hughes at Oneonta High School. In his junior season, Thomas hit .492 and was named All-State and first team All-Conference. During the summer, he played for American Legion Post 259 and played in the Empire State Games.

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