Patriot Baseball Team Adds Four During Early Signing Period

FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University baseball coach Art Inabinet has announced the addition of four players for the 2009 campaign, all of whom committed during the recent early signing period: infielder Barrett Kleinknecht of Florence, right-handed pitcher Brad Rollison of Simpsonville, catcher Jacob Wallace of Moore, and catcher Frankie Torres of Charlotte, N.C.

Torres is currently a high school senior, while the other three will transfer in with two years of eligibility.

Kleinknecht, a 6-0 195-pound left-side infielder, is attending Florence-Darlington Technical College, where he will play for coach Curtis Hudson this spring. He played the 2007 season at the College of Charleston, batting .179 with five runs batted in, while appearing in 20 contests.

He was a member of the Florence RedWolves this past summer. He hit .275 with four home runs, 11 doubles, 27 RBIs, and a .401 slugging percentage.

A product of West Florence High School, he was selected to the 2006 SC/NC All-Star Game as well as being named the 2006 Florence School District One Male Athlete of the Year.

Rollison, 5-11 175-pounds, will transfer from Spartanburg Methodist College. He compiled a 3.37 earned run average with no decisions in limited action on a strong staff last spring. The Pioneers went 54-14 and placed third at the 2007 NJCAA World Series.

He played on the 2005 AAA state championship team at Greenville High School, and was later named to the North/South All-Star Team.

Wallace, 5-10 193-pounds, is a left-handed hitting catcher at Spartanburg Methodist, where his father Tim Wallace is the head coach. This past year, he earned second-team All-Region recognition while hitting .329 with 10 doubles, three home runs, and 30 RBIs. He originally signed with the University of South Carolina, but did not play in 2006.

Wallace was a member of the Coastal Plain Leagues’ Columbia Blowfish this past summer. In 41 games, he batted .263 with 19 RBIs and a .366 on-base percentage.

He is a product of Dorman High School, where he was a two-time All-State selection and three-time All-Region nominee.

Torres, 5-10 170-pounds, is a senior at Olympic High School, where he plays under the direction of coach Bob Rhodes. As a junior, he batted .385. He is a four-year letterman, a two-time All-Conference pick, and was named his team’s most valuable player as a sophomore in 2006.

“Although we didn’t sign a large group, these are four quality players that will make significant contributions to our program in 2009,” Inabinet said. “Kleinknecht has good arm strength and can play either shortstop or third base. He is a potential All-PBC player that will hit in the middle of our lineup. Rollison throws in the mid 80s and can spot his breaking ball and change-up for a strike. He will have a chance to throw in our weekend rotation against PBC opponents. Wallace also has the chance to get All-Conference consideration. He can really swing the bat from the left side, and will also fit into the middle of our batting order. Torres is a really good receiver who can throw. Defensively, he will be ready to step in and play immediately.”

Francis Marion, which finished the 2007 campaign with a 36-18 mark, inked 16 newcomers for the 2008 campaign.