Baseball Announces Second Signee of Spring Signing Period

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss Baseball Coach Corky Palmer has announced the signing of Toddrick Johnson, a 6-1, 180-pound outfielder from Meridian Community College in Meridian, Miss., to a national letter of intent and grant in aid for the 2005-06 academic year. This marks the second signee of the spring signing period and the eighth signee overall.

"Toddrick is a good athlete who not only is a good hitter and plays outstanding defense but also will add speed to our lineup next year,” Palmer said. “He will give us a left-handed hitter who can hit not only for average but also for power and can steal bases. I look for him to make an immediate impact with our program next year.”

This season, Johnson hit .332 with 16 doubles, one triple, five home runs, drove in 49 runs and stole 16-of-17 bases. He helped lead Meridian to a 41-12 record overall and 15-1 in the Mississippi-Louisiana Conference. The Eagles won the 2005 Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges Central Division Championship and the MACJC State Championship.  

He was named second team all-MACJC as a freshman after he hit .328 with six doubles, one triple, five home runs, drove in 29 runs and stole 25-of-31 bases. He helped lead Meridian to the Region 23 championship and a berth in the NJCAA World Series.

The Golden Eagles other signees are Luke Adkins (OF/5-9/165/ Nettleton HS), Ryan Belanger (RHP/5-10/160/Copiah-Lincoln CC), Jeremy Davis (OF/5-11/180/Cathedral HS), Brian Dozier (SS/5-11/170/Itawamba Agricultural HS), Bailey Hartel (SS/5-10/170/Pearl River CC), Wayne Smith (LHP/Oak Grove HS) and Keith Winstead (C/6-3/195/Pearl River CC). 

Southern Miss is currently 34-15 overall and 15-9 in Conference USA. The Golden Eagles host USF for the final home series of the season this weekend, May 13-15. Friday’s game starts at 7:30 p.m., Saturday’s at 4 p.m. and Sunday’s at 1 p.m.