The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Baseball Announces Three Signees
11/26/2003 | Baseball
Nov. 26, 2003
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss announced the signings of INF Zack Cozart, LHP Tommy Baumgardner and LHP Bret Bukvich to national letters of intent to play baseball for the Rebels, head coach Mike Bianco announced Wednesday. All three will be eligible for the 2004-2005 academic year.
The three complete Ole Miss' early fall signing class at nine.
"All three brings outstanding credentials to our program," Bianco said. "Tommy and Bret are two left-handed pitcher that we think very highly of and expect them to come in and battle for innings. Zack is a tremendous high school shortstop out of the Memphis-area, and also had an impressive summer while playing for the Dulin Dodgers."
Cozart, 6-feet-1, 175 pounds from Collierville, Tenn., batted .443 with five home runs and 41 RBIs this past spring. He also had 11 doubles and four triples and was listed among the Best of the Preps by the Memphis Commercial Appeal. This past summer, Cozart was a member of the Dulin Dodgers and was named MVP of the Best World Series.
Baumgardner, 6-feet-3, 230 pounds from Lakeland, Fla., was 2-0 with a 3.20 ERA last spring at Indian River. He worked 34.0 innings and recorded 30 strikeouts. Baumgardner was selected in the 37th round by Anaheim in this past June's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Bukvich, 6-feet-4, 230 pounds from Brandon, Miss., has been a three-year starter on the mound for Northwest Rankin. He went 2-0 with a 3.58 ERA and struck out 45 in 29.1 innings last spring. Over the summer, Bukvich participated in the Perfect Game Showcase in Florida, and was selected out of 400 players for the 40-man all-star game. Bukvich is the younger brother of former Rebel Ryan Bukvich, who played for Ole Miss during the 1998 and 1999 seasons and is now a member of the Kansas City Royals.
Ole Miss finished 35-27 last season and earned its second NCAA Regional berth in three years under Bianco. The Rebels are scheduled to open the 2004 season on Feb. 20 at home against Birmingham Southern.
2003 OLE MISS EARLY FALL BASEBALL SIGNEES
| Player | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown/Current School |
| Tommy Baumgardner | LHP | 6-3 | 230 | Lakeland, Fla./Indian River (Fla.) Community College |
| Bret Bukvich | LHP | 6-3 | 215 | Brandon, Miss./Northwest Rankin High School |
| Zack Cozart | INF | 6-1 | 175 | Collierville, Tenn./Collierville High School |
| Rhyne Hughes | OF | 6-3 | 200 | Picayune, Miss./Pearl River (Miss.) Community College |
| Van Pope | INF | 6-1 | 200 | Jackson, Miss./Meridian (Miss.) Community College |
| Logan Power | OF | 5-11 | 185 | Jackson, Miss./Hillcrest Christian High School |
| Chris Rayborn | RHP | 6-2 | 210 | Natchez, Miss./Meridian (Miss.) Community College |
| Stoney Stone | RHP | 6-5 | 195 | Ruston, La./Texarkana (Texas) Junior College |
| Jo Jo Tann | INF | 5-11 | 170 | Jackson, Miss./Jackson Prep |