The University of Mississippi Athletics
Bianco Announces Signing of Bittle, Kindred and Smith
12/1/2005 | Baseball
Dec. 1, 2005
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss completed its signing class for the 2006-07 season with the signing of Scott Bittle, David Kindred and Fuller Smith to national letters of intent, Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco announced on Thursday.
The trio of players are the final signees for the Rebels in the early signing period in November.
Scott Bittle comes to the Rebels by way of Northeast Texas Community College.
Last season at Northeast Texas, Bittle helped his team out as the right-handed pitcher posted a 6-4 record as he struck out 53 batters in 49.0 innings of work. He was second on his team in innings pitched and in strikeouts.
As a senior in high school, the 6-1 pitcher posted a 6-2 record while also notching two saves on the year. Bittle posted a 2.00 ERA as he worked 92.0 innings and struck out 78 batters for Texas High School.
"Scott Bittle is one of the top JUCO pitchers in Texas," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. "He has a great feel for pitching and throws a lot of strikes and has a good breaking ball. He will only continue to get better as he gets stronger."
David Kindred will join the Rebels from American Christian Academy in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
In the past two seasons, Kindred has helped his team to back-to-back state championships in Class A, while earning First Team All-State honors the past two seasons by the Alabama Sportswriters. In the 2005 Championship Series, the shortstop went 7-for-8 at the plate to help his team claim the title.
His junior season with the Patriots, Kindred hit .462 with 12 home runs and 41 RBIs, as he helped his team to the state title. His sophomore season he hit .469 for the Patriots. For his career, the shortstop has hit .427 with 20 home runs and 109 RBI.
"David Kindred is a versatile player who can play several positions on the field," Bianco said. "His bat is definitely his strength, along with the fact that he is a player who has been a part of winning baseball as he has been a part of a state championship program."
Fuller Smith has spent the last season at Hill Junior College after competing for Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia, Ala.
This past season at Hill College, Smith started every game in the outfield and hit .311 with four home runs and 42 RBI. He was selected to compete in the Texas-New Mexico Junior College All-Star Game and played summer league ball with the Saratoga Phillies in the New York Collegiate League.
In his high school career, Smith was an All-State selection twice in his career. The left-handed outfielder was also named to the All-Metro Team for Class 6A and was also named to the Super All-Metro Team.
"Fuller Smith is an exciting player," Bianco said. "He has power at the plate and can play any position on the field. His athleticism is what makes him so versatile and such a solid player. He is a solid athlete."
Ole Miss will open the 2006 season when the Rebels host St. Louis in a three-game series starting on February 17.