Louisiana Tech Sports Information
RUSTON, La. - Coming off of their first 40-win season in over 25 years, Louisiana Tech baseball looks to replenish its arsenal as head coach Lane Burroughs announced the signing of three junior college players who will join the Bulldogs for fall practice.
Matt Miller and Kolton Vermillion will join Louisiana Tech after two seasons at Heartland Community College in Illinois, while Dalton Skelton spent one season at Jones County Junior College where he led the Bobcats to a 2016 NJCAA Division II National Championship.
"We had immediate needs to fill and we were able to do that,” Burroughs said.
“To get three players of this skill set and makeup this late in the game is virtually impossible. Matt and Kolton played at one of the top junior colleges in the country and will be ready to compete when they step on campus.
“These young men are battle tested and have maturity beyond their years. The ability to fill up the strike zone with multiple pitches and competitive desire is what these young men will bring to Ruston."
In two seasons with Heartland Community College, Vermillion tossed nearly 100 innings for the Hawks and showed a tendency to leave hitters guessing at the plate in his final season.
In 2016, Vermillion threw a team-high 64.1 innings and struck out 66 batters. The right-hander started 12 games for the Hawks and produced six complete games, which led to a stellar 9-2 record.
Due to an injury, Miller saw just four innings in 2015 at Heartland, not allowing an earned run and striking out two.
After rehabbing during the 2016 season, Miller will be ready to go when the Bulldogs take the field in 2017.
A former Aurora Central star, Miller posted a 0.90 ERA and 80 strikeouts during his senior season earning him the Christian Gold Player of the Year award.
"Hats off to coach Ostrander and the maturity of Matt and Kolton for sticking to their commitment to Louisiana Tech,” Burroughs continued.
“All three of these young men fit our profile and they are definitely a match. They will make an immediate impact and we definitely added to the top.
“These kind of young men make me extremely excited about the future of our program."
Skelton played under current Louisiana Tech assistant coach Travis Creel in his lone season with Jones County, where he batted .313 in 59 games.
Skelton produced 35 RBIs, to go along with 15 doubles, four triples and two home runs. In the NJCAA semi-final, Skelton drove home four runs to advance the Bobcats to the World Series final.
"Dalton is fresh off a National Championship and had many options,” Burroughs said.
“Fortunate for us, we had coach Ostrander and coach Creel in our corner.
“He comes from a baseball family and possesses tremendous toughness and work ethic which is two traits we take seriously in the evaluation process."