This Week in Blue Raider Baseball

SIX CURRENT, FORMER PLAYERS GRADUATE IN DECEMBER: Six current or former Blue Raiders participated in commencement ceremonies on December 16 at Murphy Center. Current players and fifth-year seniors Josh Anderson and Shay Horseman were both part of the ceremonies, with Anderson receiving his bachelor's in Criminal Justice Administration with a minor in Psychology and Horseman obtaining a bachelor's in Physical Education with a concentration in Wellness & Exercise Science. Four former players also received their degrees, including: Chase Eakes (BBA in Business Administration, Minor in Economics/Finance), Allan Woodward (BBA in Finance, Minor in Business Administration), Aaron Wallus (BS in Physical Education, Minor in Athletic Coaching) and Trevor Wilson (BS in Biology, Minor in Chemistry).

MOBLEY HOME FROM WINTER LEAGUE: Former Blue Raider Chris Mobley recently returned after playing six weeks in the Puerto Rican Winter League for the Caguas Criollos. Teams are allowed five non-Puerto Rican players per team and most are pitchers. Many of the position players on each team are big leaguers home in their native country for the offseason, including Alex Cora, Alex Cintron, Ramon Vazquez and Luis Matos for the Criollos. Mobley left for his trip on November 3 and returned home December 13, about three weeks before the end of the regular season, after his shoulder started to wear down from the long season.

"There's a lot of history in the league from the likes of Roberto Clemente and many of big leaguers who play each year," Mobley said. "It's definitely a great experience because you learn so much from the big league guys. It really gives you a lot of confidence and also if you do well in the league, then your big league organization knows you have a chance to pitch at the major league level."

Mobley will rest and workout for the next two months before heading to spring training with the Florida Marlins in February.

MCKENRY, PETERSON SET TO RECEIVE TBCA HONORS: Former Blue Raider Michael McKenry and 20th-year head coach Steve Peterson will both be honored at the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association annual awards banquet and clinic on January 26-28 in Nashville. At the awards luncheon on Saturday, Peterson will be inducted into the TBCA Hall of Fame and McKenry will receive the Division I Player of the Year award. Peterson is 604-474-2 in 19 seasons at the helm of the Blue Raider program and 757-568-2 overall as a head coach, including six seasons at Roane State Community College in Harriman, Tenn. McKenry batted .390 with 13 home runs and 60 RBIs for Middle Tennessee in 2006, catching all but one game. He threw out 41 percent of potential base stealers and was a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award, given annually to the nation's best collegiate catcher. McKenry also garnered First Team All-America honors, just the second player in program history named to the first team.

WINTER BASEBALL CAMP DATES SET: Middle Tennessee will host its annual Winter Camp on Friday-Saturday, December 29-30, at the Stephen B. Smith Clubhouse and Indoor Training Facility and Murphy Center. The camp is $100 per camper per session and includes lunch, with each day's activities running from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Ages 8-High School Senior may attend, with players grouped by age for each camp. Each session is limited to 75 campers. Friday, December 29 is a Hitting Camp, with Saturday December 30 for Pitchers and Catchers. Middle Tennessee players and coaches will serve as instructors. A brochure may be found at http://www.goblueraiders.com/content.cfm/id/21594 or interested parties may call 615/898-2961 for more information.

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