May 1, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball program has signed junior college transfer David Schulze for the 2009 season, head coach Casey Dunn announced Thursday.

"David's numbers jump out at you," Dunn said. "Not only having success, but doing it in one of the top junior college conferences in the nation speaks for itself. He is an outstanding young man that will represent our program in the right way on and off field, and be a great asset for the middle of our lineup heading into the Southern Conference."

Schulze (OF/1B, 6-2, 210, Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic, Gulf Coast CC) is a strong, power-hitting junior college player from Santa Domingo of the Dominican Republic that led Gulf Coast Community College with 16 home runs this spring. At the end of his regular season, Schulze was ninth in the country in home runs and 19th in RBI in junior college baseball.

While competing in the very difficult Panhandle Conference in Florida, Schulze helped lead his team to a 32-19 record by hitting .344 with those 16 home runs, nine doubles, 50 runs scored, a .636 slugging percentage and 59 runs batted in playing in all 51 games. He led the team offensively in home runs, runs scored, and runs batted in.

Schulze's year followed up an outstanding freshman year where he hit .329, with nine home runs, 13 doubles, 49 runs batted in, and he led the state of Florida junior colleges in slugging percentage at .616 as well.

After slugging 25 home runs and driving in 108 runs over two incredible junior college seasons, Schulze is expected to make an impact in the Bulldogs' lineup next season.