CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – A team which relies on strong pitching always needs good arms and Austin Peay State University’s baseball head coach Gary McClure has kept the hunt going, signing left-handed pitcher Alex Belew, of O’Fallon, Mo., to a national letter of intent.

The 6-2, 190-pound Belew completed his junior season last spring at Fort Zumwalt West High School where he compiled a 3-2 record with 37 strikeouts in 29.1 innings. During the summer, he posted a 15-1 record with a 1.38 ERA and 136 strikeouts in 95 innings with the St. Louis Pirates – a wood bat league squad coached by former Govs outfielder Rick Strickland.  He was ranked as the No. 13 prospect in Missouri by Perfect Game USA.

“We felt like we really needed to pick up a quality left-handed pitcher in our 2009 class and we have done that with Belew,” said McClure. Alex has good size and a nice frame that will allow him to continue to add strength and size as he develops.

“Playing the level of competition that Alex has over the years has prepared him for the jump to college baseball. Alex is very advanced for a high school pitcher when it comes to understanding the game, control and understanding how to pitch. His fastball is 85-87 miles-per-hour and he has a very good change and curve ball. Even though he will be young, we fully expect him to be able to jump in and pitch right away for us.”
    
2009 Austin Peay Baseball Incoming Class

• Alex Belew, 6-2, 190-pound, left-handed pitcher, O’Fallon, Mo. (Ft. Zumwalt West HS)
• Cody Hudson, 5-11, 175-pound, outfielder, Germantown, Tenn. (Houston HS)
• Matt Marsh, 6-3, 185-pound, right-handed pitcher, Clinton, Tenn. (Clinton HS)