May 27, 2010

RedStorm baseball signs first recruit for 2011

Rio Grande --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm baseball program has signed its second recruit for the 2010-11 season. He is Cameron Norman of Lancaster High School.

Norman, a 5'9" shortstop/pitcher, earned All-Ohio Capital Conference honorable mention this season after posting a .317 (26-for-82) batting average in 26 games for the Gaels. He drove in 11 runs on the season and was at the top stat sheet in runs scored (23), doubles (6) and stolen bases (8).

Norman also came out of the bullpen for head coach Cory Miller. In seven appearances, Norman was 0-1 with a 2.42 earned run average and two saves. He struck out four and walked two in 8 2/3 innings on the hill.

Rio Grande head coach Brad Warnimont believes that Norman will fit in well with the players in his program. "Cameron will be a good fit for our program," Warnimont said. "He's a scrappy, hard-nosed player that can play several different positions."

Because of his versatility, Warnimont will take a wait and see approach in determining where he will be able to get the most out of Norman. "Where he will have his impact remains to be seen," Warnimont said. "We'll take a look at him at some different positions once he gets here and make the determination at that time."

Norman is treating this opportunity as a privilege. "I feel it's a privilege to get to play and start my career at the school," he said. "It came down between Ohio Valley (University), Malone and Shawnee State. Rio was my last stop. I just liked the campus more than any other school and everyone treated me as a person, not a number."   

"It's a beautiful campus and all the teachers are willing to help at anytime," he added. 

Norman sees his speed as his best asset as he enters the college game. "My speed is my advantage. I'm not very tall, but I'm quick to the ball," he said. "I could work on my hitting and improve it, there's always room for improvement."

He plans to major in nursing.

Norman aims to play at 100 percent and just wants to help the team continue to get better. "I just want to give 100 percent at all times and do whatever I can do to help the team get better as the year goes on," he said.

Cameron is the son of Roger Norman and Camie Garvin of Lancaster, Ohio.

Norman joins Loren Huffman of Raceland-Worthington High School in Raceland, KY as the current members of the 2010-11 recruiting class.

Rio Grande is coming off a record breaking 48-13 season in 2010 in which they appeared in the NAIA National Tournament for the first time in school history. Rio finished second in the Mid-South Conference during the regular season with a 20-7 mark. The RedStorm were champions of the MSC Tournament.