As you try to recover from your post-Thanksgiving Day binge eating we’ll move on in the early signing period breakdown series with Murray State University. The Breds signed eight players during the early period including three Kentuckians. Check out some 2010 statistics and honors below with each player and a news-release quote from each player’s high school or junior college coach:

INF Corey Bays — Henry Clay High School

• 2010 Stats: .455 BA, 15 2Bs, 21 RBI, 37 R, 15 SB
• Jordan Terrence: “Corey is one of the best hitters I have ever coached and he will be a great addition to Murray State He has the ability to play multiple positions at the college level, but his bat is what will stand out.  He is one of the best hitters in Lexington and I look for him to lead our team in nearly every offensive category this season.”

INF Luke Daugherty — Apollo High School

• 2010 Stats: .353 BA, 3 HR, 27 RBI, 9 2Bs
• Bob Mantooth: “Luke has been an outstanding player for us here at Apollo.  He was our designated hitter as a freshman and has played third base and hit in the middle of the lineup ever since.  His leadership ability has been as important to us as his talent and skill.”

RHP Scott Spears — Cleveland St. CC (Somerset, Ky)

• 2010 Stats: 5-0, 3.64 ERA, 31 SO, 22.1 IP
• Mike Policastro: “We are happy that Scott will have the opportunity to pitch at Murray State next season.  He is a very hard worker who is capable of pitching in any role.  Scott is an aggressive pitcher who competes every time he takes the mound.  He won five games for us out of the bullpen last season and we expect him to anchor our rotation this spring.”

RHP Alex Gordon — Wabash Valley JC

• 2010 Stats: 8-2, 3.41 ERA, 74.1 IP
• Rob Fournier: “Alex is the heart and soul of our pitching staff. He dominates the strike zone, and will be relied on to lead our staff  again.  He is a pleasure to coach.”

C Rick Linton — Muncie, Ind.

• 2010 Stats: .415 BA, 9 2Bs, 2 HR, 17 RBI
• Rob Fisher: “He is a great kid who has invested a lot of time and hard work to get to this point. It is not unusual to see him by himself in the batting tunnel doing tee work on any given evening.  I am proud of him and the effort he has made to become a better player, but I am more proud of the fact that he is a very good student and a kid I never had to worry about as far as making wrong choices.”

OF Taylor Matthews — Memphis, Tenn.

• 2010 Stats: .312 BA, 8 2Bs, 36 RBI, 17 SB
• Buster Kelso: “Taylor has developed into one of our most dependable players. He is solid in all areas defensively and, offensively, he is unselfish and hits the ball well to all fields.  He is an excellent student, as well as a fine citizen.”

RHP Daniel Robinson — Sterling, Ill.

• 2010 Stats: 3-4, 2.71 ERA, 1 Sv, 41.1 IP
• Ben Diggle: “I have no doubt Dan’s best years on the mound are in front of him.  He is just beginning the transition from two-way player at the high school level to a true pitcher.  I have no doubt that Dan will continue to work hard and that, combined with  the coaching he will receive at MSU, will help him develop into a very good college pitcher.”

INF Noah Zipko — Wabash Valley JC

• 2010 Stats: .359 BA, 2 2Bs, 13 RBI (Formerly played at Campbellsville University)
• Rob Fournier: “Noah will be counted on as a leader of our team. He is a great all-around player and our team feeds off his energy.  We are looking for big production from him this season.  He is the type of player that a coach wishes he had for the next four years.”

You can read the full Murray St. news release here.