The Meridian Community College baseball team had four players sign with four-year schools. They are, from left, Caleb Yarborough and Chase Coker (South Alabama) and JD Gann and Luke Craig (Arkansas Little-Rock).

The Meridian Community College baseball team hosted a signing ceremony Tuesday afternoon, and four members of the current MCC squad inked Division I scholarships. 

Luke Craig and JD Gann signed with the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, while Chase Coker and Caleb Yarborough signed with the University of South Alabama. The four players that inked Division I scholarships Tuesday played a pivotal role for the MCC last season and will look to make their mark at the next level of collegiate baseball.

“We are extremely proud of each one of these guys in signing early, and they really represent what our program is all about,” MCC head baseball coach Dillon Sudduth said. “We know their families are also very proud of them as well, and this truly is a special day for each one of them.”

Craig and Gann will play next season for the University of Arkansas Little-Rock and will look to provide an offensive pop at the next level. Craig had a breakout freshman season in 2016 for the Eagles, batting .352 and leading the team in home runs with nine. Craig also drove in 54 runs last season for the Eagles, which was tops among the squad that finished 39-12. Gann will also look to provide his new team, Arkansas-Little Rock, with some offensive firepower next season. Gann hit .242 in his freshman season at MCC in limited action, but should play a key role for the Eagles this spring. Gann drove in 13 runs during his freshman season in an MCC uniform and scored nine runs.

Sophomores Coker and Yarborough made their intentions known by signing with the University of South Alabama. Coker played in limited action last season for the Eagles and finished the season by batting .274 with nine RBI’s. Yarborough played a huge role on the MCC pitching staff during his freshman season with the Eagles and will look to do the same in his sophomore campaign this spring before heading off to South Alabama. Yarbrough appeared in 16 games out of the bullpen, earning one save and collecting 21 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched for MCC.