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Posted by Jason Anderegg - Tue, Dec 11, 2007 - [ Baseball ] - Viewed 1709 times
Alex Laabs signing his Athletic Award Letter
Alex Laabs signing his Athletic Award Letter
Jackson, TN – Lambuth Head Baseball Coach John Barlowe has announced that Alex Laabs, Bennett Smith, Turner Cripps and Tyler Lovell have signed athletic award agreements to attend Lambuth University and play baseball.
 
“These four student/athletes are a great foundation for the 2008 recruiting class. We feel that not only will these recruits have a great career at Lambuth, but we feel that they have a chance to make an impact early in their careers,” Barlowe said. “This is a talented group with a very positive upside to all four”

Laabs is an Eads, TN, native and attends Evangelical Christian High School. He will serve as a right-handed pitcher for the Eagles. During his junior season at ECS Alex went 2-4 with 35 strikeouts in 32 innings. He is the son of Jerry and Barbara Laabs and has one sister, Alyssa. Alex is coached by Steve Heinz at ECS.

“Alex has the potential to be a very great right-handed pitcher at the NAIA level. With his body frame and his tremendous work ethic he will be a positive to have on and off the field,” Barlowe said.

Bennett Smith hails from Hermitage, TN and attends Goodpasture High School along with fellow signees Turner Cripps and Tyler Lovell. Bennett will be used behind the plate for the Eagles and could also see time at either corner infield position. He is coming off a junior season in which he helped Goodpasture capture the 2A State baseball title. For his efforts he received All-District and All-Midstate honors. He is the son of Susan and Scott Smith and has one sister, Jessica. Bennett is coached by Richie Estep at Goodpasture High School.

“We are extremely happy to have a player as talented as Bennett committed to Lambuth baseball,” says Barlowe. “He will bring a winning attitude and a winning work ethic to Lambuth and help raise the bar of excellence on the field and in the classroom.” 

Turner is from Hermitage, TN and also attends Goodpasture High School. He will be a left-handed pitcher for the Eagles. Turner finished his junior season with a 5-1 record, one win being the state championship game. He also struck out 55 batters in 50 innings. Turner is the son of Will and Mitzi Cripps and he has one brother, Will. Turner is coached by Richie Estep at Goodpasture High School.

“Turner showed us his determination to win and his bulldog mentality when he stepped on the mound in the 2007 State Championship game,” Barlowe says. “We are very excited to see how much better he can get with his great work ethic and attitude.”

Lovell is a Nashville, TN native and attends Goodpasture High School. He will serve as an infielder for the Eagles. Tyler hit .337 his junior year with 1 home run and 17 stolen bases. He led the state champion Cougars with three hits in the championship game. Tyler is the son of Mark and Wanda Lovell and has one brother, Jon Mark. Tyler is coached by Richie Estep at Goodpasture High School.

Barlowe says, “Tyler is a two-sport athlete that excels at both. We know that he can take the toughness that he had on the gridiron along with his winning tradition on the football and baseball field and help make the Lambuth baseball team a better program.”

“I would also like to add that all four of these young men are very good students and not only will excel on the field, but each of them will definitely excel in the classroom for the Lambuth Eagles baseball team,” Barlowe said.