Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Saluki Baseball adds Archer, Walters for 2019
05/10/2018 | 8:09:00 | Baseball
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois baseball signed junior college prospects Philip Archer and Ian Walters, head coach Ken Henderson announced today. Both Archer and Walters will be juniors for SIU in 2018-19.Â
"We feel as if we have added two really good athletes and two of the best junior college bats in the midwest," Henderson said. "Both of these athletes fill immediate needs and have the ability to make a significant impact on the program."
Philip Archer // 6-3 // 230 // INF // L-L // Greenville, Ind. // Floyd Central HS // Olney Central Community College
Archer, a first baseman, is hitting .429 at Olney, which is 34-17 this season. On Wednesday, Archer was named the Great Rivers Athletic Conference and Region 24 Position Player of the Year. He has 19 doubles, 10 home runs and 63 RBIs. He is slugging .718 and reaching at a .490 clip. He has struck out just 24 times in nearly 200 at bats. In NJCAA Division I, Archer ranks in the top-100 in batting average (34th), sac flies (6th), RBIs (36th), slugging (79th), hits (55th), doubles (28th), and total bases (74th).Â
"Philip is a big, strong athlete and someone that will bring a physical presence to the middle of our lineup, especially from the left side," Henderson said.
Ian Walters // 6-0 // 185 // L-R // Paducah, Ky. // McCracken County HS // Rend Lake College
Walters, a left-handed hitting middle infielder, is Rend Lake's leading hitter at .331 in 42 games this year. He has earned All-GRAC honors in each of his two seasons at Rend Lake. This year, he has 11 home runs and 41 RBIs, and he has scored 44 runs. Walters ranks 15th in NJCAA Division I with seven triples. As a freshman at Rend Lake in 2017, Walters hit .333. At McCracken High School, Walters hit .405 as a senior and led his team to three regional championships.Â
"A lot like current Saluki Alex Lyon, Ian is very athletic and has the versatility to play most anywhere on the field," Henderson said. "As his numbers indicate, he is a gifted left-handed bat that combines the ability to hit for average and for power."
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"We feel as if we have added two really good athletes and two of the best junior college bats in the midwest," Henderson said. "Both of these athletes fill immediate needs and have the ability to make a significant impact on the program."
Philip Archer // 6-3 // 230 // INF // L-L // Greenville, Ind. // Floyd Central HS // Olney Central Community College
Archer, a first baseman, is hitting .429 at Olney, which is 34-17 this season. On Wednesday, Archer was named the Great Rivers Athletic Conference and Region 24 Position Player of the Year. He has 19 doubles, 10 home runs and 63 RBIs. He is slugging .718 and reaching at a .490 clip. He has struck out just 24 times in nearly 200 at bats. In NJCAA Division I, Archer ranks in the top-100 in batting average (34th), sac flies (6th), RBIs (36th), slugging (79th), hits (55th), doubles (28th), and total bases (74th).Â
"Philip is a big, strong athlete and someone that will bring a physical presence to the middle of our lineup, especially from the left side," Henderson said.
Ian Walters // 6-0 // 185 // L-R // Paducah, Ky. // McCracken County HS // Rend Lake College
Walters, a left-handed hitting middle infielder, is Rend Lake's leading hitter at .331 in 42 games this year. He has earned All-GRAC honors in each of his two seasons at Rend Lake. This year, he has 11 home runs and 41 RBIs, and he has scored 44 runs. Walters ranks 15th in NJCAA Division I with seven triples. As a freshman at Rend Lake in 2017, Walters hit .333. At McCracken High School, Walters hit .405 as a senior and led his team to three regional championships.Â
"A lot like current Saluki Alex Lyon, Ian is very athletic and has the versatility to play most anywhere on the field," Henderson said. "As his numbers indicate, he is a gifted left-handed bat that combines the ability to hit for average and for power."
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