Nov. 26, 2008

DAYTON, Ohio - University of Dayton Head coach Tony Vittorio announced on Wednesday that sophomore right-hander Burny Mitchem has signed a contract to play summer baseball with the Orleans Cardinals in the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Mitchem, a 6-foot-6 pitcher from Farmington, Mich. joins the Cardinals after a solid rookie campaign for the Flyers. Leading the team with a 2.06 ERA, Mitchem collected a 5-2 record with 61 strikeouts last spring.

"It is an honor to play in the Cape Cod League as it is the best collegiate baseball league in the country. Through Burny's performance his freshman year at the University of Dayton as well as in the Great Lakes League last summer, he has earned the opportunity to play in the Cape Cod League," said Vittorio. "For this, I am proud that he will be representing his family and the University of Dayton in this prestigious league. He will do well."

The Cape Cod League, or "The Cape" as it is most colloquially known, has been the summer breeding grounds for college baseball players and top Major League Baseball prospects. One in seven MLB players have played in the Cape at one point or another in their career. Notable alumni from the CCBL include 2002 National League Cy Young winner and San Francisco Giants pitcher Barry Zito, two-time Gold Glove winner Mark Teixeira and 2008 National League Cy Young Winner and pitcher for the San Francisco Giants Tim Lincecum.

Dayton will open their season on Feb. 20 when they travel to High Point in High Point, N.C. to play the Panthers in a three-game series.