Fry Signs with Windy City Thunderbolts

CRESTWOOD, Ill. – Former USC Aiken pitcher Justin Fry recently signed with the Windy City Thunderbolts of the independent Frontier League. 

Fry signed with the Thunderbolts after attending an open tryout on June 15, 2009. 

A local product out of Cross Creek High School in Augusta, Ga., Fry ended his Pacer career with 106 strikeouts in his two years in a Pacer uniform.

Fry fanned an average of 2.7 batters every time that he took the hill for the Pacers over the past two years. 

A transfer from Darton College, Fry concluded the 2009 season second on the squad with 63 strikeouts. Fry was 4-3 in total in the 2009 season with a 4.61 ERA. His opposition hit just .259 against him in his 19 appearances (56.2 innings) on the hill.

Fry’s 63 strikeouts were second-most among all Pacer pitchers. Primarily a relief pitcher for USC Aiken, Fry started seven games in 2009.

Fry recorded a team season-high tying 10 strikeouts in USC Aiken’s game with then nationally-ranked North Georgia on Feb. 21. 

Fry may have saved his best start in a Pacer uniform for his last as he pitched 8.1 innings and allowed just three hits to lead the Pacers to the championship round of the 2009 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. The senior hurler struck out seven in the regional semifinal win over Peach Belt Conference rival Francis Marion.

For his efforts, Fry, who threw 178 pitches in his 8.1 innings on the mound in the contest, was chosen to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional All-Tournament team.

One year earlier during the 2008 season, Fry was tied for third-best on the squad with five wins, finishing the year 5-1 overall in 20 mound appearances. He concluded the 2008 season with eight multiple strikeout performances in total. He struck out 21 batters during a four-game stretch in 2008. 

Overall, he finished the campaign with batters hitting just .223 against him 2008.

Fry is one of three former Pacers currently playing professionally, joining Chad Jacobsen and Josh Eachues.

Chosen in the 18th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Colorado Rockies, Jacobsen has been assigned once again to the Casper Ghosts in Casper, Wyo. of the short-season rookie advanced Pioneer League.

Jacobsen finished the 2008 season with Casper with 34 hits and 23 RBIs.

Casper will begin its 2009 schedule on June 23.

Eachues is currently playing with the Washington Wild Things in Washington, Pa. of the Frontier League. Eachues suited up for the Wild Things in 2008 as a catcher, playing in 44 games behind the plate. He had 27 RBIs for the Wild Things last season.

Eachues has moved to pitcher this season for the Wild Things, going 1-1 in seven appearances and 9.0 innings so far in the 2009 season. He has struck out six.

Fry and Eachues may have a chance to participate in the same contest against one another in 2009 as the Thunderbolts and Wild Things will next face off against one another at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood, Ill. for a three-game set Aug. 14-16. 

USC Aiken's 2009 baseball team ended the 2009 season tied with Central Missouri for 10th in the final Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division II Top 30 poll.

The final ranking of 10th is the highest for the 2009 Peach Belt Conference regular season champion Pacers under reigning Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year Kenny Thomas. USC Aiken ended the 2008 season ranked 11th, while they concluded the 2005 season 12th.

The ranking of 10th is also the highest in the final Collegiate Baseball poll for the Pacers since the 1993 season when the Pacers were ranked fifth in the final poll.

The Pacers reached as high as No. 2 nationally in 2009 en route to their second ever Peach Belt Conference regular season championship.

The regular season title was the first for the Pacers since 1994. The Pacers also have two PBC Tournament crowns, having won the league tournament in 1992 and 1993.

The Pacers' prowess during the regular season helped USC Aiken to top honors in the Southeast Region, enabling the program to host its second ever NCAA Division II Tournament regional.

The Pacers advanced to the regional final for the second consecutive season before bowing out to NCAA Division II Baseball Championship semifinalist and Conference Carolinas Tournament champion Belmont Abbey in the first game of the championship round.

USC Aiken (42-19) concluded its season having been a part of its fifth consecutive NCAA Division II Baseball regional. The Pacers' 42 wins in 2009 leave the program entering the 2010 campaign with five consecutive 40-win seasons.

USC Aiken has been a participant in the NCAA Division II Tournament seven times (1992, 1993, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009).