Mitch Rider Signs With Independent League Team
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Columbus - After completing his senior season in 2011, former Columbus State University catcher Mitch Rider has signed a contract to play for the Normal Cornbelters of the Frontier League. The Cornbelters are located in Normal, IL, which is 135 miles south of Chicago.
"I'm thrilled for Mitch", stated CSU head baseball coach Greg Appleton. "He is a great guy and a pitcher couldn't ask for a better defensive catcher."
Rider batted .269 for the Cougars last season with one homerun and 17 RBIs. He also had 10 doubles and was one of the hardest hitters to strikeout on the team whiffing just 13 times in 119 at-bats. For his career, the backstop had an average of .282 with six homeruns.
Behind the plate, Rider guided CSU's pitching staff to a 3.85 earned run average and seven shutouts. He only had two errors in 249 chances and threw out 81 percent (34-for-42) of would be base stealers.
Former battery mate and Columbus State ace, Thomas Campbell also plays in the Frontier League with the Lake Erie Crushers.
