March 16, 2009

FUTURE RAM, HAUSER, NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
Right-hander out of Manchester High School earns high honor

RICHMOND, Va. – The highly-touted crop of Virginia Commonwealth University baseball recruits for 2010 is already getting recognition and the high school season is barely a week old.

Powerful right-hander Blake Hauser (Midlothian, Va.) out of Manchester High School led a stable of five early signings for the Black & Gold during the fall.

Hauser is living up to the hype as he was named a Preseason All-American by Rawlings Sporting Goods and Perfect Game USA recently.

Listed at 6’2”, 170 pounds, Hauser is a two-way talent who is recognized as one of the best players in the state.

The Manchester High School product batted .450 last season and picked up four wins on the mound. His honors were plentiful with a spot on the All-Metro Team, First Team All-District, First Team All-Region and Second Team All-State.

Hauser’s success did not stop during the spring high school season as he was a part of the 2008 Gold Medal winning Central Team in this past summer’s Commonwealth Games. He led his Post 137 American Legion team to the 2008 State Championship and later finished third at the 2008 American Legion in World Series.

“Blake is an incredibly gifted athlete,” Head Coach Paul Keyes said. “He has the ability to help us in so many ways. He has a powerful arm that has been clocked in the mid-90s with an above average breaking ball that will allow him to make an immediate impact on our staff.”

Hauser comes from Manchester High School where former Ram and current member of the Houston Astros organization, Chris Jackson, attended.