Petersburg, VA – The Petersburg Generals have announced the signing of two Duquesne University Dukes to the roster.  Duquesne University is a NCAA Division I program located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that competes in the Atlantic-10 Conference.  The Dukes have started off the season with a record of 6-10 with playing three top 25 programs such as Florida State, LSU, and South Carolina.

Gary Pierpont, 6-2, 200, is a junior right-handed pitcher whose hometown is Canonsburg, PA.  So far in the 2008 season, Pierpont has started three games on the mound and two of those starts against Florida State and South Carolina.  In Pierpont’s last start, he pitched 9.2 innings against the University of Maine.  So far Pierpont has a record of 0-2 with an ERA of 3.93 in 18.1 innings.

Mark Tracy, 6-5, 220, is a sophomore catcher/first baseman that transferred from Pepperdine University in California to Duquesne University.  So far in the 2008 season, Tracy has seen time behind the plate, first base, and also as the role of the designated hitter.  So far Tracy has started 12 of 16 games at different positions where needed. 
           

Tracy is the son of former Major League Baseball manager Jim Tracy, who has managed the Los Angles Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates.  Once Jim Tracy took the job with the Pirates, his son Mark, transferred from Pepperdine, which is in California, to Duquesne to play closer to his father.

“These two players have already successfully played against some big time programs.  Pierpont has proven that he can pitch in some big games and Tracy has been around baseball all his life and is a big target behind the plate”, stated by Assistant Coach Ryan Leary.  “We are looking for Pierpont and Tracy to step up and be a big factors in our lineup.”

The Petersburg Generals season tickets are now for sale.  There will be 29 home games with one of the games being an exhibition game against Catawba Valley Stars.  The 2008 season is the ninth season in the Coastal Plain League.  The Coastal Plain League is a summer wood bat collegiate league that features teams in Virginia and the Carolinas.  For more information on the Petersburg Generals please visit www.petersburgsports.com or call (804) 722-0141.  For more information on the Coastal Plain League visit www.coastalplain.com.