Sam Sharpe Season 2007

2007 Outlook: Freshman Sam Sharpe is one of several freshmen battling for a spot in the Husker bullpen ? Throws in the upper 80s to low 90s with a good breaking ball ? Rated as the No. 3 high school senior in Kansas by Baseball America for its 2006 MLB Draft ? Is working on being more consistent in the strike zone while adapting to the college game ? Gives the Huskers another talented young arm to develop in the program ? Is familiar with the teaching of NU assistant coach Dave Bingham, as Sharpe went through the Kansas City Sluggers program ? Comes from a baseball family as both of his brothers pitched in the Division I ranks, while his oldest brother, Steven, is currently in the Oakland Athletics organization.

St. Thomas Aquinas High School: Sharpe attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School, but did not play baseball for the school ? Pitched for the Kansas City Sluggers, the same program that produced National League MVP Albert Pujols and current Major Leaguers Shaun Marcum and Joey Devine ? Rated by Baseball America as the No. 3 high school prospect in Kansas for the 2006 MLB Draft ? Compiled a 3-2 record and a 4.32 ERA for Coach Shane Wedd, striking out 43 in 41 innings of work over the summer against some of the top programs in the Midwest ? Looked at Baylor, Missouri and Arizona before selecting Nebraska.

Personal: Born on March 2, 1988, in Kansas City, Mo. ? Parents are Steve and Sue Sharpe ? Has two brothers (Steven and Scott) ? Has not declared a major ? Is the third brother in his family to pitch at the Division I level ? Oldest brother (Steven) is currently pitching in the Oakland Athletics organization after playing his collegiate ball at  Iowa and Central Missouri State, while Scott pitched at Arkansas-Little Rock before pitching two years at Kansas (2004-05).