DeMark signs contract with Florence Freedom of the Frontier League
There are now eight Pioneers active in professional baseball

June 20, 2006
MARIETTA, Ohio — Mike DeMark (Jeanette, Pa./Penn-Trafford) was offered an opportunity to begin his professional baseball career June 15, when he signed a contract with the Florence Freedom of the Frontier League.

DeMark completed his eligibility at Marietta College in style by getting the final out against Wheaton (Mass.) on May 30 to clinch the 2006 National Championship.

On the year, the DeMark finished with a 9-1 record. The right-hander made 18 appearances, started 11 games and worked 83 1/3 innings. He allowed just 30 runs (26 earned for a 2.81 earned run average) on 62 hits, while walking 31 and striking out 85.

DeMark, an All-American as a sophomore, went 31-3 with a 2.53 earned run average in his four-year career with the Etta Express. He accumulated 262 strikeouts, which tied him for fifth on MC's career strikeout list.

The Freedom, which are located in Florence, Kentucky, were 8-16 and in last place in the Eastern Division of the Frontier League heading into Tuesday's action. DeMark made his debut on June 15 and worked one scoreless inning against the Washington Wild Things.

With DeMark's signing, Marietta College, one of the smallest schools in NCAA Division III, now has eight former players currently active in professional baseball.

Jim Tracy '78 is the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, 19-year veteran pitcher Terry Mulholland '85 is with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Matt DeSalvo '03 is pitching for the Trenton Thunder, the Class AA affiliate of the NY Yankees, David Bradley '99 is pitching for the Midland RockHounds, the Class AA affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, Chris Sidick '05 is in his second season with the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League and Mike Eisenberg '07 was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the eighth round of the 2006 drafted and will start Thursday (June 22) for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, a member of the New York-Penn League, which is a short season for Class A.

The Etta Express, which won three national titles in the 1980s under the direction of the late Don Schaly, waited 20 years for the fourth title. Only Eastern Connecticut State has equaled Marietta's four crowns. The Pioneers also won the title in 1981, 1983 and 1986. It was the first time the Etta Express captured the nation's top prize away from the friendly confines of Marietta, Ohio.