RICHMOND, Ky. - Eastern Kentucky University baseball coach Jim Ward has announced the signing of four high school players during the early signing period.

These include third baseman Neil Sellers of Henderson County High School; righthanded pitcher Jason Ranz of Moeller High School in Cincinnati, OH; righthanded pitcher Nick Adams of Lexington Bryan Station High School; and catcher Chris Clark of Russell High School.

Sellers has been a four-year starter at Henderson County for coach B.T. Wayne where he hit .432 as a junior and .390 thus far in his high school career. He has collected 10 home runs and 115 RBI's entering his senior year and was selected to play in the 1999 Kentucky East-West All-Star game. He is the son of David and Patty Sellers of Robarbs.

Ranz was 8-2 last year as a junior, pitching for coach Mike Cameron at Moeller. He was also a second-team all-conference choice in the highly-competitive Greater Cincinnati League. He is the son of Jeff and Serena Phillips of Cincinnati.

Adams was a second-team All-City selection as a junior at Bryan Station for coach Steve Chandler. This past summer, he pitched for a select team, the Dixie Stars, coached by Tommy Brooks. He is the son of Robert and Mary Lou Adams of Lexington.

Clark has been a three-year starter at Russell for coach Gary Morris. He was selected to the All-Area Team and the Second Team All-Conference squad as a junior at Russell. Known as an outstanding defensive catcher, Clark batted .330 both his sophomore and junior seasons. He is the son of Robert and Anne Clark of Ashland.

"We are excited about these recruits who have signed in the early signing period," said EKU head coach Jim Ward. "This provides us with an excellent start to our 2000 recuiting class and will definitely strengthen our roster. All of these players participate in outstanding high school programs with a tradition of winning and for high school coaches who have been highly successful."

Eastern finished the 1999 season with a 35-25 record.