July 7, 2008

KALAMAZOO, MI - Temple's Mike Mongiardini, who recently completed his senior season pitching for the Owls, has signed a professional contract with the Kalamazoo Kings of the Frontier League, the team announced this weekend. He made his pro debut on Saturday, pitching five scoreless innings of no-hit baseball in a 7-5 victory over Chillicothe.

"It was exciting to get out there on the mound," Mongiardini said. "I'm just trying to play the game as long as I can. I have the rest of my life to worry about getting a real job."

The southpaw was a valuable addition to the Temple pitching staff this spring. He went 3-2 with a 4.08 ERA in 11 starts for the Owls, striking out a team-high 43 batters in 57.1 innings. Opponents batted just .224 against him.

"We're proud and excited for Mike to begin his career in professional baseball," Temple head coach Rob Valli said. "He has worked so hard to get to this point and we know he will be an asset to the Kings pitching staff."

He was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Tournament team after allowing one earned run and three hits in 7.2 innings in the Owls' 5-2 win over St. Bonaventure. He struck out five batters to give Temple its first postseason victory since 2002.

A two-time Philadelphia Big 5 Pitcher of the Week, Mike combined with his brother Matt to form one of four pairs of sibling weekend starters in Division I this season. He will see a familiar face in Kalamazoo in pitching coach Joe Thomas, who also served as the Owls' pitching coach in 2008. St. Bonaventure graduate Randy Moley is also on the Kings.

Mongiardini kept in contact with Thomas as he was attending tryouts with the Major League Scouting Bureau in June. The Kings had an opening on their roster and Mongiardini drove out to Kalamazoo for a tryout on Thursday. He was signed Friday and made his debut a day later.

The Frontier League has 12 teams in the Midwest in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Based in Troy, IL, the Frontier League is an independent professional league that was formed in 1993. Kalamazoo currently leads the Frontier League East Division with a 28-17 record.

Temple has had six players sign independent professional contracts since 1999, including Al Roach (Brockton Rox) and Mike Weckenman (Garys) of the Can-Am League in 2005. Overall, 44 players have signed free agent contracts in addition to the 23 players selected in the Major League Draft since 1966.