Strykers add trio from The Woodlands

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - The Woodlands Strykers are pleased to announce the signing of three The Woodlands natives.

Ryan Eastman, Landon Merka, and Austen Gunnels will be coming home this summer to play for the Strykers. Eastman and Merka both played at The Woodlands High School. Gunnels played at College Park High School.

Eastman is a 6-foot-3 pitcher who recently transferred to the University of Texas Of The Permian Basin from Mountain View Junior College. This season for UTPB he has pitched in seven games, throwing a little more than six innings. Last season at Mountain View, he was 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three innings.

While at The Woodlands High School, he was a three-time all-district selection to go along with All-Montgomery County and All-Greater Houston Selections his sophomore and senior seasons. Eastman has previously played in the TCL with the Brazos Valley Bombers. He is a communications major.

Gunnels is in his first season at Lenoir-Rhyne University. He is a 6-1 lefty. So far this season for the Bears, Gunnels has appeared in 13 games making five starts. He has pitched over 37 innings and has struck out 39 batters. Prior to Lenoir-Rhyne, Gunnels played at Cisco Junior College where he pitched in five games, throwing six innings while going 1-0. He is a politics and law major.

Merka is in his freshman season at Otero Junior College in La Junta, Colorado. The 6-2 infielder is currently batting .344 through 46 games. He has collected 54 hits, and eight doubles. He has added one home run and 20 RBIs. He is majoring in Petroleum Engineering.

The Strykers also added another bat in their lineup. First baseman Zack LeJeune of New Iberia, La., has signed on to play for the Strykers this upcoming season.

LeJeune is in his freshman season for the Pilots of Louisiana State University-Shreveport. Before LSUS, the 6-3 infielder attended Catholic High School-New Iberia. LeJeune is batting .279 so far this season for the Pilots. In 86 at-bats he has 24 hits, scored 13 runs, 18 RBI, and a slugging percentage of .302.

The Strykers are looking for five more Host Families. For more information about being a Host Family, contact the Strykers at 979.824.5655 or 832.818.7331.

The Strykers will begin their 2013 season on May 30 against the Victoria Generals. The Strykers will have a four-game home stand to begin the season from May 30-June 2 against the Generals and East Texas Pump Jacks.

For more information about the Strykers visit www.woodlandsstrykers.com or visit them on Facebook or Twitter. Call 979.824.5655 or 832.818.7331 to order your tickets today.