Three JHS athletes sign with LCC

May 23, 2007 11:33 pm

— By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Labette Community College swooped into Joplin to secure the signatures of three Joplin High School athletes on Wednesday.
The Parsons-based Cardinals, who play in the East Division of the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference, signed Saysan Jones for women’s basketball and center fielder Marco Maturino and second baseman Logan Nelson for baseball.
Head coaches Jaime Green (basketball), who recently left Miller High School for the position, and Aaron Keal came to Joplin for the signing.
The 5-foot-9 Jones, an all-Ozark Conference selection, averaged 17 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.9 steals as a senior for coach Erin Jones.
“Saysan reflects my philosophy and will be a perfect fit for our program,” Green said. “She can come in and provide immediate help. She’s aggressive on the boards and that’s just what we need. We really feel fortunate to get someone like Saysan.”
Said Erin Jones: “Labette will be a great fit for Saysan because she needs more experience to play on the perimeter at the next level. Coach Green’s work ethic will greatly help her.”
Keal, who’ll be entering his eighth season as the LCC head coach, credited assistant Denny Vilela with doing most of the work in landing Maturino and Nelson.
“They’ll contribute as freshmen,” Keal said of Maturino, a left-handed batter, and Nelson. “They’re solid. They have some maturing to do but they did a decent job for coach (Kirk) Harryman.”
Harryman also believes the college and the players will fit nicely.
“The junior college route is best for both players,” Harryman said. “I believe Marco and Logan have a chance to compete for playing time as freshmen.
“Logan (Nelson) continues to improve and wound up hitting .306 as a senior. Marco (Maturino) is fast and can cover considerable ground in the outfield. He wound up averaging .271. Both players need to become stronger.”