RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team filled some future needs by signing a first baseman, a third baseman and a catcher this fall. Mitchell Durbin, Bryan Solomon and Sean Hagen all signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Colonels in 2011, head coach Jason Stein announced on Friday.

Durbin is a left-handed hitting corner infielder from Fairfield High School in Ohio.

“Following graduation and the draft of 2010, we will probably have two immediate needs and, as a left-handed bat with power and a corner infielder, Mitch fills both of them,” Stein said.

The 6’2, 200 lb Durbin was named Fairfield High’s Most Valuable Player in 2009. In 2008, he earned second team All-Greater Miami Conference and second team All-County honors while batting .377 with three home runs, 23 RBI, 24 runs scored, 13 doubles and a .662 slugging percentage.

The 1B/3B played summer ball for the Butler County Diamondbacks (18U), the Cincinnati Mustangs (17U) and for Team Ohio in the Midwest Baseball Classic. He led that team with a .452 batting average, 102 hits, 29 doubles, 12 home runs, 69 runs scored and a .752 slugging percentage.

A two-time All-Academic team member, Durbin has also been proficient in the classroom where he has maintained a 3.3 grade point average.

Durbin was coached at Fairfield High by Larry Price, whose son, Robby Price, played at EKU in the early 2000’s.

Solomon is a 3B/RHP from Jackson Memorial High School in Jackson, N.J.

“Bryan is a complete third baseman,” Stein said. “He can hit for average and power, and he is an outstanding defensive player with a great arm. Most impressively, he has a genuine desire to excel at this level and he possesses an excellent baseball attitude.”

A captain on his high school’s varsity team, Solomon is a two-time preseason All-American and, in the spring of 2009, earned first team all-county honors and was the only junior in the area named first team All-Shore after leading Jackson Memorial High with seven home runs, 31 RBI and an .800 slugging percentage. He also posted an impressive .440 batting average and .517 on-base percentage as a junior.

Solomon is also a two-time Carpenter Cup selection and, as a sophomore and junior, started on the Carpenter Cup All-Star Team.

The versatile 6’4, 225 lb righty is also the ace for his high school team, and Stein noted that he might be able to step on the mound and pitch for the Colonels.

Solomon is coached at Jackson Memorial High by Frank Malta.

Hagen is a catcher from Muhlenberg High School in Reading, Penn.

“Sean will fill an immediate need at catcher following the graduation of 2010,” Stein said. “He is a complete catcher who can catch, throw and block. But he is also a very offensive-minded player, as well.”

In 22 games at Reading High last season, Hagen hit .469 with six home runs, 11 doubles and 29 RBI. A three year starter behind the plate in high school, Hagen is a two-time Under Armour Preseason All-American and was named all-division as a sophomore and all-county as a junior.

Hagen plays his summer ball with the American Legion Muhlenberg A’s and his showcase ball with the Mid-Atlantic Red Sox College Showcase Team and the Baseball Factory Exclusive Program.

Furthermore, Hagen was invited to attend the prestigious East Coast Pro Baseball Showcase earlier this year in Lakeland, Fla.

The 6’1, 190 lb Hagen is also an exemplary student at Reading High, where he has maintained a 3.75 GPA and been voted president of his class the past two years.

Hagen is coached at Reading High by Brian Kopetsky.