"I am not going to sign with Seattle"

Lance Lynn (RHP/1B, Brownsburg, IN) - What a year it has been for Indiana's Mr. Baseball and Gatorade Player of the Year.

It started off with Lance signing with one of the elite baseball programs in the SEC and country last November. Then it was followed by Lynn personally putting up a perfect 16-0 record on the mound with a .071 ERA. He had 180 K's and 29 walks in 95 innings. At the plate, Lynn batted over .400 with 10 doubles, 14 HR's, and 50 RBI's.

The journey did not stop as Lance was the workhorse for Brownsburg's 35 - 0 record and State Championship.

Lynn was named the Gatorade's Player of the Year and just a few short weeks ago he was named Mr. Baseball for the State of Indiana.

Lance parlayed this success with being picked the #4 pick by the Seattle Mariners in this summer's draft. The beat does not stop here, as Lance helped his AAU team to the World Series and pitched them to victory in the Semifinals and Finals.

The best news of all for Rebel fans is that it looks like he is headed to Oxford next Thursday!!

The following information was revealed during our interview with Lance Lynn:

We hear you were recently named Mr. Baseball? "Yes sir, I am really speechless. I do not know what to say."

Tell us about your AAU team? "We played in the Sandlot World Series in Nashville for the Indiana Bulls. We ended up winning the World Series."

What did you personally do during the tournament? "I was 2 - 0, and I batted .500 with 4 HR's."

I hear the two games you pitched in were pretty important? "Yes sir, they were the last two games. The Semifinals and Finals."

On one days rest? "Yes sir, I pitched a complete game on Saturday, and then I turned around and pitched the last 5 innings on Monday."

Where do you stand in your negotiations with Seattle? "I have not heard from Seattle since their second offer. That was around two months ago."

Do you think it is a done deal that you are going to be pitching for Ole Miss next year? "Oh yea, definitely. I have not heard from Seattle in a couple of months. I totally intend on moving down there on Thursday and getting ready for school."

Are you surprised that Seattle has not called back? "A little bit, but I have heard they will try to get you right before you start your classes. It is a little late though, if you understand what I mean. They did not give me enough money. I know they are going to probably give me one more deal before school starts, but I have been preparing to go to Ole Miss for over a month now. It is just too late for me to think about the pros. But yea, it was a little disappointing in the way they handled this."

When do you expect your final offer to be made? "I have heard that they will wait until like the last day before class starts, but I am ready to go to college and play for Coach Bianco and get them to the World Series. My mind is totally focused on Ole Miss now. I am not going to sign with Seattle."

Have you stayed in contact with the Ole Miss staff? "Oh yea (laugh). Coach McDonnell is like my alarm clock. He calls me every morning to check up on me. Coach Bianco will call me once or twice a week to see where I stand. Coach Bianco came up to Nashville to see me pitch in the World Series. That is why my mind is totally focused on Ole Miss. They have shown me that they really want me. Seattle does not even have the time to give me a call in two months. Who would you want to go play for? I am excited about college. They have done a great job with me."

Lance is a full qualifier.

To view the list of Ole Miss baseball signees for the '04/'05 class, click here.