BOONEVILLE, Miss.-- Northeast Mississippi Community College head baseball coach Kent Farris has announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Nick Mentel to a letter of intent to suit up for the Tigers beginning in the fall of 2007.

Mentel, a 6'2" 185lb hurler from Mandeville, LA, (Fontainebleau High School) played for the Louisiana Knights summer league team the past two months.

"Nick has a very lively arm," said Farris. "He can consistantly stay in that 87-88 mile per hour range, and will jump up there in the low 90's when he wants to. Richie (Harrelson) and I will work with him on some of the little things, but he's got plenty of arm strength right now. He's really going to add a lot to our staff."

Mentel becomes the fifth right-handed pitcher Farris has added to the Tigers' roster since the end of last season. In all Northeast has signed nine new pitchers (five right-handers, four left-handers) as part of the '07 signing class.