Former MP catcher Ethel signs with Louisville

J.J. Ethel will soon join the growing list of former Mountain Pointe baseball players at the Division I level.

The 2007 MP graduate has signed with Louisville as part of its 2009 recruiting class.

Ethel spent the 2008 season with Scottsdale Community College, hitting .346 with 13 doubles.

Though they'd seen him play before, things started to materialize when the Louisville staff saw him play at a junior college showcase.

"I went out for a visit and it just went from there," Ethel said. "They're nice people. Great people, great coaches, great facility. It's a really good place for me these next few years."

Ethel will join the Cardinals in the fall of 2009. He expects to continue playing catcher, while mixing in some time at third base.

His older brother, Bobby, is currently playing at the University of San Francisco.

Ethel pointed to MP head coach Brandon Buck as a reason for Mountain Pointe's recent success in producing talent - Bobby, C.J. Cron (Utah), Philip Konieczny (Pittsburgh) and J.J. Sferra (UNLV) among them.

"Since coach Buck took over, the program's definitely jumped up a couple of notches," Ethel said. "Everybody's putting in a little more effort than in year's past. Everybody wants to win more."