NATCHITOCHES – Jeffery Stovall, from junior college power Howard College, signed to join the Northwestern State as a part of the 2015 signing class, announced Demon baseball head coach Lane Burroughs and staff on Wednesday.
 
Stovall, native of Irving, Texas, was the No. 1 starter at Howard, and pitched in 13 contests with six complete games.  Howard, one the of the nation's best junior colleges, finished with a 78-42 record while the right-handed pitcher was on the team.
 
"We are extremely excited about Jeff because of the maturity on the mound, and the maturity off of the field that he brings. He comes from an outstanding program in Howard College, under Britt Smith," said Burroughs. "He is accustomed to winning, which is what we want in our program."
 
He completed the 2014 season with a 5-6 record and worked though 73 innings pitched.  He accumulated 51 strikeouts and walked only 10. 
 
"Jeff is a high-command pitcher. He has a quality feel for three pitches that he can throw for strikes, fastball, breaking ball and changeup," said the second-year skipper. "We feel he is going to do a great job coming in with a starter's role and eating up a lot of innings."
 
Stovall was a three-time all-district selection at Irving High School, and took first-team all-state honors his junior season.  He was also named as his district's most valuable player his sophomore and junior seasons.
 
The four-year letterman had 3.08 earned run average with 82 strikeouts in 65.2 innings pitched at Irving in his senior season.  He was also a force at the plate with a .445 batting average and 50 runs batted in.
 
"We like his mound presence, calmness, maturity and his ability to fill up the zone.  With his work ethic at other great programs, he should come right in and help us immediately," said Burroughs.
 
He is the son of Jackie and Bobby Stovall, and has one sister, Lindsay.  He wants play professional baseball or become a baseball coach after he leaves Northwestern State.