University of Redlands baseball’s Nolan Nicholson ‘09 (Fullerton, CA) signed a professional contract with the Texarkana Gunslingers of the Continental Baseball League last week, according to an announcement made by Head Coach Scott Laverty on Sunday.

The Continental Baseball League, which is independently affiliated, is a six-team league that includes clubs based in Louisiana and Texas. According to the league’s Web site, players are “given the opportunity to improve their skills, expose and parlay their unique baseball talents to scouts… and if they desire and qualify, move into positions with Major League Baseball affiliated organizations.”

Nicholson enjoyed a stellar career while pitching for the Bulldogs, serving as the staff ace his junior and senior seasons. This three-time All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) honoree amassed a 3.41 ERA in his four years donning the Maroon and Gray while striking out 155 and holding opposing batters to a .276 average. He holds the program’s single-season record in victories at 12, which he achieved during the 2008 campaign.

“I feel blessed to be given the chance to go out and play and to have been given the opportunity to represent the university and the baseball program,” Nicholson said. “It shows that we have good players and hard workers and can be successful at the next level.”

Laverty, who coached Nicholson throughout his entire career at Redlands, said that the chance to play professionally was the fruit of the hard work he has put in over the years. 

"I am very excited for Nolan!" Laverty said. "It is a well-deserved opportunity, and I know he will make the best of it."

For more information on the Gunslingers, please visit http://www.texarkanaprobaseball.com/.