HARLINGEN, Texas - United League Baseball's Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings have announced the invitation of a pair of Park University pitchers, including right-handed pitcher Michael Barbosa (6-2, 215),  and left-handed pitcher Trevor Pearson (5-11, 190) to the club's spring training, which begins Monday at 2 p.m., in Harlingen, Texas.

The club also invited former Texas State catcher Jerry Cervantes (5-11, 220, Texas State) to spring training following an open tryout, in which 22 players participated, at Harlingen Field.
Barbosa and Pearson were both coached by former-WhiteWings closer Adam Clay, who represented the team in the 2006 United League All-Star Game. Clay is Park's all-time strike outs leader for both single-season and career totals, and in addition to his time in the United League, he also pitched for the Kansas City T-Bones following his two-year stint with the Pirates.

The 23-year-old Barbosa, from Sugar Creek, Mo., finished this season 6-2 with one save and a 3.64 ERA. In nine games (eight starts), he pitched four complete games, striking out 41 in 47 innings while allowing 46 hits and 11 walks.

Barbosa guided the Pirates to a 9-5 win in the club's second game of last week's American Midwest Conference baseball tournament at Clemens Field in Hannibal, Mo., tossing a complete game to beat Harris-Stowe State University in an elimination contest.

The 23-year old Pearson (Richmond, Mo.) led the team in ERA this season, going 3-1 with a 2.15 ERA. In 11 games (nine starts), he pitched three shutouts. Pearson struck out 44 in 46 innings while allowing 38 hits and 32 walks.

Pearson also pitched in the AMC tournament for Park, tossing an inning in the team's first game against McKendree and earning the start in the final game of the season against William Woods where he went 5.1 innings with six strike outs in a no-decision.

A 25-year old from Del Rio, Texas, Cervantes hit .309 with five double, three home runs and 15 RBIs in 33 games as a senior in 2008. He threw out six of 15 would-be base stealers (40-percent).

The WhiteWings are members of United League Baseball, an independent league of six professional baseball teams located in Texas. In its fifth season, the United League is gearing up for a great summer with teams located in Amarillo, Edinburg, Harlingen, Laredo, Robstown and San Angelo.

HAKE SIGNS WITH FRONTIER LEAGUE'S THUNDERBOLTS
Another former Pirate pitcher signed a professional contract last month, as Josh Hake signed with the Windy City ThunderBolts of the Frontier League.

Hake spent two seasons in a Park University uniform, compiling a 17-2 mark on the mound, including an unblemished 9-0 record in 2008. Hake struck out 159 in his two seasons with Park, ranking second behind former independent all-star Adam Clay, and in 2008, he was named NAIA National Pitcher of the Week.

A Tucson, Ariz., native, Hake was MCAC Pitcher of the Year in both of his seasons at Park, striking out 84 in his first season with the Pirates, a mark that ranks second all-time, and 75 in 2009, ranking fourth on the all-time list.

Hake finished his career as the all-time winningest pitcher in a Park University uniform, and after the 2008 season, he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies before returning to the Pirates for his senior season.