Joplin, Mo. -- CJ Maffei will begin his professional baseball career in the Independent Frontier League after signing a pro contract with the Oakland County (Mich.) Cruisers.
Maffei won seven games for the Lions as a senior this past season with a 4.93 ERA. He struck out 60 in 73 innings.
Coming into the 2010 season, Maffei was a Collegiate Baseball Magazine pre-season All-American after earning first-team All-MIAA honors and leading the Lions in wins (9), ERA (2.70), strikeouts (74), opposing battting average (.239) and innings pitched (86.2) in 2009.
"C.J. was very effective the last month of the season," head coach Bryce Darnell said. "His best pitch is his change. He's mostly a fastball, changeup pitcher. He has a chance to progress in baseball."
Gera Alvarez is the manager of the Cruisers and former Major League player Dimitri Young is the Vice President and senior advisor of baseball operations. Young is also on the coaching staff of the Cruisers, who are located at Waterford Township in southeast Michigan.
Maffei helped the Lions advance to the MIAA Postseason Tournament for the second straight season and a third-place tournament finish. Maffei worked 3 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up the win in a 10-3 victory over Northwest Missouri State in an elimination game at the tournament.
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