The 2012 high school baseball season is still a few months out, but that didn’t stop Tennessee Wesleyan College from inking a deal with Walker Valley pitcher Matthew Kirby Thursday afternoon.

Kirby, who threw 19 2/3 innings last season for the Mustangs, said he is excited about the prospect of improving his game at the next level.

“I’m really hoping to sharpen up my velocity and location and just go out there and compete,” Kirby stated.

Last season Kirby posted 194 pitches for strikes, and more than 62 percent of his pitches found the strike zone.

“Matt has three good pitches he can throw for strikes,” stated TWC coach Stephen Baker. “I think we will be able to work with Matt and help him improve the areas he needs to improve to make him a successful college pitcher.”

The TWC Bulldogs are coming off a 2011 season that saw them win the AAC Tournament, the opening round of the NAIA Championship and make a second straight appearance at the Avista NAIA World Series.

This season the team is ranked 18th in the NAIA Baseball Coach’s Preseason Top 24 Poll.

Kirby explained he feels making the decision early will help him in the coming Mustang baseball season because he won’t be worried about finding a college and instead can focus on his last high school season.