Former Bengal signs with 
Shreve, a 6-foot-5 right-hander with the College of Southern Nevada (CSN), decided on the Razorbacks – who finished first in the SEC’s Western Division this past spring – after visiting multiple national Top 25 programs over the past few months. In the end, it came down to facilities and potential opportunities to play for a shot at Omaha, the location of the College World Series.
And Shreve couldn’t have picked a better time to join the Razorbacks. For the second straight year, their 2007 signing class is ranked 10th in the nation by Baseball America, third among SEC schools. Only LSU and Auburn ranked higher.
“It is an outstanding honor for Baseball America to recognize this group of newcomers,” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said. “We are very excited about this collection of players, and their ability to help us continue a winning tradition.”
Shreve was drafted in the eighth round of Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Entry Draft this past June, but eventually decided to return to CSN for another shot at the school’s first NJCAA national championship title since 2003.
The former Bengal finished the spring season with a 5-2 record and a 2.78 ERA, helping lead the Coyotes, who finished ranked 16th nationally, to the Region 18 Championship. Shreve was also a member of Bonanza’s 2006 Sunset Regional runner-up team, which came one win from playing for a state title.
One of three former Bengals on the Coyotes’ roster, Shreve – as well as former Bengals Ross MacDonald and Jake Danneffel – continue fall workouts with CSN in preparation for a spring in which head coach Tim Chambers told the Las Vegas Review-Journal he expects to make a considerable run at another national title.
"Usually freshmen don't have tremendous years, but they turn the corner the next year," Chambers, who guided the Coyotes to a 41-18 record, told the local publication. "I expect a lot out of these guys next year."
MacDonald and Danneffel, both '06 grads, have yet to sign with a school but are exploring a handful of legitimate offers from NCAA schools. The CSN trio is just three of seven former players from the 2006 team still playing college ball.
“We are very proud of our track record here at Bonanza when it comes to players moving on to the next level,” Bonanza head coach Derek Stafford said. “Our players always make the grade in the classroom too, which makes it an easy sell to college coaches. We take pride in sending our program guys out to show others what Bonanza Baseball is all about. Bonanza is now going to represented in one of the best collegiate conferences in the nation.
“We are proud of Colby and the great progress he has made at CSN, who will certainly compete for another national title this spring. Coach Chambers is arguably one of the most well-respected college coaches in the nation. What better place to send our best than to a NJCAA National Coach of the Year winner? Between the great programs at CSN and Western Nevada Community College, we have a wealth of options in this state outside the realm of four-year schools.”
Two current Bengal seniors have also verbally committed to CSN for the 2008-09 season and beyond. Colby Shreve’s younger brother, Chasen Shreve, and shortstop Tomo Delp expect to sign soon.
