June 24, 2005

RICHMOND, Ind. -  Former University of Dayton catcher Aaron Hepner signed a professional baseball contract Friday to play for the Richmond Roosters of the Independent Frontier League. He is the second player from the 2005 Flyer roster to play professional baseball. Hepner joined Craig Stammen in the professional ranks who was selected in the 12th round of the 2005 MLB Draft and is now playing for the Vermont Expos.

"I am excited for the opportunity to play professional baseball," Hepner said. "It is nice to have the chance to keep playing and for that I have to thank everyone in the Dayton program who helped to make that possible."

Hepner played three seasons at UD after transferring from Edmonds Community College in his home state of Washington. He started a total of 144 games behind the plate and had his best performance in 2005 when he hit .282 with 23 runs scored and 30 RBI while playing 55 in of 59 games overall. Hepner was third on the team with 10 doubles to go along with a triple and two home runs. He also controlled the opponents' running game by throwing out 20 of 71 (28.2%) of would be base stealers. Hepner had 12 multi-hit games and eight multi-RBI days but his most memorable performance came in the opening game of the 2005 Atlantic 10 Championships when he hit a momentum changing three-run homer down the left field line to lead Dayton to an 8-5 win at Fifth Third Field.

"Aaron made the biggest strides of any player in our program, both academically and on the field," UD Head Coach Tony Vittorio said. "He became an on the field coach for us this year and I am glad to see him have the opportunity to continue playing the game he loves."

The Richmond Roosters play a 96-game schedule that began in Late May and runs until Early September at McBride Stadium less than 50 miles West of Dayton.