Baseball Lions sign Missouri's Ming

SAGU deepens solid recruiting class

Shockley names two new assistant coaches

WAXAHACHIE, Texas  --  The baseball recruiting class for Southwestern Assemblies of God University added another sharp arrow to Head Coach Jon Shockley’s quiver.

The Lions landed Wayman “Spencer” Ming III recently from southwest Missouri.

A 6-foot-2 righthander, Ming hails from Joplin, 70 miles west of Springfield. He played third base, shortstop as well as the outfield and pitched on occasion. The 170-pounder suited up for College Heights Christian School, which had nearly 600 students.

Playing for the Cougars and head coach Phillip Jordan, he swung an impressive club. He hit .365 as a senior. His slugging percentage and on-base percentage were an identical .490.

He was named the captain of the Coogs and earned a Spring River Valley All-Conference selection this spring. Ming’s prep highlight memory was defeating Sarcoxie HS with a 3-run homer in the seventh inning during his junior year. The triumph gave the 'Cats their first-ever co-conference championship.

He will contend for a position in a talented class signed by Shockley, who begins his second campaign. The baseball Lions open their fall camp on September 24.

Spencer, known for his arm strength and mental toughness, is the son to parents Wayman and Kimberly. His siblings include Garrett and Grace.

Ming will study to fulfill a call into fulltime vocational ministry. He was the valedictorian at College Heights where he toted a 4.0 grade point average.

“I'm excited about following the Lord's plan in coming to SAGU and having the opportunity to be a part of the baseball program” he said last week. “I look forward to learning from Coach Shockley on and off the field. I really desire to be a man of character and a Godly example to my teammates.”

His high school coach described him thusly: "Spencer is a fine young man,” quipped Coach Jordan. “He will bring a great work ethic, consistent play, and will lead by example. Spencer is a great addition to any program."

Contrary to popular belief, Ming’s hometown of Joplin was not named after ragtime composer Scott Joplin, who lived in nearby Sedalia. The city of over 50,000 is named for Reverend Harris Joplin, an early settler and the founder of the area's first Methodist congregation.

Hopefully, Southwestern’s newest baseball signee will carry on a similar heritage of the ‘spirit riding’ Methodist minister.

The rebuilding Lions graduated eight seniors in the spring, return less than 10 from last year. They now have added 16 newcomers for this season. Competition at fall camp should be lively, especially during the weeklong World Series of seven intra-squad games in late October.

SAGU will play their first season at their new, on-campus ball park when the season begins in late January of 2013. There remain detailed projects to finish this fall.

New Assistant Coaches added

Coach Shockley has added two new Assistant Coaches to join him and Tommy Benningfield. Derrick Fortner, a former standout SAGU player, and Andrew Rickman, who is also an Asst. Coach for the football Lions, have joined the program.

Contact: Mark “Link” Warde, SAGU Sports Information Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 469-658-2847.