MARIETTA, Ohio — Chris Stewart (Dublin/Dublin Coffman) (Dublin/Coffman) is the latest Marietta College baseball product to realize his dream of playing professional baseball. Stewart signed a contract with the Southern Illinois Miners of the Frontier League on Wednesday (July 22), making him the 44th member of the Marietta Baseball Fraternity to join the professional ranks since 1964.

Stewart made his professional debut that same evening, pitching a scoreless 1 1/3 innings in game two of the Miners' doubleheader with the Washington Wild Things. The left-hander walked one and did not allow a hit in the appearance out of the bullpen.

“This in an opportunity of a lifetime,” Stewart said. “I never thought that I'd get here. It has been a little over whelming so far. I am learning new stuff every day and have to make sure that I slow the game down when I am on the mound.”

Stewart, a two-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) honorable mention pick, was Marietta's main arm out of the bullpen as a senior in 2009. He finished with a team-best 21 appearances and made four starts. Stewart also posted a team-leading 6-2 record and 2.66 ERA in 47 1/3 innings of work. The left-hander struck out 33, including five in a start against Waynesburg (Pa.), which matched a career high.

Stewart transferred to Marietta from the University of Rio Grande before the 2008 season. He finished his Pioneer career 12-4 with seven saves and a 3.14 ERA. Stewart struck out 60 in 97 1/3 innings on the mound for Marietta.

Southern Illinois entered Friday (July 24) night's action with an overall record of 29-25. The Miners, who are leading the Frontier League in attendance, are three games back of first place River City in the league's West Division.

Four-time NCAA Division III National Champion (1981, 1983, 1986, 2006) Marietta College now has five former players currently active in professional baseball. Jim Tracy '78 is the Interim Manager of the Colorado Rockies. In addition, Matt DeSalvo '03 is pitching in his first season with the Durham Bulls, the Class AAA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, Mike DeMark '06 is in his second season with the San Antonio Missions, the Class AA affiliate of the San Diego Padres, and Chris Sidick '05 is in his fifth season with the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League.