Yellowjackets Sign First Baseball Recruit (Apr. 18, 2005)

BILLINGS, MT – Montana State-Billings head baseball coach Chris Brown announced Monday that a Billings native has become the first player to sign a national letter of intent for the new Yellowjacket baseball program.  Kyle McBride, a 2002 graduate of Billings West High School, officially becomes the first Yellowjacket baseball player since the program was dropped nearly three decades ago.

“We are very excited to have Kyle be the first Yellowjacket Baseball player to sign,” said Brown.  “Not only is he a very talented pitcher, but he is also a great person and solid student.  He brings leadership, competitiveness, and experience to our baseball team.  Kyle gives us a legitimate starting pitcher that will allow us to compete immediately.  He has succeeded at the Legion level and the junior college level, and he has proven that he is a big time pitcher capable of winning big time games.  He is one of those guys you go to the ballpark to watch pitch.”

The 6-foot 180-pound right-hander played for the Billings Scarlets for two years and was the winning pitcher in the 2000 legion state championship game.  He played two years at Miles Community College where he went 15-4 with a 2.41 ERA.  He was 9-1 as a freshman, earning all-conference and all region honors.  He was also the conference MVP in his freshman season.  As a sophomore McBride threw a no hitter in the conference championship game.

McBride attended classes for one semester at Southwest Minnesota State before learning that MSU Billings would be adding baseball next year.  By transferring to MSU Billings for the spring semester, he is eligible to play next year and will have two years of eligibility remaining.