Former High Point University pitcher Jeremy Berg is expected to make his professional debut this week with the Orem Owlz of the Pioneer League. Berg was signed into the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organization July 24 and was assigned to the Orem Owlz, a rookie league team based in Orem, Utah.

"I was really excited when I got signed," Berg said. "It has always been my dream to play professional baseball. Coach Cozart and his staff really helped my development as a player in the last year and they are the reason I am here."

Berg led the Panthers with a 1.88 ERA in 2009, finishing the season with a 4-2 record and five saves in 27 appearances out of the bullpen. He led the team with 47 strikeouts. His five saves ranked fourth in the Big South Conference.

In 2008 Berg went 3-3 with a 2.76 ERA in 29 appearances. He had 33 strikeouts and gave up 10 walks in 42 1/3 innings. The Ventura, Calif. native transferred to High Point from Ventura Community College where he was an All-Conference selection as a closer during his sophomore year. His freshman season was spent at California State Northridge.

Berg is the second Panther to make his professional debut this year. Former HPU catcher Billy Alvino made his debut June 29 with the GCL Tigers of the Gulf Coast League, the rookie league affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. He played two games with the GCL Tigers before he was promoted to the Class A-Advanced Lakeland Flying Tigers of the Florida State League. He is hitting .364 with three RBI in seven games.

Five other former High Point players are currently in the minor leagues. Starting pitcher Eammon Portice is pitching for the Salem Red Sox in the Class A Advanced Carolina League, where he is 6-4 with a 4.30 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 88 innings. Randy Schwartz is playing with the Auburn Doubledays in the Class A Short-Season New York-Penn League and is hitting .265 with four homers and eight RBI in 10 games. Schwartz is currently on the seven-day disabled list. Mark Shorey is hitting .283 with four home runs and 21 RBI for the Memphis Redbirds in AAA Pacific Coast League, part of the St. Louis Cardinals organization. Matthew Kniginyzky is pitching for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the AA affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. He is 4-7 with a 5.20 ERA in 17 starts for the Naturals. Tom Boleska is in the Pittsburgh Pirates system and is currently on a rehab assignment with the Gulf Coast League Pirates, where he has pitched six innings.

High Point went 21-32 overall and 11-12 in the Big South in their first season under head coach Craig Cozart. The Panthers had a win over No. 4 North Carolina, the highest ranked opponent HPU has ever beaten and two wins over Coastal Carolina, who were ranked 14th in the nation at the time. In the Big South Tournament High Point had wins over Winthrop and Charleston Southern, which marked the first season a Panther team has won two games in the conference tournament. The Panthers also set the school record in hits (605) and doubles (118).