Middle Township High School pitcher John Hopkin will sign a National Letter of Intent Friday morning to play college baseball at Division I Siena next year. Hopkin's decision was announced by Middle Township athletic director Scott Lodgek Thursday morning.

Hopkin, a 6-3 left hander who at times can throw into the low 90s, is one of the top pitchers in the Cape-Atlantic League. Last year as a junior, Hopkin struk out 68 batters in 37 1/3 innings pitched while going 4-3 for the Panthers.

Hopkin will be the first Division I scholarship baseball player produced by current Middle Township coach Chuck Dougherty.

"This is outstanding for the program, it's outstanding for 'Hoppy' and it's outstanding for the school," Dougherty said. "This is really a great thing. I'm very happy for him."

You can read more about this story in next week'd editions of the Gazette and Wildwood Leader.