FLORENCE, Ky. - Former Indiana University Southeast baseball player and current Grenadier assistant baseball coach Beau Manning has signed a professional baseball contract with the Florence Freedom of the Frontier League.

Manning, a Louisville native who played at Christian Academy in high school, was offered a contract after playing last year for the Big Bend Cowboys of the Continental Baseball League in Alpine, Texas.

Last year, Manning was a valuable hitter in the Cowboys lineup batting .312 with 52 RBI and seven homeruns. He was also efficient at the plate with a .401 on-base percentage and only 14 strikeouts in 205 at-bats.

Manning played most of his 58 games at second base (54) and posted a solid .952 fielding percentage.

Manning was a four year starter for the Grenadiers from 2005 through 2008. During his time at IU Southeast, Manning has played in and started 211 games, earning a career batting average of .355 with 699 at-bats, 248 hits, 191 runs, 127 RBIs, 58 stolen bases, and 13 homeruns.

Manning owns the IU Southeast school record for most games played in a career (211), total at-bats (699), runs scored (191) and hits (248). Manning, a two-time team captain, has also been named 1st or 2nd team All-KIAC in every season he has played as a Grenadier.

In his senior season with the Grenadiers, Manning batted .366 with 74 hits, 14 doubles and four home runs and was named KIAC First Team All-Conference.

More information about Manning and the Frontier League can be found at http://www.florencefreedom.com/