June 12, 2001

Jason Howell, Carolina's lone senior baseball player in 2001, has signed a free agent contract with the Boston Red Sox organization. The Millers Creek, N.C., native will begin his professional baseball career with the Class A Lowell Spinners of the New York-Penn League.

Howell transferred to UNC from Appalachian State last fall and made an immediate impact on the Tar Heels, leading the team with a 6-2 record and four saves on the mound and ranking second with a .350 batting average.

Howell was a second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection as a utility player and was a recipient of the Athletic Director's Scholar-Athlete Award.