John Savage and the baseball program have signed nine high school seniors for 2009-10
FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
LOS ANGELES – UCLA head baseball coach John Savage has announced that nine student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent during the early signing period to attend UCLA and play baseball. Aided by assistant coaches Rick Vanderhook and Steve Pearse, the fifth recruiting class under Savage includes six position players, one pitcher and one two-way player.
The Bruins’ recruiting class is highlighted by three AFLAC All-Americans – right-handed pitcher Scott Griggs, infielder David Nick and catcher Max Stassi. The nine talented ballplayers, currently seniors in high school, will enroll at UCLA in the fall of 2009.
“Our coaching staff did an outstanding job putting this class together,” Savage said. “Coach Vanderhook and Coach Pearse worked extremely hard over the last several months. We feel that we have several impact position players that will have great careers at UCLA.”
Additionally, current high school senior Trevor Bauer, a right-handed pitcher at Hart High School, has signed a grant-in-aid to enroll at UCLA in January 2009. Bauer will graduate from Hart High School in December before joining the Bruins for the 2009 season.
Savage’s first four recruiting classes at UCLA earned high national rankings. His first two recruiting classes were ranked No. 5 and No. 13, respectively, by Baseball America. Each of the Bruins’ last two groups have been tabbed the No. 7 classes in the nation by Baseball America. FULL STORY
OKLAHOMA Signs 16 for 2010 Season
NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma baseball head coach Sunny Golloway announced the 2010 signing class on Friday during the early signing period. The 16 student athletes that signed National Letters of Intent are set to join the Sooners next fall.
The OU coaching staff inked 10 high school players, including four Oklahoma products, and six players from the junior college ranks. The Sooners concentrated on adding players to all areas of the field as the signing class features eight positions players and eight pitchers, including five left-handers.
Overall, 11 of the recruits are rated by Perfect Game Crosschecker as prospects for the 2009 MLB Draft.
“This is one of the better classes that we have recruited at the University of Oklahoma,” said Golloway. “However, we have to wait and see how the draft affects the status of the players next fall when they report to campus. In years past, we have lost on average, 35-40 percent, of our recruits to the draft and if we can hold on to a majority of this group, it has a chance to be a very good class.”
The signees from Oklahoma feature some of the best prep stars from the state in Brandon Bargas (LHP) and Austin Kirk (LHP/1B) from Owasso High School, Jarek Pritchard (OF) from Charles Page H.S. and Ryan Gibson (LHP) from Yukon H.S.
Rounding out the group of high school recruits are six talented players from the state of Texas with Abel Baker (C/1B), the brother of current Sooner Aaron Baker, from Denton H.S., Drew Harrison (1B) from Waxahachie H.S., Jordan John (LHP) from Calallen H.S., Chad Kettler (SS) from Coppell H.S., Jack Mayfield (SS) from Del Rio H.S. and Drew Verhagen (RHP) from Heath H.S.
The Sooners’ junior college recruits include Danny Black (INF/OF) from Feather River C.C. (Calif.), Anthony Collazo (LHP) from Howard College (Texas), Rickey Eisenberg (OF) from Cypress College (Calif.), Zach Neal (RHP) from Howard College (Texas), Eric Ross (OF) from Grayson College (Texas) and Bobby Shore (RHP) from Palomar College (Calif.). FULL STORY
Jake Boss Announces First Recruiting Class
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State baseball coach Jake Boss announced the signing of seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Friday (Nov. 14). It is Boss’ first recruiting class since coming to Michigan State in July. Seven of the eight student-athletes are from Michigan.
The Spartans signed the following seven players to National Letters of Intent: Torsten Boss (Lowell, Mich.), Casey Dishman (Saline, Mich.) Jordan Keur (Hudsonville, Mich.), Andy Tinkey (Commerce, Mich.), Andrew Waszak (Rochester Hills, Mich.), Anthony Wieber (Lansing, Mich.) and Joel Williams (Circleville, Ohio). Andy Rademacher (DeWitt, Mich.) has accepted admission into Michigan State.
“We are extremely excited about our first recruiting class here at Michigan State,” said Boss. “my assistants Mark VanAmeyde and Billy Gernon deserve a great deal of credit for bringing in an outstanding group of players, but more importantly, an outstanding group of young men who play the game the right way, have strong character, and are familiar with success and winning. Mark and Billy worked tirelessly throughout the summer and fall and we are reaping the fruits of their labors. This class addresses each of our needs and we are excited to bring these young men and their families into the Michigan State baseball family.” FULL STORY
Mississippi State Announces Signing Of Two
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State has bolstered its 2008-09 baseball recruiting class with the signing of two prep pitchers from Alabama and a catcher from the Mississippi community college ranks.
First-year MSU baseball coach John Cohen announced Friday the signing of right-handed pitcher Ben Bracewell of Chelsea, Ala. (Briarwood Christian School), lefty C.C. Watson of Heflin, Ala. (Cleburne County High School) and Meridian Community College catcher Wesley Thigpen of Luling, La.
“Both Ben and C.C. have a chance to be dual-position players at Mississippi State,” said first-year MSU head coach John Cohen. “They are part of a talented class of pitchers coming out of the Alabama high school ranks this year. And the addition of Wesley Thigpen, a highly-skilled catcher from MCC, strengthens us behind the plate.” FULL STORY
Louisville Baseball Inks Three More Taking 2009 Recruiting Class to Nine
University of Louisville baseball head coach Dan McDonnell announced the signing of catcher J.J. Ethel (Phoenix, Ariz.), outfielder Drew Fitzpatrick (Warren, Ohio) and first baseman Mike Morrison (Fort Wayne, Ind.) to National Letters-of-Intent on Friday increasing the Cards’ 2009 recruiting class to nine.
The latest signees join outfielder Jarred Clarkson (Shelbyville, Ky.), shortstop Kyle Grieshaber (Chesterfield, Mo.), right-handed pitcher Matthew Koch (Cherokee, Iowa), right-handed pitcher Curtis McCombs (Louisville, Ky.), third-baseman Cade Stallings (Knoxville, Tenn.) and shortstop Jason Thompson (Germantown, Tenn.), who were announced on Wednesday and Thursday. The Cards’ entire 2009 recruiting class will be on campus next fall and eligible to compete in the spring of 2010.
“This is a complete recruiting class with balance across the board,” McDonnell said. “Coach Lemonis and Coach Williams did an outstanding job in assembling a group that has speed, power, skill and experience. We have three guys ranked No. 1 in their state respectively, two top 100 players and two potential junior college All-Americans.” FULL STORY
Portland Pilots Baseball Signs Four Recruits
PORTLAND, Ore. — Four high school baseball players have committed to the University of Portland baseball program, announced head coach Chris Sperry. Nick Armenta (OF, Clovis, Calif.), Chris Johnson (RHP, Edmonds, Wash.), Benjamin Ruff (IF/RHP, Fife, Wash.) and Chet Thompson (OF, Gig Harbor, Wash.) have each signed a National Letter of Intent and will join the Pilots next fall.
“We were successful in signing the top four kids we went after and we knocked out some significant recruiting needs with our 2009 class,” Sperry said. “Overall, these kids are a strong group of athletes who bring with them a competitive spirit that we’re seeking. We expect them all to make an impact and grow within our program. We feel fortunate in the success we’ve had this fall and we’re proud to welcome not only some players, but some great families as well, to the University of Portland.” FULL STORY
Central Michigan Baseball Signs Five in Early Signing Period
MOUNT PLEASANT — Five student-athletes have decided to join the Central Michigan baseball program after signing National Letters of Intent, head coach Steve Jaksa announced Saturday.
Three new pitchers, right-hander Scott Marinier (Chicago, Ill./St. Rita HS) along with lefties Dietrich Enns (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East HS) and Josh Cok (Grosse Pointe, Mich./Grosse Pointe North HS) will bolster the pitching staff. A pair of infielders, Jordan Dean (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek HS) and Chris Savas (Villa Park, Ill./Willowbrook HS) will add depth to the lineup in 2010.
“One of the things we are always trying to do is bring in not only high quality athletes but also people with good character and good students. Those two things reflect on what type of player you’re going to be on the field,” Jaksa said. “ We’re not losing very many guys after this year to graduation, but we are going to be losing some pitching. We were fortunate enough to see these three pitchers throw a few times at a few of our camps, and we’re very excited about bringing the three of them in. FULL STORY
Kent State Lands Six Recruits for 2009-10 in Early Signing Period
KENT, Ohio – Kent State University head baseball coach Scott Stricklin announced Friday (Nov. 14) the signing of six baseball players to National Letters of Intent during the November early signing period.
The six recruits, four of which are from Ohio and two of which are from Pennsylvania, include C Jason Bagoly (Austintown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch), RHP Addison Dunn (Warren, Pa./Warren Area), RHP Christian Lockett (Gahanna, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln), INF/RHP George Roberts (Summerhill, Pa./Forest Hills), RHP Brian Taricska (Bay Village, Ohio/Bay) and INF/RHP Casey Wilson (Sagamore Hills, Ohio/Akron Hoban).
“The coaching staff is very excited to have these six young men join our program,” said Stricklin. “They are all great student-athletes who we feel can help us continue our championship ways.”
Bagoly played in the Youngstown Class B Summer League with Rondinelli Sports, where he finished second in the league with a .456 average. Bagoly also played for the Midwest Redbirds in fall baseball, which is an elite travel team run by Brian Hopkins of the St. Louis Cardinals. FULL STORY
