UNC Ink 18 for 2009-2010 season

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FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Eighteen of the nation’s top baseball student-athletes, including seven of the top 112 prep prospects, signed with the University of North Carolina this month and will join the Tar Heels in the fall of 2009, head coach Mike Fox announced Monday. This class is comprised of eight players from North Carolina and 10 others from nine different states.

“My staff of Scott Forbes, Scott Jackson and Matt McCay have worked diligently and without rest over the past 18 months putting this class together,” said Fox, the 2008 Baseball America National Coach of the Year. “We received commitments from these 18 players over the last 14 months starting with the first one Sept. 1, 2007, and ending with the last one Nov. 10, 2008.

“I thank my coaching staff for an outstanding job especially over the last five months. They have not stopped since we returned from Omaha in late June. Chad Flack, our undergraduate assistant coach and perhaps the most recognizable Carolina baseball player ever, was also instrumental in helping us with on-campus visits and talking with these young men about the wonderful student-athlete experience at Carolina.”

Fox and his staff searched far and wide to fill this class. In addition to signing eight of the top prospects in North Carolina, the Tar Heels landed top recruits from Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Texas and Virginia.

“We achieved our goal of getting the very best players we possibly could from the state of North Carolina then finding those players from out of state who were not only very good players and students but also wanted to be at UNC,” said Fox. “We signed ten players from nine different states, which shows not only how hard my staff worked but how attractive Carolina was to student athletes from all over the country.”

Highlighting the class are the seven players rated among the top 112 prospects. Right-handed pitcher Jacob Turner (St. Charles, Mo.), ranked fifth by Baseball America and Perfect Game, and outfielder Brian Goodwin (Rocky Mount, N.C.), rated 10th by Baseball America, give the Tar Heels a pair of top-10 signees. Right-hander Matt Graham (Spring, Texas) is rated No. 48 by Baseball America, and two-way standout Cody Stiles (Coral Springs, Fla.) checks in at No. 41 according to Perfect Game.

Infielder Levi Michael (Welcome, N.C.) is rated the nation’s No. 63 prospect by Perfect Game. He will enroll at Carolina in January and will suit up for the Tar Heels this spring. Right-handers Parker Thomas (Winston-Salem, N.C.) and Tim Brechbuehler (Gillette, N.J.) round out this group. Thomas is rated No. 104, and Brechbuehler No. 112 by Perfect Game.

On the state level, Carolina secured eight of North Carolina’s top 20 prospects according to Impact Baseball. In Michael (tied at No. 1), Goodwin (No. 2), No. 4-ranked right-hander Chris Munnelly (Winston-Salem) and No. 5-ranked outfielder Chaz Frank (Lexington), the Tar Heels have inked four of the top six players in the state. Joining this group is left-hander Zach Bernard (Durham, No. 20), right-hander Bryan Mitchell (Reidsville, No. 10), right-hander Cody Penny (Granite Falls, No. 17) and Thomas (No. 12).

The Tar Heels also continued their success in the northeast by signing the infielder Tommy Coyle (Chalfont, Pa.), the No. 8 prospect in Pennsylvania, outfielder Brett Knief (Ramsey, N.J.), the No. 12 player in New Jersey, and outfielder Josh Leemhuis (Potomac, Md.), the No. 5 prospect in Maryland. Left-hander R.C. Orlan (Glen Allen, Va.) also adds to Carolina’s East Coast signees.

UNC also signed a pair of transfers that will join the program in the fall of 2009 in infielder Dillon Hazlett (Allen County CC) and catcher Jesse Wierzbicki (Walters State CC). Hazlett is originally from Topeka, Kan., and Wierzbicki hails from Newnan, Ga.

“We feel confident that we have succeeded in meeting our immediate and long term needs for our program,” said Fox. “We brought in ten pitchers who all have the ability and potential to help us maintain our level of pitching success we have enjoyed the last three seasons. We feel that our position players are all athletic and versatile which will serve us well in the future. This group also brings outstanding academic achievement to our University and all come from great families. My staff and I are very excited about these young men joining our program and The University of North Carolina.”

2009 NORTH CAROLINA BASEBALL SIGNEES
Name Hometown Last School Pos. Ht./Wt.
Zach Bernard Durham, N.C. Jordan LHP 5-11/160
Tim Brechbuehler Gillette, N.J. Avon Old Farms School RHP 6-8/205
Tommy Coyle Chalfont, Pa. Germantown Academy INF 5-9/170
Chaz Frank Lexington, N.C. Central Davidson OF 5-10/160
Brian Goodwin Rocky Mount, N.C. Rocky Mount OF 6-1/185
Matt Graham Spring, Texas Oak Ridge RHP 6-3/195
Dillon Hazlett Topeka, Kan. Allen County CC INF 6-1/185
Brett Knief Ramsey, N.J. Don Bosco Prep OF 6-0/185
Josh Leemhuis Potomac, Md. St. John’s College H.S. OF 5-11/185
Levi Michael Welcome, N.C. North Davidson INF 5-10/165
Bryan Mitchell Reidsville, N.C. Rockingham County RHP 6-1/175
Chris Munnelly Winston-Salem, N.C. Forsyth Country Day RHP 6-2/165
R.C. Orlan Glen Allen, Va. Deep Run LHP 5-11/180
Cody Penny Granite Falls, N.C. South Caldwell RHP 6-3/195
Cody Stiles Coral Springs Fla. J.P. Taravella RHP/OF 6-1/180
Parker Thomas Winston-Salem, N.C. Mount Tabor RHP 6-5/225
Jacob Turner St. Charles, Mo. Westminster Christian RHP 6-4/205
Jesse Wierzbicki Newnan, Ga. Walters State CC C 6-2/200

Zach Bernard, Durham, N.C., Jordan High School, LHP, 5-11/160
Played on the 2008 State Games select team and was an All-Pac 6 selection at Jordan High School • A strike throwing left-handed pitcher who is very polished in his mechanics and his ability to pitch • Ranks as one of the top LHP in the state • Coached by former Tar Heel Devy Bell at Jordan.

Tim Brechbuehler, Gillette, N.J., Avon Old Farms School, RHP, 6-8/205
Ranked as the 36th-best right-handed pitcher in the nation by perfect game and ranked 112th prospect in the country by Perfect Game • Rated as the sixth-best prospect in New Jersey • Tall pitcher with tons of projection and has a fastball that has reached 93 • Coached by Rob Dowling at Avon Old Farms.

Tommy Coyle, Chalfont, Pa., Germantown Academy, INF, 5-9/170
Rated the No. 8 prospect in Pennsylvania by Perfect Game • Invited to the 2008 Perfect Game National Showcase • Hit better than .420 all three years at Germantown and posted a .471 average as a junior • Three-time all-conference choice • A great athlete with speed and a flat line-drive swing • Earned All-Philadelphia News honors as a junior • Coached by John Duffy at Germantown Academy.

Chaz Frank, Lexington, N.C., Central Davidson High School, OF, 5-10/160
Ranks as the No. 5 prospect in North Carolina by Impact Baseball • Played in the North Carolina vs. South Carolina 2009 Impact Futures Game • A speedy outfielder with a power left-handed bat • First-team all-state pick as a junior in 2008 • Earned all-conference honors last season • Coached by Jonathan Brown at Central Davidson.

Brian Goodwin, Rocky Mount, N.C., Rocky Mount High School, OF, 6-1/185
An athletic and versatile player possessing five-tool potential • Gifted center fielder with outstanding instincts and pure speed • Rate the nation’s No. 10 prospect by Baseball America and 15th by Perfect Game • Ranked the No. 2 prospect in the state of North Carolina by Impact Baseball • Named MVP of the AFLAC All-America game this summer at Dodger Stadium • His 2-for-4 performance was highlighted by the game-winning hit in the ninth inning • Coached by Pat Smith at Rocky Mount.

Matt Graham, Spring, Texas, Oak Ridge High School, RHP, 6-3/195
A power-armed right-handed pitcher • Rated as one of the best high school pitchers in the country over his prep career • Ranked as the No. 48 overall prospect by Baseball America • Selected for and played in national events such as the 2008 Aflac All-America Game in Dodger Stadium and the 2008 Under Armour All-America game at Wrigley Field • Also an outstanding student • Has shown a fastball in the mid 90s and a hard-biting breaking ball • Coached by Stacy Scheiner at Oak Ridge.

Dillon Hazlett, Topeka, Kan., Allen County CC, INF, 6-1/185
A versatile player from Allen County CC that can play all over the field • His speed, arm strength, experience and bat allowed him to garner Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Freshman of the Year Honors at Allen County CC in 2008 • Hit .387 while stealing 26 bases for the Red Devils • Also a standout quarterback and point guard at Topeka High School prior to his arrival in ACCC in Iola, Kan. • Coached by Valis McLean at Allen County.

Brett Knief, Ramsey, N.J., Don Bosco Prep, OF, 6-0/185
Ranked as the 12th best player in New Jersey and the one of the most athletic outfielders in the country • Also the starting quarterback for one of the top high school football programs in the country • A tough gritty player that plays very hard • Has great speed and hit over .500 in high school last season • Coached by Greg Butler at Don Bosco.

Josh Leemhuis, Potomac, Md., St. John’s College High School, OF, 5-11/185
Rated the No. 5 prospect in Maryland by Perfect Game • Has power at the plate and a great arm in the outfield • Selected for the 2008 Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field • Two-time all-conference pick • Honor Roll student each semester • Brother plays football at Virginia • Coached by Mark Gibbs at St. John’s.

Levi Michael, Welcome, N.C., North Davidson High School, INF, 5-10/165
Will enroll at North Carolina in January and will play for the Tar Heels in 2009 • Ranked as the No. 1 prospect in North Carolina by Impact Baseball and is rated No. 63 nationally by Perfect Game • One of the most talented players in the country and a shortstop with a great arm and great range • • A switch hitter who shows a great swing from both sides of the plate and has above average power from both sides • Also a very fast and aggressive base runner • Coached by Mike Meadows at North Davidson.

Bryan Mitchell, Reidsville, N.C., Rockingham County High School, RHP, 6-1/175
One of the top prospects in the state of North Carolina • Ranked the No. 10 prospect in the state by Impact Baseball • Rated the No. 162 prospect in the nation by Perfect Game • Played in the prestigious East Coast Professional Showcase • Possesses a live fastball and devastating curveball • Coached by Chris Loye at Rockingham County.

Chris Munnelly, Winston-Salem, N.C., Forsyth Country Day School, RHP, 6-2/165
Rated the No. 4 player in North Carolina by Impact Baseball and is ranked as one of the top right-handers on the East Coast, as well as the nation • All-state selection and team most valuable player • Two-time all-conference and all-county performer • Has great command and feel for the strike zone. Has earned national rankings and spots in national showcases like the Perfect Game 2008 National Showcase in the Metrodome • Coached by Chris Cox at Forsyth Country Day.

R.C. Orlan, Glen Allen, Va., Deep Run High School, LHP, 5-11/180
A promising left-hander from Virginia • Named a 2008 all-district selection and was selected to the Virginia Commonwealth Games • Led his team to the state championship and was also first-team all-academic choice • Recruited by the Tar Heels after he showed outstanding skill at the UNC Winter Camp • Has an out breaking ball and good athleticism on the mound • Coached by Grant O’Dell at Deep Run.

Cody Penny, Granite Falls, N.C., South Caldwell High School, RHP, 6-3/195
A tall and athletic right-hander from the same high school as current Tar Heel pitcher Jimmy Messer and former first-round pick and Carolina signee Madison Bumgarner • Named to the 2008 All-NWC team and went 8-1 as a junior • Recruited after he attended the UNC Winter Camp in 2007 • Shown a fastball in the upper 80s consistently and the ability to throw the ball over 90 mph • Has a good breaking ball and uses his change-up very well • Tall and powerful pitcher with a very high ceiling that projects very high and is currently an outstanding pitcher • Coached by Jeff Parham at South Caldwell.

Cody Stiles, Coral Springs Fla., J.P. Taravella High School, RHP/OF, 6-1/180
Ranked as the No. 41 overall high school prospect in the country by Perfect Game and the 10th best prospect in the state of Florida • A two-way player with power and speed at the plate and a great arm on the mound • Hit .465 with six home runs and only struck out two times last season • Owns an electric arm and a plus breaking ball on the mound • Coached by Jason Stein at J.P. Taravella.

Parker Thomas, Winston-Salem, N.C., Mount Tabor High School, RHP, 6-5/225
Ranked the No. 12 prospect in North Carolina by Impact Baseball and rated as the No. 104 prospect nationally by Perfect Game • Has a power fastball that sits in the 90s • Also a standout football player at tight end and on the defensive line • Coached by Mike Lovelace at Mount Tabor.

Jacob Turner, St. Charles, Mo., Westminster Christian Academy, RHP, 6-4/205
Rated the nation’s No. 5 prospect by Baseball America and Perfect Game • Ranked No. 1 in Missouri by Perfect Game • A very polished pitcher with an electric arm • Member of United States Under-18 National Team in 2008 • Also named to Aflac and Under Armour All-America squads • Three-time all-state pick • First-team all-metro as a sophomore and second-team as a junior • Coached by Rick Vangilst at Westminster Christian.

Jesse Wierzbicki, Newnan, Ga., Walters State CC, C, 6-2/200
Led Walters State to the 2008 Junior College World Series • Hit .433 with nine home runs, 33 RBI and 12 stolen bases • Drafted in the 40th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft by the Atlanta Braves but did not sign • An athletic catcher with a great swing and lots of power • Coached by Ken Campbell at Walters State and by Kenny Morris at Newnan High School.