Rob Walton announced the signing of 11 players on Tuesday
FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
TULSA – Oral Roberts’ head baseball coach Rob Walton announced the signing of 11 players to National Letters-of-Intent on Tuesday.
The class consists of eight players from the junior college ranks, along with three prep players currently in their senior seasons of high school. ORU adds four pitchers, three infielders, a catcher, an outfielder and two multi-position athletes.
“This should be a very solid class,” said Walton. “We’ve got some good kids that come from good families. I feel like we’ve addressed issues with help from behind the plate and the middle of the diamond. I feel very good about the quality of person and player that have signed.”
The class of 2009 includes: RHP R.J. Davis (Sac City CC), LHP Mark Guest (South Mountain CC), 3B Brandon Healy (Cathedral Catholic HS), RHP Sean Johnson (Sac City CC), RHP Terance Marin (Modesto JC), C Bennett Pickar (Eaton HS), SS Tyler Saladino (Palomar College), RHP/1B Jared Schlehuber (Joaquin Delta College), RHP/INF Alec Smith (Grandview HS), INF Brett Sowers (Yavapai CC), and OF Joey Winiecki (University of Arkansas-Fort Smith).
“Coach Ryan Neill deserves a lot of the credit,” Walton said. “He did a lot of work on the phones and from the academic side, and got some really good students. He really did an outstanding job of pulling things together.”
2008-09 Oral Roberts University Signing Class
R.J. Davis
RHP/6-2/215/Sacramento, Calif.
Currently enrolled at Sacramento City CC… made 15 appearances with seven starts last season… compiled a 5.35 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 35.1 innings… graduated from Florin High School in Sacramento, Calif., in 2007… holds the all-time strike out record at Florin High… named the All-Delta River League team MVP… chose ORU over Long Beach State and UCF.
Coach Walton on Davis: “R.J. is a big right-handed pitcher with a power arm in the 92 mph range. He has the chance to be the closer for us in the future. He has the power stuff, and he just needs some polishing. He has a great upside and has a chance to be a plus closer at this level.”
Mark Guest
LHP/5-9/150/Plano, Texas
Currently enrolled at South Mountain CC in Phoenix, Ariz… spent last season at the University of Oklahoma… made 19 appearances with one start… posted 19 strikeouts with only six walks in 16.2 innings pitched… three-year letterwinner at Plano West High School… led all Class 5A pitchers with 93 strikeouts and eight wins… an all-state selection by coaches’ association… earned first-team all-district honors as a senior… posted a 2.03 ERA in 58.1 innings and also batted .412 with 15 RBI in 2007.
Coach Walton on Guest: “Mark is one of the key signs for us since we’ve been short with left-handers. Mark reminds me of former ORU standout Jordan Gerk. He’s got plus strike-throwing ability with a plus changeup. He has a chance to get more physical and has the opportunity to be a frontline rotation guy. I feel like Mark will make a major impact on our program. I’m very excited to have him with us.”
Brandon Healy
3B/6-2/170/San Diego, Calif.
Entering his senior season at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif… helped lead Cathedral Catholic to a 27-8 record last season and the section division 3 title… Cathedral Catholic finished ranked No. 3 in San Diego by SD Union Tribune and No. 7 in California by MaxPreps.com… played in 25 games at third base… batted .261 with eight RBI.
Coach Walton on Healy: “Brandon plays first and third base and has a very good stroke. He shows some good power at a young age and has a really good arm. Brandon has the chance to develop in our program and hit for power. He’s a great kid and a great student.”
Sean Johnson
RHP/El Dorado Hills, Calif.
Currently enrolled at Sacramento City CC… made 15 appearances last season with 10 starts, posting a 6-3 record… Johnson’s six wins tied for tops on the squad… recorded a 4.44 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 73.0 innings pitched.
Coach Walton on Johnson: “Sean has a power arm in the 88-91 mph range. He has a good breaking ball and good upside and has a chance to throw even harder. We’re looking for him to come in and solidify a spot on the starting staff.”
Terance Marin
RHP/5-11/145/Modesto, Calif.
Currently enrolled at Modesto JC in Modesto, Calif… posted a 4.22 ERA and a 4-5 record to help Modesto to a 22-17 mark… made 13 appearances with 12 starts and 1 save… recorded 55 strikeouts in 70.1 innings pitched.
Coach Walton on Marin: “Terance is a very good strike thrower in the 88-90 mph range. He has a chance to get into the starting rotation. He can pump it in the zone on a regular basis and has the chance to really get better and make an immediate impact.”
Bennett Pickar
C/6-1/185/Eaton, Colo.
Entering his senior season at Eaton High School in Eaton, Colo… helped lead Eaton High to the state title last season… selected all-conference in 2007 and 2008… batted .522 on legion B team, which also won the state title… currently on pace to graduate among top five of class… chose ORU over Nebraska, Northern Colorado, Cal State Northridge, and Lamar University.
Coach Walton on Pickar: “Bennett was a really good sign for us. His potential is off the charts. We’ve had some really good catchers here in the past and he’s cut out of the same mold and could be a big prospect. Bennett has the chance to be one of the better catch-and-throw guys we’ve had in the last 10-12 years and that’s saying a lot. He has the chance to make an immediate impact as a freshman.”
Tyler Saladino
SS/6-0/189/San Diego, Calif.
Currently enrolled at Palomar College in San Marcos, Calif… earned first-team All-Pacific Coast honors last season at Palomar… hit .348 with 16 doubles, two triples, four homers and a team-leading 33 RBI… saw action in 45 games while starting in 41… posted a .585 slugging percentage, which also led the squad… lettered three seasons at University City High School… named second-team All-Western League in 2006 and 2007.
Coach Walton on Saladino: “Tyler is a very, very good athlete. He’s got a big league arm and range. He can make the exceptional play. He’s going to be in the mold of the shortstops we’ve had. His athleticism and passion is exciting and we feel he’ll be our shortstop for the next few years and we’re excited to have him.”
Jared Schlehuber
RHP/1B/6-3/200/Aurora, Colo.
Currently enrolled at Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, Calif… took a medical redshirt last season at Florida International University… was a three-sport star at Grandview High School in Aurora, Colo… batted .427 with 14 doubles, four triples and 59 RBI during his career at Grandview… set school record with 10 career wins… compiled a 3.22 ERA with 56 strikeouts and three saves… earned first-team all-conference and all-city honors in 2006 and 2007… named to the all-state honorable mention team… led football team to the final four of the state playoffs as the starting quarterback… chose ORU over New Mexico.
Coach Walton on Schlehuber: “Jared is a big right-handed pitcher and first baseman who should be a rotation guy for us. He has a power arm in the 88-92 mph range and has a chance to be a special prospect on the mound. He could also DH for us and give us depth on offense. Jared should make an impact on both sides of the ball.”
Alec Smith
RHP/INF/5-10/Aurora, Colo.
Currently in his senior season at Grandview HS in Aurora, Colo… batted .324 with 10 doubles and 20 RBI last summer… also logged 18 innings on the mound, posting a 3.38 ERA with 10 strikeouts… hit at a .394 clip in 2007 with 13 doubles, 3 triples, two homers and a team-leading 41 RBI… made nine starts with two complete games in 2007… fanned 36 batters in 36 innings pitched.
Coach Walton on Smith: “Alec has the chance to be a two-way player for us. I like his athleticism and ability to compete. Alec is another great kid and student from a great family. His upside is tremendous as a pitcher and an infielder.”
Brett Sowers
INF/5-10/181/Englewood, Colo.
Currently enrolled at Yavapai CC in Prescott, Ariz… spent two seasons at Nebraska, redshirting in 2007… appeared in 19 contests for the Huskers last season… made first collegiate start against No. 21 Oklahoma State… drove in two runs with a pinch hit against Northern Colorado… hit .148 in 19 at-bats… drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 47th round of the 2006 MLB Draft… earned third-team ABCA All-America honors as a senior at Cherry Creek High School in Englewood, Colo… named the Colorado Player of the Year by the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News in 2006… batted .516 as a senior with 10 homers and 46 RBI.
Coach Walton on Sowers: “Brett has a chance to come in and play third base and hit in the middle of the lineup. He can hit for power and solidify the corner for us and should make an immediate impact for the program.”
Joey Winiecki
OF/6-0/164/Bryant, Ark.
Currently enrolled at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith… a JUCO All-America honorable mention selection last season… led the Lions in batting average (.444), hits (100), on-base percentage (.484) and stolen bases (30)… Winiecki’s 100 hits set an all-time school record… hit seven doubles, two triples, five home runs and 57 RBI for a slugging percentage of .560… chose ORU over Penn State, Arkansas State, Baylor and New Orleans.
Coach Walton on Winiecki: “Joey is a really good sign for us. He’s a centerfielder and has a chance to hit leadoff right away. He’s a true leadoff hitter, and we’ll miss Brendan Duffy this year, but it’ll be nice to have Joey solidify that position the following season. He’s another player that should make an immediate impact.”
