FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
The Georgia State baseball team added three student-athletes who signed a National Letter of Intent during the early signing period, head coach Greg Frady announced Thursday. The trio includes a pair of pitchers and a catcher who will play for the Panthers starting with the 2010 season.
“Overall, I am very happy with our signing class,” commented Head Coach Greg Frady. “We really wanted to bring in some quality, difference makers and I feel that we have done that. I think we hit the target on these three very experienced, quality student-athletes.”
The 2008-2009 early signing class includes:
Chaz Abeln RHP/3B 6-0 195 lbs. R/R Sebring, Fla. (South Florida CC/Sebring HS)
Shane Hammond C 6-0 185 lbs. R/R Kennesaw, Ga. (Young Harris JC/Harrison HS)
Charles Olson RHP 6-2 180 lbs. R/R Largo, Fla. (Pasco-Hernando CC/Clearwater Central Catholic HS)
Georgia State enters the 2008 season coming off a record-shattering year. The Panthers won the most games in school history (33) after starting the season 8-0. State returns four All-CAA honorees this spring, led by 11 seniors who will look to get the Panthers back to the CAA Tournament in Wilmington in May.
Chaz Abeln
Will come to Georgia State after two years as a member of the South Florida Community College Panthers and a semester at Florida International … Coming out of Sebring High School, Abeln earned Heartland Player-of-the-Year honors and Team MVP his senior year after going 12-1 with a 1.50 ERA and 117 strikeouts, while batting .386 with five home runs and earning all-state second team honors … Chaz is a tremendous athlete and will step in immediately as a dual player … Chaz is the son of Shon and Bobbie Abeln of Sebring, Fla. … Abeln intends to major in Sports Management.
Frady on Abeln: “Chaz will come in and immediately contend for a spot in the rotation. He is very competitive and I think will bring a lot to this staff.”
Abeln on Georgia State: “I just felt like it was the right fit. I loved the coaching staff, the school and the potential of the baseball program.”
Shane Hammond
Shane will spend the 2009 season as a catcher for the Young Harris Mountain Lions … He spent his freshman year at Davidson, batting .270 in 21 games, including nine starts … While in high school, Hammond was an AP Scholar and Georgia Merit Scholar, as well as a 2007 Under Armour Preseason All-American at Harrison High School for coach Mark Elkins … Shane is the son of Greg and Lyn Hammond of Kennesaw, Ga. … Hammond plans to major in psychology.
Frady on Hammond: “I am very excited that we were able to sign Shane. We will lose a veteran catcher in Marc Mimeault after this season and I think Shane will be able to step right in as he has a lot of experience and is very consistent behind the plate.”
Hammond on Georgia State: “I chose Georgia State because of the great baseball program and the academic excellence of the school. The baseball program is on the rise and I am looking forward to being a part of the Georgia State family.”
Charles Olson
Olson will come to Georgia State after two seasons at Pasco-Hernando Community College … He redshirted last season after spending 2006 at Eckerd College … Played in high school for Clearwater Central Catholic and coach Todd Vaughan … Coming out of high school, was team MVP in 2005, as well as All-SunCoast Honorable Mention … Was also named to the Street & Smith’s Top 100 Seniors to watch in 2006 … Finished his senior season with a 6-2 record, 1.15 ERA and 91 strikeouts … Charles is the son of Ronald and Kathy Olson of Largo, Fla. … Plans to major in Business Administration at State.
Frady on Olson: “Charley is a right-handed pitcher who will help right from the start of his career at Georgia State. He has very good arm recovery and will be able to pitch in a lot of different roles for us.”
Olson on Georgia State: “I picked Georgia State to continue my education at a good business school while being close to my family and getting the opportunity to play college baseball at the highest level for this coaching staff.”
“We are excited about this recruiting class and must fill a number of spots yet for the 2009/2010 season,” stated Frady. We are looking for players willing to come to play at Georgia State and make an impact immediately.”
The trio completes Georgia State’s early signing class, but Frady and the Panthers will add to the group in the spring when the late signing period begins in mid-April.
