FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
(Courtesy of GA State)
Coming off the most successful season in school history, the Georgia State baseball team has added seven student-athletes who signed a National Letter of Intent during the spring signing period as announced by head coach Greg Frady on Tuesday morning.
The seven newcomers are added to the trio of student-athletes that signed during the early signing period last fall.
“Building on last year’s success, this is one of our strongest recruiting classes in school history,” commented head coach Greg Frady. “This class will fill the voids left by the 11 seniors that graduated and played at an extremely high level. With their talent, we should be able to maintain our level of success that we have built in the past.”
The 2009 spring signing class includes:
David Buchanan – RHP, 6-3, 190 lbs., R/R
Atlanta, Ga. (Chipola JC/Fayette Co. HS)
Bryan Condotta – 2B/SS, 6-0, 180 lbs., R/R
Mississauga, Ontario (Bossier Parish CC/Our Lady of Mt. Carmel)
Ryan Fleming – OF, 6-4, 220 lbs., L/R
Whitby, Ontario (Iowa Western CC/Henry Street HS)
Jeremy Gazerro – RHP, 6-0, 165 lbs., R/R
Calhoun, Ga. (Andrew College/Gordon Central HS)
Wesley Grant – LHP, 5-11, 190 lbs., L/L
Benton, Ark. (Bossier Parish CC/Benton HS)
Mark Micowski – OF, 6-2, 175 lbs., L/R
Haddam, Conn. (Univ. of Vermont/Xavier HS)
Carter Sackett – C/OF, 6-2, 195 lbs., R/R
Savage, Minn. (Iowa Central CC/Burnesville HS)
Georgia State enters the 2009 season coming off a record-shattering year. The Panthers won the CAA Championship and earned the school’s first NCAA Regional bid, while winning the most games in school history (39) and setting new standards for runs, hits, RBIs, strikeouts and saves. The squad also tied the longest winning streak in school history to end the regular season at eight. State returns four All-CAA honorees next spring as the Panthers will look to defend their championship and return to Wilmington in May.
Assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Brad Stromdahl added his thoughts on each of the seven newcomers.
David Buchanan
Was ranked among the top 40 in the state of Florida by Baseball America after pitching for Chipola Junior College…Was drafted in the sixth round, 194th overall, in June’s MLB draft by the New York Mets (fifth organizational pick)…Went 4-2 in 15 appearances for Chipola during his sophomore season, leading the team to the conference championship game…Ranked as the 24th top junior college prospect according to PGCrosschecker.com …Went to Fayette County High School, earning team MVP honors and was team captain his senior year…David is the son of Stacy Wood and Andy Buchanan of Peachtree City…Plans to major in sports medicine.
Stromdahl on Buchanan: “David is a special pitcher who has the ability to step in and pitch on the weekend right away. Last year he showed the ability to both start and close at the junior college level. We will be able to utilize his talents immediately during the upcoming season.”
Bryan Condotta
Made the sophomore all-star game during his second season at Bossier Parish Community College…A speedster on the base paths, stealing 20 bases in 2009 and 18 in 2008…Batted .292 with 29 runs scored in 44 games played last season at Bossier Parish…Attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, earning a 3.8 GPA…Bryan is the son of Lino and Maria Condotta of Mississauga, Ontario…His brother Steven played in the Toronto Blue Jays organization…He plans to major in economics.
Stromdahl on Condotta: “Bryan is an outstanding athlete with game-changing speed. He will be a solid offensive threat and great defensive player in the middle infield. Bryan comes from a lineage of baseball players and we expect him to be able to step in immediately and play at the division one level.”
Ryan Fleming
Comes to State after a year at Iowa Western Community College, following his freshman year at the University of Evansville…Helped to lead Iowa Western to the College World Series last season, after primarily being used as a utility player as a freshman at Evansville…Earned team MVP honors at Henry Street High School his senior year…Hit six home runs to go along with a .650 batting average during this senior season…Joined the Ontario Blue Jays travel team and compiled a .390 batting average with five home runs the following summer…Ryan is the son of Steve and Kathy Fleming of Whitby, Ontario, Canada…Plans to major in business.
Stromdahl on Fleming: “Ryan will bring a presence to the middle of our line-up next year. He has the ability to hit for average and power and has valuable division one experience coming to State. He brings a wealth of experience with him after helping to lead his team to the Junior College World Series last season.”
Jeremy Gazerro
Spent two years at Andrew College in Cuthbert, Ga…During his sophomore season, earned four wins in 16 appearances, including 10 starts, pitching one complete game shutout…Pitched 64.2 innings, striking out 48 and holding opponents to a .258 batting average…Played high school ball at Gordon Central in Calhoun, earning team MVP and all-county honors his senior year…Jeremy is the son of Joe Gazerro and Angela Ray…He plans to major in criminal justice.
Stromdahl on Gazerro: “Jeremy will be able to step in and solidify an already solid pitching staff. His experience on the mound will help bolster and add depth to the rotation as he can serve as both a starter or pitch in middle relief.”
Wesley Grant
Comes to State after one year at Bossier Parish Community College and two years at the University of Central Arkansas…Last season, compiled a 2-1 record in 18 appearances, starting eight games…Pitched 40.2 innings, striking out 44 and compiling a 4.20 ERA, holding opponents to just a .211 batting average…Redshirted his first season at Central Arkansas and saw limited action his second year, making nine appearances and throwing 8.1 innings, striking out nine…Wesley is the son of Rick and Susan Grant…Plans to major in marketing.
Stromdahl on Grant: “Wes has an outstanding arm. He will be able to make an immediate impact and get division one hitters out. He is a tremendous athlete and brings a wealth of knowledge with him from his three previous years of collegiate baseball experience.”
Mark Micowski
Transfers to Georgia State from the University of Vermont after the school discontinued the program…Earned America East All-Conference second team honors after finishing his sophomore year with a .365 batting average and leading the Catamounts with 28 stolen bases…Started all but two games for Vermont, scoring a team high 80 hits as a second year player…During his freshman season, earned America East All-Rookie team honors and was named to the academic honor roll…Batted .285 with 16 stolen bases, leading the team, while finishing second in runs scored with 41…Graduated from Xavier High School as one of the top high school players in Connecticut as a senior in 2007…Mark is the son of Michael and Linda Micowski…He plans to major in political science.
Stromdahl on Micowski: “Mark will have an easy transition to Georgia State after playing at the highest level the last two seasons at Vermont. He has valuable division one experience and is dynamic at both the plate and on the bases. Mark is a multi-tool player and will have a presence at the top of the line-up next season.”
Carter Sackett
Comes to Georgia State after two years at Iowa Central Community College, earning all-region first team honors last season…During his sophomore year, hit 15 home runs while driving in 53 runs, leading the team in both categories, while also batting .367 with a .485 on base percentage for the Tritons…Finished his two-year career with Iowa Central with 23 home runs, second all-time in school history…Played at Burnesville High School…Carter is the son of Roger and Kitty Sackett.
Stromdahl on Sackett: “Carter is a talented catcher who brings toughness behind the plate. He has a great arm and will be able to hit for power right away. Carter has continued to show improvement both at and behind the plate year after year and we expect that to continue with as a member of Georgia State.”
The returning players and all of the newcomers will report back to Georgia State in the middle of next month for the first day of classes on August 17th.
