FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
HARRISONBURG, Va., Aug. 3, 2009 – James Madison head coach Spanky McFarland has announced the addition of three players, catcher Billy Logan, outfielder Cole McInturff, and pitcher Nick Slogik, who will join the Dukes as freshmen for the 2010 season.
“We’re very excited about these guys,” commented McFarland. “McInturff is a great athlete who was actually considering coming here to play football. He’s a great hitter. Logan is one of the highest-rated prospects that we’ve brought in this year. He’s a good catch-and-throw guy and is going to hit as well. Slogik possesses a lot of upside. He’s a tall (6’6”) right-hander and throws mid to upper 80s. He has some work to do but in the very near future, he’s going to be good for us.”
Billy Logan, C, R/R, 6-0, 180, Greenup, Ky./Greenup County
Logan earned Second Team All-State honors in the Bluegrass State as a catcher for Greenup County. In Kentucky’s 16th Region, he was named as the Regional Player of the Year after entering the season as an Under Armour and TPX Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American. Logan went on to star in the Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Game held at the University of Kentucky. He went 3-for-3 with a home run, two runs, and a steal. While no MVP award was handed out, Logan was the only player on the East team to get a hit in every at bat.
Cole McInturff, OF, L/L, 5-11, 175, Centreville, Va./Westfield
McInturff was a two-way star at Westfield, helping the football team to a state championship in 2007 and the baseball squad to a district title in 2009. He was named to the first ever GamedayMagazine.com All-Star Game in Northern Virginia, where he started in same outfield with fellow JMU newcomer Johnny Bladel (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge). He was all-district and honorable mention All-Region in the outfield in 2009. He set records with the Bulldogs for season steals (16), season at bats (83), career steals. He hit .410 as a senior with a .540 on-base percentage. McInturff scored eight touchdowns as a receiver in 2008 and was going to walk-on for the JMU football team until his baseball recruiting increased in the spring.
Nick Slogik, RHP, R/R, 6-6, 225, Strongsville, Ohio/St. Edwards
Slogik was a four-year varsity pitcher for the St. Edward Eagles, earning Cuyahoga River All-Conference honors three times. His 2008 team won the Ohio state championship and was ranked 22nd in the nation in USA Today’s Super 25 poll. Slogik was the winning pitcher in the district, regional, and state title games. He was also selected All-Area by ESPN Rise Magazine. As a junior, Slogik was selected for the Buckeye Scout Top 100 in Ohio.
Logan, McInturff, and Slogik join four Dukes who signed in the fall. They include Bladel, pitcher D.J. Brown (Locust Grove, Va./Orange County), infielder Bradley Shaban (Midlothian, Va./Cosby), and corner infielder/outfielder Matt Tenaglia (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East).
The group of seven newcomers will be the first to play their entire careers at JMU’s brand-new facility, Veteran’s Memorial Stadium. The 1,200-seat facility will be part of a baseball/softball complex located near Memorial Hall, which will also feature brand-new locker rooms, weight rooms, training rooms, coaches offices, and indoor practice space. The entire facility is scheduled to be completed in time for opening day of the 2010 season.
