St. Mary’s adds 18 for 2010 Season

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FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE

Moraga, CA – There will be a number of new faces out at Louis Guisto Field next week when the Saint Mary’s College Baseball team begins fall practice. Head coach Jedd Soto brought in 16 student-athletes to compete for a position on the 2010 roster. The incoming class includes 10 pitchers, five infielders, two outfielders, and one catcher.

"This is an exceptional class," Said Soto. " Associate head coach Gabe Zappin and recruiting coordinator Lloyd Acosta did an outstanding job in recruiting players that have the ability to help our program compete for championships. With four players named as a freshman all-American the last four seasons, I have no doubt that we will continue that tradition with this class. This talented class will compliment our returning 2010 team and I am proud and excited to announce this class as I know they will represent us with excellence on and off the field."

A balanced mix of pitchers and position players, the class of 2013 comes to Saint Mary’s with impressive high school careers and will be counted on to make immediate contributions to the baseball team, both on and off the field.

Martin Agosta is a right-handed pitcher from Sacramento, CA. He played at Jesuit High School (Carmichael, CA) and helped lead his team to a Delta River League Championship and Sac-Joaquin Division 1 Sectional Championship. Jesuit finished the season ranked 11th in California. As a frontline pitcher on the staff, Agosta made 10 appearances, recorded five wins, one loss, one save, and struck out 57 in 45 innings. Agosta was named to the All-Delta River League team.

A left-handed pitcher from the Delta River League runner-up, Pleasant Grove High School (Elk Grove, CA), Dylan Chavez finished near the top of the league leader board in three major pitching categories. Chavez’s 1.83 ERA put him in the top three in the league, his 43 strikeouts put him in the top six in the league, and his record of four wins and zero losses put him in the top five in the league. The Rancho Murieta native was honored as a Delta River League First Team All-League pitcher. He was also named to the Optimist All-Star Team. Chavez received recognition off the field as well as the recipient of a Golden Seal Merit Diploma for academic achievement.

A shortstop from Granite Bay High School (CA), Travis Israel was rock solid on both offense and defense for the Sac-Joaquin Sectional Finalists. At the plate, he was fourth in the Sierra Foothill League with a .447 batting average, had 42 hits, which included nine doubles and three home runs, was fourth in the league with a .702 slugging percentage, and was fifth in the league with a .523 on base percentage. Israel also scored 33 runs and knocked in 27, good enough for third in the league, and made only five errors in the field. Israel was named to the All-Sierra Foothill First Team and the All-Metro Second Team in the Sacramento area. He was also recognized as a top performer within the San Joaquin Sectional, and was named an Optimist All-Star. In the classroom, he was identified as a scholar-athlete at Granite Bay, graduating with a 3.4 grade point average.

Jason Kalber is a left-handed pitcher from Chandler High School (AZ).  In 12 appearances, Kalber had six wins and five complete games. He struck out 61 batters, had a 2.76 ERA, and held opposing hitters to a .233 batting average, placing him in the top five of the 5A Fiesta District, earning him a 5A Fiesta District First Team selection. He was also named Second Team 5A Arizona All-State by the Arizona Republic. Kalber maintained a grade point average over 4.0 all four years of high school, and graduated with a scholar diploma and high honors.

Also joining the Gaels from Chandler High School is Jason Kalber’s twin brother, Markus. A middle infielder, Markus Kalberhelped his team through the first four rounds of the Arizona state playoffs before they bowed out in the quarterfinals. In 33 games, Markus slammed 33 hits, with eight doubles and 21 runs scored, and committed only one error on defense.  He was named an honorable mention in the Class 5A Fiesta District. Also a standout in the classroom, Markus finished with a 4.2 grade point average and graduated with high honors.

Brenden Kalfus is an outfielder from Temecula, CA. A three-year letter winner in baseball at Temecula Valley High School, Kalfus helped his team to a conference championship in the Southwestern League’s Division 1, and a final ranking of 15 in California as a senior. In his final two seasons at Temecula Valley HS, he combined for 50 hits, nine of them by way of the home run, 40 runs batted in, and 25 stolen bases. He was also recognized as the best defensive player by his peers. His efforts did not stop in the classroom, as Kalfus was named to the 2008-2009 United States Scholar Athlete Team.

Following current Gaels Michael Cipolla, Conor Larkin, and Taylor Reid from De La Salle High School (CA) is Patrick Keane, a right-handed pitcher from Clayton, CA. Keane was a major contributor to a team that finished the season ranked 18th in California, and was no stranger in the Northern California Sectional Championship game. As a sophomore, Keane was part of the championship team, while in 2009, the East Bay Athletic League Champions were runner-ups. On the season, Keane had seven wins in 14 appearances, tied for first in the EBAL, and his 91 strikeouts ranked him second in the league. He also sported a 1.56 ERA, and opponents only hit .222 against him. Keane received a number of postseason accolades. He was a First Team All-East Bay Athletic League selection, won the Cy Young Award for De La Salle, and the Contra Costa Times chose him for their All-Star team and named him one of the top 100 athletes in all of Contra Costa County for 2008-09.

Darius McClelland is a left-handed pitcher from Pinewood High School in Los Altos, CA. A four-year letter winner in baseball, in his senior season, McClelland helped lead his team to the most victories in school history. McClelland led the league in ERA his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, the lowest coming in his senior season when it was 0.94. Also as a senior, he recorded five wins and four saves, was top in the league with 93 strikeouts in 59.2 innings, and held opponents to a .140 batting average against him. McClelland was named to the First Team All-Peninsula-Lake League.

Brad Nease is also joining the Gaels from Granite Bay High School (CA). The left-handed pitcher was a co-captain in 2009, when he recorded five wins and one save, and had a 2.04 ERA, which was good enough for third in the Sierra Foothill League. Nease also struck out 40 hitters. He had a knack for the big game in the 2009, as he faced seven teams in the Sacramento Bee Top-20. In those games, his team had a 6-1 record and he recorded four wins, one save, and a 2.31 ERA. He was named to Sierra Foothill All-League team. Nease graduated with honors, boasting a 3.52 grade point average. 

Cole Norton comes to Saint Mary’s from Regis Jesuit High School (Aurora, CO). The outfielder helped lead his team to a no. 7 ranking in Colorado. He was named to the Colorado All-State team as a senior, and to the Academic All-State teams as both a junior and a senior. He also participated in the Colorado Rockies 2009 pre-draft workout. Off the field, he was named to Regis Jesuit’s academic honor roll all four years, and received a leadership award for his involvement with the Special Olympics.

Shawn O’Brien is a first baseman from Kamiakin High School (WA). The Kennewick, WA product was a member of a 2008 American Legion state and northwest regional champion, and national runner-up. In his senior season, O’Brien had a batting average of .500, good enough for third on his squad, and had four home runs to lead his team. He was named to the All-Area First Team and the AP Class 4A All-State Second Team. He was also recognized as a top 10 player in Oregon’s prestigious All State Feeder Games for high school seniors.

Another local product is Nick Pasquale from Antioch High School (CA). The right-handed pitcher had 16 appearances in his senior season, collected six wins (two of them complete games), struck out 68, and had a 2.91 ERA. He was named First Team All-Bay Valley Athletic League for his efforts. In the classroom, he was recognized as a scholar-athlete in all three of his seasons on the varsity squad.

Sean Purtell is a catcher from Casa Grande High School (CA). The Petaluma, CA product helped lead his team to the North Coast Sectional Finals in both 2008 and 2009. He hit .435, which was fourth overall in the Sonoma County League, cracked four home runs (good enough to tie for first) and led the league with a slugging percentage of .706. He was named to All-Sonoma County League First Team and was an All-Redwood Empire First Team selection. Additionally, he was the recipient of the Bob Leslie Memorial Award. For his efforts in the classroom, he was a member of the National Honor Society and was the recipient of the United States Marines Distinguished Athlete Scholarship.

After a career in which he was named All-State in California in both football and baseball, Justin Rahn comes to Saint Mary’s from Monta Vista High School. The pitcher/outfielder from Cupertino, CA had a solid senior season both on the mound and at the plate. On the bump, Rahn appeared 12 times, and recorded four wins (which led the De Anza League) and one save. He had a 1.97 ERA and struck out 45, both of which led the league, and held opposing hitters to a .206 batting average. At the plate, Rahn led the league with a .429 batting average, had 42 hits (11 of which were doubles), scored 22 runs, and had 24 runs batted in, good enough for second in the league. He also led the league in slugging percentage (.592), on base percentage (.513), and stolen bases (8). He was named to the First Team in both the De Anza League and Central Coast Section.  Rahn was an honor roll student all four years of high school.

Mikey Reynolds comes to the Gaels from Mountain Ridge High School (AZ). The shortstop from Glendale, AZ helped lead his team to an Arizona Class 5A Desert Valley District Championship. Reynolds was an offensive standout for his team as he hit .512 and slugged five home runs. He was also a menace on the base paths for opposing teams, stealing 21 bases. The 31st ranked prospect in Arizona as named by Rivals.com, received a number of postseason accolades:  He was named to the All-Desert Valley League Team and was an honorable mention selection by the Arizona Republic Class 5A All-State team. Reynolds participated in the 2008 Area Code Games and was named All-Area Arizona by ESPN Rise.

Andrew Scott comes from Sierra High School in Manteca, CA. The right-handed pitcher/utility player had 12 appearances on the mound, four of which were complete games. Scott had a 3.29 ERA, held opposing hitters to a .242 batting average, and struck out 71, which was the fourth most in the Valley Oak League. At the plate, he hit .342, was fourth in the league with four home runs, scored 29 runs, knocked in 20, and was tied for second in the league with 14 stolen bases. He was named to the All-Valley Oak League First Team as a pitcher. 

Brett Van Pelt is a left-handed pitcher from the Sinclair Secondary School in the Whitby district of Ontario, Canada. The Whitby native was a three-time Lake Ontario Secondary School Association All-Star, and a four-year letter winner. He was named a "2009 Face of the Future" prior to his senior season. He spent his summers playing for Team Ontario. Ten players on the senior team in 2009 landed baseball scholarships at schools in the United States. For his career with Team Ontario, Van Pelt had a 2.67 ERA and struck out 35. In the classroom, he was an honor roll student.

A third baseman from Murrieta Valley High School (CA), Patrick Wisdom comes to Saint Mary’s after a memorable summer in which his team competed in the Palomino Pony World Series in San Jose, CA. The Murrieta native hit .667 against stiff competition, good enough for second in the tournament.  During his high school season, he had a .345 batting average. In the classroom, Wisdom had a grade point average above 3.5, qualifying him as an honors student. He was also selected as a member of the Toyota Academic Team.