Here are the releases of 2011 Early Signings Day for November 13th.
Utah signs Eight for 2011
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah head coach Bill Kinneberg announced the signing of eight student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. Five high school players and three junior college transfers will join the Utes next season. Coming from high school are Trey Nielsen (3B, Skyline HS, Utah), Cory Hunt (2B, Jordan HS, Utah), Ben Mordini (RHP, Cherry Creek HS, Colo.), Luke West (RHP, Juan Diego Catholic HS, Utah), Josh Alexander (OF, Mountain Pointe HS, Arizona) while James Brooks (SS/Utility, Cochise College, Arizona), Derek Christensen (RHP, SLCC, Utah) and Dustin Hobbs (RHP/Yavapai College) are the junior college transfers.
"This is the third year in a row we have brought in a strong freshmen class," Kinneberg said. "These five freshmen, combined with the freshmen classes that came before them, have made our future really bright. We hope our junior college transfers will help with our immediate needs and give us some experience. Also returning to the team next year from an LDS mission is Cody Guyman, who brings another solid hitter into our lineup."
UCLA signs Eight HS seniors for 2011
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA baseball program has received eight signed National Letters of Intent during the early signing period, as announced Friday by head coach John Savage. Aided by assistant coaches Rick Vanderhook and Steve Pearse, the sixth recruiting class under Savage includes five position players and three right-handed pitchers who will enroll at UCLA in the fall of 2010.
UCLA’s recruiting class features right-handed pitchers Adam Plutko, Nick Vander Tuig and Zachary Weiss. The Bruins’ group is also highlighted by infielders Patrick Gallagher, Jacob Shirley, Patrick Valaika and Kevin Williams and outfielder Brenton Allen.
"Our coaching staff has done a terrific job with this recruiting class," Savage said. "Coach Vanderhook and Coach Pearse have worked hard to recruit these players, and we are excited that they have chosen to become Bruins. Between the three incoming pitchers and five position players, we are confident that this class will make significant contributions down the road."
San Diego State grabs 16 for 2011
SAN DIEGO – San Diego State head baseball coach Tony Gwynn has announced the signing of 16 players to national letters of intent for the 2011 season. The entire class is comprised of incoming freshmen and includes eight athletes from the San Diego area. Included in the group are the San Diego section pitcher of the year plus six other all-state honorees.
Leading the list of local signees is section pitcher of the year Keegan Yuhl (Poway HS) along with all-state selections Cole Swanson (Torrey Pines HS), Brad Haynel (Rancho Bernardo HS) and Kyle Hayes (Santana HS).
Texas State signs nine in Early Signing Period
Texas State baseball head coach Ty Harrington announced the signing of nine National Letters of Intent Friday afternoon. The Bobcats add seven high school standouts and two junior college transfers with the 2010 signing class.
"This is definitely one of Texas State’s most exciting recruiting classes that have signed in my coaching career," said head coach Ty Harrington. "The months of hard work that our recruiting coordinator Derek Matlock and assistant coach Jeremy Fikac have put in have definitely paid off."
Rice announces 2011 Signing Class
HOUSTON — The Rice baseball program has signed 11 recruits in the early period who will join the team for the 2011 season, announced head coach Wayne Graham on Friday (Nov. 13).
All 11 of the Owls’ signees are from the high school ranks. Nine are standouts from the state of Texas and five are from the greater Houston area who can continue their careers in front of hometown crowds at Rice’s Reckling Park.
The signees include Keenan Cook, Jaime Esquivel, Derek Hamilton, Shane Hoelscher, Austin Kubitza, Connor Mason, Kyle Mueller, Tyler Pearson, John Simms, Jameson Taillon and Dickie Thon, Jr. The group officially enrolls at Rice in the fall of 2010. Their first baseball season with the Owls would be in the spring of 2011. Coach Graham had high praise for the program’s latest class and his assistant coaches who brought the signees together.
James Madison adds Six for 2011 Season
HARRISONBURG, Va., Nov. 13, 2009 – James Madison baseball head coach Spanky McFarland announced today the signing of six student-athletes to national letters of intent to join the Diamond Dukes for the 2010-2011 academic year.
“We’re extremely happy with the guys we’re bringing in this year,” commented McFarland, who will coach his 13th season at JMU in 2010. “They fit the general qualities that we look for in our players. They’re all athletic. They come from winning programs. They’re all leaders in their schools and in their communities. They are the type of people that we like here with JMU baseball.”
The six newly-signed Diamond Dukes include four right-handed pitchers, two that also play shortstop. The other two signees include another middle infielder and a first baseman/outfielder. They include Connor Brown (Henrico, Va./Godwin), Trent Cundiff (Roanoke, Va./Northside), Michael Howerton(Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca), Ryan Kilmon (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam), Tyler McFarland (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby), and Jarred Tate (Bluff City, Tenn./Virginia H.S.).
Mississippi State adds Seven for 2011
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State put the finishing touches on its 2009 baseball recruiting class this week, announcing the addition of seven high school baseball standouts from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee to MSU’s 2009 baseball recruiting class.
The talent-laden group includes third baseman/pitcher James McMahon of Hattiesburg, Miss., pitcher Evan Mitchell from Marietta, Ga., pitcher Ross Mitchell from Smyrna, Tenn., pitcher/third baseman Daryl Norris and middle infielder Garrett Pitts, both from Fairhope, Ala., pitcher/first baseman Wes Rea from Gulfport, Miss., and shortstop Taylor Stark from Flowood, Miss.
"This is another exceptional recruiting class," said second-year Bulldog head coach John Cohen, who inked 13 high school players and two junior college standouts during the November signing period. "We had an outstanding pitching-oriented recruiting class a year ago and have complemented that with a versatile group that includes a great collection of highly-skilled position players."
Michigan State signs Four for 2011
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State baseball coach Jake Boss Jr. announced the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent this week. The Spartans added Trevor Cousineau, Joel Fisher, Jeff Kinley and Zach Wilkerson who will enroll at MSU in the fall of 2010.
"I would like to commend assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Mark VanAmeyde and assistant coach Billy Gernon for their efforts in bringing in not only a very talented recruiting class, but a class with outstanding leadership qualities," said Boss. " As we continue to improve and move the program to the next level, it is paramount that we have young men who are not only very gifted on the field, but exceptional in the classroom, and impressive leaders – this class fulfills each of those needs for our program here at Michigan State. Because of the size of the current freshman class, we knew this recruiting class wouldn’t be large, but the quality of these four young men is exactly what we were looking for and I couldn’t be happier that each one has decided to represent Michigan State University on and off the field. We will still look to add two or three additional players who will accept admission to Michigan State for next fall, but the early signing class is complete."
Stetson grabs Five for 2011
DeLand, Fla. – The ink is barely dry on the letters of intent and Stetson Head Baseball Coach Pete Dunn is already looking forward to working with the Hatters latest recruiting class. With two players still in process, Dunn has announced the signing of five top quality ball players who will be joining the program for the start of the 2010-2011 school year.
"We are thrilled with the quality of the recruiting class! We expect all of these young men to make an immediate impact on the program", said Dunn.
When the two additional players are on board the Hatters will have added five pitchers or "two-way guys", an infielder, and an outfielder.
"We exceeded all our recruiting goals", added Dunn.
Maine announces 2011 Class
ORONO, Maine – University of Maine baseball coach Steve Trimper announced today that his program has received National Letters of Intent from Matt Verrier (South Paris, Maine/Oxford Hills), Colin Gay (Franklin, Mass./Franklin HS), Mike Connolly (Bridgewater, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham), Shaun Coughlin (Branford, Conn./Xavier) and Troy Black (Mississauga, Ontario/Philip Pocock SS). The class is expected to have an immediate impact on the Maine team.
"We are very excited to have the five individuals join the Black Bears in the fall of 2010," said Trimper. "Coach Cole and Coach Izaryk worked extremely hard this summer finding quality ball players to fit UMaine both athletically and in the classroom. As always, we recruit players that will fill holes created by graduation and the professional draft, and all five players will have an immediate impact on our program."
Ball State adds Seven for 2011 Class
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State baseball head coach Greg Beals announced the signings of seven players to national letters of intent Friday during the early signing period. The seven players will join the Cardinals for the 2011 season.
Joining the Cardinals are Jacob Brewer (South Bend, Ind./St. Joseph), Cody Campbell (Muncie, Ind./Cowan), Derek Hannahs (Robinson, Ill./Robinson), Tyler Jordan (Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington South), Kenneth Mahala (Highland, Ind./Andrean), Mitch Overley (Zionsville, Ind./Brebeuf) and T.J. Weir (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo).
"I am very pleased to announce this year’s recruiting class as coach Stafford, coach Marconi and myself have worked hard to attract this group to Ball State University," Beals said. "This class exemplifies all the characteristics we are looking for in student-athletes – a history of success in the classroom and on the field, hard working players with development on their mind and tough competitors."
Tyler Mims commits to UAB
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Local product Tyler Mims, a catcher from Hoover High School in the Birmingham area, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at UAB.
As a junior this past spring, Mims posted a .380 batting average and a .520 on-base percentage on his way to earning 6A all-metro honors. He recorded seven doubles and 19 RBI and received an invitation to the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Weekend for the second straight year.
Cody Geyer signs with Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Head Coach Daron Schoenrock and the University of Memphis baseball program added more talent as Cody Geyer, a power-hitting third baseman/pitcher from North Buncombe High School (N.C.), signed his National Letter of Intent to wear the Blue and Gray, it was announced today.
"Cody possess dynamic power at the plate and will also contribute as a `dual-position’ player by going to the mound for potential late-inning help," Schoenrock said. "Dual guys are very valuable with today’s scholarship and roster limitations and our coaching staff is thrilled with Cody’s decision to join our program. We fully expect Cody to be a huge contributor very early in his Tiger tenure."
Northwestern State grabs seven for 2011
Here are the seven signees for Northwestern State as they will beginning their collegiate careers in 2011.
Austin Alexander – OF – (R/R) 6’4” 190 – Natchitoches, LA – St. Mary’s High School
Josh Sims – RHP – 6’2” 175 – Olla, LA – LaSalle High School
Jacob Roark – RHP – 6’3” 190 – Harrisonburg, LA – LaSalle High School
Raymond Frias – INF (R/R) – 5’11” 195 – Bronx, NY – Odessa College
Joe Scanio – RHP – 6’4” 200 – Florissant, MO – St. Charles Community College
Ryan Westbrook – INF/RHP (R/R) – 6’2” 180 – Lufkin, TX – Panola Junior College
Ryan Keele – OF (L/R) – 6’2” 200 – Bellevue, NE – Iowa Central Community College
