Baseball Signs 14 for 2014 Class
VIDE0: Coach Rodney Hennon comments on the Eagle signing class
Individual comments on each signee are linked to their names below
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern baseball team signed 14 student-athletes for the 2014 signing class as announced by Head Coach Rodney Hennon.
Included in this year's class are Cal Baker (Cylo, Ga.), Akeem Bostick (Florence, S.C.), C.J. Brazil (Marietta, Ga.), Ryan Cleveland (Toccoa, Ga.), Avery Fagan (Loganville, Ga.), Dustin Fowler (Cadwell, Ga.), Jordan Howard (Cordele, Ga.), Zach Jones (Thomaston, Ga.), Adam Kelly (Gainesville, Ga.), Aaron Mizell (McRae, Ga.), Tyler Payne (Macon, Ga.), Caleb Pressey (Swainsboro, Ga.), Patrick Smith (Kennesaw, Ga.) and Josh Wirsu (Harlem, Ga.).
The class includes 11 true freshmen and three junior college transfers from Gordon College. All but one player hails from the state of Georgia and the 14 incoming recruits consist of eight pitchers and six position players.
"This is a quality group of young men that will be able to contribute greatly to our program in the coming years,” Hennon said about his 2014 signing class. “We are confident that we have addressed our most immediate needs as this class is deep in pitching and left handed hitting. Our staff worked very hard to identify these student-athletes and build relationships with these young men. In particular, I would like to commend Coach Green and Coach Moore for their tireless work in completing this early signing class."
The Eagles are adding eight right handed pitchers, two infielders, two catchers and two outfielders to their 2014 squad.
2014 Signing Class Bios
Cal Baker – INF – R/R – 5-10, 170 – Cylo, Ga./Effingham County
Started as a freshman at second base for Effingham County for head coach Brett Griffin... Slid over to shortstop for his sophomore and junior campaigns... Hit .444 for the Rebels during their 2011 final four run... A Top-100 section twice and a 2012 Preseason All-State selection by the Georgia Dugout Club... Received All-Region honors twice as well as being named to the All-Greater Savannah Team in 2011... Recipient of the 2011 HOBY Leadership Award off the field... Also lettered four times in football... Son of David and Dawn.
Akeem Bostick – RHP – R/R – 6-4, 180 – Florence, S.C./West Florence
Lettered three times in football, basketball and baseball at West Florence High School... Named by Baseball America and Perfect game as a top-100 senior... Ranked as the No. 1 pitcher in South Carolina and No. 3 prospect by Perfect Game... Two-time All-Region selection and a 2012 All-State member... Selected as a 2012 Preseason All-American by Under Armour, ESPN and Perfect Game... A Second Team Underclass All-America selection by Perfect Game in 2012... Named to the American Legion World Series All-Tournament team...Selected twice to participate in the Annual South Atlantic Border Battle... Also selected to participate in the MLB Breakthrough Series and the Diamond Prospects Palmetto Games where he was awarded the Gold Award for best OF arm... Son of Darryl and Linda Hughee.
C.J. Brazil – C – 6-1, 170 – Marietta, Ga./Blessed Trinity Catholic
Plays for head coach Andy Harlin at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School... Earned team's Golden Glove Award... Named Georgia Dugout Player of the Week... Reached the elite eight twice with the Titans... Attends same high school as current major leaguer Tyler Flowers and Georgia Tech pitcher Alex Cruz... Participated in the Perfect Game 18U BCS Championship and the AAU 16U National Championship... Son of Terence and Lauraine.
Ryan Cleveland – INF – 6-3, 225 – Toccoa, Ga./Stephens County
Plays for Stephens County High School... Named All-Region and selected to the WWBA All-Tournament team his junior season... Invited to the Perfect Game Power Showcase home run derby in Arizona... Also played football and was named All-Region as a sophomore... Son of Derek and Andrea.
Avery Fagan – RHP – R/R – 6-2, 170 – Loganville, Ga./Loganville
Spent his freshman year at George Walton Academy before transferring to Loganville High School for his final three seasons... Helped his team to two region victories, a final four and a state championship... Recognized by Baseball Scoutz as the No. 19 player in Georgia... Received Outstanding Season Award from the Georgia Dugout Club... Four-year member of Beta Club and served as an FCS officer twice... Also a four-year member of the honor roll... Son of Todd and Bridget.
Dustin Fowler – OF – L/L – 6-1, 170 – Cadwell, Ga./West Laurens
Plays for West Laurens High School... Hit .474 with 9 doubles, six triples and five home runs as a junior... Batted .390 with 9 doubles, five triples and two home runs as a sophomore... Named a Top-100 player by the Georgia Dugout Club... Selected as a Region 2-AAA Player of the Year and a First Team Outfielder... Named to the Georgia High School Association All-Middle Georgia Team... Son of Johnny and Renee.
Jordan Howard – RHP – R/R – 6-4, 225 – Cordele, Ga./Crisp Academy
Plays for Crisp Academy... Led the squad in home runs and was second in batting average as a junior... Helped his team to two state runner-up finishes and a state championship as a sophomore... Named an Under Armour and Perfect Game Preseason All-American... Named All-Region and All-State twice... Selected to the Albany Herald All-Area team... Named Crisp's Offensive Player of the Year... Recognized as the Region 3-A GISA Co-Player of the Year as a junior... Participant in the East Coast Professional Showcase, Perfect Game National Showcase and the Georgia Dugout Club Top-100... Son of Les and Tiffany.
Zach Jones – RHP – R/R – 6-0, 160 – Thomaston, Ga./Upson-Lee
A transfer from Gordon College... Struck out 13 batters in 14.1 innings as a freshman... Threw 3.1 innings and struck out five batters in the conference championship game against Middle Georgia College... Also pitched in the JUCO College World Series... Played prep ball for head coach Wayne Puckett at Upson-Lee High School in Thomaston, Ga... Set records for career appearances and innings pitched in a season... Selected as a team captain his senior year... Son of Davy and Kayla.
Adam Kelly – RHP – R/R – 6-4, 185 – Gainesville, Ga./North Hall
Plays for head coach Trent Mongero at North Hall High School in Gainesville, Ga... Received the school's Trojan and Weight Training awards... Named an Underclassmen Preseason Honorable Mention All-American... Selected as a Perfect Game Sunshine East Showcase Top Prospect... Named to the WWBA 18U All-Tournament Team... Also played basketball and was selected as a honorable mention by the Gainesville Times... Son of Fred and Lynn.
Aaron Mizell – OF – L/R – 5-10, 155 – McRae, Ga./Telfair County
Transfer from Gordon College... Four-year letter winner at Telfair County High School... Played for head coach Chris Ellis... Holds school record for single season home runs with 10 and least strikeouts with four... Named All-State in 2011... Selected as the team's MVP three times... Twice named All-Middle Georgia... Honored as the Region 2-A Player of the Year... Also lettered twice in wrestling... Son of Griff and Allison.
Tyler Payne – RHP – R/R – 6-2, 175 – Macon, Ga./Stratford Academy
Plays for Stratford Academy in Macon, Ga... Went 5-4 with a 1.91 ERA with five complete games during his junior campaign... Struck out 62 batters in 51 innings pitched... Earned All-State and All-Region honors... Selected to Team Georgia and competed in the Sunbelt Classic... Son of Mark and Michelle.
Caleb Pressey – RHP – S/R – 6-1, 175 – Swainsboro, Ga./Emanuel County Institute
Plays for Emanuel County Institute... Two-time Region 3A First Team All-Region selection... Posted the team's lowest ERA of 1.11... Posted a 5-2 record in seven starts... Threw 43.2 innings and struck out 57 batters... Also played quarterback for the Bulldogs... Son of Cail and Theresa.
Patrick Smith – C – R/R – 6-0, 160 – Kennesaw, Ga./North Cobb
Plays for head coach Tom Callahan at North Cobb High School... A three-year letter winner... Two-year scholar athlete... Went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in a Region 4AAAAA win over McEachern... Helped lead the Warriors to a 17-9 record and an elite eight finish... Member of the Nelson Baseball School... Participant in the World Wood Bat Tournament at Lassiter High School... Son of Jeff and Mary Lynn.
Josh Wirsu – RHP – R/R – 6-0, 174 – Harlem, Ga./Harlem
Transfer from Gordon College... Three-year letter winner at Harlem High School... Played for head coach Jimmie Lewis... Twice named Pitcher of the Year and All-Region... Selected All-County and All-Area in 2010 and 2011... A Rawlings/Perfect Game Southeast Region Honorable Mention... Named to the Georgia Dugout Club's Top-100... Struck out 156 batters in 120 innings during his senior campaign... Also posted a 2.69 ERA and allowed 25 walks in 13 appearances... Son of Bruce and Laurie.
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- Category: Baseball
- Published on Friday, 23 November 2012 16:30
