STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern University Head Baseball Coach Rodney Hennon announced today 11 players have signed National Letters of Intent to enroll at Georgia Southern University in the fall of 2011 and play baseball for the Eagles. Hennon's newest recruiting class was announced following the fall signing period.
"We are very excited about this group of young men who will join our program," said Hennon. "Coach Mike Tidick and Coach B.J. Greene are to be commended for their efforts in putting this class together. We addressed our needs at each position and, for the first time, our class is comprised completely of players from Georgia, with seven from South Georgia. Our signees are not only talented players who will make major contributions on the field, they are fine young men who will be outstanding representatives of our program and University."
2010 Georgia Southern Baseball Recruiting Class
Tyler Avera, INF, 5-9, 160, R/R, Appling County HS
Avera was named First-Team All-Region at Appling County and was Region Player of the Year runner-up in each of the past two seasons. He helped lead his team to consecutive trips to the Sweet 16 and a trip to the Elite 8. For three years, Avera led the team in hitting with a .393 batting average as a freshman and hitting .442 as a sophomore with 30 RBI. Following his sophomore campaign, Avera was selected to the Georgia Dugout Club Top 100. He capped his junior season with a .495 batting average and 27 RBI. Entering his junior season, Avera was one of two juniors named to the Georgia Dugout Club AA Preseason All-State Team.
Clint Clark, C, 5-10, 170, R/R, Newnan HS
Clark was named to the First-Team All-County team twice and selected to the LaGrange Invitational All-Tournament team. He helped lead Newnan High School to two Elite 8 appearances as a freshman and sophomore. With the East Cobb Astros, Clark played a paramount role in leading the team to two national championships. This past summer he participated in the Connie Mack World Series with the East Cobb Yankees.
Heath Durand, P/OF, 6-3, 170, R/R, Lakeside-Evans HS
A two-sport athlete in baseball and football, Durand was selected to the Georgia Dugout Club Top 100 as a pitcher and outfielder. He batted .444 and posted an ERA of 2.10 as Lakeside High advanced to the Class AAAA state championship this past season. The Panthers won both the 2009 and 2010 Region 3-AAAA Region championships. As a freshman, Durand pitched a no-hitter against city rival Evans High School and was later selected to the Dixie Majors Future stars. In October 2010, Durand played with the Ohio Warhawks in the World Wood Bat Championship in Jupiter, Fla.
Chase Griffin, C/INF, 6-0, 180, R/R, Lee County HS
Played third base, centerfield and left field as a sophomore, as Griffin started 23 of 26 games on the 14th-ranked Trojans squad. He earned All-Area team honors as a junior after hitting .444 with four home runs and 36 RBIs. That same season, he was named MVP and elected team captain by teammates and added the "Big Stick Award" to his honor list. Griffin, a two-year-letterwinner, started at third and left field and then caught for part of the season, including two rounds of the state playoffs. After his junior season, he played summer ball with "Round Trip II" baseball and coach Braxton Jeffers. Griffin was also selected to play with the Houston Astros and Oakland A's scout teams.
Sam Howard, LHP, 6-3, 170, L/L, Cartersville HS
A two-sport athlete at Cartersville High School, Howard opted to concentrate on baseball after running varsity cross country as a freshman. As a senior, Howard is expected to share the load of the Purple Hurricanes' pitching assignments. He started nine games and went 4-0 with a 2.75 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 2010. Howard pitched in the Perfect Game Southeast Top Prospect Showcase in 2010 and was named to the Rawlings Top Prospect List. Howard nominated by one of his teachers and his baseball coach Stuart Chester for academic honors as an outstanding student. He is also a member of the CHS Renaissance Program, which recognizes academic achievement.
Casey Kicklighter, INF, 5-10, 180, R/R, Wayne County HS
A two-time member of the Georgia Dugout Club Top 100, Kicklighter was also named to the Georgia Dugout Club Top 20 Juniors in 2010. As a junior, Kicklighter helped lead Wayne County High School to a Region 2-AAAA Championship and Final Four state playoff appearance. He was named to the All-Region team after hitting .459 with 53 RBI and 21 home runs. Kicklighter broke his own single-season home run record of 12 home runs, launching 21 his junior season. He received the Best Hitter Varsity Award twice. In 2009, Wayne County made an Elite Eight appearance in the state playoffs after winning the Region 2-AAAA Championship. A competitor on the field, Kicklighter also excels in the classroom. In 2010, Kicklighter received the Scholar Athlete Award and will graduate with a dual seal diploma.
Nick Rau, INF, 6-2, 200, R/R, Thomson HS
A four-year letterwinner in baseball and three-year letterwinner in football, Rau was named to the Augusta Chronicle's All-Area Baseball Team after hitting .471 with 13 home runs his junior season. His 13 home runs led the area and broke Thomson High School's single-season record. Rau is listed on the Georgia Dugout Club Top 100 and has earned 2010 Region 3-AAA First Team honors. He helped lead the Junior Team Georgia to a national championship in 2009 and was selected as an Under Armour Preseason All-American that same year.
Aubrey Shivers, INF, 6-2, 185, L/R, Charlton County HS
An infielder for Charlton County High School, Shivers has been named First-Team All-Region 2-AA the past three seasons. He was listed on the Georgia Dugout Club Top 100 after his junior season and was named the Charlton County Varsity Player of the Year as a sophomore. He hit .443 as a sophomore with 21 RBI. Shivers was also a member of the 2008 Class 2-AA Region Championship football squad.
Clint Taylor, RHP, 6'0, 205, R/R, Dodge County HS
The 2010 Region 3-AA Pitcher of the Year, Taylor earned Region 3-AA All-Region First Team honors and was also named to the All-Middle Georgia High School (GHSA) First Team as a pitcher. He posted a 1.40 ERA and struck out 96 in 60 innings with three saves en route to a 6-2 record in 2010. Taylor was selected and participated in the Georgia Dugout Club Top 100 and pitched in the World Wood Bat Tournament with a 17-0 win. In 2009, he was named to the All-Region 3-AA Second Team as honorable mention pitcher.
Hunter Thomas, OF, 5-10, 175, L/R, Chattahoochee HS
A two-sport athlete, Thomas earned three letters in both baseball and football at Chattahoochee High School. A two-time All-Region selection, he was named the Offensive Player of the Year in 2008 and earned Player of the Year honors following the 2009 season. Thomas has played with Team Georgia Baseball the past three summers.
Joe Watkins, RHP, 5-11, 185, R/R, Liberty County HS
A First Team All-Region pick his sophomore and junior years, Watkins started for three years at Liberty County High School. He won the coaches' Cy Young Award following his freshman and junior seasons, posting a 2.63 ERA and 7-3 record with 93 strikeouts in 60.3 innings pitched last year. Watkins was selected to the Georgia Dugout's Top 100 Showcase his junior year and to the Southeastern All-Star Showcase at Grayson Stadium in Savannah as a freshman.
Name (POS, HT, WT, B/T) Hometown (HS/JUCO)
Tyler Avera (INF, 5-9, 160, R/R) Baxley, Ga. (Appling County HS)
Clint Clark (C, 5-10, 165, R/R) Newnan, Ga. (Newnan HS)
Heath Durand (RHP, 6-4, 180, R/R) Martinez, Ga. (Lakeside Evans HS)
Chase Griffin (C/INF, 6-0, 180, R/R) Leesburg, Ga. (Lee County HS)
Sam Howard(LHP, 6-3, 170, L/L) Cartersville, Ga. (Cartersville HS)
Casey Kicklighter (INF, 5-9, 180, R/R) Jesup, Ga. (Wayne County HS)
Nick Rau (INF, 6-2, 200, R/R) Thomson, Ga. (Thomson HS)
Aubrey Shivers (INF, 6-2, 185, L/R) Folkston, Ga. (Charlton County HS)
Clint Taylor (RHP, 6-4, 205, R/R) Eastman, Ga .(Dodge County HS)
Hunter Thomas (OF, 5-10, 175, L/R) Johns Creek, Ga. (Chattahoochee HS)
Joe Watkins (RHP, 5-11, 185, R/R) Midway, Ga. (Liberty County HS)
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