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Augie and Staff inks 9 in the early signing Period!!

FROM PRESS RELEASE
AUSTIN, Texas-University of Texas Baseball received National Letters of Intent from nine of the top high school student-athletes in the nation on the first day of the early signing period head coach Augie Garrido announced on Wednesday.

“Coach (Tommy) Harmon year in and year out proves he can bring in the top recruits in the country,” Garrido said. “This class falls in line with that history. He has brought in players that will make us a national contender in 2009. Coach Harmon does a good job of anticipating where we will need talent in the future and filling in that talent.”

The group, which was secured by Harmon, UT’s associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, includes seven of the top baseball players in Texas according to Inside Prep Baseball’s Texas Top 25 list. The Longhorns’ recruits ranked among top 25 in Texas are RHP Austin Dicharry (No. 1), RHP Taylor Jungmann (No. 2), LHP Sam Stafford (No. 6), IF Brandon Loy (No. 8), IF Jordan Etier (No. 11), OF Morgan Mickan (No. 20) and LHP/OF/1B Hunter Cervenka (No. 25).

The Horns also added local products IF Kevin Lusson, brother of current UT outfielder Kyle Lusson, from Austin McCallum High School and Andrew McKirahan from Georgetown High School.

The class features five Central Texas players as Jungmann, McKirahan and Mickan all hail from Georgetown and Jordan Etier of Austin Westlake joins Lusson as a Capital City signee. The Georgetown trio marks the first time UT has ever signed three players from the same high school in a single recruiting class.

The Longhorns are expected to finalize the paperwork on more recruits before the early signing period ends on Nov. 21.

In terms of positions included in the signing class for the 2008-09 season, there are five pitchers, three position players and one two-way performer. A brief look at Texas’ entire first day signings is listed below.

2008-09 University of Texas Baseball signing class (as of Nov. 14, 2007)
Name Pos. Hometown (School)
Hunter Cervenka LHP/OF/1B Baytown, Texas (Sterling)
Austin Dicharry RHP Spring, Texas (Klein Collins)
Jordan Etier SS/2B Austin, Texas (Westlake)
Taylor Jungmann RHP Georgetown, Texas (Georgetown)
Brandon Loy RHP Garland, Texas (Rowlett)
Kevin Lusson 3B Austin, Texas (McCallum)
Andrew McKirahan LHP Georgetown (Georgetown)
Morgan Mickan OF Georgetown (Georgetown)
Sam Stafford LHP Spring, Texas (Klein Collins)

Hunter Cervenka LHP/OF/1B Bayton, Texas (Sterling)
· Ranked No. 25 on Inside Prep Baseball Texas Top 25 list
· Ranked No. 29 on the 2008 Baseball America Top 100 Prospects list
· Member of the 2007 Texas Rangers Area Code Team
· Tabbed a member of the Houston Area Baseball Coaches Association Junior All-Stars team in 2007
· Played on the USA Stars National Team at the USA Baseball Tournament of Stars in 2007
· Tabbed second-team All-District 21-5A as an outfielder in 2007
· Named the No. 2 underclassman at the 2007 World Showcase by Perfect Game USA
· Selected first-team All-District 22-5A as an outfielder in 2007

Quote from recruiting coordinator and associate head coach Tommy Harmon:
“Hunter is a very athletic, legitimate two-way guy. He’s 89, 92 from the mound. As a position player, he played first base and outfield and has the potential to have big power.”

Austin Dicharry RHP Spring, Texas (Klein Collins)
· Ranked No. 1 on the 2008 Inside Prep Baseball Texas Top 25 list
· Ranked No. 41 on the 2008 Baseball America Top 100 Prospects list
· Member of the 2007 Texas Rangers Area Code Team
· Posted a 10-1 record with a 1.41 ERA with 78 strikeouts in 59.2 innings as a junior
· Also hit .376 with seven doubles, six home runs and 34 RBI in 2007 in helping lead Klein Collins to a 38-5 mark
· Garnered second-team 4A All-State honors from the Texas Sports Writers Association
· Named first-team All-District 16-5A and All-Houston 5A as a junior
· Tabbed a member of the Houston Area Baseball Coaches Association Junior All-Stars team in 2007
· Also named to the Team Texas Junior Sunbelt roster in 2007

Quote from recruiting coordinator and associate head coach Tommy Harmon:
“Austin is one of the top pitchers in the state and he’s able to throw a wrecking ball for a strike. He’s got a great body for a pitcher and should be able to come in and pitch early.”

Jordan Etier SS/2B Austin, Texas (Westlake)
· Ranked No. 11 on Inside Prep Baseball Texas Top 25 list
· Member of the 2007 Texas Rangers Area Code Team
· Batted .308 with 36 runs and 19 RBI in 33 games as a sophomore in 2006

Quote from recruiting coordinator and associate head coach Tommy Harmon:
“Jordan is very Travis Tucker-like. He’s a football player and has a smile on his face all the time. He loves to play, and we’re projecting him more as a second baseman but he can play shortstop.”


Taylor Jungmann RHP Georgetown, Texas (Georgetown)
· Ranked No. 2 on Inside Prep Baseball Texas Top 25 list
· AFLAC All-American and Louisville Slugger All-American in 2007
· Member of the Texas Rangers Area Code Team in 2006 and 2007
· Tabbed Super CenTex and 2A Player of the Year in 2007, as well as Texas Sports Writers Association and Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association first-team all-state in 2007
· Posted a 13-0 record with a 0.41 ERA and 142 strikeouts in 84.2 innings to earn district MVP honors as a junior at Rogers High School
· Named first-team all-state by TSWA and THSCA in 2006
· Posted a 10-1 record with a 0.84 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 83.2 innings to earn district MVP honors as a sophomore junior at Rogers High School
· Tabbed first-team all-state by THSCA in 2005
· Posted a 12-2 record with a 0.90 ERA and 138 strikeouts in 70.1 innings to earn district MVP honors as a freshman junior at Rogers High School

Quote from recruiting coordinator and associate head coach Tommy Harmon:
“Taylor is one of the top pitchers in the nation and is dominant at times with his fastball. He’s up to 92 or 93 mph without much effort, and he has very easy arm action and an effective breaking ball.”

Brandon Loy SS Rowlett, Texas (Rowlett)
· Ranked No. 8 on Inside Prep Baseball Texas Top 25 list
· Named to the Texas Rangers Area Code Team in 2007
· Earned All-District 10-5A first-team honors from the Dallas Morning News as a junior in 2007
· Tabbed District 11-5A Newcomer of the Year by the Dallas Morning News as a sophomore

Quote from recruiting coordinator and associate head coach Tommy Harmon:
“Brandon is the best middle infielder in the state. He’s considered the best shortstop in the state and he’s very fluid on the field. He has a plus-arm and great baseball instincts.”

Kevin Lusson 3B Austin, Texas (McCallum)
· Named to the Texas Rangers Area Code Team in 2007
· Participated in the Texas Scouts Association All-Star Game in 2007
· Tabbed All-CenTex as a sophomore and junior
· Has earned first-team all-district honors at three separate positions, including third base (freshman), shortstop (sophomore) and second base (junior)
· Batted .442 with eight doubles, two triples, two home runs and 29 RBI as a junior
· Hit .376 with 14 RBI and a .527 on-base percentage as a sophomore
· Batted .355 with 16 RBI and a .448 on-base percentage as a freshman

Quote from recruiting coordinator and associate head coach Tommy Harmon:
“Kevin is a switch-hitter, third baseman, and has a lot of the same actions as Bradley Suttle.”

Andrew McKirahan LHP - Georgetown, Texas (Georgetown)
· Posted an 8-1 record with two shutouts, a 1.97 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 64 innings as a junior

Quote from recruiting coordinator and associate head coach Tommy Harmon:
“Andrew is a left-hander that Coach Johnson feels will pitch in the low-90s. He throws strikes and has a big upside.”

Morgan Mickan OF - Georgetown, Texas (Georgetown)
· Ranked No. 20 on Inside Prep Baseball Texas Top 25 list
· Standout QB at Georgetown
· Batted .400 with 12 doubles and 38 RBI to earn All-District 14-5A honors as a junior

Quote from recruiting coordinator and associate head coach Tommy Harmon:
“He’s very athletic and strong. He’s a leader, left-handed hitter, outfielder that loves to play and is very athletic.”

Sam Stafford LHP Spring, Texas (Klein Collins)
· Ranked No. 6 on Inside Prep Baseball Texas Top 25 list

· Member of the Texas Rangers Area Code Team in 2007
· Posted a 7-1 record with one save, 92 strikeouts and a 1.38 ERA in 50.2 innings as a junior
· Named to the Houston Area Baseball Coaches Association Junior All-Stars team in 2007
· Tabbed second team All-District 16-5A as a junior

Quote from recruiting coordinator and associate head coach Tommy Harmon:
“Sam is a Left-handed pitcher that throws strikes. His velocity is going to get to the low-90s. He has pitched with Austin (Dicharry) over at Klein Collins and the are a perennial power so he knows how to win.”

UNLV Fall Ball Update

The UNLV Rebels played Game 3 of their Scarlet-Gray World Series on Tuesday. The Gray team won their first game of the series on Tuesday by a score of 4-1. The Gray team got excellent pitching from a trio of pitchers. Steven Rinaudo started and went 4.1 innings while giving up only two hits. Adam Moser followed him to the mound and pitched 1.2 scoreless innings before Thomas Whittsett closed out the game by allowing one run in the seventh inning. The Gray team was led on offense by Michael Brenly (son of Bob Brenly) who went 2-4 including a triple. Braden Walker went 1-2 for the Scarlet team. Brenly and Walker are battling for the starting position behind the plate in 2008. We have linked below all the recaps and box scores from the Fall World Series below.

Game 1 Recap
Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Recap
Photo Gallery

Game 3 Recap
Game 3 Box Score

UAB Fall Update

FROM PRESS RELEASE
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB baseball team, which finished tied for fourth in the Conference USA standings last season, wrapped up its 33-day fall camp this past weekend. The Blazers return 19 letterwinners from last season's club and have added 14 newcomers. UAB head coach Brian Shoop said overall he was pleased with the camp and progression of the returning veterans.

"They are all better and more comfortable," Shoop said. "Ryan Keedy is significantly better and has been a model for what we wanted this fall. (Jonathan) Merritt's much better after playing about 35 games up in the Northwood League this past summer and I think (Brint) Hardy's a lot better."

In the team's seven-game Green vs. Gold series this fall, Keedy, a senior first baseman, hit .429 with an RBI and three walks, while Hardy hit .417 with three runs scored, a double and one triple.

The Green club won the series 4-2-1.

Junior catcher/infielder Allen Aubin shined in the series, batting .500 with two RBI, two doubles and a home run, while fellow Green teammate Austin Taylor, a junior outfielder in his first season with the Blazers, hit .667 with an RBI and three walks.

Another newcomer that had a strong series was freshman infielder Nick Crawford, who hit .333 with a pair of walks and runs scored, in addition to playing superior defense.

"Nick Crawford has such energy and passion and he probably led us in fielding percentage this fall. A lot of schools backed off of recruiting Nick because he's so small (5-7, 145 lbs), but we've been the fortunate beneficiaries of that because those schools missed, he's a very good player," Shoop said. "Austin Taylor had a very good offensive fall, but he's going to need to defend better."





The Blazers not only showed improvements at the plate this fall, but also on the mound. Shoop said he was pleased with the progress of the staff and believes he has some first-year arms that will be able to contribute in the upcoming 2008 season.

"Kyle Roberson had a very good fall and it's important that he carries that over to the spring," Shoop said. "Mitch (Kloskowski) was super in the fall as well. Our veterans were almost a man better than a year ago and that's the natural progression you hope for."

Roberson struck out three in three innings and allowed just one run in his fall series start, while his counterpart, Kloskowski, also struck out three and allowed one run in three innings in earning a tie.

Senior right-hander Brandon Flaherty allowed no runs and struck out five batters in his start, while fellow senior Brandon Wallace nearly mirrored that performance, striking out five in allowing just one run in his three innings.

Two new arms Shoop was impressed with during fall camp were those of junior transfers Beau Pender and Johnny Volk. Pender, who is coming back from injury, saw limited action in the Green vs. Gold series, while Volk pitched three innings, struck out two and issued no walks.

"Pender is a legitimate Conference USA weekend guy so we need him to come back healthy for us," Shoop said. "Volk throws a lot of strikes and has an unorthodox delivery which makes him effective and he is a very competitive kid."

The Blazers will begin winter training on Feb. 1, 2008.

Braun and Pedroia named Rookies of the Year

Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers and Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox were named Rookie of the Year in their respective leagues today. Braun was a standout player for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003-2005 while Pedroia starred for the Arizona State Sun Devils from 2002-2004.

Arizona State Press Release
Miami Press Release

Georgia Tech releases 2008 schedule

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have released the 2008 schedule. As usual, the Jackets play one of the toughest schedules in the country. The Jackets open the season on February 22nd when the Youngstown State Penguins visit Russ Chandler Stadium for a three game set. Georgia Southern then visits the Yellow Jackets for two games on February 26 and 27th. Big East champs Rutgers will visit Atlanta on February 29th-March 2nd. The Yellow Jackets will open the ACC schedule on March 7th for the first of a three game set against the Virginia Tech Hokies in Atlanta. They will also host conference opponents Duke, Miami, Wake Forest, and Clemson. They will head on the road to face conference opponents Boston College, Florida State, North Carolina, Maryland, and Virginia. GT will also play rival school Georgia at Russ Chandler Stadium on April 9th, May 7th in Athens, and play the third game against the Bulldogs at Turner Field on May 13th.

Press Release
2008 Schedule