Baseball Inks Five During Early Signing Period
11/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
KENT, Ohio - Kent State head baseball coach Scott Stricklin announced the signing of five baseball players during on Monday (Nov. 16) during the early signing period, .
“Mike Birkbeck and Scott Daeley did another outstanding job with this recruiting class,” said Stricklin about his two assistant coaches. “We knew this class would be relatively small because we only have four seniors on our roster, but what we lack in quantity we made up for with quality.”
The five signees consist of four Ohio high school seniors and one junior college transfer from Florida. They include OF/C Andrew Jones (Doylestown, Ohio/Central Florida Community College/Wadsworth), RHP Josh Pierce (Avon, Ohio/Avon), RHP Dan Slavik (St. Clairsville, Ohio/St. Clairsville), OF TJ Sutton (North Canton, Ohio/Glen Oak) and INF Derek Toadvine (Springfield, Ohio/Kenton Ridge).
Playing for Central Florida Community College last spring, Andrew Jones led the Patriots with 56 RBIs. In high school, he was a record-setting running back for the Wadsworth football team.
At Kent State, Jones will primarily play outfield but could also be called on to catch. Offensively, he is a middle of the order-type hitter.
"We are thrilled to have an experienced hitter like Dru join our program,” said Stricklin. “He has excelled in one of the most challenging junior college conferences in the country. He can play a lot of different positions but most importantly, he can really hit. He's a tough kid that plays the game hard and we expect him to make an immediate impact on our team."
Selected to throw at the East Coast Professional Showcase in Lakeland, Fla., Josh Pierce is a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher who will possibly fit in a closer's role for the Flashes bullpen.
"Josh has one of the better arms we saw all summer long and he is a tough competitor on the mound,” said Stricklin. “He has a closer's mentality and that is what we project him to do for us. His fastball gets into the low 90's and he has a power breaking ball. He is a great student and we are excited to have him onboard."
Pierce was also selected to pitch for the Midwest Redbirds fall scout team and played for the Ohio Orioles summer baseball organization.
Dan Slavik will join the Golden Flashes baseball team after excelling on the mound for the St. Clairsville Red Devils and St. Clairsville American Legion team.
"Dan throws four pitches for strikes and really knows how to pitch,” said Stricklin. “He really impressed us at our camp this summer and showed us he can pitch at the Division I level. He is an extremely bright young man that comes from a baseball family. We feel very confident that Dan will excel under the direction of pitching coach, Mike Birkbeck."
Slavik's father, Joe, pitched collegiately at Eastern Michigan University and professionally in the Detroit Tigers organization.
TJ Sutton will join the Golden Flashes after starting for the Canton Glen Oak Golden Eagles since his freshman year of high school. He played summer baseball with the Stark County Terriers and was selected to play for the Midwest Redbirds fall scout team. Sutton also played for the Indiana Bulls in the World Wood Bat Championship in Jupiter, Fla.
"TJ has one of the purest left-handed swings we have seen,” said Stricklin. “He rarely swings and misses and hits the ball with power to all fields. We have seen him play many games over the last few years and we know we are getting a great player in TJ. We expect him to come to campus next fall and compete for a starting outfield job as a freshman,” added Stricklin.
Finally, Kent State welcomes Derek Toadvine after playing for the Kenton Ridge Cougars. Toadvine is an athletic middle infielder that can play just about any position on the field. Last summer, he played for the Springfield Bulldogs and competed in the World Wood Bat Championship this fall with the Ohio Warhawks.
"Derek is a very versatile player that brings a lot of athletic ability to the table,” said Stricklin. “He is a plus defender and base runner that can put pressure on opposing defenses. We recruited Derek to play the infield but his baseball instincts are so good, he could make the switch to the outfield very easily. We are excited to have him in our program."
The 2010 Kent State baseball team kicks off the 2010 season Friday, Feb. 19 when it travels to Bowling Green, Ky. to take on Western Kentucky.
“Mike Birkbeck and Scott Daeley did another outstanding job with this recruiting class,” said Stricklin about his two assistant coaches. “We knew this class would be relatively small because we only have four seniors on our roster, but what we lack in quantity we made up for with quality.”
The five signees consist of four Ohio high school seniors and one junior college transfer from Florida. They include OF/C Andrew Jones (Doylestown, Ohio/Central Florida Community College/Wadsworth), RHP Josh Pierce (Avon, Ohio/Avon), RHP Dan Slavik (St. Clairsville, Ohio/St. Clairsville), OF TJ Sutton (North Canton, Ohio/Glen Oak) and INF Derek Toadvine (Springfield, Ohio/Kenton Ridge).
Playing for Central Florida Community College last spring, Andrew Jones led the Patriots with 56 RBIs. In high school, he was a record-setting running back for the Wadsworth football team.
At Kent State, Jones will primarily play outfield but could also be called on to catch. Offensively, he is a middle of the order-type hitter.
"We are thrilled to have an experienced hitter like Dru join our program,” said Stricklin. “He has excelled in one of the most challenging junior college conferences in the country. He can play a lot of different positions but most importantly, he can really hit. He's a tough kid that plays the game hard and we expect him to make an immediate impact on our team."
Selected to throw at the East Coast Professional Showcase in Lakeland, Fla., Josh Pierce is a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher who will possibly fit in a closer's role for the Flashes bullpen.
"Josh has one of the better arms we saw all summer long and he is a tough competitor on the mound,” said Stricklin. “He has a closer's mentality and that is what we project him to do for us. His fastball gets into the low 90's and he has a power breaking ball. He is a great student and we are excited to have him onboard."
Pierce was also selected to pitch for the Midwest Redbirds fall scout team and played for the Ohio Orioles summer baseball organization.
Dan Slavik will join the Golden Flashes baseball team after excelling on the mound for the St. Clairsville Red Devils and St. Clairsville American Legion team.
"Dan throws four pitches for strikes and really knows how to pitch,” said Stricklin. “He really impressed us at our camp this summer and showed us he can pitch at the Division I level. He is an extremely bright young man that comes from a baseball family. We feel very confident that Dan will excel under the direction of pitching coach, Mike Birkbeck."
Slavik's father, Joe, pitched collegiately at Eastern Michigan University and professionally in the Detroit Tigers organization.
TJ Sutton will join the Golden Flashes after starting for the Canton Glen Oak Golden Eagles since his freshman year of high school. He played summer baseball with the Stark County Terriers and was selected to play for the Midwest Redbirds fall scout team. Sutton also played for the Indiana Bulls in the World Wood Bat Championship in Jupiter, Fla.
"TJ has one of the purest left-handed swings we have seen,” said Stricklin. “He rarely swings and misses and hits the ball with power to all fields. We have seen him play many games over the last few years and we know we are getting a great player in TJ. We expect him to come to campus next fall and compete for a starting outfield job as a freshman,” added Stricklin.
Finally, Kent State welcomes Derek Toadvine after playing for the Kenton Ridge Cougars. Toadvine is an athletic middle infielder that can play just about any position on the field. Last summer, he played for the Springfield Bulldogs and competed in the World Wood Bat Championship this fall with the Ohio Warhawks.
"Derek is a very versatile player that brings a lot of athletic ability to the table,” said Stricklin. “He is a plus defender and base runner that can put pressure on opposing defenses. We recruited Derek to play the infield but his baseball instincts are so good, he could make the switch to the outfield very easily. We are excited to have him in our program."
The 2010 Kent State baseball team kicks off the 2010 season Friday, Feb. 19 when it travels to Bowling Green, Ky. to take on Western Kentucky.
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