Duncan Inks Six in First Signing Class
11/15/2013 5:15:00 PM | Baseball
Baseball Head Coach Jeff Duncan signed six student-athletes to National Letters of Intent this week in his first signing period at the helm Kent State.
"I would first like to commend our recruiting coordinator Alex Marconi and Associate Head Coach Mike Birkbeck for all of their hard work in putting an outstanding class together," said Duncan. "They both worked tirelessly to identify the best players in the region and address the needs of our baseball program moving forward."
The class consists of three position players and three pitchers, all natives of the Midwest. Joining Kent State baseball in the fall of 2014 will be Luciano Fuscardo (Weirton, W. Va.), Brad Hamilton (Avon Lake, Ohio), Eli Kraus (Medina, Ohio), Christopher Martin (Mason, Ohio), Dylan Rosa (Chicago, Ill.) and Zachary Willeman (Napoleon, Ohio).
"It goes without saying that we are extremely excited to introduce these players into the Kent State baseball tradition," Duncan said. "We are very optimistic about these six newcomers. They have an opportunity to impact our program the second they step on campus. Our 2013 class was ranked 40th in the country and we think this class can rival that one. These six guys are not only good baseball players but they are good students, proven winners and extremely hard-working."
Fuscardo is a 6'1" center fielder at Weirton Madonna High School. The lefty batted .483 as a junior with 43 hits in 89 at-bats, including three 12 doubles, two triples, three homeruns and 25 RBI. Fuscardo also stole 16 bases a season ago and had a .558 on-base percentage. He helped Madonna to a 62-22 record through three seasons and two state championships.
"Luca has a Steve Finley-type body," said Duncan. "He has great rhythm and a great left-handed stroke that will develop power when he gets here. He's a plus runner and plus defensively. He can really go get it."
Hamilton will follow in his brother Nick's footsteps by coming to Kent State next fall. Hamilton hit .450 last season with six homeruns en route to being named All-Ohio honorable mention, All-County and All-Conference as a junior. He was a big part of Avon Lake's district championship. A 6'3" catcher, Hamilton's dad, Tom, is the legendary radio voice of the Cleveland Indians.
"Brad is a big, strong physical kid," Duncan said. "He reminds me of Eric Kratz, the catcher with the Philadelphia Phillies. He has a good arm behind the plate and a very good catch-and-throw. He also has tremendous bat speed and power."
Kraus is a left-handed pitcher out of nearby Medina who has had a lot of success at Medina Buckeye High School. He threw a no-hitter and two one-hitters as a junior, hurling 58 innings with seven wins and 97 strikeouts. Following the 2013 season, Kraus earned All-Conference and All-County honors. The 6'1" ace also played summer baseball for the North Coast Vipers and Midwest Pelicans.
"He is an extremely fierce competitor," said Duncan. "He throws three pitches for strikes and utilizes a mid-80's fastball that he has excellent command of to both sides of the plate. He's had an unbelievable career in high school."
Martin is a 6'1" right-handed pitcher who also has talent at the plate with a left-handed bat. He helped lead Mason High School to a sectional and conference championship as a junior. Martin is also an academic standout and has played summer and fall baseball with the prestigious Ohio Force and Midland Redskins organizations.
"Chris is very talented and athletic and a good student," said Duncan. "He missed an entire year with an ACL injury, but up to that point he was very, very successful. He showed steady improvement his junior year with fastball in the mid to upper 80's with arm-side run at times."
Third-baseman Rosa shows great bat speed and power at the plate while showing defensive prowess, as well. The Providence Catholic student helped the team to three regional championships during his tenure. Rosa also played with the Illinois Sparks Baseball Club.
"Dylan has tremendous bat speed with power," Duncan said. "Defensively, he's very advanced with great arm strength and hands and feet. He's very competitive and hard-nosed and will make an impact for us immediately."
Willeman rounds out the early signing class. The 6'2" right-hander out of Napoleon High School compiled four wins and 77 strikeouts in 57 innings his junior season. He also helped his summer team, the Napoleon River Bandits, to a 2013 Ohio American League state and regional title while recording eight wins in 98 innings, only allowing 68 hits while striking out 124 batters.
"Zach is a very, very dynamic right-handed pitcher who mixes an 87-90MPH fastball with a very hard, upper-70's breaking ball and a developing change," said Duncan. "He is extremely confident and again, a great student. He's one of those guys who get stronger as the game goes on."
Baseball's 2014 season begins in February as the Golden Flashes travel to Arizona to take on the Wildcats for three games. Kent State's first home game is scheduled for March 21 in a Mid-American Conference matchup weekend against Toledo.
"I would first like to commend our recruiting coordinator Alex Marconi and Associate Head Coach Mike Birkbeck for all of their hard work in putting an outstanding class together," said Duncan. "They both worked tirelessly to identify the best players in the region and address the needs of our baseball program moving forward."
The class consists of three position players and three pitchers, all natives of the Midwest. Joining Kent State baseball in the fall of 2014 will be Luciano Fuscardo (Weirton, W. Va.), Brad Hamilton (Avon Lake, Ohio), Eli Kraus (Medina, Ohio), Christopher Martin (Mason, Ohio), Dylan Rosa (Chicago, Ill.) and Zachary Willeman (Napoleon, Ohio).
"It goes without saying that we are extremely excited to introduce these players into the Kent State baseball tradition," Duncan said. "We are very optimistic about these six newcomers. They have an opportunity to impact our program the second they step on campus. Our 2013 class was ranked 40th in the country and we think this class can rival that one. These six guys are not only good baseball players but they are good students, proven winners and extremely hard-working."
Fuscardo is a 6'1" center fielder at Weirton Madonna High School. The lefty batted .483 as a junior with 43 hits in 89 at-bats, including three 12 doubles, two triples, three homeruns and 25 RBI. Fuscardo also stole 16 bases a season ago and had a .558 on-base percentage. He helped Madonna to a 62-22 record through three seasons and two state championships.
"Luca has a Steve Finley-type body," said Duncan. "He has great rhythm and a great left-handed stroke that will develop power when he gets here. He's a plus runner and plus defensively. He can really go get it."
Hamilton will follow in his brother Nick's footsteps by coming to Kent State next fall. Hamilton hit .450 last season with six homeruns en route to being named All-Ohio honorable mention, All-County and All-Conference as a junior. He was a big part of Avon Lake's district championship. A 6'3" catcher, Hamilton's dad, Tom, is the legendary radio voice of the Cleveland Indians.
"Brad is a big, strong physical kid," Duncan said. "He reminds me of Eric Kratz, the catcher with the Philadelphia Phillies. He has a good arm behind the plate and a very good catch-and-throw. He also has tremendous bat speed and power."
Kraus is a left-handed pitcher out of nearby Medina who has had a lot of success at Medina Buckeye High School. He threw a no-hitter and two one-hitters as a junior, hurling 58 innings with seven wins and 97 strikeouts. Following the 2013 season, Kraus earned All-Conference and All-County honors. The 6'1" ace also played summer baseball for the North Coast Vipers and Midwest Pelicans.
"He is an extremely fierce competitor," said Duncan. "He throws three pitches for strikes and utilizes a mid-80's fastball that he has excellent command of to both sides of the plate. He's had an unbelievable career in high school."
Martin is a 6'1" right-handed pitcher who also has talent at the plate with a left-handed bat. He helped lead Mason High School to a sectional and conference championship as a junior. Martin is also an academic standout and has played summer and fall baseball with the prestigious Ohio Force and Midland Redskins organizations.
"Chris is very talented and athletic and a good student," said Duncan. "He missed an entire year with an ACL injury, but up to that point he was very, very successful. He showed steady improvement his junior year with fastball in the mid to upper 80's with arm-side run at times."
Third-baseman Rosa shows great bat speed and power at the plate while showing defensive prowess, as well. The Providence Catholic student helped the team to three regional championships during his tenure. Rosa also played with the Illinois Sparks Baseball Club.
"Dylan has tremendous bat speed with power," Duncan said. "Defensively, he's very advanced with great arm strength and hands and feet. He's very competitive and hard-nosed and will make an impact for us immediately."
Willeman rounds out the early signing class. The 6'2" right-hander out of Napoleon High School compiled four wins and 77 strikeouts in 57 innings his junior season. He also helped his summer team, the Napoleon River Bandits, to a 2013 Ohio American League state and regional title while recording eight wins in 98 innings, only allowing 68 hits while striking out 124 batters.
"Zach is a very, very dynamic right-handed pitcher who mixes an 87-90MPH fastball with a very hard, upper-70's breaking ball and a developing change," said Duncan. "He is extremely confident and again, a great student. He's one of those guys who get stronger as the game goes on."
Baseball's 2014 season begins in February as the Golden Flashes travel to Arizona to take on the Wildcats for three games. Kent State's first home game is scheduled for March 21 in a Mid-American Conference matchup weekend against Toledo.
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