Duncan Announces 11 Signees to Join Golden Flashes
12/22/2016 10:17:00 AM | Baseball
Kent State baseball Head Coach Jeff Duncan has announced the 2016 signing class composed of 11 student-athletes who will join the Golden Flashes in the fall of 2017.
"This is a dynamite class," said Duncan. "I want to thank Coach Birkbeck and Coach Marconi for all their hard work during the recruiting process. We got a group of guys who fulfill our needs. Not only is this a group of talented athletes, but they are all great students and fit the mold of Kent State baseball."
DOMINICK BUCKO
Position: OF
Hometown: Butler, Pa.
High School: Knoch
Other Teams: Baird Brothers Baseball
Duncan Says: He is a switch-hitting outfielder from Pittsburgh. He runs well and is very gifted. He could be one of the best players in the country. He could have a great college career because he has a lot of feel for the game. He doesn't swing and miss much and he makes contact from both sides of the plate. He also plays really good defense and has good instincts.
PEYTON DEATS
Position: LHP
Hometown: Tiffin, Ohio
High School: Calvert
Other Teams: Midland Redskins
Duncan Says: The sky is the limit for Peyton. He is a really physical left-handed pitcher with a high ceiling. He has a fastball that can reach into the upper 80's right now. I can see him being low 90's by the time he leaves. He's a really good kid, really good student. We are happy to have him.
NICK ELSEN
Position: OF
Hometown: Kenosha, Wisc.
High School: Indian Trail
Other Teams: GRB Rays
Duncan Says: A really athletic kid. Big-time hockey player that decided to focus in on playing baseball the last couple of years. He has always found a way to hit and he is very tough.
RYAN LANE
Position: RHP
Hometown: New London, Ohio
High School: New London
Other Teams: EvoShield Canes
Duncan Says: He is a power righty out of the Toledo area. He's a guy we followed for a couple of years and he finally really made a jump in the summer last year and we got him. His fastball is in the upper 80's right now. He has a strong, physical frame.
GREG LEWANDOSKI
Position: INF
Hometown: Deland, Fla.
High School: Spruce Creek
Other Teams: Orlando Scorpions/Ohio Elite
Duncan Says: He originally committed to the University of Florida, but de-committed last year and we got in there in a timely manner. The reason why we did is that we knew there was a connection to Ohio. His grandparents live here in Ohio and he was looking to get closer to his grandparents. It came down to us and Ohio State. He is a baseball rat and he is continuing to get better. He can have a really good career here. He fits the mold.
COLLIN MATHEWS
Position: RHP
Hometown: Lewis Center, Ohio
High School: Olentangy
Other Teams: Ohio Elite
Duncan Says: Extremely athletic. A really tall, lanky pitcher that has been up to 93 mph on the mound. He's also a center fielder that runs really well and can hit. He could be a very interesting two-way player and has the potential to be very good at both. He just has a special talent and we are excited to have him
KIAN O'BRIEN
Position: UTL
Hometown: Madison, Wisc.
High School: Madison La Follette
Other Teams: Madison College
Duncan Says: He can play second, play third…he played shortstop last season at Madison. He plays everywhere. He can really hit. He went to the Northwoods League last year and swung the bat very well. I went to see him play a couple of weeks ago and it was the icing on the cake. He will be a really good fit because he plays extremely hard, has talent and can play multiple positions.
TREVOR PITTMAN
Position: RHP
Hometown: Eaton, Ohio
High School: Eaton
Other Teams: Dayton Sluggers
Duncan Says: He is really competitive and has a really good changeup. He also has good fastball command and a good feel for throwing a baseball. Coach Birkbeck saw him last summer and really liked him.
COLLIN ROMEL
Position: LHP
Hometown: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
High School: Olmsted Falls
Other Teams: Lake Erie Warhawks
Duncan Says: He's one of the best left-handers in the state of Ohio. He has a very good fastball and command. He has feel for a breaking ball and changeup, as well. Lefties like him have a lot of success in college and we're looking forward to him having a great career.
MICHAEL TURNER
Position: C
Hometown: Warren, Ohio
High School: Champion
Duncan Says: We've had him committed for a long time. He is a left-handed hitting catcher that also could be on the mound. He has extremely good arm strength. He could be a middle-of-the-order kind of guy. His dad played at a high level; he has really good baseball genes.
JACK ZIMMERMAN
Position: LHP
Hometown: Green, Ohio
High School: Green
Other Teams: Ohio Yankees
Duncan Says: He could be another two-way guy. I definitely could see him fit a role early. He has a really good breaking ball. He plays the game really hard, swings the bat well and plays good defense. He is very talented and also comes from really good genes. His brother was drafted by the Padres last year.
