LMU Baseball Announces 2010 Signing Class

HARROGATE -- Head Baseball coach Jeff Sziksai announced today the addition of 15 new signees and walk-ons that will join the Railsplitter baseball program this Fall. 

“We have done a very good job addressing our needs, and have put together not only a talented recruiting class, but a group of players that are going to buy in to our system, and help take our program to the next level “ Sziksai commented.  “We have a good mix of high school and junior college players, all of whom will mesh well with our core of returning guys.  "

"Offensively, we wanted to add both power and speed (an element that we lacked last year) and we have done that.  Defensively, we feel like we addressed our needs behind the plate, and created competition at every position.  On the mound we combine experience and talent.  From a “stuff” standpoint, this year’s pitching class is our best, but we will need to mature quickly.” 

The Railsplitter baseball team will begin fall workouts almost immediately after school begins on August 18th, and the coaching staff is looking forward to it. 

“I am excited to get everyone back and get started.  The keys to our success this year will be leadership and unity.  We have put together a talented team that can compete with anyone, but we will need to gel as a unit, and mature quickly if we want to take this program where we think it can go,” said Sziksai. 

Here is a complete list of new recruits: Paul Zarlengo (1B/DH- Triton College), Brett Crawford (C- Rappahannock CC), Mark Camproni (C- Williamsburg HS), Ryan Collins (C- Hillsborough CC), Juan Alvarez (Util- Wabash Valley CC), Bryan Platt (RHP- Triton College), Garrett Copeland (LHP/ 1B/ OF- Bearden HS), Cody Baker (OF- South Doyle HS), Jordan Harbison (C- Fulton HS), Austin Johnson (RHP- Lexington Christian HS), Dylan Harvey (RHP- Dobyns Bennett HS), Tyler Mansfield (RHP- Ravenwood HS), Brett Pittman (RHP- Middlesboro HS), Deaun Williams (OF Lincoln Trail CC), Andrew Hall (INF- Emmanuel Christian School)

PLAYER INFORMATION
Paul Zarlengo:  1B;  6’1” 220lbs. - Triton College
 
Hometown:  Dyer, IN
Awards/Honors:  2009:  All-Region, All-Conference, Region MVP, .401 BA, 13 HR, 64 RBI; Drafted in 2007 by Texas Rangers in 50th Round.
Why he chose LMU:  I chose LMU because when I came to visit I really connected with Coach Sziksai and Coach Schmalz.  The baseball program seems to be a great fit for me.
Other colleges that recruited him:  University of Iowa, Weber International, Central Michigan, Butler University
Sziksai’s Comments:  “Paul is a blue collar type of kid that we need in this program.  He has an intense desire to get better and maximize his ability.  His numbers speak for themselves, and we expect him to be a force in our lineup this spring.”

Brett Crawford:  C  6’0” 200lbs. - Rappahannock Community College
 
Hometown:  Gloucester, VA
Awards/Honors:  All-Conference & All-Tournament 2008-2009; .358 BA in 2009
Why He Chose LMU:  LMU has a beautiful campus, wonderful athletic facilities and a reputation as a good academic institution.  But what sealed LMU as my choice was when Coach Sziksai and Coach Schmalz mentioned the baseball team’s three thirty win seasons in a row.  It wasn’t the wins that were so impressive about their program; it was the fact that neither is content with that.  Both want to win a national championship. That’s why I choose LMU.  It’s the kind of program I want to be a part of. 
Other Colleges That Recruited Him:  Virginia Wesleyan College, Averett University, Bryan College
Sziksai’s Comments:  “Brett is a very solid player.  Offensively he has the ability to hit for average and gap power.  Defensively, he is tough, durable, and has the ability to shut down a running game.  Brett is a great fit for our program.”

Mark Comparoni:  C  6’0” 208lbs - Williamsburg High School
 
Hometown:  Williamsburg, KY
Awards/Honors:  2008:  .462 BA, 21 2B, All-Area, Area Player of the Year
Why he chose LMU:  I chose LMU for an opportunity to join the baseball team, the education and the location. I grew up learning to hit in the cages of Tex Turner Arena so LMU holds a special place in my heart.
Other colleges that recruited him:  Asbury College, Bellarmine University, Emory and Henry College, Union College
Sziksai’s Comments:  “Mark has good arm strength and has a chance to be a solid hitter from the left side.  Mark has some catching up to do as he sat out last year, but I think he will make the adjustment quickly and be ready to go.  Our staff will enjoy throwing to Mark.”

Ryan Collins:  C  6’3” 215 – Hillsborough Community College
  
Hometown:  Tampa, FL
Awards/Honors:  2009:  .363 BA, 10 2B, 40 RBI,  7 HR
Why He Chose LMU:  Chose LMU because I am from the TN/KY area.  I wanted to relocate back to that area after spending entire life in FL. Also LMU is a program that is on the rise and I want to help LMU compete for a national title.
Other Colleges That Recruited Him:  University of Central Florida, University of Tampa, East Tennessee State, College of Charleston
Sziksai’s Comments:  “We have known about Ryan for quite some time, and we are excited about his future here.  He is a good catch and throw guy, and has the ability to hit for power as well.  He is a talented player that could have a big impact right away.” 

Juan Alvarez
Hometown:  Carolina, Puerto Rico
High School/Junior College:  Wabash Valley College
Awards/Honors: .272 BA, 4 2B, 4 HR, 21 RBI
Other colleges that recruited him:  University of Dayton, Bethune Cookman, Alabama A&M
Why He Chose LMU:  "I picked LMU because it was the best choice for me, and it’s a great academic school."
Sziksai’s Comments:  “Juan is a very talented and athletic player and will be a great asset to this team because of his versatility.  He can play anywhere on the field, switch hit, and run.  He played with an arm injury for the first half of last season, but once he got healthy, he finished very strong.  He comes from a great program, and knows how to win.”

Bryan Platt:  RHP  6’0” 215 – Triton College
 
Hometown:  Chicago, IL
Awards/Honors:  2009: Region All-Star, 42 IP, 3.429 ERA, 3-1 W-L, 30 K.
Why he chose LMU:  I chose LMU because I felt very comfortable with the surrounding atmosphere and would fit in without a problem. The baseball team is going in the right direction and I want to be a part of a winning team and also get better.
Other colleges that recruited him:  Western Illinois, Ashland, North Park, Concordia, Southwest Baptist, University of Omaha, North Central and Webber International
Sziksai’s Comments:  “We expect Bryan to have an immediate impact on our program.  He has a heavy fastball, and outstanding control over his slider.  He is the exactly the type of blue collar competitor that we want in this program.”

Garrett Copeland:  LHP/1B  6’1” 190  - Bearden High School
 
Hometown:  Knoxville, TN
Awards/Honors:  2009:  .400 BA, 6 HR,  41 RBI; 8-1 W-L, 2.43 ERA;  All PrepXtra First Team, All KIL, All District, and All Region
Why he chose LMU:  I felt it was a great fit for me and my family.  I got along with the coaches well right from the start.  The academics are what I'm looking for in a school and the faculty has great character about them.
Other colleges that recruited him:  MTSU, Mars Hill, Cleveland State, Piedmont College, King College, UT Martin, and Maryville College
Sziksai’s Comments:  “Garrett has tremendous ability, but more than that we loved his fierce competitive spirit and will to win.  Garrett led Bearden to the state tournament this spring, and has a knack for finding a way.  He will have a great career at LMU.”

Cody Baker:  OF  5’10” 155 – South Doyle High School
 
Hometown:  Knoxville, TN
Awards/Honors:  2009:  .486 BA, 28 RBI, 27 SB; All-District Team
Why he chose LMU:  Good school.  Great team.
Other colleges that recruited him:  Carson-Newman, King College
Sziksai’s Comments:  “Cody has exceptional speed, can really handle the bat from the left side, and is a very good defender.  He is a spark plug type guy and will bring excitement to our program.”

Jordan Harbison: C  5’10 175- Fulton High School

Hometown: Knoxville, TN
Awards/Honors:  .425 BA, 10 2B, 2-time All-District
Why he chose LMU:  I chose LMU because out of all my other options, LMU was the best fit both financially and socially. I am looking to go into pre-dental, so LMU's prestigious medical school definitely helped me make my final decision.
Other colleges that recruited him:  Maryville, Cleveland State Community College, Milligan, and Carson-Newman
Sziksai’s Comments:  “Jordan will be a great addition to our team.  He is mobile, athletic, and has a very strong arm.  I am excited to see the strides Jordan makes as he improves his strength and adjusts to the college game his freshman season.”

Austin Johnson:  RHP 6’0” 165 – Lexington Christian Academy
 
Hometown:  Lexington, KY
Awards/Honors:  2009:  1st team All-State, City of Lexington Pitcher of the Year and 1st Team All-City, 9-1 W-L, 1.48 ERA, 48 K, 8 BB.
Why he chose LMU:  “I chose Lincoln Memorial University because of the excellent academic opportunities and to be a part of a growing university.  The chance to be in a baseball program that allows me to compete at the highest level possible greatly influenced my decision.”
Other colleges that recruited him:  Virginia Military Institute, Gardner Webb, Georgetown College, Transylvania University, and North Greenville
Sziksai’s Comments:  “Austin is a proven winner.  He led a very good high school team to a State Championship in KY.  He is a strike throwing machine, but his best asset is his confidence and determination on the mound.  He will be a very good pitcher for years to come at LMU.”

Dylan Harvey:  RHP 6’2” 215 - Dobyns Bennett High School
 
Hometown:  Kingsport, TN
Awards/Honors:  2009:  7-4 W-L, 86 K,  3.50 ERA, All – Conference, All Northeast TN Team, Player of the Week.
Why he chose LMU:  Academics, Athletics and the Coaching Staff
Other colleges that recruited him:  University of North Carolina – Asheville, King
Sziksai’s Comments: “Dylan is a physical kid with a strong arm, and very good breaking ball.  He has improved tremendously over the past year, and we are excited to see him continue that growth here at LMU.  Dylan will be a tremendous asset to our program.”

Tyler Mansfield:  RHP 6’3” 195 – Ravenwood High School
 
Hometown:  Brentwood, TN
Awards/Honors:  All-Williamson County
Why he chose LMU:  I chose LMU for the academic programs available, discipline of baseball program, potential to improve, location and size of the school.
Other colleges that recruited him:  University of Tennessee – Martin, Harding University
Sziksai’s Comments:  “Tyler has a very good build and a very high ceiling.  Tyler has a hard slider, and with his work ethic, we see him developing into a guy that will compete for innings right away.”

Brett Pittman:  RHP 6’0” 215 – Middlesboro High School
 
Hometown:  Middlesboro, KY
Awards/Honors:  2009:  5-0 W-L, 2.01 ERA
Why he chose LMU:  Because of the great baseball program, and it’s close to home.
Other colleges that recruited him:  Berea, Union College, Alice Lloyd
Sziksai’s Comments:  “Brett is another physical pitcher with very good arm strength.  He is durable, with a lot of potential.  We are excited to have one of the best players in the tri-state are be a part of the Railsplitter family.”

Deaun Williams:  OF 5’9” 195  Lincoln Trail College
 
Hometown:  Beach Grove, IN
Why he chose LMU:  I have chosen LMU because it is a great perfect fit for me to continue my education and athletic career.  I’ll have the opportunity to be around positive people and coaches, and I’m also looking forward to being apart of the LMU Baseball program
Other colleges that recruited him:  University of the Cumberland’s, Kentucky Wesleyan, Lindsey Wilson, Indiana Tech, Alice Lloyd, Upper Iowa
Sziksai’s Comments: “Deaun is an exceptional athlete.  He can really run, has a strong arm, and shows some pop in his bat.  He is the type of player that will excel in our program because of his work ethic and desire to get better.  We are excited about his future in our program.”

Andrew Hall:  5'8" 155;  Emmanuel Christian High School
Hometown:  Hartsville, SC
Awards/Honors:  All Conf. 2006-2009,  BA .500, Why he chose LMU:  LMU is a great school, fantastic coaches, and a sound team.
Other colleges that recruited him:  Wingate, Newberry, Coker, Roanoke, Campbell
Sziksai’s Comments:  "Andrew is a hard-nosed, blue collar guy.  He is one of the best infield defenders that we have recruited in a long time.  Andrew is the type of player that will thrive in our system."

Which fall sport are you looking forward to the most?