Baseball Announces Signees
11/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 12, 2003
Fort Worth, Texas - TCU Head baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle announced the signing of the fall class of 2004. In all, TCU signed 13 recruits to National Letters of Intent. The 13 players, which includes 10 high school players and three junior college transfers, will join the Horned Frogs in fall 2004. The fall class features five of the top 25 players as ranked in Texas Baseball News for the class of 2004.
"We are very excited about this fall class," said Jim Schlossnagle. "We have numerous needs to fill and this class is a huge step in the direction of becoming a nationally prominent program. The quality of student-athletes we were able to attract are representative of two things: One, TCU is a great academic institution that is committed to elite college baseball, and two we have one of the most hard-working and successful coaching staffs in the country."
Among the 13 signees are Fort Worth products Matt McGuirk from Arlington Heights High School and Yovani Gallardo from Trimble Tech. Joining McGuirk and Gallardo are fellow high schoolers Sam Demel (RHP, Spring, Texas/Spring HS), Andrew Walker (C, Houston, Texas/Bellaire HS), Tyler Kersten (RHP, Jones Creek, Texas/Brazosport HS), Jason Troth (LHP, Richmond, Texas/Fort Bend Austin), Zach Ashwood (LHP, The Colony, Texas/The Colony HS), Matt Carpenter (IF, Sugar Land, Texas/Elkins HS), Spencer Jackson (OF, Sugar Land, Texas/Elkins HS) and Jake Friemel (RHP, Victoria, Texas/Memorial HS). Transferring to TCU in the fall are Kody Havercamp (LHPP, Carroll, Texas) out of Navarro Junior College, Ryan Pack (OF, Lawton, Okla.) out of Seward CC and Keith Conlon (OF, Highland Park, Texas) out of Weatherford JC.
Texas Baseball News ranked Gallardo as the 13th best player in the state of Texas. He has been an all-district performer at Trimble Tech for head coach Michael Frick.
"Yovanni has evolved into one of the top prospects in all of high school baseball," said Schlossnagle. "It is important to me that we are able to attract and sign the best players in the DFW area and Yovanni is certainly one of those. He will impact our program greatly as a freshman both as a pitcher and position player."
Demel is one of the highest ranked baseball players in the state of Texas. He was ranked 11th by Texas Baseball News for 2005 recruits. He is an all-district performer for head coach Jason Washburn.
"Sam is one of the top pitchers in the country that was recruited by every major program in the south," said Schlossnagle. "He is a tremendous competitor with outstanding stuff that will instantly make an impact in our program. He is also an outstanding student that plays in one of the nation's premier high school programs."
Carpenter is another top-rated athlete in the state of Texas as the Texas Baseball News rankeds him the No. 18 player in the state. He has been an all-district and an all-state performer for head coach Rick Carpenter.
"Matt hails from a great high school program that has produced several successful TCU athletes," said coach Schlossnagle. "He is the top lefthanded hitter in Texas and will impact our lineup as a freshman. He comes from a great family and will arrive at TCU well-coached and ready to get us to Omaha."
Walker is a standout athlete at Bellaire High School. He has been an all-district performer the past two seasons for head coach Rocky Manuel.
"Andrew is special because he was our first commitment," said Schlossnagle. "He attends one of the nation's top high schools that consistently produces one of the country's top baseball programs. He is a good offensive catcher and should make a large contribution early in his career."
Kersten is an outstanding athlete at Brazosport High School. He has been an all-state performer for head coach Jason Thompson.
"Tyler has great size and strength," said Schlossnagle. "He has one of the best fastballs in the country and should make and immediate impact as a freshman."
Troth is a standout athlete at Fort Bend Austin High School. He was named the Fort Bend Austin HS team MVP last season, as well as being selected to the all-district team.
"Jason is a good student from a great family," remarked Schlossnagle. "As a lefthander, he will have a great opportunity to make an impact as a freshman. We are very excited to have him as a Horned Frog."
McGuirk is one of the top high school athletes in the state. He is a Texas Baseball News Preseason All-State performer for head coach Tommy Elliot.
"Matt is a great sign for us at TCU," said Schlossnagle. "He hails from a TCU family, is a superb student and a well-known local standout. Matt had a good fall with the bat and really distinguished himself at one of the nation's top fall showcases in Florida. He should impact our program early in his career and may have the chance to pitch as well."
Ashwood is an excellent athlete at The Colony High School. As a player at The Colony, he has been an all-district performer.
"Zach had a great fall season and emerged as one of the top lefthanders in the state," said Schlossnagle. "He is a North Texas product that we wanted to keep close to home, and we look forward to his great career at TCU."
Joining Carpenter at TCU is teammate Spencer Jackson. Jackson is a member of the back-to-back Texas State championship teams for Elkins High School. He was named the tournament MVP in 2003 and has been an all-district performer for his school.
"Spencer is a teammate with Matt (Carpenter) and has displayed the ability to be an impact hitter at the college level," said coach Schlossnagle. "We are excited about his matriculation to TCU."
Friemel is a top pitcher at Victoria Memorial High School and has been an all-district, all-area performer for head coach Ralph Escalona.
"I am truly excited to have Jake and his family as a part of our program," said coach Schlossnagle. "He was very impressive this fall, pitching in Lupton Stadium, and has shown a tremendous ability to command all of his pitches."
Haverkamp, who is transferring from Navarro Junior College, has been a middle reliever for head coach Skip Johnson at Navarro. He is a 2002 graduate of Southlake Carroll High School.
"Kody has a good feel for pitching, is a tremendous student and has performed well at one of the best junior college programs in the state," remarked coach Schlossnagle. "He will arrive ready to contribute and very well coached."
Also transferring to TCU in the fall is outfielder, Pack. Pack transfers from Seward County Community College-Kansas. He is an all-conference and all-region performer at Seward and last season, he ranked sixth in the NJCAA in home runs hit.
"The confines of Lupton Stadium will always force us to have a great centerfielder," noted Schlossnagle. "Ryan gives us that. He has great speed and instincts and an excellent throwing arm. Offensively, he is a viable threat with the bat and on the bases. TCU fans should be anxiously awaiting his arrival. The fact that he is from Oklahoma and chooses TCU over the good programs at Oklahoma and Oklahoma State speaks volumes about what TCU has to offer."
Keith Conlon will join the Frogs after his stint at Weatherford Junior College. He was a scholar athlete for coach Jeff Lightfoot. At Highland Park High School, he was a solid contributor for head coach Lew Kennedy.
"One of our biggest desires this fall was to sign some impact junior college hitters," said coach Schlossnagle. "Keith gives us that and is a local product as well. He will arrive well-prepared by the staff at Weatherford and is a tremendous all-around athlete that should impact our lineup immediately."
"The recruiting efforts, led by Coach Todd Whitting, are well recognized throughout the state of Texas and on a national scale. The work that Todd, along with Matt Siegel, Heath Autrey and Mike Dilley, have put in will one day be reflected in tremendous on-field success," said Schlossnagle.
