TEXAS TECH ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, November 21, 2012 Contact: Scott Lacefield ([email protected]) (806) 742-2770 – Office (817) 691-3786 – Cell
TEXAS TECH ANNOUNCES BASEBALL RECRUITING CLASS Recruiting class is highlighted by several high school and junior college standouts
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech first-year head baseball coach Tim Tadlock announced the Red Raiders early recruiting class Wednesday morning as 19 student-athletes will join the Tech baseball program in the fall 2013 semester.
The recruiting class includes 16 standouts from the state of Texas while also adding prospects from Virginia, Oklahoma and California.
“Our efforts on the recruiting trail started this past summer with the group of players that will take the field this spring,” Tadlock said. “Just as we felt heading into this fall, we are equally excited about the group of players that make up this early recruiting class. This group has some quality arms and some hitters whom can step in right away and make an impact in our lineup.
“Our number one priority last summer in recruiting was to attract the best players while building a team for the 2013 season. The beauty of baseball is that the season will tell us if we did that. Between J-Bob Thomas, Ray Hayward, Russell Raley and Joe Hughes, we feel like we do have some guys on campus that are the building blocks for our program for years to come. And now with our second recruiting class under our belts, we feel fortunate that all of these individuals will help our program grow towards being able to compete to go to Omaha!”
TEXAS TECH BASEBALL 2013-14 RECRUITING CLASS Taylor Bridges – LHP – 6-0, 180, L/L – Lubbock, Texas/Coronado Matthew Broadbent – INF – 6-0, 190, R/R – Cypress, Texas/Cypress Woods Carson Chilton – RHP – 6-3, 160, R/R – McKinney, Texas/McKinney Boyd Ty Damron – LHP – 6-3, 175, L/L – Aubrey, Texas/Krum Hunter Davis – INF – 6-1, 170, R/R – Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne Dylan Dusek – LHP – 6-1, 190, L/L – Sugar Land, Texas/Kempner Ryan Long – INF – 6-1, 180, L/R – Crandall, Texas/Crandall Thaddius Lowry – RHP – 6-4, 210, R/R – Spring, Texas/Spring Anthony Lyons – OF – 6-4, 220, L/L – Arlington, Texas/Arlington Martin Casey Meisner – RHP – 6-7, 185, R/R – Cypress, Texas/Cypress Woods Ryan Moseley – RHP – 6-2, 185, R/R – Lubbock, Texas/Cooper Nick Pettus – RHP/INF – 6-0, 185, R/R – Broken Arrow, Okla./Broken Arrow/Seminole State College Zac Reininger – RHP/INF – 6-4, 170, S/R – Spring Branch, Texas/Smithson Valley/Hill College Derek Rustich – INF – 6-3, 200, L/R – El Cajon, Calif./Grossmont Chris Sadberry – LHP – 6-0, 195, L/L – Holliday, Texas/Holliday/Grayson County College Cameron Smith – LHP – 5-11, 170, L/L – Seabrook, Texas/Clear Lake/New Mexico JC Stephen Smith – OF/RHP – 6-1, 220, R/R – Wolfforth, Texas/Frenship Bryce Welborn – RHP – 5-10, 175, R/R – The Woodlands, Texas/Tomball Brad Wieck – LHP – 6-9, 265, L/L – Canyon, Texas/San Jacinto Christian/Cisco College Taylor Bridges – LHP – 6-0, 180 – L/L – Lubbock, Texas/Coronado - Son of Terry and Shelly Bridges. - Plays for coach Gary Hix at Lubbock Coronado High School. - Played summer baseball for coach Ryan Brewer (ABA). - Enters senior season at Lubbock Coronado High School in 2013. - First Team All-District (2012). - All-South Plains 5A Pitcher of the Year (2012). - South Plains All-Conference (2012). - First Team Lubbock Avalanche-Journal All-City (2012). - First Team 2-5A All-Academic Team (2012). - Went 9-2 with a 2.29 ERA with two saves, 95 strikeouts and 73.1 innings pitched (2012). - All-South Plains 5A Pitcher of the Year (2011). - Went 8-2 with a 3.75 ERA in 65 innings with 64 strikeouts as a sophomore (2011). - Tallied a 5-0 record in playoff games as a sophomore and threw a one-hitter in the state tournament semifinals (2011). - Helped lead high school to a 33-16 overall record and to a state tournament runner-up finish (2011). - Member of the Lubbock little league baseball team that advanced to the 2007 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
Coach Tadlock on Bridges: “Taylor is a crafty left-hander that can really add and subtract.”
Matthew Broadbent – INF – 6-0, 190 – R/R – Cypress, Texas/Cypress Woods - Son of Tina Gately-Broadbent. - Plays for coach Thomas Loria at Cypress Woods High School. - Played summer baseball for coach Charlie Hayes (BLBA). - Enters senior season at Cypress Woods High School in 2013. - Perfect Game Honorable Mention Preseason High School Underclassmen All-America (2012). - First Team 17-5A All-District (2012). - Batted .433 during junior season (2012). - First Team 17-5A All-District (2011). - High School teammates with fellow Texas Tech signee RHP Casey Meisner.
Coach Tadlock on Broadbent: “First saw Matt play in the Houston Area High School Coaches All-Star Game and he caught our attention the way he swung the bat. He brings versatility as a high school shortstop that we will be able to plug in right away. He is planning on studying in our business school.”
Carson Chilton – RHP – 6-3, 160 – R/R – McKinney, Texas/McKinney Boyd - Son of Scott and Jennifer Chilton. - Plays for coach Brooke Court at McKinney Boyd High School. - Played summer baseball for coach Danny Florence and Cory Thornton (Frozen Ropes). - Enters senior season at McKinney Boyd High School in 2013.
Coach Tadlock on Chilton: “Carson converted in the last couple of years to a submarine type pitcher with the recommendation of his summer league coach Danny Florence and it seems every time we have seen him pitch it was like the ol’ saying, three-up and three-down before you looked up.”
Ty Damron – LHP – 6-3, 175 – L/L – Aubrey, Texas/Krum - Son of James and Tresia Damron. - Plays for coach Ray Miller at Krum High School. - Played summer baseball for coach Nick Heitz, Shane Davenport and Brett Ray (Texas Stix). - Enters senior season at Krum High School in 2013. - 9-2A First Team All-District (2012).
Coach Tadlock on Damron: “A late commit that J-Bob went to see in the summer and was 85-86 MPH and as of late his velocity made a jump up to around 90.”
Hunter Davis – INF – 6-1, 170 – R/R – Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne - Son of Paul Davis and Robin Davis. - Plays for coach Jimmy Hunt at Princess Anne High School. - Enters senior season at Princess Anne High School in 2013. - Perfect Game: Sunshine Northeast Top Prospect (2012). - Washington Nationals Area Code Team (2012). - First Team All-District (2012). - Second Team All-Region (2012). - AAA Beach First Team All-District (2012). - Second Team All-Tidewater (2012).
Coach Tadlock on Davis: “Davis runs a 6.5 in the 60 and has some power. He was a member of the Washington Nationals Area Code comprised of some of the better players on the east coast.”
Dylan Dusek – LHP – 6-1, 190 – L/L – Sugar Land, Texas/Kempner - Son of Patrick and Cheryl Dusek. - Plays for coach Marc Jones at Kempner High School. - Played summer baseball for coach Ronnie Thames (Colombia Angels). - Enters senior season at Kempner High School in 2013. - Recorded a 1.00 ERA in 28 innings with 43 strikeouts and five walks allowed (2012). - First Team 23-5A All-District (2012). - Second Team All-Sun All-District (2012). - Perfect Game 17U WWBA All-Tournament Team – Columbia Angels (2012).
Coach Tadlock on Dusek: “Dylan pitches for a good friend of mine, Ronnie Thames, and every time he needs to win a game he’s the guy he gives the ball to. Right now he pitches at 85-86 with ease and with command.”
Ryan Long – INF – 6-1, 180 – L/R – Crandall, Texas/Crandall - Son of Bob and Sharon Long. - Plays for coach Jimmy West at Crandall High School. - Played summer baseball for coach Matt Spencer and Carey Avants (D-Bat Mustangs) and Gerald Smiley (Dallas Tigers). Avants was an infielder at Texas Tech in 2005. - Enters senior season at Crandall High School in 2013. - In 85 career games, batted .400 (102-for-255) with 91 runs, 32 doubles, seven triples, seven home runs, 77 RBI, 40 walks/hit-by-pitch and 30 stolen bases (2010-12). - Batted .433 (39-for-90) with 34 runs, 17 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 30 RBI with eight stolen bases in 31 games as a junior (2012). - Batted .402 (39-for-97) with 37 runs, seven doubles, four triples, three home runs and 31 RBI with 17 stolen bases in 32 games as a sophomore (2011). - Batted .353 (24-for-68) with 20 runs, eight doubles, one triple and 16 RBI with five stolen bases in 22 games as a freshman (2010). - First Team THSBCA 3A All-State (2012). - First Team 13-3A All-District (2012). - District 13-3A Offensive Player of the Year (2012). - District 13-3A Defensive Player of the Year (2012). - First Team 13-3A All-District (2010). - Two-time all-district selection in football as a defensive back (2010-11). - Earned all-state on the gridiron as a sophomore (2010). - Also lettered in basketball and golf while in high school.
Coach Tadlock on Long: “A three-sport athlete at Crandall High School just east of Dallas. He is a left- handed hitting middle infielder. He is a guy you won’t want to leave your seat when he is on the field.”
Thaddius Lowry – RHP – 6-4, 210 – R/R – Spring, Texas/Spring - Son of Thomas Lowry and Kelly Ross Lowry. - Plays for coach Kyle Humphreys at Spring High School. - Played summer baseball for coach Ray DeLeon (Houston Banditos). - Enters senior season at Spring High School in 2013. - Perfect Game: #180 High School Prospect (National). - Perfect Game High Honorable Mention Preseason High School Underclassmen All-America (2012). - Houston Baseball Pre-Season All-Houston (2012). - Second Team 13-5A All-District (2011).
Coach Tadlock on Lowry: “Saw him pitch last spring for the first time when we were in Houston during the Minute Maid Classic and walked away impressed with the body and arm action. He then proceeded to develop a split finger over the summer that is a plus pitch. He was recently up to 94 MPH in Jupiter during the fall.”
Anthony Lyons – OF – 6-4, 220, L/L – Arlington, Texas/Arlington Martin - Son of Anthony and Kathleen Lyons. - Plays for coach Curt Culbertson at Arlington Martin High School. - Played summer baseball for coach Dave Acton, Andy Adams and Mike Bacsik (Arlington A’s). - Enters senior season at Arlington Martin High School in 2013. - Perfect Game Honorable Mention Preseason High School Underclassmen All-America (2012). - First Team 4-5A All-District (2012). - Led high school to a state tournament semifinals appearances (2012). - Helped lead team to a 36-6 overall record (2012). - Perhaps his top performance as a junior came against Fort Worth Paschal recording seven RBI with a grand slam (2012).
Coach Tadlock on Lyons: “Anthony is a left-handed hitter that has the ability to step in right away.”
Casey Meisner – RHP – 6-7, 185, R/R – Cypress, Texas/Cypress Woods - Son of Blake Meisner. - Plays for coach Thomas Loria at Cypress Woods High School. - Enters senior season at Cypress Woods High School in 2013. - Selected by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association for the Texas Sunbelt Team (2012). - Baseball America: “Top 100 High School Prospects” – #89 Prospect. - ESPN High School “Top 60 2013 MLB Draft Prospect” - #47 Prospect. - Perfect Game: #81 High School Prospect (National). - Perfect Game: #11 High School Prospect (Texas). - Perfect Game First Team Preseason High School Underclassmen All-America. - Texas Rangers Area Code Team (2012). - ESPN Louisville Slugger Top 20 Area Code Pitcher – No. 17 (2012). - First Team 17-5A All-District (2012). - ESPN Honorable Mention High School All-State – Texas (2012). - Second Team 17-5A All-District (2011). - High School teammates with fellow Texas Tech signee INF Matthew Broadbent.
Coach Tadlock on Meisner: “He is a power arm with a big league body if we can get him to campus he will be a potential Friday-night starter.”
Ryan Moseley – RHP – 6-2, 185, R/R – Lubbock, Texas/Cooper - Son of Kevin and Kevann Moseley. - Plays for coach Terry Baxter at Lubbock Cooper High School. - Played summer baseball for coach Ryan Brewer (ABA). - Enters senior season at Lubbock Cooper High School in 2013. - Perfect Game: #57 High School Prospect (Texas). - First Team THSBCA 3A All-State (2012). - First Team Lubbock Avalanche-Journal All-City (2012).
Coach Tadlock on Moseley: “We saw him pitch last winter in our team camp and he jumped up there and was 90-92 MPH. Definitely a guy that Ray (Hayward) will enjoy working with and developing . Got a kick out of a call this summer from a friend that was watching him pitch and he said he throws harder than anyone he has seen.”
Nick Pettus – RHP/INF – 6-0, 185, R/R – Broken Arrow, Okla./Broken Arrow/Seminole State College - Son of Matt and Debbie Pettus. - Plays for coach Lloyd Simmons and pitching coach Brady Huston at Seminole State College. - Enters sophomore season at Seminole State College in 2013. - Graduated from Broken Arrow High School in 2011. - Played for coach Shannon Dobson at Broken Arrow High School. - Played summer high school baseball for coach Clay Overcash (Sandlot Midwest Scout Team). - Went 4-2 with a 1.53 ERA with 35.1 innings, 43 strikeouts and six walks allowed (2012). - Also batted .263 (5-for-19) with five runs, one home run, five RBI and a .417 on-base percentage (2012). - As a freshman helped lead Seminole State to a 41-15 overall record (2012). - Perfect Game: #28 High School Prospect (National – Middle INF) in 2011. - Rawlings/Perfect Game High Honorable Mention High School Preseason All-America (2011). - Helped lead Broken Arrow High School to a 36-2 overall record as a senior (2011). - As a senior batted .341 (30-for-88) with six doubles, six home runs and 24 RBI (2011). - As a senior went 3-0 with a 0.60 ERA in 12 appearances with 23.1 innings, 38 strikeouts and three walks allowed (2011). - Perfect Game Honorable Mention Preseason High School Underclassmen All-America (2010).
Coach Tadlock on Pettus: “He is a guy I saw quite a bit in high school at Broken Arrow and have followed at Seminole State. He pitches at 88-92 MPH with great mound presence and will give us a guy that can play any of the three infield positions.”
Zac Reininger – RHP/INF – 6-4, 170, S/R – Spring Branch, Texas/Smithson Valley/Hill College - Son of Daniel and Darci Reininger. - Plays for coach Chris Rateike and assistant coach Caleb Shofner at Hill College. - Enters sophomore season at Hill College in 2013. - Graduated from Smithson Valley High School in 2011. - Played high school baseball for coach Chad Koehl at Smithson Valley High School. - Played summer high school baseball for coach Luke Pantuso (South Texas Sliders). - Went 6-1 with a 2.49 ERA in 24 appearances with 47 innings pitched, 25 strikeouts and four walks allowed (2012). - Ranked 10th in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference (NTJCAC) with six wins. - Also batted .319 (15-for-47) with a triple and four RBI. - Went 10-2 in 20 appearances with a 2.01 ERA, 102 strikeouts and allowed just 13 walks (2011). - First Team San Antonio News All-District (2011). - First Team 27-4A All-District (2011). - First Team All-County (2011). - Helped lead high school to a district, bi-district and area championship with a 34-11 record (2011).
Coach Tadlock on Reininger: “He is a two-way guy who will be able to help in the infield and be a starter on the mound. J-Bob says he’s a little bit of a throwback because he is just a baseball player who can help in more than one way to win a game. He pitches around 88-92 MPH with good secondary stuff.”
Derek Rustich – INF – 6-3, 200, L/R – El Cajon, Calif./Grossmont - Son of Craig and Donnell Rustich. - Plays for coach Jim Earley at Grossmont High School. - Played summer baseball for coach Mike Spiers (ABD Bulldogs). - Enters senior season at Grossmont High School in 2013. - Perfect Game: #59 High School Prospect (California). - Perfect Game Third Team Preseason High School Underclassmen All-America (2012). - ESPN High School Baseball – Top Corner Infielders (Class of 2013). - Milwaukee Brewers Area Code Team (2012). - Southern California Scout League All-Star selection (2012). - Batted .354 (29-for-82) with 17 runs, five doubles, one triple, two home runs, 15 RBI and a .481 on- base percentage (2012). - Also lettered three years in basketball while earning all-league honors twice. - His older brother, Brant, played college baseball at UCLA (2004-07) and was a second-round pick by the New York Mets in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft.
Coach Tadlock on Rustich: “We were looking for a left-handed hitting third baseman and were lucky Derek was available. Fans might not want to leave their seats when this guy is hitting.”
Chris Sadberry – LHP – 6-0, 195, L/L – Holliday, Texas/Holliday/Grayson County College - Son of Wade Sadberry and Melissa Sadberry. - Plays for coach Dusty Hart at Grayson County College. - Played summer baseball for coach Don Patty (Titans). - Enters sophomore season at Grayson County College in 2013. - Played freshman season at Louisiana Tech (2012). - Went 3-1 with a 5.71 ERA in 13 appearances (9 starts) with 34.2 innings, 43 hits allowed, 22 earned runs allowed, 28 strikeouts and 17 walks allowed (2012). - Received a medical redshirt at Louisiana Tech (2011). - Graduated from Holliday High School in 2010. - Played high school baseball for coach Terry Wolf at Holliday High School. - Three-time all-district selection as a prep. - 5-2A District Most Valuable Player (2008). - Earned all-state as a junior and senior. - Led team to a state tournament runner-up finish as a junior (2009). - Earned all-district and all-state honors as a linebacker on the gridiron.
Coach Tadlock on Sadberry: “Chris is a guy that has the ability to step in and pitch right away. He has been up to as high as 93 MPH on the radar gun and will usually pitch in the 87-89 range with good secondary stuff.”
Cameron Smith – LHP – 5-11, 170, L/L – Seabrook, Texas/Clear Lake/New Mexico JC - Son of Darren and Lisa Smith. - Plays for coach Josh Simpson and pitching coach Jake McCarter at New Mexico Junior College. - Enters sophomore season at New Mexico Junior College in 2013. - Went 5-3 in 12 appearances (9 starts) with a 2.80 ERA, one save, 54.2 innings pitched, 50 hits allowed, 17 earned runs, 41 strikeouts and allowed 20 walks (2012). - Struck out nine in a seven-inning performance allowing just one run against New Mexico Military (2012). - Graduated from Clear Lake High School in 2011. - Went 4-3 in 11 appearances with one complete game, 2.92 ERA, 48 innings pitched, 38 hits allowed, 20 earned runs, 69 strikeouts and 26 walks allowed (2011).
Coach Tadlock on Cameron Smith: “Cameron pitched a gem last spring in the NJCAA Region V Tournament here at Rip Griffin Park and I happened to be sitting with a couple decent left-handers in their own right (Gary Benton and Travis Walden) and we all were convinced he could step in and pitch right away.”
Stephen Smith – OF/RHP – 6-1, 220, R/R – Wolfforth, Texas/Frenship - Son of Dan and Rose Smith. - Plays for coach Chad Reynolds at Frenship High School. - Played summer baseball for coach Ryan Brewer (ABA). - Enters senior season at Frenship High School in 2013. - Perfect Game: #57 High School Prospect (Texas). - Perfect Game High Honorable Mention Preseason High School Underclassmen All-America (2012). - ESPN High School Baseball – Top Outfielders (Class of 2013). - Second Team THSBCA 4A All-State (2012). - First Team Lubbock Avalanche-Journal All-City (2012). - Batted .415 with 124 runs, 145 hits, 26 doubles, 18 triples, 12 home runs, 109 RBI and 68 walks during prep career. - Tallied an 8-3 record, 3.67 ERA and five saves in 124 innings with 170 strikeouts and just 68 walks allowed during prep career. - Went 2-2 with a 2.27 ERA in 37 innings with 54 strikeouts and 18 walks allowed as a junior (2012). - Batted .442 with 28 runs, seven doubles, five triples, five home runs, 26 RBI and 30 walks with only six strikeouts with a .611 on-base percentage and .857 slugging percentage as a junior(2012). - Honorable Mention Texas Sports Writers Association All-State in football (2011). - Second Team Texas High School Coaches Association All-State in football (2011). - District 3-4A Defensive Most Valuable Player in football (2011). - First Team All-South Plains in football (2011). - First Team All-City in football (2011). - First Team All-City in football (2010). - Member of the Lubbock little league baseball team that advanced to the 2007 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
Coach Tadlock on Stephen Smith: “Stephen will be a guy who can help in any number of spots in our lineup and then if we need him to he could jump on the mound and get some outs when needed. If he was here right now he would give some guys a run for their money competing for playing time.”
Bryce Welborn – RHP – 5-10, 175, R/R – The Woodlands, Texas/Tomball - Son of Bradley and Danielle Welborn. - Plays for coach Doug Rush at Tomball High School. - Played his junior year at The Woodlands Christian for Sean Ina. - Played summer baseball for coach Ray DeLeon (Houston Banditos). - Enters senior season at The Woodlands High School in 2013. - Perfect Game: #26 High School Prospect (Texas). - Perfect Game Second Team Preseason High School Underclassmen All-America (2012). - Perfect Game WWBA 17U Most Valuable Pitcher (2012).
Coach Tadlock on Welborn: “He has reportedly been up 95 MPH on the radar gun recently. An old- school gunfighter is what J-Bob likes to call him. He is also very interested in our agricultural program.”
Brad Wieck – LHP – 6-9, 265, L/L – Canyon, Texas/San Jacinto Christian Academy/Cisco College - Son of Mike and Letha Wieck. - Plays for coach David White at Cisco College. - Enters sophomore season at Cisco College in 2013. - Played freshman season at Frank Phillips in 2012. - Selected in the 29th round (908th overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Players Draft. - Went 6-2 with a 4.59 ERA in 13 appearances (9 starts) with four complete games, 66.2 innings pitched, 57 hits allowed, 34 earned runs allowed, 84 strikeouts and 30 walks allowed (2012). - Ranked 7th in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference (WJCAC) with a 4.59 ERA (2012). - Ranked 2nd in the WJCAC with 84 strikeouts (2012). - Stuck out 10 or more batters five times (2012). - Threw a seven-inning, complete-game shutout with 11 strikeouts against New Mexico JC (2012). - Graduated from San Jacinto Christian Academy in 2011.
Coach Tadlock on Wieck: “He is a 6-foot-9, 265 pound left hander who will pitch for Cisco JC in the spring. He was up to 92 MPH in Texas/New Mexico Junior College All-Star Game this fall.”
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