MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama baseball signed nine student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2018-19 academic year, as announced Thursday by head coach Mark Calvi.

The signing class features four junior-college transfers along with five high school student-athletes.

Hunter Phillips – 6-2, 190 – RHP – R/R – Chattahoochee Valley (Ala.) CC – Warner Robins, Ga. 
Lettered three years in baseball for Houston County HS in Warner Robins, Ga. … Helped the Bears capture the class 5A state championship in 2015 … Named all-region as a junior and senior, and picked up honorable mention all-region honors on the mound in 2014... Named all-Middle Georgia in 2015 ... Hit .325 with two home runs and 15 RBIs as a senior and posted a 6-2 record and a 1.70 ERA … Spent two years at Georgia Southern, receiving a medical redshirt in 2016, before transferring to Chattahoochee Valley (Ala.) CC for this season … Named to the 2015-16 Sun Belt Conference Honor Roll.

Calvi on Phillips:  "Hunter is a good athlete. He is a two-way guy who will probably hit for Chattahoochee Valley. He swings the bat well. He was at Georgia Southern and had Tommy John (surgery), then decided to go to junior college. I've seen him at 90-93 (mph) with a good slider, and he's just getting back into the swing of the things throwing. The sky's the limit. He's an athletic pitcher with a power arm and very good breaking ball who can swing the bat as well. He's a good athlete and I like that. Athletes tend to make jumps talent-wise and ability-wise. We're excited about him. Chattahoochee Valley has, traditionally, a very deep and talented roster every year. He has three good pitches, and he is talented to do both for us. He's another really good arm that you add to the mix, and they tend to figure it out. I like the fact that he is athletic, big and strong, and has that good breaking ball. We're looking forward to what he brings to the table."

Jase Dalton – 6-2, 225 – RHP – R/R – Hinds (Miss.) CC – Raymond, Miss. 
Named to the 2016-17 Dean's List as a freshman at Hinds (Miss.) CC … Helped the Eagles to a 2017 Division II JUCO World Series appearance … Lettered in baseball for three years at Terry HS in Terry, Miss. … Earned first-team all-state honors in 2016 … Also named to the 2016 Mississippi High School Athletic Association All-Star team.

Calvi on Dalton:  "Jase is coming from a really good program in Hinds Community College. He is a mid-80s guy and sat behind some really talented guys last year. We have a very good relationship with Hinds CC, and Coach Temple up there. (Assistant) Coach (Bob) Keller was up there early, and Coach Temple had good things to say about a couple of his guys. We were actually recruiting a couple of the guys, with Jase being one of them. He is an upper 80s guy who will touch 90-91. Jase is a barrel-chested, strong kid with a really good changeup and slider. He's a three-pitch guy who will be in the rotation for Hinds; he'll be the number-one or number-two guy for them, which is saying something. The last guy we got out of Hinds, Randy Bell, had a pretty good career. I liked Jase the second I met him; he just has that look about him. He really wants to be here, and we're excited about him. He has good stuff. We might lose a starter or two this year to the (MLB) draft. We won't lose a lot of pitchers, that's why we didn't go pitcher-heavy – it's kind of the other way around this year. We're going to lose some hitters, but Jase is definitely a great addition to our staff."


Joel Cheatwood – 6-2, 185 – RHP – R/R – Snead State (Ala.) CC – Chelsea, Ala.
Won two games in 14 appearances, and struck out 44 batters in 45 innings pitched as a freshman last season at Snead State (Ala.) CC … Also tossed one complete game … Struck out 34 batters against 14 walks in 31 2/3 innings pitched in conference games … Also batted .250 with one double, one triple, six RBI, 13 runs scored and one stolen base in 39 games played … Lettered four years in baseball at Chelsea HS in Chelsea, Ala. … Led the pitching staff in ERA as a senior … Hit three home runs and drove in 45 runs as a junior.

Calvi on Cheatwood:  "Joel was a two-way player out of Chelsea for Snead State, and traditionally I like to recruit JUCO guys early who post good numbers. But he was playing the two-way thing which takes a lot out of you. He has a good frame to put on some size, but I think it took its toll on him. He was mid-80s, his breaking ball wasn't quite as sharp and he got hit a little bit. But I saw him this summer and he concentrated on just pitching. He was up to 91 with a nasty slider. He's touched 93 and 94 this fall with a really good slider. He's an infielder on the mound. Joel is a lot like Hunter Phillips; you have an athletic pitcher who made a jump velocity-wise with a swing-and-miss out pitch right now. We're excited about him – a power arm with a power breaking ball just like (Hunter) Phillips. We're looking forward to that."

Nick Lewis – 6-0, 180 – IF/OF – R/R – Wallace-Dothan (Ala.) CC – Troy, Ala.
Batted .338 with 19 doubles, one home run, 38 RBI, 46 runs scored and 15 stolen bases in 63 games played last season … Also posted a .403 on-base percentage … Hit .356 with nine doubles, 19 RBI, 19 runs scored and nine stolen bases in 32 conference games … Helped the Governors capture the Alabama Community Colleges Conference state title and a JUCO World Series appearance last season … Lettered six years in baseball and two seasons in football at Charles Henderson HS in Troy, Ala. … Helped the Trojans capture the class 4A state championship as a sophomore … Batted .436 with 45 RBI and a .500 on-base percentage as a senior … Father, Derius, lettered in baseball at Alabama from 1993-94.

Calvi on Lewis:  "Nick had a good year last year for Coach (Mackey) Sasser at Wallace-Dothan (CC) who made it to the JUCO World Series. (Assistant) Coach (Chris) Prothro saw him out there, and he had a great World Series against some really good pitching. He's a versatile guy who plays infield and outfield. We'll lose some infielders, so it's important. He has some pop in his bat from the right side of the plate. The field plays a little bit small here in the spring, and he can get the bat head out. I like the fact that he can play multiple positions. Nick is a guy who already has an idea of how to play infield and outfield, so it's not like you have to bring him in and teach him. He's an older hitter who has put up some numbers in a very good program, and he's faced good competition. We're excited about having Nick on board next year."

Santi Montiel – 5-10, 165 – IF – R/R – Alpharetta HS – Alpharetta, Ga.
Lettered in baseball for three years at Alpharetta HS in Alpharetta, Ga. … Batted .319 with seven doubles, two triples and 18 RBI at the plate, while posting a .961 fielding percentage as a junior last season … Hit .308 with nine RBI and 14 stolen bases as a sophomore.

Calvi on Montiel:  "Coach Prothro saw Santi and raved about him. He drove five to six hours just to see him play in the middle of the spring. We lose the cornerstone of our defense, which is (shortstop) Drew LaBounty. We lose a lot of guys, but that guy has been holding down shortstop for four years. Hopefully, Santi picks up where Drew leaves off; he has some big shoes to fill. But Santi is a very good fielder, and his numbers show it. He has an accurate arm, and that's what we need – that steady shortstop who makes every routine play and has it in him to make some plays that aren't routine as well. He is a slick-fielding guy, and a lot of times those guys boot the routine play. But you look at his numbers, and he is a very solid shortstop. The last guy who started as a freshman at that position, Drew LaBounty, has had a pretty good career, so we're hoping for the same thing out of Santi. We think he will do a fantastic job for us. He has a very good arm and can throw it from different angles. He's definitely a true shortstop. He's offensive as well. He is the guy who has plenty of room to fill out. He can do some things with the bat, and when he fill out strength-wise then it should be fun."


Zach Young – 6-1, 160 – RHP/IF – R/R – Sebastian River HS – Sebastian, Fla.
Lettered in baseball four years at Sebastian River HS in Sebastian, Fla. … Has helped SRHS capture the district championship the last three seasons … Also named the team's most valuable player in each of those seasons.

Calvi on Young:  "Zach is the stepson of a former player of mine, Jason Vetter, who played at FIU back in 1997-98. I signed Jason out of Indian River Community College. I remember meeting Zach when he was 14 years old over Christmas break. He was just a kid with long hair who liked surfing and riding the skateboard. Jason told me he had a pretty good arm. A year-and-a-half later he came up to our Prospect Camp and was at 91 (mph). He's from south Florida and playing with a high-profile summer/fall league team. We started recruiting him and he committed to the University of Miami (Fla.) in the fall of his junior year. He had a change of heart and this is where he wants to be. We're happy to have him. He's a two-way guy who is a very talented infielder. He's 6-1, 165 pounds and is 15 to 20 pounds away from being a monster. He's been up to 93-94 with a really good curveball, and he's an outstanding infielder. He helps us, primarily as a pitcher but he definitely helps us in the infield as well. He might be a corner infielder in the future and your closer, or be a Friday-night guy and play some first base. Who knows? He's versatile, but the arm is outstanding. It's for real; that thing is coming out of there 90-94 with a really good curveball and slider. We're excited about Zach. Very few freshmen are ready physically. You hope they have the mental makeup and physical tools to get by, but very rarely are they ready physically in terms of strength. It should be a lot of fun to watch this next wave of kids grow and get stronger, and Zach is one of those guys. We're fired up about him being here."

Bennett Shell – 5-10, 175 – OF – L/R – Pace HS – Pace, Fla.
Lettered in baseball four years and football two years at Pace HS in Pace, Fla. … Earned class 7A first-team all-state honors as a junior after batting .473 with three home runs, 19 RBI, 41 runs scored and 13 stolen bases while posting a .604 on-base percentage and .716 slugging percentage in 26 games … Also earned first-team all-area honors from the Pensacola News-Journal … Hit .301 with three home runs, 18 RBI, 22 runs scored and nine stolen bases with a .453 on-base percentage and .507 slugging percentage as a sophomore … Hit .347 with 13 RBI, 19 runs scored and 11 stolen bases with a .500 on-base percentage in 16 games as a freshman … Father, Stephen, played baseball at West Florida … Grandfather, Benny Russell, played quarterback at the University of Louisville and in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills … Cousin, Chase, is currently a member of the Jaguar roster … Cousin, Chance, plays baseball at Alabama Southern CC … Uncle, Chuck Todd, is the moderator of NBC's "Meet The Press".

Calvi on Shell:  "Bennett is right up our alley. This kid is super competitive. He plays all outfield positions, and is a left-handed hitter who can run. Bennett is a bat-control guy with some pop, and he plays the game the right way. He loves playing the game of baseball, and you can see it. He has a great personality; he's a grinder and a gamer who gets after it. He's probably one of the best bunters I have ever seen. He's going to be offensive; he will be on base and will touch home plate a lot. And he is going to play really good defense. I think his teammates are going to love him. He's from a great program with a lot of history and tradition in Pace High School. Just Pensacola (Fla.) period, we've had a lot of success in that city. Hopefully, we'll continue to have success with players out of Pace and the Florida Panhandle. We're excited to have Bennett on board."

Ethan Wilson – 6-2, 190 – OF – L/L – Andalusia HS – Andalusia, Ala.
Lettered in baseball five years, football four years and basketball for two seasons at Andalusia HS in Andalusia, Ala. … Helped the Bulldogs capture two straight class 4A Area 2 championships in 2016-17 … Batted .495 with 12 doubles, four triples, seven home runs, 35 RBI and 50 runs scored en route to class 4A first-team all-state honors as a junior last season … Hit .313 with five doubles, five triples, one home run, 21 RBI and 34 runs scored as a sophomore … Batted .405 with six doubles, three triples, one home run, 16 RBI and 16 runs scored as a freshman … Great uncle, Wayne Frazier, played football at Auburn and started at center in the first-ever Super Bowl for the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Calvi on Wilson:  "You're going to really like him. Ethan is big, strong and fast. He is a center fielder but can play both corner outfield positions and first base as well. He is a really good football player who is tough as nails and really swings the bat. He hits for average and has some power. He's an under-the-radar, multiple-sport guy kind of like (Jordan) Patterson and (Brendan) Donovan. We feel fortunate to have him. I think Ethan is going to step in as a freshman. He's going to be part of the next wave of young guys who come in and play a lot and make a major impact from day one."


Herndon Akridge – 6-1, 175 – RHP – R/R – St. Paul's Episcopal School – Mobile, Ala.
Lettered four years in baseball for the Saints … Went 9-2 with a 2.36 ERA with 115 strikeouts and a 0.89 WHIP in 65 1/3 innings pitched as a junior last season en route to class 5A all-state honorable mention … Also named to the Mobile Press-Register's Coastal All-Region team in 2017 … Finished 5-3 with a 2.11 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 71 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings pitched as a sophomore.

Calvi on Akridge:  "Herndon is definitely the best pitcher in this area, and is one of the best if not the best in the state of Alabama. He is upper 80s and will touch 91, but has a really good breaking ball. He is a great competitior on the mound with great poise and great feel for the position. And this is where he wanted to be. We go for the best guys locally, it doesn't matter who is on them. We hope to get our share, and Herndon was one of those guys. He was, no doubt, the best kid of any high school in this area. We feel fortunate to have him. I think he's going to make a major impact as a freshman, and be one of those guys who has at least a great three-year career here. I think he is going to do some big things in his freshman year."

"Aside from the obvious where you lose the seniors, Will Luft, Drew LaBounty, Colton Thomas, we knew with Swaggerty and the years (Dylan) Hardy and Donovan had last season as sophomores that we could lose some vital cogs in the offense," Calvi said. "Have we replaced them in terms of the amount that we're losing? We didn't replace them with the six hitters, but we have some kids in the program who are ready to step up – the Michael Sandles and Andrew Bates of the world. There are some guys who will step up and take those spots. You are never done recruiting; your class is always a work in progress until they step on the field. Two years ago we signed Andy Arguelles in June. Recruiting is never over until they go to class on the first day. We are still looking for two more hitters, and we might add one more arm. We'll get hurt with the (MLB) Draft, and there might be a guy or two get drafted that you didn't plan on because there will be scouts here every game watching the core three. But you just do your best to look into the crystal ball, which is foggy and never crystal, and see who you could lose and what you might need. That's what we're trying to do right now. 

"We know we need at least one more left-side infielder to come in, and I would love to see an offensive third baseman or shortstop who can play third base and really hit. We're looking for that, and you obviously have to have depth in the infield. We have some guys coming back as well now – Hunter Stokes, Michael Sandle, Andrew Bates and the new guys coming in. The whole catching core will be back, and Wells Davis over at first base but Wells has also maybe turned himself into a (MLB) prospect along with Carter Perkins. So you have to recruit against your worst nightmare, and that's losing some of those guys as juniors when you're not planning on it. We'll do the best we can to protect against the draft. You do the best you can, but we'll never use the draft or graduation as an excuse. You try to look into the future and try to predict what may happen. I think a lot of people make the mistake of preparing for what they know is going to happen. You have to prepare for the unknown and that's the hard part, but you have to do it. We're trying to prepare for the unknown, and it's hard to juggle what you have, what you have coming in and going out. But you have to do the best that you can and bring in the best players you can. It's a juggling act, but it's the nature of the beast. If you're not recruiting all the time, you're losing and not playing for championships. Hopefully, this group of guys plays for several championships and in the postseason, and able to hang some banners on the wall out here. Winning a national championship is our goal. We're excited about this group and the future in this program."

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