MOBILE, Ala. ? University of South Alabama head baseball coach Steve Kittrell and his new coaching staff signed nine players for the 2008 baseball season during last weeks NCAA early signing period.
The Jags have signed, Jake Overstreet, Luke Grissett, Jerron Casey, D. D. Hanks, Nathaniel Lami, Michael Raia, Greg Johnson, Brad Hammac and Michael Davitt, rounding out their fall recruiting.
Overstreet comes to South Alabama from Thomasville High School in Thomasville, Ala., where he has been a standout third baseman as well as a football player. He was an All-State selection during his 10th and 11th grade seasons as well as second team Press Register Deadly Diamond selection.
Grissett will add some local flavor to the USA class of 2008. A 5’10 185 pound right-hander, Grissett comes to USA from Mary G. Montgomery where he was a force for the Vikings.
South Alabama has also inked Casey, a shortstop, from Lucedale, Miss. Casey was an All-Conference and All-State selection during his junior season at George County High School.
The Jags also picked up Hanks, a right-handed pitcher from Alabama Southern Community College. Hanks played his freshman season with UAB before heading to ASCC. During his high school career at Satsuma, Hanks earned team honors of best pitcher and lowest ERA. He was also All-County during his junior and senior seasons.
Fairhope High School had two players sign with USA. Raia, a right-handed pitcher and Lami, an outfielder are both headed to USA for 2008. Raia is a 6’5, 225 pound right-handed pitcher went 9-4 with five save last season, while Lami hit .343 and stole 20 bases.
Johnson is a right-handed pitcher from Omaha, Neb. At 6’2 and 215 pounds, Johnson has experienced success at both the high school level and junior college level. During his high school career at Millard North in Omaha, Johnson went 9-0 with three save for the No. 3 team in the nation according to USA Today. In junior college at Butler Community College in Kansas, Johnson reached the NJCAA World series in Grand Junction, Colo.
Hammac is the only catcher during this signing period. A native of Pace, Fla., Hammac batted .338 with two home runs and 32 RBIs for Pace High School. He was a three-year letter-winner and a member of the Florida 5-A State Championship team.
Davitt is the final signee. A 6’6 pitcher from Davidson High School via Okaloosa-Walton Community College, Davitt has been drafted twice. The first coming in 2005 where he was taken in the 9th round by the L.A. Dodgers. In 2006 he was a 29th round selection of the Angels.
