MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama baseball added 13 student-athletes for the 2016-17 season head coach Mark Calvi announced on Friday.

"The focus on this year's class was definitely on replacing a lot of key arms off the 2016 team," Calvi said. "We lose 12 to 13 pitchers off of this year's class – just quality guys. Our emphasis was to replace the arms of a pretty good staff. It was important that we replace them with some older guys, and we have some younger guys in there as well – kids who we can bring along and grow up in the program – but our emphasis was on junior-college pitchers who have already pitched in college and are a little more ready to go than a high school kid. I feel great about it. 

"We got some really good guys that I wasn't sure we were going to get, and we didn't get a few we really wanted. But we got a lot of the guys that we had targeted last spring when they were freshman. We were on a bunch of guys, and we feel great especially in-state. We got some good junior college kids in-state, and we got some guys out of Florida so we're really excited about the pitching class. With some younger position players this year who will be sophomores next year, we obviously return more position players than pitchers so the emphasis was on the pitching aspect. The need wasn't quite there for the hitters, but we may add another one in the spring. We'll see what we have and what our needs are. We're definitely not done; you're never done recruiting. But we feel like we were able to sign some very key pieces of the puzzle for next year's team in this class."

Tyler Carr – RHP – R/R – 5-11, 170 – St. Johns River State (Fla.) CC / Lake Placid, Fla.
Finished 5-2 with a school-record 13 saves, which tied for the lead nationally, in 28 appearances last season … Posted a 2.40 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings pitched … Named to the Florida College System Activities Association All-Tournament Team … Also led the FCSAA in saves … Helped lead SJRSCC to the 2015 FCSAA Division I Mid-Florida Conference championship and finish with a 47-10 record … Named the Mid-Florida Conference Fireman of the Year … Named to the Florida Athletic Coaches Association class 4A all-state team as a junior at Lake Placid HS … Earned four letters at LPHS.

Calvi on Carr – "Tyler Carr closed for St. Johns River last year, and he may do the same this year or he might start. He's that versatile pitcher who has a rubber arm. He is 88-92 (mph) with very good sink and a really good slider. He can go long (innings) but the thing with him is his ball is so heavy; he has great sink and throws a lot of strikes. He has the swing-and-miss slider. Last year in the fall when I saw him, his slider was just okay. He threw it for a strike, but it wasn't necessarily an out-pitch yet. But it really improved in the spring and into this fall. He has two dominant pitches in that sinker and slider. He's just a very good arm, a fierce competitor and a very good athlete. He's one of those guys who was a huge sign for us in that he can fill whatever need we may have. He has relieved and started, and he has done really well at both. It's just kind of where he fits in best for us next year, but he is a fantastic kid from a great junior-college program. He has been coached well, and he's been a big-time winner. We're super excited about him."

Nick DeSantis – RHP – R/R – 6-1, 175 – Lawson State (Ala.) CC / Woodstock, Ga.
Went 8-2 in 15 appearances, 13 of which were starts, as a freshman … Posted a 3.23 ERA with 63 strikeouts and 27 walks in 78 innings pitched … Also tossed four complete games … Recorded a 2.30 ERA in conference games … Named All-Region 22 as well as to the all-Alabama Community College Conference all-North squad.

Calvi on DeSantis – "Nick is a very athletic and physical right-handed pitcher. He is upper 80s and will touch 90 or 91 with a good slider. He is a strike thrower and a very good athlete on the mound. He has some upside. He has a very clean arm and good stuff right now. He's really good right now, if he makes another jump in his sophomore year then the sky's the limit because he's so athletic."

Will Eiland – RHP – R/R – 6-0, 180 – Wallace State-Hanceville (Ala.) CC / Auburn, Ala.
Finished 1-0 in 12 appearances with two starts … Stuck out 16 batters while posting a 2.37 ERA in 30 1/3 innings pitched … Recorded a 1.93 ERA in 18 2/3 innings during conference play … Lettered at Auburn High School for two years … Helped AHS to the semifinals of the 2013 state playoffs as a junior.

Calvi on Eiland – "He was probably the best pitch ability guy that we saw all fall. He's not a hard thrower; he's a mid-80s guy but he has great sink. He throws three pitches at any time in the count – a sinker, a very good changeup and a breaking ball that he can move around. He pitches in and out, throws his changeup for strikes away to righties, throws his breaking ball for strikes and he tries to put you away late in the count. He has a very good idea of what he wants to do out there on the mound. He is another guy who, if he comes up a notch or two with his velocity – he's plenty good right now with his pitch ability alone and his sink, he's going to really help us. He could be a middle reliever, long reliever or a starter. We're excited about him. I think he can be a bullpen guy or start."

Will Luft – RHP/IF – R/R – 5-10, 180 – Northwest Florida State JC / Spanish Fort, Ala.
Went 4-1 in 15 appearances, six of which were starts, with one complete game … Struck out 37 batters against 13 walks while posting a 1.61 ERA in 50 1/3 innings pitched … Also batted .256 with six doubles, one triple, 20 RBI, 15 runs scored and two stolen bases … Helped NFSJC capture the National Junior College Athletic Association JUCO World Series title with a 15-1 win over McLennan CC in Grand Junction, Colo. … Named first-team all-region by the Mobile Press-Register as a shortstop in 2013 … Named first-team all-state by the Alabama Sports Writers Association as a utility player, all-region and all-county as a senior while batting .327 with four home runs, 13 doubles, 19 RBI along with a 10-1 record and 1.89 ERA on the mound to help the Toros capture the 2014 5A state championship … Also helped SFHS capture the 2012 state title after batting .380 with 10 doubles and 15 RBI while posting a 5-0 record with a 2.01 ERA as a sophomore.

Calvi on Luft – "Will Luft is a local product who is a big-time competitor off of a very successful program at Spanish Fort. And then he went and helped Northwest Florida (State JC) win the JUCO national championship, so the kid is a winner. He's also a two-way guy. He is a relief pitcher, but he could start. He started a game in the JUCO World Series and won. He doesn't walk you. He's a middle infielder who knows how to pitch. He's a very good athlete on the mound; he fields his position well. He has played shortstop and second (base), and he swings the bat well. He's a fierce competitor who has a history of winning. He's hard-nosed and I like the fact that whatever team he is on, they win. There's something to be said about that."

Zach Melton – LHP – L/L – 6-2, 190 – Central Alabama CC / Foley, Ala.
Went 3-4 with one save in 14 appearances with eight starts … Tossed three complete games … Recorded a 3.48 ERA with 52 strikeouts against 27 walks in 54 1/3 innings pitched … Posted a 2.72 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings in conference games … Lettered at Foley High School … Went 3-3 with a 3.30 ERA as a junior at FHS.

Calvi on Melton – "Zach Melton is another local product who was at Foley High School. We saw him in high school and really liked him. At the time we didn't have room, and he went to Central Alabama and has really developed. He has gotten bigger and stronger, and his fastball has come up. He's upper 80s and up to 91 with a very good changeup and a slider. All of these kids are kids that it didn't take long for them to commit. Melton is local and this is where he wants to be. He wants to pitch for his hometown school, and that says a lot to me when kids want to be there. It doesn't take them long to commit, and they're good enough. To me, you can't lose when you have a guy who is a very good pitcher like him and he wants to be here. We're thrilled to have Zach. He could be a rotation guy for sure."

Tyler Perez – RHP – L/R – 6-1, 155 – Mater Academy (Fla.) Charter School / Miami, Fla.
Named second-team all-Dade 8A-68 by The Miami Herald as a utility player after his junior season … Helped Mater Academy to a 2014 state championship, and a district and regional crown in 2015 … Went 6-3 with a 2.60 ERA on the mound last season, while also hitting .415 at the plate … Finished 2-1 with a 1.40 ERA as a sophomore.

Calvi on Perez – "Tyler is a skinny right-hander with a very good arm. He's up to 91, but throws a lot of strikes. He has a curveball and slider; he throws his breaking ball for strikes and has a good changeup. He has pitched in big games. I recruited his high school coach, Mike Di Rosa, back when I was coaching at Florida International. He ended up signing at the University of Miami (Fla.), but all of my contacts down there raved at what a competitor Tyler Perez is. If he can put on some weight, he could be a monster on the mound. He's mid-80s and up to 91 with a very good breaking ball and a slider. He has two different breaking balls. If he puts on some weight and can sit there, he can be a 90-93 guy. He has poise and competitiveness beyond his years. We're looking forward to having Tyler in the program."

Addison Reed – RHP – R/R – 6-4, 190 – Chipola (Fla.) CC / Kennesaw, Ga.
Finished 3-1 in 16 appearances with four starts … Recorded a 3.38 ERA with 19 strikeouts and 11 walks in 32 innings pitched while helping Chipola capture the 2015 FCSSA Division I Panhandle Conference championship with a 40-12 record … Prepped at Brookwood Christian in Acworth, Ga.

Calvi on Reed – "Addison Reed is a guy, kind of falling suit with a bunch of these guys, who has very good sink on his fastball. He's upper 80s and will touch 90, but is a big kid with a good arm. He hides the ball; he has deception and very good sink with a swing-and-miss slider that he can throw for strikes as well. He pitches for one of the premier junior-college programs in the country, and we're super excited to have him. We saw him a little in the fall and he had good numbers last year. As we got to the end of the fall, he was really in throwing shape and that's when we saw him at his best. We feel really fortunate to have committed Addison Reed."

Griffin Rivers – RHP/OF – S/R – 6-2, 185 – Pelham HS / Pelham, Ala.
Ranked as the No. 2 outfielder in Alabama by Perfect Game … Earned 2015 Underclass High School All-American honorable mention from Perfect Game as a junior … Named to the Birmingham All-Metro Team as a sophomore, and picked up a 2014 Underclass HS All-America honorable mention from Perfect Game after his freshman year … Lettered his first three years in baseball and football at Homewood High School in Birmingham, Ala. … Transferred to Pelham HS for his senior season.

Calvi on Rivers – "Griffin is a two-way guy who is a strong high school senior. He's a physical kid who swings the bat well from both sides of the plate. He is upper 80s and has touched 91 with a really tight breaking ball. He's very athletic and is a physical kid who can do both. He runs around well in the outfield and swings the bat from both sides, and he is strong with a good arm and a really tight breaking ball. He is kind of the wild card being as gifted as he is physically. It will be fun to watch him develop over the next couple of years."

Hunter Stokes – IF/RHP – L/R – 6-1, 170 – Spanish Fort (Ala.) HS / Spanish Fort, Ala.
Batted .454  with two home runs, 27 RBI, and 14 stolen bases, and went 9-1 on the mound as a junior … Named first-team all-state in class 6A as a shortstop by the Alabama Sports Writers Association … Earned Super All-State honors as a shortstop from AL.com and was named to the Coastal Alabama all-Region team as a utility player … Hit .385 with 25 RBI while posting a .414 on-base percentage and .491 slugging percentage as a sophomore … Lettered in baseball four years and football for one season at SFHS … Helped the Toros capture the 5A state championship as a sophomore.

Calvi on Stokes – "Hunter Stokes is another local guy, and this is where he wanted to be. I've been on Hunter since after his freshman year, and we're thrilled to have him here. He has been part of some state championship teams at Spanish Fort (HS) for (head coach) Brent Boyd. He has been coached very well. He's a guy who was skinny and lanky, but he is starting to grow into that. He has gotten stronger and has moved all around the infield. He knows a lot infield positions, but ultimately he will settle in at shortstop when his time comes. He's an outstanding shortstop who moves around well and really understands the game. He has made huge strides offensively. He's a left-handed hitting shortstop who had a very good year last year. As he keeps getting stronger, he keeps becoming more of an exciting player. Another thing about him is, if you saw Hunter pitch then you would never know he is a position player. He is as polished a pitcher as any high school kid you will see. He's mid-to-upper 80s with a very good breaking ball and changeup who competes his tail off. We're really excited about watching him develop over the next few years. As he gets stronger and more physical, the sky's the limit for Hunter Stokes. He's another guy locally who had some other schools on him, but this is where he wanted to be. We wanted him and he wanted to be here. We're super excited to have him. His family are huge Jaguar fans, and they'll bring some family and friends to the games as well."

Colton Thomas – OF – L/R – 6-0, 195 – Darton State (Ga.) JC / Prattville, Ala.
Batted .377 with 12 doubles, eight triples, 58 RBI, 47 runs scored and 27 stolen bases in 59 games … Posted a .441 on-base percentage and .502 slugging percentage … Helped DSJC capture the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association Region 17 Tournament championship … First-team all-GCAA selection … Also named to the GCAA Gold Glove team … Led the GCAA in hits, triples and runs scored, ranked second in batting average, third in stolen bases and slugging percentage, tied for eighth in doubles and ninth in OBP … Named first-team all-state by the Alabama Sports Writers Association and Class 5A-6A Montgomery Advertiser All-Metro as a senior after hitting .439 with 27 RBI, 50 runs scored and 25 stolen bases at Marbury HS … Lettered four years in baseball and three years in football at MHS … Helped the Bulldogs capture three consecutive region championships en route to three straight quarterfinal appearances in the 5A state playoffs.

Calvi on Thomas – "Colton Thomas was at our Prospect Camp two years ago. He ended up signing at Darton (State JC) for (head) Coach Scot Hemmings who is probably one of the best junior college coaches in the country as far as teaching the kids the game and kids being accountable and doing the right things. You never have issues with kids from Darton. Colton should make the transition into this program flawlessly; it should be easy for him given where he came from. You want kids in the program who play for coaches who teach them the game; you want them to have an idea when they come in here and he is one of those kids. We remembered him from Prospect Camp and we followed him. He had a great freshman year, and we started to talk to him this summer. We're going to have to replace Cole Billingsley in center field, and we need somebody who has been a proven guy out there. The thing about Colton is he is big, strong and fast. At this park (Stanky Field) you need to cover ground and hit doubles. He also has a good idea of how to steal bases. He did it last year at a high level, so we're looking forward to Colton Thomas doing big things in this program."

Sean Trimble – RHP – R/R – 6-1, 205 – Orange Coast CC / Costa Mesa, Calif.
Made five relief appearances as a freshman last season at Long Beach State … Combined for one shutout while recording six strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings pitched … Earned all-state, all-league, all-Valley and all-California Interscholastic Federation honors as a senior at Temescal Canyon High School after going 7-2 with a 1.89 ERA … Also named first-team all-league as a junior after finishing 6-2 with a 2.17 ERA … Tossed a no-hitter in the first round of the CIF-SS playoffs his senior season … Will play his sophomore season at Orange Coast CC in Costa Mesa, Calif. … Finished 2-3 with a 1.62 ERA in 13 appearances this summer with the Waterloo Bucks of the Northwoods League … Stuck out 31 batters and issued 10 walks in 38 2/3 innings pitched.

Calvi on Trimble – "(Sean) Trimble was a guy who (assistant) Coach (Bob) Keller saw out in California. He was at Long Beach State out of high school. He's a mid-to-upper 80s guy who has very good sink, can throw the changeup in any count with a good slider. His approach isn't vanilla; he has a good idea with the ball in his hand. The theme, especially with our righties, these kids have all shown that they have an idea of how to pitch. There not just guys who are going to try to muscle it and throw it by you. We want guys who know how to pitch, have pitched at a high level and put up numbers, are from winning programs, and it's not a vanilla approach to pitching – they can do some different things. Adding Trimble and Addison Reed at the end were two huge signs for us. They are going to be huge additions to our staff." 

Drew McNay – LHP – 5-9, 195 – Auburn (Ala.) HS / Auburn, Ala.
Calvi on McNay – "(Drew) McNay is a guy we saw last spring. We had a chance to see him a couple of different times in a one-week period. He doesn't throw hard; he's a low 80s lefty but hitters just don't pick the ball up. He throws a slurve for strikes to lefties, and there is enough of a velocity spread between his fastball and slurve where he is throwing his fastball at 83 and throwing his breaking ball at 68-69, and it's hard to stay back and hit it. He throws it for strikes and he can throw it to right-handed hitters as well. The thing I like about him is that we saw him this summer and he was with a bunch of kids who were 88-92, and he had better numbers than all of them. He doesn't get squared up. He misses barrels, and I could see him helping us immediately as a freshman coming out of the bullpen. He's not a guy who is just a lefty specialist because he can throw his breaking ball to righties as well and get outs. We're excited about Drew McNay. He had a very successful high school season last year, and he was very good this summer. He wanted to be here. I think he is going to be really good for us."

Michael Sandle – OF/IF – R/R – 5-10, 170 – Navarre HS / Navarre, Fla.
Batted .412 with one home run and 12 stolen bases as a junior last season at Navarre HS … Hit .353 with one home run and eight stolen bases as a sophomore … Helped lead the Raiders to a regional quarterfinal appearance in both football and baseball.

Assistant coach Bob Keller on Sandle – "Michael Sandle is a very athletic, versatile player. He can play outfield or infield, and has some bat speed. If he adds some weight and gets a little more physical, then he should be a force in this program."

Calvi on Sandle – "Michael can run, hit with some power and he is very athletic. We are thrilled to have him."

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