MOBILE, Ala. -- The South Alabama baseball program has signed 11 players to national letters of intent during the early signing period, head coach Steve Kittrell announced today. The class for the 2008 season includes eight high school seniors and three junior college transfers.
The Jaguar coaching staff addressed needs across with all positions represented. They also signed both left- and right-handed pitchers.
"This is one of the best freshman classes we have ever signed," Kittrell said. "In the past, we have recruited a few more junior college players, but this year went the other way. (Assistant coaches) JJ (Jason Jackson) and Seth (VonBehren) did a great job keeping a couple of the Mobile players at home."
A listing of the 11 signees for South Alabama during the early period:
Phillip Byrd, LHP, 6-5, 240, Hurley, Miss. (East Central HS)
Posted under a 2.0 ERA with close to 200 strikeouts... threw 164 innings as a junior... named all-district as a sophomore and junior... was named MVP of the 2006 South Mississippi Future All-Star Classic... named 2007 South Mississippi future all-star.
Coach Kittrell ? “Phillip is a big strong lefty who has excellent command and presence. Our pitching coach Jason Jackson saw Phillip throw several times this summer and feels like he will be able to help right away. He pitches in the mid 80’s and has good off-speed stuff. We are excited that Phillip chose South Alabama.”
Matthew Drake, OF, 6-0, 210, Cullman, Ala. (Cullman HS)
Named all-state and all-county as a junior... helped his team to the 2007 Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 5A state championship team... member of 2006 Class 5A state runner-up team.
Coach Kittrell ? “Coach VonBehren had the chance to see Matt play this past spring and really liked him. Matt then came down to one of our camps this summer and we all felt like he could really swing the bat. He is a switch hitter who has the ability to hit with authority to all fields. We feel like Matt will be able to compete for a job right away and help us especially with his bat. He has a real passion for the game and we are excited to have him.”
Zach Grichor, INF, 6-0, 190, Spring, Texas (Navarro CC)
Batted .375 with 31 RBIs as a freshman at Navarro... also stole 27 bases... an all-conference selection... named to the Texas Junior College all-star team.
Coach Kittrell ? “We feel like Zach will step in and be a big impact player for us next year. He has very good speed and swings the bat well. He is also a solid defender who can play several different positions in the infield. He is hard nosed player, a tough out, and we feel like he will step in and hit in the top our order somewhere.”
Adam Heisler, OF, 5-11, 180, Mobile, Ala. (Faulkner CC)
Batted .402 with 31 runs batted in as a freshman at Faulkner... stole 25 bases... selected to the 2007 all-tournament team at the Alabama Junior College state tournament... was a member of back-to-back 6A state championship teams at Baker High School... earned all-state and all-county honors... drafted in the 35th round of the 2006 draft by the Chicago White Sox... brother of former Jaguar outfielder Lance Heisler.
Coach Kittrell ? “Adam is a great sign for us. He has tremendous speed and is a solid left handed hitter. We hope for Adam to step in and be our leadoff hitter next year. Coach Wayne Larker does a great job with hitters and really likes Adam a lot. Our hitting coach Seth VonBehren went to see Adam this fall and told me that he was very impressed not only with Adam’s speed but with his ability to hit and hit with two strikes. His brother Lance played extremely hard for South Alabama over the last two years and now we will have another Heisler roaming the outfield for the Jaguars.”
Brad Hook, 1B/LHP, 6-1, 210, Franklin, Ind. (Franklin HS)
A four-year varsity letterwinner at Franklin HS... was named team MVP his freshman and junior years... a three-time all-conference and all-county selection... holds the school career and single-season home run records...listed by PG crosschecker as the 390th best prospect for the 2008 draft... was also a four-year starter at quarterback for the football team.
Coach Kittrell ? “Brad is a very good left-handed hitter from Indiana. We have been very fortunate to sign a few of those in the past several years. Brad has very loose, quick hands at the plate. He plays hard and I like the fact that he has been a high school quarterback the past four years. He knows how to lead and the fact that he is a good left-handed pitcher as well made him even more attractive to us.”
Kevin Johnson, RHP, 6-5, 220, Pensacola, Fla. (Alabama Southern CC)
Posted a 6-3 record and 2.18 ERA as a freshman at Alabama Southern... credited with one save.... Struck out 79, while walking only 14 in 82 innings pitched... named one of 44 members on the junior college all-freshman all-star team... was a first team all-state selection as a senior at West Florida High School.
Coach Kittrell ? “Former Jaguar player and coach Scot Sealy, now the head coach at Alabama Southern CC, told me he had a pitcher we needed to see and I’m glad he did because we feel Kevin will be a ?go to’ guy for us next year. His fastball is in the upper 80’s to low 90’s and he has a very good slider. Coach Sealy, who caught Jon Lieber, said Kevin’s slider is close to Jon’s. That is quite a compliment! Kevin competes hard, holds runners well and has good command of his pitches.”
Shane LeBlanc, RHP, 6-1, 175, Biloxi, Miss. (Biloxi HS)
Posted an 8-1 record and 2.50 ERA as a junior... struck out 50 in 65 innings pitched... named as a 2007 South Mississippi futures all-star... was also an Area Code Games selection... earned all-district honors... named to the Clarion Ledger top underclassman list.
Coach Kittrell ? “We are really pleased that Shane chose South Alabama. His brother Jake pitches for us so that certainly helped our chances with Shane. He is young man with a ton of potential. His fastball velocity is consistently in the upper 80’s to low 90’s and he has shown a solid breaking ball. Add to that, he just started pitching a little over a year ago. He has been primarily a catcher while growing up. Coach VonBehren and Coach Jackson both saw Shane this summer and really liked him. Shane is also an outstanding student and we are thrilled to have him.”
Michael Meredith, INF, 6-1, 185, Grand Bay, Ala. (Faith Academy)
Batted .412 with 28 runs batted in as a junior... had 14 doubles and four triples... set a school record with a .969 fielding percentage... named as the AISA first-team all-state shortstop... was an AISA Junior All-Star... named all-region by the Mobile Press-Register
Coach Kittrell ? “We are excited about signing Michael. He comes from a strong program at Faith Academy. Coach Skoda does a great job and highly recommended Michael. He is a very good infielder with good hands. We have had a chance to see Michael play a good bit over the last year and watched him develop as a player both mentally and physically. Michael plays hard and is a South Alabama-type player. His makeup is outstanding both on and off the field.”
Brent Mitchell, C, 6-2, 208, Paris, Ontario, CANADA
Played summer ball for Coach Dan Thompson and the Intercounty Terriers... a member of Canadian Junior National Team... played on the Ontario Youth Team which finished third in the Canada Cup competition.
Coach Kittrell ? “Brent was recommended to us by the summer league coach of Joel Collins (our starting catcher for the last three seasons). He compared Brent to Joel on ability and make-up. We knew we had to see him so our recruiting coordinator Jason Jackson went to see him catch at a tournament in Nashville. Needless to say, Coach Jackson agreed with the comparison to Joel and we were fortunate enough to get a commitment from him. Brent not only does a good job behind the plate in catching and throwing, but shows good leadership skills in leading the pitching staff.”
Brad Montgomery, OF, 6-3, 190, Huntsville, Ala. (Madison Academy)
Batted .432 with 4 home runs and 37 runs batted in as a junior... had seven doubles and stole 16 bases... named honorable mention all-state by the AHSAA as a junior... an all-metro selection for the Huntsville area.
Coach Kittrell ? “Brad came to our camp this fall and really swung the bat well. Our recruiting coordinator Jason Jackson had already told me before the camp that Brad could really hit, but I was also impressed with his outfield play as well as his speed. Brad’s offensive game may give him a chance to walk in and compete for a starting job as a freshman.”
Eric Walters, RHP, 6-7, Daphne, Ala. (Bayside Academy)
The brother of former Jaguar all-American pitcher PJ Walters.
Coach Kittrell ? “Eric has been to our camps several times and each time has shown marked improvement. At 6-7, he obviously projects out very well. He really just started playing baseball a couple of years ago and is making great strides. Bayside has a strong program with coach Doug Leffard and we are thrilled Eric will be pitching for us next year.”
