ANDERSON, S.C. - Anderson University head baseball coach Joe
Miller has announced the addition of fourteen newcomers to the
Trojan baseball program.
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The list of versatile and talented additions to the Trojans' roster includes six pitchers, four outfielders and four players who combined to either pitch, play both infield and outfield and see action behind the plate.
Michael Bailey (Killian Christian School, Lilburn, Ga.), Landon Beck (Hart County High School, Hartwell, Ga.), Brett Cash (Wren High School, Anderson, S.C.), Paul Como (Illinois Central College, Missouri City, Texas.), Hayden Crompton (Wren High School, Piedmont, S.C.), Spencer Earle (Loganville Christian Academy, Atlanta), Matthew Kirkland (Loganville Christian Academy, Loganville, Ga.), Kevin McKenna (Emerald High School, Hodges, S.C.), Ryan Mills (Bishop England High School, Charleston, S.C.), Christopher Perez (Western High School, Davie, Fla.), Darrin Pittman (Farmington High School, Fayetteville, Ark.), Michael Skelly (Pendleton High School, Pendleton, S.C.), Jonathan Trujillo (Palm Beach Gardens High School, Jupiter, Fla,) and Ryan Wise (Berkeley High School, Moncks Corner, S.C.) will join the Trojans on the diamond.
"Overall we couldn't be more pleased with the 2011 signing class," said assistant coach and recruiting coordinator DJ Mattox. "These players are our future and we are extremely excited about this group we have brought in. They are a good group of young men with great character. Their potential, their future, we feel they are a group that can help us compete for championships for years to come."
Signees
Michael Bailey
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
Position: Shortstop/Pitcher
Hometown: Lilburn, Ga.
High School: Killian Hill Christian School
Notes: Posted a .652 batting average his senior year with six home runs, 25 RBI, seven doubles and three triples.
Landon Beck
Height: 6-4
Weight: 195
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Hometown: Hartwell, Ga.
High School: Hart County High School
Notes: Also lettered in football … Starting quarterback for the Bulldogs, while earning GHSA all-region 8-AAA honors … Named all-region in baseball after compiling a stellar 10-1 record with a 2.74 ERA … Tossed nine complete games and recorded 103 strikeouts … Helped lead Bulldogs to the regional championship.
Brett Cash
Height: 5-9
Weight: 165
Position: Infielder/Outfielder
Hometown: Anderson, S.C.
High School: Wren H.S.
Notes: Notched a .433 batting average during his senior year for the Golden Hurricanes … Blasted seven home runs and recorded 31 RBI, while scoring 40 runs … Three-time All-Region 1-AAAA selection … Helped lead WHS to 47 wins in two seasons and three consecutive region championships.
Paul Como
Height: 5-11
Weight: 190
Position: Outfielder
Hometown: Missouri City, Texas
Previous School: Illinois Central College
Notes: Batted .302 during his freshman season at Illinois Central … Ripped nine home runs, nine doubles and recorded a school-record 59 RBI and scored 28 runs.
Hayden Crompton
Height: 6-3
Weight: 195
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Hometown: Anderson, S.C.
High School: Wren High School
Notes: Earned Honorable Mention Anderson County All-Area Team honors … Posted a 2.59 ERA with 2 saves and 25 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched during his junior season.
Spencer Earle
Height: 6-5
Weight: 185
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Hometown: Atlanta
High School: Loganville Christian Academy
Notes: Named GISA All-Region, All County and All-State, while helping lead the Lions to the second round of the GISA Class AAA state tournament before falling to the eventual state champions in three games … Recorded an 8-2 record as a senior with a 2.07 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 64 1/3 innings pitched … Had a 3-to-1 K/BB ratio … Named team MVP as both a sophomore and junior.
Matt Kirkland
Height: 6-2
Weight: 185
Position: Outfielder/Infielder
Hometown: Loganville, Ga.
High School: Loganville Christian Academy
Notes: Notched a .514 batting average as a junior with two home runs, 30 RBI and 28 runs scored for the Lions … Also recorded 23 stolen bases in 21 games … Batted .415 as a sophomore with a pair of home runs … Earned GISA All-Region, All-County, All- State accolades … Named Most Outstanding Player as a sophomore and junior … Younger brother of Trojan senior outfielder Ryan Kirkland.
Kevin McKenna
Height: 6-3
Weight: 195
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Hometown: Hodges, S.C.
High School: Emerald High School
Notes: Posted a stellar 7-3 record his senior year, with a 3.60 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 58 innings pitched.
Ryan Mills
Height: 5-9
Weight: 175
Position: Outfielder
Hometown: Charleston, S.C.
High School: Bishop England High School
Notes: Named All-State in 2011 and was a member of two state championship teams with the Battling Bishops.
Christopher Perez
Height: 6-0
Weight: 200
Position: First Base/Catcher
Hometown: Davie, Fla.
High School: Western High School
Notes: Recorded a combined .310 batting average for his
junior and senior seasons, with seven home runs and 41 RBI.
Darrin Pittman
Height: 6-4
Weight: 200
Position: Left-handed pitcher
Hometown: Fayetteville, Ark.
High School: Farmington High School
Notes: Tossed 28 innings in eight games during his senior campaign with 42 strikeouts and a sparkling 1.79 ERA.
Michael Skelly
Height: 5-10
Weight: 190
Position: Catcher/Right-handed pitcher
Hometown: Pendleton, S.C.
High School: Pendleton High School
Notes: Batted .460 his senior year with seven home runs, 37 RBI and eight doubles … Pitched 50 innings, posting an 8-3 record with an ERA of 2.43 … Struck out 76 batters, while earning All-Region accolades in 2009, 2010 and 2011 … Named to the 3A/2A North All-Star Game … Also lettered in football.
Jonathan "JT" Trujillo
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Hometown: Jupiter, Fla.
High School: Palm Beach Gardens High School
Notes: Named a 2011 Preseason Rawlings All-American … Played on the 10th-ranked (by Perfect Game USA) summer travel ball team … Named PBGHS Most Valuable Pitcher … Went 3-3 with a 2.12 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 46 innings as a senior, while posting a 4-1 record as a junior with a 1.74 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 31 innings pitched.
Ryan Wise
Height: 5-9
Weight: 155
Position: Outfielder
Hometown: Moncks Corner, S.C.
High School: Berkeley High School
Notes: Led the BHS Stags in doubles, triples steals, and outfield assists, while leading the South Carolina 'low country" in steals the last two seasons … Runs a 6.48 60-yard dash … Also lettered in football.
