Bobcat Baseball Adds 10 for 2008 Season

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. -- The Georgia College & State University baseball program and fourth year head coach Chris Calciano have announced the addition of 10 talented recruits to the Bobcat baseball program. The class features five transfers and five players from high school to address the needs of Calciano’s team. Six hitters and four pitchers comprise the class.

“With 28 wins and 270-plus innings gone to graduation and pro ball, there will be tremendous opportunity for the returning pitchers as well as the newcomers to grab big time roles and innings,” Calciano revealed. “We addressed some balance issues by adding four righthanders to the pitching staff.

“The loss of seven every-day players that basically made up the bulk of our offensive production will also give the incoming position players a good long look at starting spots this fall. Each of the hitters brings speed or power to the ballclub, which should help keep us dynamic offensively.”

Juniors-

Jay Clark – 6-2 – 195 – RHP – Shanley HS (N.D.)/Glendale CC (Ariz.) Went 51 1/3 innings for the Glendale CC Vaqueros in 2007, fanning 36 and allowing a .284 batting average for … Posted 50 innings in 2006 with 46 strikeouts and a .238 opponent batting average.

Derek Johns – 5-10 – 190 – IF – Waynesville, Ga./South Georgia College Hit .315 with 22 RBI and 22 runs … Missed 15 games with injury.

Danny McCorkell – 6-0 – 175 – OF – Timberland HS (Mo.)/MCC-Longview (Mo.) Helped lead the MCC-Longview Lakers to the 2007 DII JUCO World Series Championship … Hit .367 with 30 RBI and 40 runs, stealing 14 bases while adding 13 doubles, three triples and a home run.

Sophomore-

Brooks Robinson – 6-2 – 190 – IF – Greenbrier HS (Ga.)/Spartanburg Methodist Coll. (S.C.) Helped lead the SMC Pioneers to a third place national finish at the 2007 DI JUCO World Series … Named to All-Tournament Team … Hit .385 with eight home runs and 50 RBI … Added 16 stolen bases and 17 doubles … Redshirted a season.

Freshmen-

Ryan Holland – 5-11 – 165 – IF – Northview HS (Ga.) Three-year varsity starter and two-year captain … Hit .354 with eight home runs.

Kyle McCuen – 5-10 – 170 – RHP – Tattnall Square Academy (Ga.) Had five wins and a 2.35 ERA … Struck out 84 over 50 innings.

Eric Pettepher – 6-1 – 200 – RHP – Baldwin County HS (Ga.) Posted two wins and two saves over 65 innings … Had a 2.36 ERA and 105 whiffs.

Taylor Phillips – 6-2 – 190 – RHP – Kell HS (Ga.) Had 8-0 regular season record at Kell High … Tossed a complete-game no-hitter, fanning 14 … Earned Georgia Dugout Club Player of the Week honors this season.

Tristan Toorie – 6-1 – 220 – 1B – Brookwood HS (Ga.)/Spartanburg Methodist Coll. (S.C.) Redshirted a season at SMC … Hit .382 with three home runs and 21 RBI at Brookwood High … Addedseven doubles and nine stolen bases.

Benton Yaun – 6-4 – 205 – C – Blessed Trinity HS (Ga.) Hit .426 with three home runs and 19 RBI … Slugged at a .676 clip adding six doubles.

The Bobcats had a 46-16 record in 2007, winning the Peach Belt Conference Championship for the second-straight season, and advancing to the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional Tournament for the seventh time in school history. The 46 wins are the third-best in the NCAA era of baseball at GCSU, two of which came under the guidance of Calciano.