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HomeSportsAustin Peay State University Governors baseball adds 15 players to its 2015...

Austin Peay State University Governors baseball adds 15 players to its 2015 roster

APSU Sports Information Office

Austin Peay State University Sports - APSU - Governors - Lady GovsClarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University’s baseball team has added 15 players to its 2015 roster through the end of July, head coach Gary McClure announced, Friday. The Govs count includes six players that signed a National Letter of Intent, eight walk-ons and a transfer.

Austin Peay lost just nine players from last season’s team that posted a 23-33 overall mark, including a 14-16 Ohio Valley Conference record that fell one-game shy of qualifying for the OVC Tournament. The Govs return 22 letter winners from that squad, which regularly saw seven freshmen start defensively.

APSU Baseball
APSU Baseball

“I am excited about this class,” said McClure. “I cannot give enough credit to my coaching staff – Joel Mangrum and Derrick Dunbar – for all their work. They have worked tirelessly to find the best talent that fits our team’s makeup. This group of recruits gives us some depth at key positions and certainly will strengthen our pitching staff.”

The list of newcomers for the 2015 campaign follows.

Michael Costanzo

LHP, 6-1, 155, Chicago, Ill. (St. Rita of Casia HS)

As a senior, went 11-2 with 1.48 ERA and 107 strikeouts… led Mustangs to 2014 State Championship game, tossing complete game in Class 4A State semifinals, allowing one earned run and striking out 11… 2014 Perfect Game Central Region Second Team… 2014 First-Team All-Area and All-State selection by the Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Tribune, Southtown Star and High School Cube… 2014 Second-Team All-State pick by the Prep Baseball Report… 2014 First-Team Catholic League All-Blue Division … as a junior, went 10-3 with a 1.85 ERA and 101 strikeouts and was a third-team All-State selection… played under head coach Mike Zunica.

T.J. Marik

C, 6-0, 205, Oak Forest, Ill. (St. Laurence HS)

Batted .286 as a senior with 17 RBI in 27 games played… 2014 Perfect Game Central Region Honorable Mention… 2013 and 2014 Blue Division All-Catholic League… played under head coach Pete Lotus… father Paul is a scout for the Texas Rangers and grandfather Jerry was a scout for more than 25 years.

Patrick Massoni

OF, 6-0, 190, Danville, Calif. (Chabot College)

Batted .354 as a sophomore and led the California Community College Baseball Association with 54 RBI while also recorded 22 stolen bases… 2014 First-Team California Community College Athletic Association All-State pick… as a freshman, batted .313 with 20 RBI… played under head coach Steve Friend… prepped at San Ramon Valley High School… Brother of Austin Peay alumnus Craig Massoni.

Zach Neff

LHP, 6-0, 155, Belleville, Ill. (Gibault Catholic HS)

As a senior, compiled 7-4 record and 2.79 ERA with 10 walks and 92 strikeouts in 67.2 innings… named to Illinois All-Star team for 2014 PNC High School Baseball Showcase at Busch Stadium… 2014 Perfect Game Central Region Honorable Mention… led Gibault to Illinois Class 1A State Title as a junior, compiling an 8-2 record, 1.91 ERA while walking just five and striking out 90 in 66 innings… named First-Team All-State and was Class 1A Player of the Year selection by the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association… played under head coach Andrew Skaer… member of St. Louis Pirates Summer team.

John Sparks

LHP, Bartlett, Tenn. (Bolton HS)

Recorded 104 strikeouts in a single season at Bolton… three-time all-district selection and twice named to district all-tournament team… named to 2014 State Farm Shelby County All-Star Baseball Game… selected to 2014 Memphis Commercial Appeal All-Metro Team… played under head coach Chris Godwin

Imani Willis

OF/IF, 6-0, 175, Marietta, Ga. (Campbell HS)

Finished career with 89 stolen bases and .330 batting average… batted .330 as a senior… 2014 Perfect Game Southeast Region 1st Team All-Region…Georgia All-State Second Team selection as a senior… three-time All-Region 4-AAAAAA Second Team selection… ranked No. 41 among Georgia prospects by Baseball America’s 2014 Draft Report… played under coach Wade Stewart.

Kyle Blackburn

OF, 6-2, 200, Camden, Tenn. (Jackson State CC)

As a sophomore, batted .347 with a team-best 15 home runs and 50 RBI while recording 13 stolen bases… ranked third among all junior college hitters with his 15 home runs and was ranked fourth nationally with 22 times hit by pitch… as a freshman, batted .297 with four home runs and 24 RBI… played under head coach Tyler Malik… prepped at Camden Central High School.

Jake Durham

LHP, 6-1, 175, Burlison, Tenn. (Covington HS)

Posted 6-0 record with 2.13 ERA, striking out 67 as a senior… named District Pitcher of the Year… 2014 Perfect Game Southeast Region Honorable Mention… named to West Tennessee Roster for Farm Bureau/Patriot Bank North Mississippi/West Tennessee All-Star Game… two-time all-district selection… played under head coach David Sage.

Nicholas Geile

LHP, 5-11, 175, St. Louis, Mo. (Parkway South HS)

As a senior, compiled a 4-3 record and 4.50 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 32.2 innings pitched… 2014 Perfect Game Central Region Honorable Mention… as a junior, went 4-1 on the mound with a 3.59 ERA, striking out 36 in 39 innings… batted .304 with 14 RBI in just 56 at-bats… 2013 First-Team All-Conference pick as a utility player and second-team choice as a pitcher… played under head coach Adam Stahl.

Ricky Heagarty

RHP, 6-2, 175, Gallatin, Tenn. (Dyersburg CC)

As a freshman, appeared in nine games (four starts), compiling a 2-2 record and 5.31 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 20.1 innings pitched…played under head coach Robert White… prepped at Pope John Paul II High School where he was a 2013 Perfect Game Southeast Region Honorable Mention selection as a senior.

Keirce Kimbel

RHP, 5-10, 190, Franklin, Tenn. (Columbia State CC)

Used primarily as a middle reliever, accumulating 22 appearances as a sophomore… finished 2014 with 1-2 record and one save with 28 strikeouts in 30.1 innings pitched… made 17 appearances as a freshman, posting a 3-0 record and 3.03 ERA, striking out 17 in 29.2 innings… played under head coach Mike Corn… prepped at Page High School.

Josh Rye

LHP, 6-2, 200, Clarksville, Tenn. (Montgomery Central HS)

As a senior, finished with a 4-2 record while striking out 68 batters in 36.2 innings pitched… played under head coach Todd Dunn.

Clayton Smithson

IF, 6-1, 170, Hopkinsville, Ky. (Jackson State CC)

As a sophomore, batted .321 with 12 home runs, 44 RBI and 55 runs scored… ranked 20th among NJCAA players in home runs… named First-Team All-TCCAA… as a freshman, batted .233 with 18 RBI and 28 runs scored… played under head coach Tyler Malik… prepped at Hopkinsville HS

Josh Wilson

OF/P, 6-0, 190, Clarksville, Tenn. (Columbia State CC)

As a sophomore, batted .354 in 178 at-bats (56 games played) with 29 RBI and 13 stolen bases… went 4-for-5 in Chargers third NJCAA Division I National Championship game against Cochise College… finished JUCO World Series batting 9-for-14 (.643)… as a freshman, hit .306 in 98 at-bats (42 games played) with 18 RBI, 11 stolen bases and 13 walks… played under Mike Corn… prepped at Clarksville High School.

Jordan Witcig

RHP, 6-4, 185, Kansas City, Mo. (Kansas State)

Played two seasons at Kansas State… as a sophomore, was 1-1 with 6.85 ERA, recording 10 strikeouts in 23.2 innings pitched (12 appearances)… started three contests, posting a 1-1 record and 3.38 ERA in those outings… Threw five shutout innings, allowing six hits, against Cal State Bakersfield, April 22… as a freshman, did not post a decision in nine outings but had a 3.68 ERA… lone start of freshman campaign came in Big 12 Championship Game against Oklahoma, May 25, allowing three runs on three hits… prepped at Staley High School.

Austin Peay expects to add to its fall roster prior to the start of classes on August 25th.

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