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HomeSportsAustin Peay Governors Baseball adds seven during Spring Signing Period

Austin Peay Governors Baseball adds seven during Spring Signing Period

APSU Sports: Austin Peay Baseball

Austin Peay State University GovernorsClarksville, TN  – Austin Peay State University’s baseball team added seven signees during the spring signing period, bringing the 2013 class to 15 players in total, head coach Gary McClure announced, Monday.

Signing a national letter of intent to join the Govs in 2013 were right-handed pitcher Kevin Corey, of Los Gatos, CA; right-handed pitcher Tyler Crawford, of Seymour, TN; catcher Michael Davis, of Savannah, TN; utility player Craig Massoni, of Danville, CA.; right-handed pitcher Chase Morris, of Tullahoma, TN; right-handed pitcher Lee Ridenhour, of Lenexa, KS; and Kyle Schlatter, of Overland Park, KS.

Austin Peay Baseball. (Photo by APSU Sports)
Austin Peay Baseball. (Photo by APSU Sports)

The Governors expect all 15 signees to join the team in the fall. They will join a group of 19 returning scholarship players from the 2012 squad that reached the championship round of the NCAA Baseball Championships’ Eugene Regional in June.

Ten of the 15 signees are expected to see time on the mound during their time at Austin Peay. They will help replenish a pitching staff that lost eight players, including its postseason No. 1 Zach Toney and Andy Cox who provided key appearances in the season’s final four weekends. In the spring signing class, the Govs added right-handers Crawford, Morris and Ridenhour.

Ridenhour will be the most experienced arm the Govs bring in for the 2013 season. He began his career at Kansas before a lower-body injury forced him to miss consecutive seasons. He returned in 2012 to post a 7-5 record in an all-conference campaign at Johnson County Community College.

Crawford is the only high school pitcher of the quartet, but began his senior campaign with a 6-1 record through April at Seymour High School.  Morris saw limited action at Motlow State Community College, posting a 2-0 record with 25.1 innings as a redshirt freshman.

“We really felt it was our depth on the mound that helped us succeed during the regular season and postseason,” said McClure. “It was very important in the fall to find quality arms to fill the holes we knew we would have in 2013 and in the spring we went out and tried to add depth and even more quality to our pitching staff. I believe we have put together a strong pitching staff for the upcoming season and I am excited to see how they perform during the fall and into the spring.”

Austin Peay added three position players in the spring class and has signed five position players during the signing period to date. The Govs have limited position spots available with the loss of only three starters: third baseman Greg Bachman, center fielder Michael Blanchard and first baseman Tyler Childress.

Massoni will give the Govs some flexibility in composing lineups after playing both infield and outfield at Chabot Community College. He led the Gladiators in batting average (.331), home runs (six) and RBI (31) in just 36 games.

Corey also was a utility player at Chabot, playing multiple infield positions and pitching. He struggled at the plate, batting .207, but should bring a strong defensive presence to the Govs infield. In addition, he was strong on the mound where he posted a 2.77 ERA over 61.2 innings but was held to a 3-6 record.

Davis batted .327 with nine home runs at Walters State Community College last season and will join a strong catching corps that includes rising juniors P.J. Torres and Matt Wollenzin as well as rising sophomore Britte Underwood.

Schlatter will help bolster the Govs infield group after a senior campaign that saw his prep squad reach the Kansas Class 6A title game.

“There weren’t a lot of spots open among our position players so we had to focus on adding quality not quantity in that area,” said McClure. “We signed a couple of strong players in the spring and we added to that strength in the spring. Massoni and Davis are a couple of guys who can help us out immediately and Schlatter is the type of guy who will battle for a spot as a freshman and will certainly be a guy we look to in the future. In addition, a couple of those guys we signed as pitchers (Corey and Ridenhour) have played other positions and we believe they will do the same here.”

Complete biographies for each of the Govs spring signees and updated information for each of the team’s fall signees is below.

2013 Austin Peay Baseball Incoming Class

Spring Signing Class

Kevin Corey, 6-1, 160-pound, infielder/right-handed pitcher, Los Gatos, Calif. (Chabot CC)

Tyler Crawford, 5-10, 160-pound, right-handed pitcher, Seymour, Tenn. (Seymour HS)

Michael Davis, 6-3, 215-pound, catcher, Savannah, Tenn. (Walters State CC)

Craig Massoni, 6-1, 200-pound, infielder/outfielder, Danville, Calif. (Chabot CC)

Chase Morris, 6-1, 180-pound, right-handed pitcher, Tullahoma, Tenn. (Motlow State CC)

Lee Ridenhour, 6-4, 220-pound, right-handed pitcher/designated hitter, Lenexa, Kan. (Johnson County CC)

Kyle Schlatter, 6-3, 210-pound infielder, Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley West HS)

Fall Signing Class

Jared Carkuff, 6-2, 160-pound, right-handed pitcher, Bell Buckle, Tenn. (Cascade HS)

Matt Ferguson, 6-2, 185-pound, right-handed pitcher, Arlington, Tenn. (Arlington HS)

A.J. Gaura, 6-6, 240-pound, right-handed pitcher, Suamico, Wis. (Iowa Western CC)

Tommy Hager, 6-0, 185-pound, outfielder/left-handed pitcher, O’Fallon, Mo. (Fort Zumwalt West)

Zach Hall, 6-1, 185-pound, left-handed pitcher, Troy, Ill. (Parkland College)

Brian Krolikowski, 6-3, 230-pound, right-handed pitcher, Batavia, Ill. (Parkland College)

Hunter Lindley, 5-10, 185-pound, pitcher/infielder, Germantown, Tenn. (St. George’s Independent School)

Jake Walters, 5-10, 190-pound, infielder, Sparta, Ill. (St. John Vianney HS)

Spring 2012 Baseball Signee Biographies

Kevin Corey, IF/RHP

Los Gatos, Calif. (Chabot CC)

As a sophomore, player infield and pitched for Gladiators… on the mound, posted a 3-6 record with one save over 14 appearances… compiled a 2.77 ERA over 61.2 innings pitched and struck out 43 batters (6.28 strikeouts per 9 innings) while walking only 18… in final regular-season appearance at Chabot, struck out eight over eight innings for win against Hartnell… at the plate batted .207 in 82 at-bats over 36 games with nine RBI and five stolen bases… was a second-team All-Coast Conference (Golden Gate Division) selection as a utility player… originally signed with Cal Poly… prepped at Los Gatos High School.

Tyler Crawford, RHP

Seymour, Tenn. (Seymour HS)

As a senior, he was 7-1 with 2.40 ERA with 73 strikeouts and was named to both all-region and all-conference teams… as a junior was an all-conference selection after posting 6-2 record with 3.43 ERA and 55 strikeouts… was an All-District 2-AAA selection… playing summer ball with Bayside Yankees, an independent travel ball team… also a boxer and was runner-up in Southeast Regional Golden Gloves Championship and East Tennessee Golden Gloves Championship.

Michael Davis, C

Savannah, Tenn. (Walters State CC)

As a sophomore was a first-team All-TCCAA selection at catcher after batting .327 with 16 doubles, nine home runs and 35 RBI… also amassed 23 walks and a .425 on-base percentage… batted .283 as a freshman with three doubles and three home runs while posting 23 walks and a .432 on-base percentage… prepped at Hardin County High School.

Craig Massioni, IF/OF

Danville, Calif. (Chabot CC)

As a sophomore, led Gladiators with .331 batting average over 36 games… had 19 extra-base hits (.568 slugging percentage), including team-bests in both doubles (11) and home runs (six)… also led team with 30 RBI and 19 walks… was a unanimous selection to All-Northern California squad at first base by the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association… also was a unanimous first-team All-Coast Conference (Golden Gate Division) selection… batted .280 as a freshman with 10 doubles and 20 walks, fashioning a .414 on-base percentage… prepped at Ramon Valley High School… playing summer ball with the Mankato MoonDogs of the Northwoods League.

Chase Morris, RHP

Tullahoma, Tenn. (Motlow State CC)

As a redshirt freshman, compiled a 2-0 record and 4.62 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 25.1 innings pitched… playing summer ball with the Casper Cutthroats of the Mountain Collegiate League… prepped at Tullahoma High School.

Lee Ridehour, RHP/DH

Lenexa, Kan. (Johnson County CC)

As a sophomore in 2012, pitched and was the designated hitter for the Cavaliers… on the mound was 7-5 with a 2.31 ERA in 12 appearances… threw 75.2 innings, including four complete games, and compiled 79 strikeouts while surrendering only 17 walks… at the plate, batted .352 with 25 RBI and 15 walks… was a second-team All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Eastern Division selection as a pitcher… missed both the 2010 and 2011 seasons due to an lower-body injury… as a freshman in 2009, pitched at Kansas and appeared in 17 games and making 14 starts… posted a 6-3 record with one save and a 4.65 ERA and finished season as Jayhawks No. 3 starter… recorded 49 strikeouts in 79.1 innings pitched… picked up wins against Arkansas and Kansas State which were both nationally ranked at the time… selected in the 31st round of the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft by Minnesota… prepped at Shawnee Mission West High School.

Kyle Schlatter, IF

Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley West HS)

As a senior, batted .378 with four triples and 14 RBI… member of team that was Kansas State High School Class 6A runner-up in 2012… was a first-team All-Eastern Kansas League selection… named to Perfect Game USA’s 2012 Central Region Honorable Mention list… Playing summer ball with Mac-N-Seitz, an independent travel ball team.

Fall 2012 Signees

Jared Carkuff, RHP

Bell Buckle, Tenn. (Cascade HS)

As a senior, was a Tennessean All-Midstate third team selection… helped lead team to third-place finish in the 2012 TSSAA Class A State Championship… pitched and picked up state tournament win in elimination game against North Greene, striking out 12 and allowing only three hits over five scoreless innings… had four hits and three RBI in state tournament… was third among all Tennessee High School hitters with 66 hits and ranked among state’s top 20 in stolen bases (30)… was an All-Region 5 selection and was named to the All-Tennessee Baseball Report Two-Way team by the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association… as a junior compiled 5-2 record with two saves and a 1.31 ERA… struck out 102 batters – allowing only 26 walks – in 69.1 innings pitched and was named all-district and all-region… was District 9 pitcher of the year as a sophomore with a 7-1 record and 0.47 ERA in 59.1 innings pitched… also played in Class A state tournament as a freshman and batted .571 with eight hits and seven runs scored in four games… also played football for the Champions, leading team to the second round of the Class 2A state tournament with 873 passing yards and 11 touchdowns… playing summer ball with Bayside Yankees, an independent travel ball team.

Matt Ferguson, RHP

Arlington, Tenn. (Arlington HS)

Did not play as a senior due to an upper-body injury… as a junior, was 5-1 with 3.38 ERA, striking out 25 batters in 39.1 innings pitched… pitched in Arlington’s opening game of 2011 Class AAA State Championship, allowing five runs in complete-game loss.

A.J. Gaura, RHP

Suamico, Wis. (Iowa Western CC)

Finished sophomore campaign with 8-0 record and 3.99 ERA… struck out 46 batters over 56.1 innings and allowed only six walks… member of 2012 NJCAA Division I Baseball National Championship team, pitched in team’s 14-1 tournament victory against Neosho County JC, allowing one run on four hits and striking out five in a run-rule limited five inning contest… as a freshman, posted a 9-1 record and 2.87 ERA, including a 2-0 record and 1.00 ERA in the NJCCA National Tournament… prepped at Bay Port High School… playing summer ball with the Fayetteville SwampDawgs of the Coastal Plains League.

Tommy Hager, OF/LHP

O’Fallon, Mo. (Fort Zumwalt West HS)

As a senior, batted .330  with 22 RBI… on the mound he was 5-2 with a 1.62 ERA while compiling 52 strikeouts in 48 innings pitched… second-team All-Gateway Athletic Conference South Division selection and named to all-district squad… entered senior year as a Perfect Game USA Preseason Underclass Honorable Mention All-America pick… as a junior batted .412 with 12 doubles and 28 RBI, including 20 runs scored… was a first-team all-conference selection and was a first-team all-district selection… playing summer ball with Bayside Yankees, an independent travel ball team.

Zach Hall, LHP

Troy, Ill. (Parkland College)

As a sophomore posted 7-3 record and 3.65 ERA… made 12 appearances and struck out 64 batters over 66.2 innings… was a second-team All-Midwest Athletic Conference selection… posted win in elimination contest of Region 24 tournament, tossing seven scoreless innings and allowing only two hits while striking out eight… received NJCAA Academic Award for Exemplary Academic Achievement…as a freshman was 6-1 with 4.11 ERA, recording 44 strikeouts in 50.1 innings pitched to lead team to NJCAA Region 24 semifinals… prepped at Triad High School where he was a first-team all-conference pick as a pitcher and second-team all-conference selection in the outfield as a senior… playing summer ball with the Mankato MoonDogs of the Northwoods League.

Brian Krolikowski, RHP

Batavia, Ill. (Parkland College)

Finished sophomore campaign with 1-3 record and 6.14 ERA… appeared in six contests for a total of 14.2 innings pitched and struck out 14 batters… as a freshman, was 21 with 4.37 ERA and struck out 29 batters in 35 innings pitched… began collegiate career at Miami (Ohio) where he pitched in one contest as a freshman before sustaining an injury… prepped at Batavia High School where he threw the program’s first no-hitter as a sophomore.

Hunter Lindley, RHP/IF

Germantown, Tenn. (St. George’s Independent School)

As a senior, Batted .430 with 14 doubles, 50 RBI and 32 runs scored while posting a .567 on-base percentage… was a Memphis Commercial Appeal All-Metro team selection… as a junior led St. George’s to Division II-A sub-state finals with a 1.75 ERA while batting .393 with seven home runs and 48 RBI… playing summer ball with Dulin Dodgers, an independent travel ball team.

Jake Walters, IF

Sparta, Ill. (St. John Vianney HS)

As a senior, batted .382 with 11 doubles and 23 RBI… recorded only eight strikeouts in 76 at-bats with 23 walks… finished season with a .535 on-base percentage… first-Team All-Metro Catholic League selection… as a junior, was a second-team All-Metro selection by the St. Louis Post Dispatch after batting .490 with 32 RBI, 24 extra-base hits and 47 runs scored… led Vianney to Missouri Class 4A state semifinals in junior season and was a second-team All-State selection by the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association… playing summer ball with Bayside Yankees, an independent travel ball team.

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