Post by FIUBlue82 on Nov 15, 2007 15:40:32 GMT -5
Seems like Turtle had a good class!
www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/308974.html
S. Fla. baseball talent stays with UM, FIU
Posted on Thu, Nov. 15, 2007
BY ANDRE C. FERNANDEZ
a1fernandez@MiamiHerald.com
Several top Miami-Dade County baseball players have chosen what side of the Miami-FIU baseball rivalry they want to be on.
Players from Killian, Columbus, Florida Christian, Braddock and Krop inked letters of intent with the schools as the weeklong early signing period for all sports except football and soccer began Wednesday.
Players can continue to sign with colleges until Tuesday or choose to wait until the late signing period in April.
Braddock shortstop Harold Martinez, who is rated the No. 3 high school prospect in the nation by Baseball America, signed a letter of intent with the Hurricanes. Martinez (6-3, 195) had been rated the top defensive shortstop among juniors last year by Baseball America.
Killian and Florida Christian each had four Division I signees. For the Cougars, left-handed pitchers Daniel Miranda and Sam Robinson each signed with UM, and lefty pitcher Mason McVay and third baseman Mike Martinez signed with FIU. Krop shortstop Garrett Wittels, who hit over .400 his last two seasons and was a third-team All-Dade selection, also signed with FIU.
''It's always been a dream of mine to play for the Hurricanes,'' said Robinson, who hit over .500 last season for the Cougars. ``It's going to make the series with FIU a lot of fun playing against some of my teammates.''
All-Dade outfielder David Villasuso headlines Florida Christian's class as he and infielder Nathan Melendres both signed with Miami. Villasuso hit .375 with 11 home runs and 33 RBI last season.
Columbus had five Division I signees and nine overall, headlined by infielder Vickash Ramjit, who signed with UM. The Explorers also had shortstop Rich Rodriguez and center fielder Mike Garcia sign with Eastern Kentucky; utility player Derek Vigoa sign with Pennsylvania; and pitcher Brian Valero sign with Columbia. Four players signed with St. Thomas University -- second baseman Eddy Alvarez, pitcher Chris Plascencia, pitcher Willy Leon and right fielder Jesse Fernandez.
Columbus also had a major swimming signee as Casey Sreenan signed with the University of Michigan.
Also for Florida Christian, first baseman Alfredo Brito signed with Marshall University and right-handed pitcher Manny Fernandez signed with Army.
Miranda and McVay put up similar numbers last season. Miranda went 7-3 with 81 strikeouts and a 1.94 ERA, and McVay went 6-3 with 78 strikeouts and a 1.92 ERA. Martinez is the team's top returning defensive infielder.
''I want to be a part of that process that [new] coach [Turtle] Thomas will have in turning FIU into a national power,'' McVay said.
Baseball wasn't the only sport with big signees Wednesday.
Monsignor Pace All-State first team basketball guard Ray Shipman and 6-7 forward Terrance Saintil officially signed with the schools they committed to over the summer. Shipman, the Class 4A state tournament MVP last season, signed with Florida, and Saintil signed with Virginia Commonwealth. Both players led Pace to the Class 4A state championship last season.
Ransom Everglades had two of its top athletes also sign with Ivy League schools. Swimmer Monica Burgos, a former state champion in the 50 freestyle, signed with Harvard. Tennis star Rachel Saiontz signed with Princeton.
www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/308974.html
S. Fla. baseball talent stays with UM, FIU
Posted on Thu, Nov. 15, 2007
BY ANDRE C. FERNANDEZ
a1fernandez@MiamiHerald.com
Several top Miami-Dade County baseball players have chosen what side of the Miami-FIU baseball rivalry they want to be on.
Players from Killian, Columbus, Florida Christian, Braddock and Krop inked letters of intent with the schools as the weeklong early signing period for all sports except football and soccer began Wednesday.
Players can continue to sign with colleges until Tuesday or choose to wait until the late signing period in April.
Braddock shortstop Harold Martinez, who is rated the No. 3 high school prospect in the nation by Baseball America, signed a letter of intent with the Hurricanes. Martinez (6-3, 195) had been rated the top defensive shortstop among juniors last year by Baseball America.
Killian and Florida Christian each had four Division I signees. For the Cougars, left-handed pitchers Daniel Miranda and Sam Robinson each signed with UM, and lefty pitcher Mason McVay and third baseman Mike Martinez signed with FIU. Krop shortstop Garrett Wittels, who hit over .400 his last two seasons and was a third-team All-Dade selection, also signed with FIU.
''It's always been a dream of mine to play for the Hurricanes,'' said Robinson, who hit over .500 last season for the Cougars. ``It's going to make the series with FIU a lot of fun playing against some of my teammates.''
All-Dade outfielder David Villasuso headlines Florida Christian's class as he and infielder Nathan Melendres both signed with Miami. Villasuso hit .375 with 11 home runs and 33 RBI last season.
Columbus had five Division I signees and nine overall, headlined by infielder Vickash Ramjit, who signed with UM. The Explorers also had shortstop Rich Rodriguez and center fielder Mike Garcia sign with Eastern Kentucky; utility player Derek Vigoa sign with Pennsylvania; and pitcher Brian Valero sign with Columbia. Four players signed with St. Thomas University -- second baseman Eddy Alvarez, pitcher Chris Plascencia, pitcher Willy Leon and right fielder Jesse Fernandez.
Columbus also had a major swimming signee as Casey Sreenan signed with the University of Michigan.
Also for Florida Christian, first baseman Alfredo Brito signed with Marshall University and right-handed pitcher Manny Fernandez signed with Army.
Miranda and McVay put up similar numbers last season. Miranda went 7-3 with 81 strikeouts and a 1.94 ERA, and McVay went 6-3 with 78 strikeouts and a 1.92 ERA. Martinez is the team's top returning defensive infielder.
''I want to be a part of that process that [new] coach [Turtle] Thomas will have in turning FIU into a national power,'' McVay said.
Baseball wasn't the only sport with big signees Wednesday.
Monsignor Pace All-State first team basketball guard Ray Shipman and 6-7 forward Terrance Saintil officially signed with the schools they committed to over the summer. Shipman, the Class 4A state tournament MVP last season, signed with Florida, and Saintil signed with Virginia Commonwealth. Both players led Pace to the Class 4A state championship last season.
Ransom Everglades had two of its top athletes also sign with Ivy League schools. Swimmer Monica Burgos, a former state champion in the 50 freestyle, signed with Harvard. Tennis star Rachel Saiontz signed with Princeton.