Kent State Announces 2007-08 Baseball Recruiting Class

Defending MAC Champions ink seven prospects

KENT – Selling potential recruits on  “winning championships and major league development,”  Kent State head baseball coach Scott Stricklin has again strung together one of the region’s best recruiting classes.

Three pitchers – two of them left-handed – three infielders, and a catcher round out this year’s recruits.  All of them hail from either Ohio or Pennsylvania.

“Coaches Mike Birkbeck and Scott Daeley worked very hard this summer to find these recruits.  We feel like we found the best players and the best fit for this program.  We had some specific needs we needed to address, such as middle infield, pitching and a catcher.  We feel like we’ve met our needs with some great baseball players, but some even better kids,”  Stricklin said.

Following is a breakdown of Kent State’s 2007-08 baseball recruits with comments and analysis from Stricklin:

Brannon Belair – LHP – Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit

A product of a very strong prep program at Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit, Belair was a member of Walsh’s 2006 state championship squad who, according to Stricklin has developed over the last couple years.  “He’s worked hard to get himself into this position and has turned himself into a legitimate division one pitcher.  We feel he can make an immediate impact on our staff.”

Andrew Chafin – LHP – Collins Western Reserve

Western Reserve’s two-time batting champion, Chafin has been the Roughriders’ top starter the past couple seasons.  Was a member of the Midwest Redbirds this fall where he posted a 4-2 pitching record in having very successful summer and fall campaigns.  “He really showed he has good command of three different pitches and is a very good competitor.”

Kyle McMillen – RHP/INF – Akron Archbishop Hoban

One of Kent State’s most versatile recruits, McMillen is a 2008 pre-season Under Armor All-american.  He hit .494 his junior year with an on-base percentage of .540.  On the mound he posted a 4-1 record with a miniscule earned run average of 0.93.  “He can play anywhere on the field and he is as versatile a player as we saw all summer.  We really feel can help us on the mound.  He has a power right arm and could possibly be someone we look to as a closer in the future.”

David Lyon – C – Cameron County  (Pa.)

Posting batting averages at-or above .500 his last two years of high school, Lyon is a catcher who has also been on the honor roll all four years at Cameron County High in Emporium, Pa.  He was also a part of the first district championship team in school history in 2006.  “He does everything you need your catcher to do.  We were very impressed with him and he was a perfect fit for our program.”

Jim Rider – INF – Peters Township  (Pa.)

A very solid infielder who Stricklin says  “makes all the plays,”  Rider was part of a WPIAL 4A championship team in 2007.  He was a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette All-region and All-section selection as a junior posting a .435 batting average with 31 runs batted in and a fielding percentage of .963.  “He is as steady as any guy we saw all summer long.  He just makes every single play and has a great approach at the plate.”

Ross Brunello – INF – Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit

Listed as one of Baseball America’s  “Players to Watch,”  Brunello has been a part of a Walsh Jesuit team which has won a championship of some kind in all three years of his prep eligibility.  He was named to the  “Top Prospects”  list of both the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Akron Beacon-Journal.  “He is a solid guy who can do a lot of things.  He swings the bat well and can play both middle infield positions.”

Travis Shaw – IB – Washington Court House

The son of former big-league hurler Jeff Shaw, Travis is regarded as one of the state’s best offensive prospects.  His Blue Lions teams have posted a total combined record of 72-11 over the last three years, including back-to-back district championships.  Shaw was first team All-league, All-district, all-state and was a Team Ohio representative in his junior season of 2007.  He hit .466 this summer with 10 homers and 74 knocked in.  “He played a lot of third base this summer and we feel he is going to be a solid corner infielder for us and I have no doubt he’ll be an impact player for this program.”

Kent State’s 2008 campaign begins with a three-game weekend series at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro on Feb. 22-24.  The Flashes will entertain Malone College at Olga Mural Field at Schoonover Stadium for the home opener on March 25.