Baseball 11/11/2015 1:00:00 PM

BASEBALL INKS STELLAR CLASS ON NATIONAL SIGNING DAY

Follow @RadfordBaseball

RADFORD, Va. – Radford baseball head coach Joe Raccuia announced the signing of 11 future Highlanders Wednesday afternoon. The class features five pitchers, two infielders, two outfielders and two catchers.

"Coming off a championship season, we put together what we consider the best and deepest recruiting class in the history of our program," Raccuia said. "Our coaching staff did an unreal job of identifying and staying patient during the process to make sure we are bringing the right family members into our program."

SPENCER HORWITZ
6-0 | Catcher | 175 | L/R | Timonium, Md. | St. Paul's | Mid-Atlantic Red Sox

NOTES

2015 stats: .475 batting average, 12 doubles, two triples
MIAA all-conference selection in 2015
Two-year team captain
2015 Team MVP
Big 26 Classic MVP
17U WWBA all-tournament team
High School Coach: Patrick Walsh
Travel Ball Coach: Allen Haines

Raccuia on Horwitz: He is an offensive-minded, left-handed hitting catcher that seems to be improving each time out. The left-handed bat will give him an opportunity to contribute early in his career.

GRAYSON LAMB
6-0 | Pitcher | 170 | R/R | Virginia Beach, Va. | Tallwood | Old Dominion Hitters

NOTES

2015 stats: 42.1 innings pitched, 66 Ks
2015 Team MVP
2014 and 2015 academic honor roll
High School Coach: Joe Agreste
Travel Ball Coach: Allen Elledge

Raccuia on Lamb: Grayson is a dynamic RHP with an electric arm. Although he is small-framed, Grayson has a Tim Lincecum-type delivery. He 90 mph fastball, combined with his power curveball, should allow him to be very successful at this level.

CLAYTON BAINE
5-11 | Infielder | 190 | R/R | Lovettsville, Va. | Paul IV Catholic | Evoshield Seminoles

NOTES

2015 PG underclassmen honorable mention
2014 17U WWBA all-tournament team
2014 WCAC all-conference selection
2013 Gold Glove award
High School Coach: Jeff Nolan
Travel Ball Coach: Donnie Phillips

Raccuia on Baine: Clayton was our first commit of the '17 class. It's always good to start your class with a player of his ability to play in the middle of the field, and even more important that he wanted to be the first guy. His passion for Radford baseball was shown early on and his tireless work ethic will be instrumental being a leader in our program.

STRATON PODARAS
5-11 | Catcher | 180 | R/R | Glen Head, N.Y. | Chaminade | Next Level Baseball

NOTES

Ranked 16^th overall by PBR (No. 1 catcher in New York)
Blue Chip prospect in 2014 and 2015
Hit .351 and threw out 70 percent of base runners
2015 17U WWBA all-tournament team
2014 and 2015 NSCHSAA all-league
2014 Team MVP
Team captain for 2014 and 2015
High School Coach: Mike Pienkos
Travel Ball Coach: Shaun Manning

Raccuia on Podaras: Of all the catchers we have seen on the east coast, our coaching staff considers Podaras as one of the best catch and throw guys. As Podaras continues to get stronger, he should become a big-time player in our program.

CODY SCHNEIDER
6-3 | Outfielder | 190 | R/R | Chesapeake, Va. | Hickory | Stars Baseball Marucci Prime

NOTES

2015 all-conference team selection
2015 17U WWBA all-tournament team
Hit .533 with a home run and grand slam in same day during WWBA tournament
Played for Padres' national scout team
Ranked 12^th overall by PBR (No. 3 outfielder in Virginia)
Ranked 13^th by Perfect Game for Virginia outfielders
Won 5A state championship in 2014
High School Coach: Hank Kraft
Travel Ball Coach: Mark Fleisher

2015 stats: 6-3 record, two saves, 53 Ks, 55.1 innings pitched, 1.27 ERA
2015 17U WWBA all-tournament team
2015 Team MVP
2015 All-Berks County (selected to Carpenter Cup team)
2014 and 2015 Pennsylvania Legion all-star team
2014 Coaches MVP
2014 All-Berks County honorable mention
High School Coach: Chad Walters
Travel Ball Coach: Mike Chroniger

Raccuia on Alexy: We are excited to get this type of arm in our program. He has a tremendous upside, quick arm and explosive fastball that has been up to 92 mph. We believe he has the ability to be a frontline guy for us.

BRYCE ROGERS-BLACK
6-2 | First Base | 225 | R/R | North Beach, Md. | Northern | Mid-Atlantic Red Sox

NOTES

2015 stats: .423 batting average, 19 RBI, five doubles, 53 singles, one home run
2015 17U WWBA all-tournament team
2015 MSABC Team MD
2014 and 2015 All-SMAC first team
2014 and 2015 Team MVP
2013 Offensive MVP
2013-15 all-county selection
High School Coach: Bobby Gibbons
Travel Ball Coach: Allen Haines

Raccuia on Rogers-Black: Bryce is another physical player for us that can either play first base or corner outfield spots. He has deceptive speed for a big guy, and with the combination of a power bat, he should look to compete for immediate playing time.

EVAN THREEHOUSE
6-2 | Pitcher | 175 | R/R | Olean, N.Y. | Olean | Academy Stars

NOTES

2015 stats: 6-1 record, 91 Ks, 47.2 innings pitched, 0.89 ERA
2015 CCAA west all-star first team (pitcher of the year award)
2015 All-WNY first team all-star pitcher
2015 Olean Times Herald Big 30 all-star (player of the year award)
2014 stats: 3-0 record, 40Ks, 25 innings pitched, 2.24 ERA
2014 CCAA east all-star second team (rookie of the year award)
High School Coach: Matt Threehouse
Travel Ball Coach: Justin Santonocito

Raccuia on Threehouse: Evan comes from western New York and comes from a baseball family—his dad pitched at South Carolina and uncle at St. Bonaventure. The future is untapped for Evan. The combination of his upper-80s fastball and professional curveball should allow him to compete for innings right away.

DAVID LAIRD
5-10 | Outfielder | 175 | L/L | Culpeper, Va. | Eastern View | Richmond Braves

NOTES

2015 stats: .523 batting average
2015 Perfect Game All-American (honorable mention)
2015 all-area first team
2015 all-conference first team
2015 all-region second team
2015 CCAA west all-star first team (pitcher of the year award)
High School Coach: Daniel Nobbs
Travel Ball Coach: Eddie Jones

Raccuia on Laird: David is the typical Radford baseball player—foot speed, tough out, above average defender with the ability to do every facet well for us. He is just a well-rounded baseball player that will impact our program for years to come.

COLIN REID
6-1 | Pitcher | 198 | L/L | Round Hill, Va. | Woodgrove | Stars 18U Primes

NOTES

2015 stats: 8-1 record, 105 Ks, 76 innings pitched, 1.38 ERA
2015 all-conference second team
2015 all-region second team
2015 18U WWBA all-tournament team
2014 all-conference second team
2014 17U WWBA all-tournament team
High School Coach: Rusty Smith
Travel Ball Coach: Carson Carroll

Raccuia on Reid: Colin is an athletic LHP with a quick arm and a plus slider that will have the ability to fill a variety of roles on our pitching staff. We are excited at the way he competes on the mound and cannot wait for him to be a Highlander.

TREY ALDERMAN
6-1 | Pitcher | 190 | R/R | Manassas, Va. | Forest Park | Stars Baseball

NOTES

2015 stats: 6-1 record, 35 Ks, 43 innings pitched, 1.79 ERA
2015 Pitcher of the Year
Four-year varsity letterman (2013-16)
High School Coach: Steve Denard
Travel Ball Coach: Carson Carroll

Raccuia on Alderman: We are glad we kept recruiting Trey because all he does is get better. He is another physical RHP who has been up to 92, to go with a power slider. Trey has a huge upside that our coaching staff is excited about.

Print Friendly Version

Radford University Athletics