Seattle University head baseball coach Donny Harrel has announced that seven student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to attend the school and join the Redhawk baseball team starting in the 2014-15 academic year.
“We really think this class is a special group. We have been able to bring in young men that will help create a competitive environment, allowing our entire roster to get better,” Harrel said. “Building off last year’s three MLB draft picks in Sam Finfer, Brock Carpenter and Michael McCann, this signing class also warrants future draft picks as well. During this early signing period, we were able to find great depth to bolster our efforts towards winning WAC championships.”
TJ Byrne (Federal Way, Wash.) has been a starter for Thomas Jefferson High School since his freshman season. In the spring of 2013, he was the team’s top offensive player as well as an all-league honoree. He has earned an on-base percentage over .500 throughout his high school career. Byrne has played in the Seattle Premier U18 League since he was 14 years old.
Assistant Coach Mike Nadeau on Byrne: “TJ comes in as the speediest Redhawk we have ever signed here at Seattle U. A 6.5 60 yard dash will help an outfield that loses key seniors Chase Fields and Ryan Somers. TJ is a burner in the outfield and on the bases. We are hoping TJ will come in and fill big shoes in centerfield for us right away. With his speed in centerfield, a lot of ground will be covered. He will also put a lot of pressure on the defense when he gets on base.”
Chris Carns (Federal Way, Wash.) is a righthanded pitcher out of Decatur High School who helped the Gators to a fifth-place finish in the 2013 state tournament. He earned first team all-conference honors and was named the team’s top pitcher. Besides baseball, Carns also participated in wrestling and diving during his high school career.
Pitching Coach Elliott Cribby on Carns: “The confidence Chris displays when he is on the mound is incredible. You can't teach mound presence, it comes from hard work and success. Chris contains both traits. He is also a power arm with a fastball that will get up to 91 mph. He put on a show at Area Codes with his arm and bat.”
Ky Dye (Everett, Wash.) is a righthanded pitcher out of Cascade High School who posted a 7-2 record during the 2013 season, including a perfect game. After reaching the WesCo playoffs in 2012, Dye helped the Bruin Bears reach the state tournament last spring, earning the WIAA Sportsmanship Award in the process. A two-time first team all-league honoree, he was named all-state last season and was perfect in two appearances at the invitation-only Area Code games this past summer.
Cribby on Dye: “Ky reminds me of my good friend Tim Lincecum. Those are high standards to live up to, but Ky possesses incredible talents. He has a very quick arm and can throw three pitches for strikes, all with late life. I have seen his fastball up to 92 mph. He's a gamer. If it's a must-win game, Ky is the guy everyone wants on the mound."
David Marshall (Kennewick, Wash.) is a lefthanded pitcher about to enter his senior season at Kamiakin High School. In 2012, Marshall posted an 8-3 record with a 1.93 earned run average and 70 strikeouts in 61 2/3 innings as he helped the Braves win the 3A state championship. He has been named the team’s pitcher of the year twice, including in 2013 after going 5-3 with a 1.91 earned run average and 46 strikeouts in 55 innings on the mound. Marshall is also a punter on the Kamiakin High School football team.
Cribby on Marshall: “David is a workhorse. An amazing number caught our attention when recruiting him: He amassed over 120 innings pitched last year. To see this kid touching 87-88 mph in August told us that he possesses some serious arm strength. David is one of the top lefthanders in the Northwest and brings a winning culture to campus. As a sophomore, he led Kamiakin High School to a state championship behind his complete game, 11-strikeout, 122-pitch performance, an experience that will pay dividends for our program. We are very excited for what David can bring to the table."
Nick Meservey (Scottsdale, Ariz.) is another lefthanded pitcher coming to the Seattle U baseball program after he concludes his time at Saguaro High School. He has posted a 9-5 record and once struck out 12 batters in a single game. He received all-section honors last season as well as the pitcher of the year and scholar-athlete awards from his team. Meservey is the senior class vice-president and has accumulated over 200 community service hours.
Cribby on Meservey: “Nick projects to have a very long career on the mound. He's a 6'5" lefthander that can throw three pitches for strikes and has been up to 90 mph. This was a very exciting get for our program as Nick has many intangibles that will allow him to be a draft pick in the future. Like Dye and Carns, he also competed at the Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif., over the summer. Nick is the meaning of a true student-athlete, excelling in the classroom at Saguaro High School with over a 3.9 GPA.”
Tarik Skubal (Kingman, Ariz.) is a three-sport athlete at Kingman Academy, competing in football, basketball, and baseball. Last year, Skubal was a catalyst for each program as all three won state championships. In spring 2013, Skubal was named tournament MVP as he guided the Tigers to their fourth straight state championship in baseball. Almost unhittable on the mound last year, he held opponents to a .071 batting average while averaging 13.8 strikeouts per game. At the plate, Skubal carried a .520 batting average while leading the team with 29 RBIs and four home runs.
Cribby on Skubal: “Tarik is an incredible athlete. It's a rarity these days to see a three-sport star. Besides baseball, he also is a starter for both the football and basketball teams. Tarik also projects to have a long career on the mound. He has a pro body at 6'4", 205, and what makes him even more intriguing is his youth. He spent most of the fall as a 16-year-old and will turn 17 later this week. Tarik was up to 89 mph this fall with a very clean delivery. He has attracted interest from MLB clubs, but understands the 3-4 year experience at Seattle U will increase longevity on his pro career while receiving an outstanding education.”
Sheldon Stober (Kent, Wash.) will come to Seattle U after completing his second year at Bellevue College, where he earned all-region honors as a designated hitter last season. At Kentridge High School, he was a two-time all-league honoree as well as an all-state selection in 2012. He helped the Chargers reach the state tournament in 2012 after the team missed it by one game the previous year.
Nadeau on Stober: “Sheldon will come to Seattle U in hopes of anchoring the defense up the middle in 2015, with the loss of fifth-year senior Cullen Hendrickson. His veteran presence, solid defense and bat will help a young infield that will consist of two sophomores (Brock Carpenter/Griffin Andreychuk). Stober is a great addition to the 2014 class the Redhawks are bringing in.”
The Seattle University baseball team will begin its second year in the Western Athletic Conference, looking to finish in the top six in order to advance to the WAC Tournament in Mesa, Ariz., May 21-25, 2014.