COOKEVILLE, Tenn. –Tennessee Tech baseball coach Matt Bragga flexed his recruiting muscle this offseason as he has signed 12 players, from six different states, for the 2012 TTU baseball season.
The list of newcomers includes seven freshman, along with five transfers from the collegiate ranks. The group hails from Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Texas, Mississippi, Illinois and Georgia.
Bragga on this recruiting class:
"First and foremost I want to thank our coaching staff for the numerous hours they put in working to sign this class. Coach Suttles, Coach "B", Coach Mihoci and Coach Turner are diligent, detail oriented workers that made sure this class would be special. Also, thanks goes to our former Volunteer Assistant Justin Hogan for all his work."
"As we were building this recruiting class we knew we were losing 6 really good baseball players, students and young men from last years team. So oWe only lost 6 players from last years team, so
Josh Ingram – 6' 0" 185 3B/P Evangelical Christian HS
A native of Collierville, Tenn., Ingram was a four-year letter winner for the Evangelical Christian baseball team. Behind a 19-game winning streak, Ingram helped his squad to the district and state championships his senior season. As a senior he batted .381, while knocking seven home runs. He was named to the all-district team and all-tournament team as well. Ingram also earned three letters in football, where he set the all-time interceptions record. Josh is the son of Scott and Teri Ingram and intends to study pre-physical therapy at Tech.
Bragga on Ingram:
"Josh is one of the best athletes we have ever recruited. He has great strength and speed that surpasses most young players I have ever coached, but what may help him the most is his ultra competitive attitude! Josh may have a chance to play early, because he believes he will! We are thrilled to have Josh in our program and not only is he a great young man, but an incredible student."
Josh Bryant - 6' 1" 220 1B/P/OF Walters State CC
A transfer student from Walters State Community College, Bryant was a four-year letter winner out of Tullahoma, Tenn. He played multiple positions while enrolled at Tullahoma including first base, outfield and pitcher. He earned all-district and all-region nods in 2009. Bryant graduated from Tullahoma as an Honor Scholar, sporting a 4.0 GPA. Josh is the son of Ray and Sonya Bryant and intends to major in mechanical engineering at Tech.
Bragga on Bryant:
"Josh is a physical specimen! He is a young man that we liked out of high school, so after 2 years at Walters State, one of the best junior colleges in the country, we believe Josh has the ability to make an impact on the mound. He has a great arm with great deception from the left side. Josh is also an outstanding student as well as a person!"
Bobby Roach - 6' 4" 185 SS/P McDowell Senior High
A pitcher and shortstop out of Erie, Pa., Roach has excelled both on the field and in the classroom. A multi-sport athlete at McDowell Senior High, he earned three letters in both baseball and basketball. During his junior and senior seasons, he drove in 42 RBI, while scoring 40 runs. On the mound, he tallied a 4-2 mark during his final two seasons, while throwing 38 innings and striking out 32. In the classroom, Roach was named a Scholar-Athlete every year and was awarded the Kiwanis Citizenship Award. Bobby is the son of Robert and Teresa Roach and intends to major in civil/environmental engineering.
Bragga on Roach:
"Bobby comes to us after spending his high school career playing for a great coach in Mike Hayes. We know he will be prepared for the college baseball setting and ready to compete for a position. Bobby is an incredibly gifted athlete that has the hands and feet to do well in the infield, and a great arm which will allow him to contribute on the mound! Bobby is an Honors student and a first class young man!"
Tanner Williams - 6' 2" 185 P/OF Anderson County High
A native of Caryville, Tenn., Williams earned four letters as a pitcher and outfielder at Anderson County High. During his junior season, Williams went 7-1 with a 1.75 ERA, while striking out 20 batters in 40 innings pitched. He also earned three letters in football. He was named to the Anderson County High Honor Roll and was named the Student of the Month. Tanner is the son of Rona and Connie Williams and intends to major in physical wellness/exercise science.
Bragga on Williams:
"Tanner has an electric arm from the left side! We recruited Tanner for a long time and when he committed to us last spring we couldn't have been more thrilled. He is a worker that not only had a great high school career on the mound, but was a record setting quarterback on the gridiron. We are excited to have Tanner in our program, as he is not only a special baseball player and student, but he is an even better young man!"
Zane Morton - 6' 1" 215 P Western Texas College
A native of Midland, Texas, Morton is a JUCO transfer from Western Texas College. In 2011, he earned a 5-2 record throwing 34.2 innings, while maintaining a 2.08 ERA. He held opposing batters to a .254 batting average, while striking out 26. Zane is the son of Brett and Lynn Morton and intends to major in business finance.
Bragga on Morton:
"One word comes to mind when I see Zane pitch and that word is nasty! Zane really knows how to fool hitters and get outs and his arm angle is really low! He has a closers mind set and it is that mindset that drives him and helps make him the competitor he is. I look forward to watching him toe the rubber for us this spring! Again, Zane is another great young man!"
Tyler Wilson - 6' 3" 210 P Lon Morris College
A transfer student out of Lon Morris College, Wilson has excelled both on the field and in the classroom. While enrolled at Lon Morris, Wilson threw 65 innings, posting a 9-4 record, with a 3.50 ERA. In 2010, he struck out 22 batters in 30 innings pitched and threw one complete game. While attending Lumberton (Tex.) High School, Wilson earned four letters in baseball and two in football and was named to the National Honor Society. Tyler is the son of Steve and Carol Wilson and intends to major in sport management.
Bragga on Wilson:
"Tyler is a great addition to out pitching staff as he can fill many roles. If we need him to start he can, if we need him as a middle relief pitcher he can, if we need him to finish games he can. As well as being really good on the mound, he brings a great personality to the clubhouse. Tyler is a worker and a tremendous addition to our program!"
James Abraham - 5' 10" 190 OF Pearl River CC
A native of Diamondhead, Miss., Abraham is a transfer student from Pearl River Community College. He earned four letters at St. Stanislaus High School as a centerfielder, where he earned a pair of Mississippi 4A all-State and all-Gulf Coast nods. He finished his career at St. Stanislaus with a .400 batting average while hitting 18 home runs and stealing 60 bases. James is the son of Joey Abraham and intends to major in criminal justice.
Bragga on Abraham:
"James had a great career at Pearl River Community College and we are thrilled to have him as a major part of our team. The strength in his hands makes him a great hitter! The ball just seems to come off his bat a little different than most baseball players, it seems to pick up speed in mid air flight. He is also a great athlete that can flat cover some ground in the outfield and plays with a tenacity that very few players can match. James is a great young man!"
Jordan Hopkins - 5' 11" 160 C/P/SS Grace Christian Academy
A native out of Knoxville, Tenn., Hopkins earned five letters in baseball at Grace Christian Academy. During his senior season, he batted .495 with five home runs and 23 RBI. Hopkins was named to the all-region team his junior and senior seasons and was named all-state during his final season. Hopkins helped his team to three straight district championships and one regional championship in 2011. He also earned three letters in basketball and two in football. Hopkins was also named to the National Honor Society. Jordan is the son of Mark and Karla Hopkins and intends to major in physical therapy.
Bragga on Hopkins:
"We were looking for a catcher in this recruiting class that can really catch & throw and Jordan is that guy! Not to say that he can't hit, because he is more than capable as an offensive player, but his defense is flat out phenomenal! Jordan is another top flight student and great person!"
Dylan Bosheers - 6' 0" 165 SS Lawrence County HS
A Lawrenceburg, Tenn., native, Bosheers played four seasons on the Lawrenceburg County High baseball team and was named all-district three times. He batted .630 with nine home runs during his high school career and was named to the Honor Roll. Dylan is the son of Chris and Amy Bosheers and he intends to major in coaching and sports administration.
Bragga on Bosheers:
"Dylan epitomizes what we look for in an infielder as his hands, feet, range, angles, movements, arm strength are all strengths! He has a beautiful stroke at the plate and will find gaps! He also plays the game with a relentless attitude that separates him from many other great infielders! Dylan is another high character, quality student that personifies Tennessee Tech Baseball!"
David Hess - 6' 1" 196 P/OF/SS Tullahoma HS
A three-position player out of Tullahoma High School, Hess earned three letters in baseball while playing as a pitcher, outfielder and shortstop. Hess has earned several awards including two all-district nods and one all-state award. He was also named the District Pitcher of the Year. He finished his senior seasons with .393 batting average, while hitting eight home runs and driving in 41 RBI. On the mound, he posted an 8-1 record, with a 1.91 ERA and 102 strikeouts. Hess was named to the National Honor Society and graduated with honors. David is the son of Jim and Charlotte Hess and intends to major in chemical engineering.
Bragga on Hess:
"David is an athlete. He has a legitimate shot to contribute both as a pitcher and a hitter this year as a freshman! He is polished on the mound and has a great arm! Offensively he possesses really good bat speed and can track balls well in the outfield. He is a tireless worker and is always looking for ways to improve and this kind of attitude will lead to success! David is also an Honors student and a tremendous young man!"
Seth Lucio - 5' 10" 180 P/SS Locust Grove HS
A native of Locust Grove, Ga., Lucio was named to the first-team all-region as both a pitcher and as a shortstop. Named the Pitcher and Hitter of the Year, Lucio finished his senior season with an 8-1 record and a 0.83 ERA with 98 strikeouts. He also batted .450. Seth is the son of Abel and Tonja Lucio and intends to major in physical education.
Bragga on Lucio:
"Seth is another dual position player that should have a chance to contribute heavily on the mound and as a position player right away! Seth has a God-given ability to play this game and to play it at an extremely high level. He produces so much from his body and has about as good as hand speed as any pitcher we have ever recruited! Seth is a worker, a great student, and a great young man!"
Byron Skinner - 6' 2" 235 P/1B Palm Beach Atlantic
A 6'-2" pitcher out of Paltine, Ill., Skinner has spent the last two seasons as a member of the Palm Beach Atlantic baseball team. Prior to his experience at PBA, Skinner played four seasons of varsity ball at Palatine High School. During his four seasons he received several awards including all-conference and all-area awards, along with the Under Armor All-American award. During his senior season, he went 6-5, with a 2.20 ERA. Byron is the son of Byron and Sandi Skinner and he intends to major in business management.
Bragga on Skinner:
"Byron has tremendous ability on the on the mound and flat gets after it every day! He not only brings his baseball skill set to out program, he brings so much energy and a great spirit to our baseball team. He is a special young man that we know is going to have a great career here at TTU"
