By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – While 19 new faces will hit the diamond for the 2016 edition of the Tennessee Tech baseball team, eight players will do it for their final season in the purple and gold, prompting the need for eight new additions to the program for the 2017 season.
Head coach Matt Bragga and assistants Justin Holmes and Derek Weldon have put together a fantastic signing class to make the transition seamless between the next two seasons. Each player offers huge upside with potential to make an instant impact on Tech's hunt for another Ohio Valley Conference championship and the always challenging berth into the postseason.
"Our coaches spend so many hours on the road and in the office hunting down the right fits for our program," Bragga said, "and they did a fantastic job yet again with the eight players we have signed for next year. Each one of these future Golden Eagles will make a huge impact on our program both as athletes and students. We can't wait to see them develop and help us continue the success of our great program here in Cookeville."
JOHN ELFORD III - C │ 5-11 │ 195
Hometown: Jackson, Tenn.
High School: Crockett County HS
Travel Team: Memphis Tigers
PBR Rank: #4 catcher (state) / #44 overall (state)
Perfect Game Rank: #6 catcher (state) / #36 overall (state)
Elford posted huge numbers as a junior catcher and pitcher last season playing for head coach Brent Fronabarger at Crocket County High School. He hit .473 with 41 RBI and five home runs, building off a sophomore campaign where he put up an average of .394 with 30 RBI. He led his team to a both a district and regional title last season, earning All-District, All-Region and All-State honors along the way. He also earned the team's honors as the Offensive and Defensive Leader.
Bragga's take:
Anyone would agree that great catching is vital to the success of any program. We feel like we landed one of the best catchers in the southeast. John not only brings some impressive defensive tools, but he also has the ability to be a threat at the plate for years to come. Our future looks very bright with John in our program
Memphis Tigers head coach Kerry Sweeney's take:
John is the true definition of a catcher. He's tough and handles pitchers well. Pitchers love to throw to him and he shuts down opponents' running games. John lives, eats and breaths baseball. He is the kind of kid you build your team around.
HUNTER HIGDON - MIF │ 5-10 │ 160
Hometown: Jackson, Tenn.
High School: Jackson Christian School
Travel Team: Memphis Tigers
Perfect Game Rank: #6 shortstop (state) / #45 overall (state)
Playing second base, shortstop and pitcher for Chuck Cooper at Jackson Christian School, Higdon has enjoyed a highly successful prep career thus far, owning a batting average of .330 with 62 RBI, 59 runs scored, 23 extra base hits and 18 stolen bases. As a junior, he helped lead JCS to district, regional and state titles, taking home multiple honors along the way. He is a three-time All-District honoree and a two-time All-Region player. This past season he also took home All-West Tennessee honors. Named the team's Rookie of the Year as a freshman, he earned King of Swing accolades as a sophomore and the team's MVP honor this past season.
Bragga's take:
Hunter is a flat out competitor. Every time we went to watch him, he found a way to make an impact on the field. He is always competitive at the plate, solid in the field and a great teammate in the dugout. Our program is better for having this young man. I am excited to watch Hunter blossom here at TTU.
Jackson Christian School head coach Chuck Cooper's take:
Coaching Hunter has been one of the most rewarding privileges of my career. He is a young man who exhibits character, determination, work ethic and a competitive spirit. He's a great student, a great player and an even better person. Hunter is a both champion on and off the field.
DEVIN LANCASTER - RHP │ 6-2 │ 190
Hometown: Chattanooga, Tenn.
High School: Ringgold HS
Travel Team: Chattanooga Cyclones
Perfect Game Rank: #25 right-handed pitcher (state) / #97 pitcher (state) / top 500 (national)
A two-sport athlete at Ringgold High School, Lancaster has much experience as a leader playing pitcher, catcher and quarterback between baseball and football. As a pitcher, he has tossed 81.1 career innings, posting a 2.10 ERA. As a quarterback, he has thrown for over 4,600 yards, accumulating 42 touchdowns through the air and five more on the ground. As a sophomore, he led the RHS baseball team to a region championship while striking out 50 batters in just over 44 innings of work with an ERA of 1.89. As a junior, he was named the football team's Offensive MVP and Player of the Year.
Bragga's take:
Devin is a player that burst onto the scene for us this summer. He possesses a plus fastball to go along with a blue collar work ethic. So far Devin has always split his time between playing quarterback and pitching. I am excited to get this young man on the mound fulltime and watch him reach his tremendous potential.
Ringgold High School head coach Brent Tucker's take:
It's no accident Devin is signing with a Division I program. He works extremely hard at practice and in the weight room. His character is one of a champion.
CODY LITTLEJOHN - 3B │ 6-3 │ 185
Hometown: Decatur, Ala.
High School: Madison Academy
Travel Team: Nashville Knights
Perfect Game Rank: #2 third baseman (state) / #62 overall (state)
Littlejohn has enjoyed much success at Madison Academy, leading his team to back-to-back state titles the past two seasons. He took home Tournament MVP honors in the team's most recent championship run, helping Madison Academy become the first school in the state of Alabama to capture state titles in football, boys basketball and baseball in the same school year. Following his incredible junior season, he earned All-State Honorable Mention honors.
Bragga's take:
Cody is a very exciting player. He possesses the ability to change a game at the plate in one swing. He is also a smooth defender with a strong enough arm to stay on the left side of the infield. He will be one to watch in the OVC for many years to come.
Nashville Knights head coach Ryan Walsh's take:
Cody is a game changer. He can do it all. He posses plus tools in all phases of the game and is as sophisticated a hitter as you will find in his class. The consummate teammate, we are very lucky to have had him as a Knight.
CARSON PACK - CIF/RHP │ 6-5 │ 245
Hometown: Andersonville, Tenn.
High School: Anderson County HS
Travel Team: Knoxville Stars
PBR Rank: #18 (state) / 140 (national)
Perfect Game Rank: #22 (state)
A three-sport athlete at one time at Anderson County High School, Pack has lettered four years in baseball, splitting time as a pitcher, first baseman and third baseman. In his career, he owns a 2.30 ERA with 171 total strikeouts, including 63 last season alone. A two-time All-District Team member, he also collected All-KIL Team honors in both 2014 and 2015. He played one year of quarterback for the football team and one year for the basketball team.
Bragga's take:
Carson comes to us from Anderson County High School where former Golden Eagle Ben Downs is the head coach. We have a rich history of great players coming to us from the Knoxville area over my time here. Carson has a very high ceiling on the mound and we are excited to see him excel here in Cookeville.
Anderson County HS head coach Ben Down's take:
Carson has been a great player both on and off the field. He has great stuff on the mound and will excel at TTU. It is very exciting for me to have another one of my players at my alma mater.
JACOB PARHAM - RHP │ 6-3 │ 210
Hometown: Knoxville, Tenn.
High School: Farragut HS
Summer Team: Diamond Simcox
Perfect Game Rank: #19 right-handed pitcher (state) / #63 overall (state)
Parham has spent his prep career as a pitcher for Matt Buckner at Farragut High School, leading his team to the 2014 state title and a runner-up finish as well. He has plenty of experience with postseason success, winning multiple district, region and sub state titles. As a junior, he tossed 22 innings with one complete game, going 3-0 with 19 strikeouts and a 2.50 ERA.
Bragga's take:
Jacob comes to us from one of the best programs in the state of Tennessee. Farragut High School has sent TTU some great players over the years and we expect Jacob to come here and continue that tradition. He is a great fit for us on the field and in the classroom. His best days are ahead of him and I am happy that they will be while wearing purple and gold.
Farragut High School head coach Matt Buckner's take:
Parham is a physical kid whose arm works very well. He is a hard worker with a very high ceiling. He is also a late bloomer who we are expecting big things from this year.
GRANT PHILLIPS - RHP │ 6-3 │ 185
Hometown: Antioch, Tenn.
High School: Ezell Harding Christian School
Travel Team: Training Camp Baseball
PBR Rank: #14 right-handed pitcher (state) / #42 overall (state)
Perfect Game Rank: #19 right-handed pitcher (state) / #56 overall (state)
Phillips has been a two-sport athlete at Ezell Harding Christian School, splitting time as a pitcher and catcher for the baseball team and as a power forward and center for the basketball team. In his first three seasons he has earned a spot on the All-District DIIA Team and also took home All-Region honors as a sophomore. On the court, he earned All-District DIIA accolades as a junior.
Bragga's take:
Grant is a big time strike thrower and a skilled righty with a great pitcher's frame. He is the kind of player that will make great strides during his first couple years here at TTU. His tremendous character and makeup will make him a big part of our future. We are very happy to have this young man in the fold.
Ezell Harding Christian School head coach Jason Charleton's take:
Grant is a perfect fit for Tennessee Tech baseball. He is a great student who will be successful academically and will also be a great asset to the pitching staff for the Golden Eagles. He had set his sights on Tennessee Tech and I am very excited to see him land at such a great school.
ZELL WALKER - MIF │ 6-4 │ 195
Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.
High School: Nashville Christian School
Travel Team: Middle Tennessee Outlaws
Perfect Game Rank: #9 shortstop (state) / #57 overall (state)
Walker has excelled as a two-sport athlete at Nashville Christian School, starting his fifth season as a shortstop on the varsity baseball team and his fourth year on the varsity basketball team as a wing. He owns a career batting average of over .350, including a stellar .473 clip as a junior. On the diamond he has taken home District MVP honors as well as a place on each of the All-District, All-Region and All-State teams. On the hardwood, he has scored over 1,100 career points, taking home All-District and All-Region honors. He has also led both the baseball and basketball teams to the district tournament.
Bragga's take:
At 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds, Zell is a physical specimen. This summer he became impossible to ignore on the diamond. He is another player that has not totally dedicated his athletic abilities to one sport. Once Zell steps away from the hardwood and focuses solely on baseball, the sky is the limit. He has the skills to play all over the field and the bat to find a way into the lineup.
Nashville Christian School head coach Ben Williams' take:
Zell has been a great player and role model for Nashville Christian for the past five years. He is going to be impossible to replace and greatly missed, but we are very excited to see all of his accomplishments for the Golden Eagles.
