Sam Houston baseball signs nine Wednesday
11/9/2016 2:00:00 PM | Baseball
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Sam Houston State baseball has signed nine-student athletes for its 2017 class, third-year head coach Matt Deggs announced Wednesday.
The Bearkats, who captured the Southland Conference regular season and tournament championship a season ago, welcome six high school athletes and three junior college players. The class includes four infielders, two utility players, one catcher, an outfielder and a right-handed pitcher.
“I think one word that defines this class is culture,” Deggs said. “This group fits everything that we do and everything that we're about. They're extremely talented baseball players but more than that, they come from great families, they're all really good students and they're not afraid to roll up their sleeves, punch the time card, and go to work. We're blessed that these young men believe in the direction that this program is heading and want to be a part of our vision here at Sam Houston State.”
The nine signees include utility player Jack Rogers (Klein, Texas / Klein Collins HS), infielder Trey Ochoa (Rockwall, Texas / Howard JC), catcher Vince Ippoliti (Houston, Texas / Houston Christian HS), infielder Reese Johnson (Austin, Texas / Dripping Springs HS), right-handed pitcher Landon Ausley (Austin, Texas / Lake Travis HS), utility player Gavin Johnson (San Antonio, Texas / New Mexico JC), infielder Chase Cryer (Belton, Texas / Temple College), outfielder Eric Bohnert (Cypress, Texas / Cy-Ranch HS) and infielder Bryan Aguilar (San Antonio, Texas / East Central HS).
“We signed nine players early last fall and we are signing nine more early this fall,” Deggs said. “This is a very small class by design as we are at the point that we can identify and hand pick the players that 'fit' and are very good at what we do. Each of these players will play a specific role in this programs quest to get to Omaha. The 2016 class & the 2017 class were both ranked as the No. 1 recruiting classes in the Southland Conference and we are expecting the same out of this class.”
A season ago, the Bearkats advanced to the NCAA Lafayette Regional on the heels of a 31-7 finish to close the regular season. The squad won the league regular season championship outright on the last day of the season and boasted a schedule that included 13 games against NCAA Regional foes.
“The bar and standard are very high and I think this speaks volumes as to the job our staff has done,” Deggs said. “Spearheaded by recruiting coordinator Lance Harvell and assisted by Jay Sirianni and Shane Wedd. Our team of recruiters are second to none. They know and understand exactly what we do and look for and then go execute the plan with great work ethic and professionalism. Recruiting is the lifeblood of any championship Program and with this class it ensures that Bearkat baseball will continue to climb, reach new heights and achieve on a national level.”
Jack Rogers – OF/1B/LHP – 6'2 – 185 – Klein Collins HS – Spring, Texas
“Jack was our first commitment in this class. He came to one of our games a couple of years ago, fell in love with the place and the rest is history. Jack is a versatile player who can hurt you at the plate and then turn around and shut you down on the mound. He is a guy that has hit for a high average and now he's added almost 20 pounds of muscle in the weight room so his power is developing, adding another dimension to his game. On the mound he's as competitive of a pitcher as we have seen. He can command four pitches. His fastball is in the upper 80s and will touch 90/91, with a good curveball, a nasty changeup, and a really good slider that he started throwing last spring. We're really excited about Jack and his future here.”
Trey Ochoa – INF – 5'7 – 160 – Howard Junior College – Rockwall, Texas
“Trey is a really good athlete who plays with a ton of energy. He fits really well into our offensive system because he can bunt and steal bases. Don't let his size fool you…he's a stick of dynamite who has shown power at the plate. Defensively he is as rock solid as they come and is one of the best junior college shortstops in the state. What we like most about Trey is that he plays with a chip on his shoulder. He's been proving people wrong his whole career and has been a winner at every stop.”
Vince Ippoliti – C – 6' – 200 – Houston Christian HS – Houston, Texas
"Vince impressed us this summer behind the plate and with his bat. He's a strong, physical kid that moves well and has really good hands. With the bat we think he can be a power threat and a run producer in the middle of our lineup. He comes from a high school and summer program that is well coached and he has an advanced approach and feel for hitting as a result. On top of everything, he is a great kid and student and we're fortunate to be adding a kid of Vince's caliber to our program.”
Reese Johnson – INF – 5'10 – 175 – Dripping Springs HS – Austin, Texas
“Reese Johnson is a gritty competitor, which is a very high compliment in our program because that embodies who we are. That's not to take anything away from his athletic ability. He is a dual threat quarterback who led his high school team to a district championship this year and is a 2,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard rusher. That versatility translates onto the diamond because he can play every position on the infield. He has really good hands and feet and a strong arm. Offensively his best tool is his speed which appealed to us because not only does it fit our system but speed travels and never goes into a slump. We're very excited about Reese.”
Landon Ausley – RHP – 6'5 – 195 – Lake Travis HS – Austin, Texas
“Landon is a big, athletic pitcher who we feel like has a chance to develop into a power arm. He comes from an extremely well coached high school program and every time we saw him pitch he just kept getting better and better. He throws a heavy fastball that has been up into the low 90s to go along with a hard slider that he'll throw anywhere from 80-83 mph. His ceiling is really high and we think he's going to have a great career here at Sam Houston.”
Gavin Johnson – C/UTL – 6' – 195 – New Mexico Junior College – San Antonio, Texas
“Gavin is an extremely gifted player and brings experience and leadership to our program. Offensively he is very advanced. His bat is his best tool and he has a mature approach from the left side. He has a chance to be really good offensively for us. Defensively he is a very good catch-and-throw guy behind the plate and is also athletic enough where we can move him around to some other spots to keep his bat in the lineup. When we talk about taking the next step as a program, you do it with guys like Gavin Johnson.”
Chase Cryer – INF – 5'10 – 185 – Temple College – Belton, Texas
“We first noticed Chase at the Junior College All-Star Game. He is a physical kid with strength in his lower half and from his elbows to his fingertips. He showed good power this fall at Temple College and is a very instinctive player. On the defensive side he has played all over the infield, so he's another guy that we can plug in anywhere on the dirt and let him go play. What impressed us the most about Chase is his attitude. He is very driven, likes to work and is out to prove himself. We've always had guys like Chase on our teams because those are the kind of guys you have to surround yourself with to win.”
Eric Bohnert – OF – 5'9 – 175 – Cy Ranch HS – Cypress, Texas
“Eric is an athletic center-fielder with 6.5 speed who can run 'em down in the outfield and has a strong, accurate arm. What we like about Eric is that he's not just fast but likes to run and is aggressive on the base paths. At the plate he handles the bat well, can bunt, and most importantly is another guy who understands who he is and gets the most out of his ability. We've had a lot of success recently with players form Cy Ranch HS because they are winners. I think Eric is going to step right in and continue that trend.”
Bryan Aguilar – INF – 5'8 – 165 – East Central HS – San Antonio, Texas
“Bryan Aguilar is a guy that attended one of our camps and impressed the entire coaching staff with his glove and advanced defensive skills. He is a natural on the infield with very smooth hands and feet, really good arm action and can throw from multiple arm angles. He is also an above average runner with 6.7 speed but his agility and quick first step are what stands out when you watch him play. He is a high energy guy who is very humble and comes from an outstanding family. We're thrilled that Bryan is a Bearkat.”
