Wednesday 08/18/1999
CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson Head Baseball Coach Jack Leggett released the list of the 1999-2000 signing class on Wednesday. Leggett also announced the addition of pitchers Scott Berney, a transfer from University of Connecticut, and Anthony Urrico, a transfer from Long Island University. Berney will have one year of eligibility remaining, while Urrico will have three years remaining.
Among the signees are five players selected in the June ’99 Major League Draft, including Jeff Baker, Ryan Childs, Jarrod Schmidt, Berney, and Alan Lindsey. Baker, a fourth round selection by the Cleveland Indians, was recently named the United States’ Junior National Team MVP as Team USA won the gold medal in the World Championships in Taiwan.
“We are very excited about the players we have coming into our program and think that several will make an impact for us soon,” says Leggett. “They all come from very strong baseball backgrounds and we are really looking forward to working with all of them. We feel good about how this class fills our needs.”
“Recruiting Coordinator Tim Corbin and the rest of our staff worked extremely hard during the recruiting process,” states Leggett. “We were rewarded with an outstanding class of incoming players. Each has a goal of making it to Omaha and we will be working hard from day one to make that dream come true.”
Clemson will begin fall practice on September 14.
Player Pos. B-T Hgt. Wgt. Cl. High School/Junior College/College Hometown Jeff Baker INF R-R 6-2 185 Fr. Gar-Field Senior HS Woodbridge, VA Chad Bendinelli RHP R-R 5-11 150 Fr. Lassiter HS Marietta, GA Scott Berney RHP R-R 6-3 175 Sr. Univ. of Connecticut Hamden, CT Artie Catoe LHP L-L 6-3 190 Fr. Lexington HS West Columbia, SC Ryan Childs RHP L-R 6-4 195 Fr. Damascus HS Gaithersburg, MD J.D. Davis RHP R-R 6-3 210 Fr. Riverdale Baptist HS Huntingtown, MD James Dawson RHP R-R 6-3 205 Fr. Portland HS Portland, ME Paul Harrelson RHP R-R 6-2 180 Fr. Spartanburg Day School Pauline, SC Patrick Hogan RHP R-R 6-4 220 Fr. Irmo HS Columbia, SC Ryan Hub OF R-R 6-2 185 Fr. Sumter HS Sumter, SC B.J. LaMura RHP R-R 6-2 175 Fr. Connetquot HS Ronkonkoma, NY Alan Lindsey OF R-R 6-2 195 Fr. Lee-Davis HS Mechanicsville, VA Kevin Lynn RHP R-R 6-0 180 Jr. Spartanburg Methodist College North Augusta, SC Steve Pyzik C R-R 5-11 175 Fr. Loyola HS Mount Airy, MD Jarrod Schmidt INF/OF/RHP R-R 6-2 210 Fr. Lassiter HS Marietta, GA Russell Triplett INF R-R 6-0 170 Fr. Brookland-Cayce HS West Columbia, SC Anthony Urrico LHP R-L 5-10 165 So. Long Island Univ. Staten Island, NY Bobby Van Kirk C R-R 5-11 200 Fr. Westminster Academy Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pronunciation Guide Artie Catoe CAY-toh B.J. LaMura luh-MUR-uh Steve Pyzik PI-zihk Jarrod Schmidt JAIR-ud Anthony Urrico yur-EE-coh
Draft Selections Player Round Team Jeff Baker 4th Cleveland Indians Ryan Childs 17th Chicago White Sox Jarrod Schmidt 23rd Florida Marlins Scott Berney 28th Tampa Bay Devil Rays Alan Lindsey 44th Boston Red Sox
JEFF BAKER INF * R-R * 6-2 * 185 * Fr. * Gar-Field Senior HS * Woodbridge, VA
BEFORE CLEMSON: One of 18 players selected for the United States Junior National Baseball team, which played in the IBA Junior World Championships in Taiwan in the summer of ’99, he was the team MVP for the United States team that captured the World Championship…drafted in the fourth round by the Cleveland Indians in the ’99 June Draft…played in the Virginia Commonwealth Games in 1997 and 1998…also a member of the USA Youth National Team in ’97 and the National Team One in 1998…in 29.2 innings pitched in Legion in ’98, he allowed just 13 hits and two walks while striking out 59, also had six saves and a 0.47 ERA…All-Cardinal District and All-Metro selection as a junior…hit .365 in 63 at bats as a junior…was 4-1 on the mound with a 0.70 ERA and 58 strikeouts against just nine walks as a junior, he also allowed just 24 hits in 40.0 innings pitched…in the summer of ’97, he played for the USA Junior National Team, hitting .444 with 13 RBIs in just 27 at bats…led the ’97 Youth National Team in RBI with 97…All-Cardinal District, All-Metro, and All-Region pick as a sophomore…as a sophomore, his team was 20-3, including district champions, state quarterfinalists, and ranked #19 in the nation by USA Today…batted .405 in 79 at bats as a sophomore and had a 0.48 ERA in 29.1 innings pitched as a sophomore…high school team was 19-5 as a freshman, including regional champions and state semi-finalists…lettered four times in baseball…coached by Mike Wright at Gar-Field Senior High.
PERSONAL: His father, Larry, played baseball at Army…born Jeffrey Glen Baker on June 21, 1981 in Bad Kissingen, Germany.
CHAD BENDINELLI RHP * R-R * 5-11 * 150 * Fr. * Lassiter HS * Marietta, GA
BEFORE CLEMSON: An All-County selection as a junior at Lassiter High School…also a member ofthe Georgia Dugout All-Tournament team as a junior…played in the NABF World Series in ’98, where he was the MVP of the championship game, the team also won the World Series championship…also a member of the ’97 AAU National Champions…member of the Atlanta Journal/Constitution All-Cobb County team as a junior…received Lassiter High’s Cy Young Award and Pitching Stats Award as a junior…was 7-1 with a 1.52 ERA in 64.2 innings pitched as a junior, also struck out 65 and walked 22…in 10 starts as a junior, he threw five shutouts, including one no-hitter…as a sophomore, he was Lassiter High’s Rookie-of-the Year and played on the AAAA State-Runner-up team…lettered three times in baseball…had a 3.57 GPA after his junior year and made a 1240 on the SAT…from the same hometown as former Tiger star Shane Monahan and attended high school as fellow signee Jarrod Schmidt…coached by Mickey McMurtry at Lassiter High.
PERSONAL: Born Chad Michael Bendinelli on January 16, 1981 in Portsmouth, OH.
SCOTT BERNEY RHP * R-R * 6-3 * 175 * Sr. * Univ. of Connecticut * Hamden, CT
BEFORE CLEMSON: Drafted in the 28th round by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the ’99 June Draft…played three seasons at Connecticut, accumulating a 14-9 record in 179.2 innings pitched…had excellent control at Connecticut, with his 2.45 walks per nine innings pitched mark and 2.55 strikeout-to-walk ratio, also threw just four wild pitches in three seasons with the Huskies…was 6-5 with four complete games and a 5.33 ERA in 12 starts and two relief appearances in ’99…also had a 3.1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and threw just one wild pitch in 77.2 innings pitched as a junior for the Huskies…named to the Cape Cod League All-Star for Falmouth in the summer of ’98…as a sophomore in ’98, he was limited to only nine appearances due to a case of mononucleosis…was 4-2 with a 4.71 ERA as a sophomore…allowed just two hits and no earned runs in 7.0 innings pitched against Pittsburgh…posted a 4-2 record as a freshman in ’97…appeared in 14 games, 11 as a starter and struck out a team-high 44 strikeouts in 52.1 innings pitched…threw a complete game against West Virginia on April 13, 1997…All-State and All-Area as a senior at Hamden High School…was 9-3 with a 1.07 ERA in his senior season…was also All-Area and Honorable Mention All-State in basketball…coached by Vin Virguito at Hamden High.
PERSONAL: Born October 25, 1977.
Berney Career Stats Year ERA W-L G-GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER BB SO 1997* 5.68 4-2 14-11 1 0 0 52.1 67 48 33 14 44 1998* 4.71 4-2 9-7 2 0 0 49.2 65 33 26 18 28 1999* 5.33 6-5 14-12 4 0 0 77.2 94 52 46 17 53 Total 5.26 14-9 37-30 7 0 0 179.2 226 133 105 49 125 * - stats at Connecticut
ARTIE CATOE LHP * L-L * 6-3 * 190 * Fr. * Lexington HS * West Columbia, SC
BEFORE CLEMSON: An All-Area, All-Region, and All-State selection as a junior at Lexington High School…tabbed as the Best Defensive Player at Lexington High as a junior…a ’98 Invitee to the East Coast Professional Showcase…member of the ’98 Southeastern Baseball Classic All-Tournament Team…USA Today Honorable Mention All-American as a junior…Lexington Post 7 MVP in 1998…lettered three times in baseball at Lexington High…Lexington was 21-7 as a junior and 20-6 as a sophomore…coached by Tommy Williams at Lexington High.
PERSONAL: Pronounced CAY-toh…born Archie Ray Catoe III on May 6, 1981 in Florence, SC.
RYAN CHILDS RHP * L-R * 6-4 * 195 * Fr. * Damascus HS * Gaithersburg, MD
BEFORE CLEMSON: Drafted in the 17th round by the Chicago White Sox in the ’99 June Draft…#69 High School prospect in the nation by Baseball America in its ’99 Early Draft Preview…played on the Super “7” National Champions as a junior at Damascus High School and was a member of the all-tournament team…also played on the Regional and AAA State Champions (along with being the Most Valuable Pitcher), was also All-County, All-Area, Second-Team All-Metro, and a USA Today Honorable Mention All-American as a junior…member of the USA National Youth All-Star team that played in Taiwan in ’97…also played for Team One Showcase and played at Tiger Field…played on the CABA National Champions as a sophomore and was the Most Valuable Pitcher…member of the NABF World Series Champions in the eighth grade…lettered five times in baseball and once in basketball…coached by Vic Mollet at Damascus High.
PERSONAL: His brother, Brandt, played baseball at Indiana and his sister, Kacey, performs in the heptathalon at Iowa…born Ryan Kenneth Childs on August 16, 1981 in Olney, MD.
J.D. DAVIS RHP * R-R * 6-3 * 210 * Fr. * Riverdale Baptist HS * Huntingtown, MD
BEFORE CLEMSON: All-County selection as a junior at Riverdale Baptist High School…selected to play in Team One Showcase and Team Maryland in ’98…selected to “Hot Prospects” by Collegiate Baseball as a junior…member of the Maryland State Private School Champions as a sophomore and junior…was 5-1 with five saves and a 1.01 ERA in 47.0 innings pitched (16 games) as a junior, also allowed 21 hits, struck out 61, and walked 17 along with hitting .483 at the plate…was 2-1 with three saves and a 1.70 ERA in 33.0 innings pitched (17 games) as a sophomore, also allowed 20 hits, struck out 49, and walked 16 along with hitting .333…coached by Terry Terrill at Riverdale Baptist High.
PERSONAL: His brother, Devin Sweeney, played baseball at Palm Beach Atlantic…born Justin M. Davis on July 12, 1980 in Newport News, VA.
JAMES DAWSON RHP * R-R * 6-3 * 205 * Fr. * Portland HS * Portland, ME
BEFORE CLEMSON: Attended Choate Rosemary Hall Prep School in Connecticut in 1998-99 and played one season there…named Maine Gatorade Player-of-the-year as a senior in 1998 at Portland High School…was also the team MVP and a First-Team All-State Pitcher as a senior…also the Telegram League Pitching MVP, and All-League pitcher and utility player as a senior…member of the Maine Senior All-Stars…led his team to the Maine A State Championship, with an 18-3 record, as a senior…as a junior, he was an All-League pitcher and designated hitter…lettered four times in baseball, twice in football, and twice in track…on the gridiron, he was selected to the Maine Shriners Lobster Bowl Classic…he was also an All-League quarterback as a senior…coached by Tom Yankus at Choate Rosemary Hall…coached by Michael Rutherford at Portland High.
PERSONAL: His father, Jack, played football and baseball at Boston College from 1956-60…his mother, Gileen, played tennis at Saint Joseph’s College from 1969-73…born James Philip Dawson on July 13, 1979 in Portland, ME.
PAUL HARRELSON RHP * R-R * 6-2 * 180 * Fr. * Spartanburg Day School * Pauline, SC
BEFORE CLEMSON: Member of the Carolina Clippers (South Carolina’s Travelling Team) All-Star team in 1998, he was 6-0 in eight starts with 33 strikeouts in 41.2 innings pitched, also allowed 16 walks and had a 2.91 ERA…he was his legion team’s Pitcher-of-the-Year in ’97…in his sophomore and junior seasons at Spartanburg Day School, he combined for 263 strikeouts in 141.1 innings pitched, also allowed just 75 hits and 56 walks, and had a 1.31 ERA…in 1996 and 1997 in Legion play, he was a combined 7-3 in 79.0 innings pitched…earned First-Team All-Conference NCISSA-CAA honors as a freshman and sophomore and was the MVP in both seasons as well…lettered six times in baseball…coached by Mike Johnson at Spartanburg Day School.
PERSONAL: Born Paul Harper Harrelson on July 24, 1981 in Spartanburg, SC.
PATRICK HOGAN RHP * R-R * 6-4 * 220 * Fr. * Irmo HS * Columbia, SC
BEFORE CLEMSON: Team Most Valuable Pitcher for Legion Post 174 in ’98, where he was 4-2 on the mound…member of the AAAA State Champions at Irmo High School as a junior, that team had a #15 final ranking by USA Today…the team was also Region III AAAA champions…was 7-1 on the mound as a junior…was 4-2 in ’97 for Post 174, that team was the Upper State champions and state runner-ups…participated in the ’97 Junior Olympics – AAU Nationals…was 4-2 was a sophomore…was 3-1 as a freshman…lettered four times in baseball and twice in basketball…coached by Strother Sligh at Irmo High.
PERSONAL: His father, Mike, played baseball at East Carolina from 1971-74…born Patrick Michael Hogan on April 10, 1981 in Greenville, NC.
RYAN HUB OF * R-R * 6-2 * 185 * Fr. * Sumter HS * Sumter, SC
BEFORE CLEMSON: Member of the 1998 Junior Showcase (High School Sports Report) All-Star team…Legion Post 15 team MVP in 1998, and was the Legion State Tournament MVP…led Legion team in ’98 in homers (12), doubles, slugging percentage, sacrifice bunts, he batted over .375 in 30 games…received the Sumter High Baseball Silver Bat Award, going to the best hitter, as a junior…All-Region selection as a junior…led his team in homers (6), slugging percentage, and doubles as a junior…lettered three times in baseball…coached by former Tiger baseball player Brooks Shumate (1982-84) at Sumter High, who led Clemson in doubles (14) in ’84, runs scored (60) in ’84, and stolen bases in all three seasons at Clemson, he was also an All-ACC outfielder in 1984.
PERSONAL: Born Ryan Michael Hub on September 21, 1980 in Suffolk, England.
B.J. LaMURA RHP * R-R * 6-2 * 175 * Fr. * Connetquot HS * Ronkonkoma, NY
#100 High School prospect in the nation by Baseball America in its 1999 Early Draft Preview…All-County, All-League, and League I MVP…All-League Academic as well…played three varsity sports as a freshman at Connetquot HS…played quarterback and free safety in football…also played basketball (guard), and soccer (center forward)…was Division I All-League in basketball…coached by Bob Ambrosini at Connetquot High.
PERSONAL: Pronounced luh-MUR-uh…born William J. LaMura on January 1, 1981.
ALAN LINDSEY OF * R-R * 6-2 * 195 * Fr. * Lee-Davis HS * Mechanicsville, VA
BEFORE CLEMSON: Drafted in the 44th round by the Boston Red Sox in the ’99 June Draft…1998 Team One Showcase player…hit .391 in the summer of ’98 in Legion with six doubles, four homers, and 17 RBIs along with 12 stolen bases and a .491 on-base percentage…was selected to East-West Legion All-Star game in ’98…hit .350 with six doubles, one triple, three homers, 15 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases along with a .451 on-base percentage as a junior at Lee-Davis High School, also led team to a 17-6 record and the district championship…was Second-Team All-District as a junior…Gold Medal winner at the Commonwealth Games as a junior…hit .373 with six doubles and 26 RBIs along with seven stolen bases and a .473 on-base percentage in Legion in ’97, was also selected to the All-Star team…as a sophomore, hit .307, helping the team to the ’97 Virginia AAA State Championship, team finished 20-6…lettered three times in baseball and twice in volleyball…was a First-Team All-District middle hitter…an academic letter honor roll member for four years…coached by Kenny Lewis at Lee-Davis High.
PERSONAL: Born James Alan Lindsey on November 7, 1980 in Mechanicsville, VA.
KEVIN LYNN RHP * R-R * 6-0 * 180 * Jr. * Spartanburg Methodist College * North Augusta, SC
BEFORE CLEMSON: Played two seasons at Spartanburg Methodist College…was a Second-Team All-Region selection in ’98…was 11-2 with a 3.25 ERA, 69 strikeouts, and 30 walks in 61.0 innings pitched in ’98, was also 8-0 in conference play and was the only pitcher to defeat every team in the league…led team to the AAAA state championship as a senior at North Augusta High School…played in the North-South All-Star Game as a senior…was the South Carolina State AAAA Player-of-the-Year as a senior…was also the Region III Player-of-the-Year and team MVP as a senior…was 12-2 with a 1.06 ERA, 112 strikeouts, 25 walks, and 41 hits in 80.0 innings pitched as a senior…was Region III Player-of-the-Year and team MVP as a junior as well…lettered three times in baseball and three times in basketball…coached by Tim Wallace at Spartanburg Methodist College…coached by Drew Hummel at North Augusta High.
PERSONAL: His uncle, Keith, played football at Georgia from 1975-76…his uncle, Pat, played golf at Georgia Southern…born Kevin Lee Lynn on November 12, 1978 in Augusta, GA.
STEVE PYZIK C * R-R * 5-11 * 175 * Fr. * Loyola HS * Mount Airy, MD
BEFORE CLEMSON: Chosen for Team Maryland as a second baseman as a junior at Loyola High School, started every game at second base and was the leadoff batter…played shortstop, second base, catcher, and pitcher at Loyola High School…received the Coaches Award and MVP in 1995…played soccer and ice hockey in high school…chosen JV team MVP in ice hockey as a freshman, it was his first year of playing the sport…varsity starter on the soccer squad as a junior and senior…coached by Dennis Keruly at Loyola High.
PERSONAL: Pronounced PI-zihk…born Steven M. Pyzik on May 18, 1981.
JARROD SCHMIDT INF/OF/RHP * R-R * 6-2 * 210 * Fr. * Lassiter HS * Marietta, GA
BEFORE CLEMSON: #22 High School prospect in the nation by Baseball America in the 1999 Early Draft Preview…also listed by Baseball America as one of the best raw power hitters in the nation…a USA Today Preseason Top-25 Player in ’99…drafted in the 23rd round by the Florida Marlins in the ’99 June Draft…as a sophomore, Lassiter High won the Region Championship, with a 24-6 record, and was the state runner-up…was the Player-of-the-Year of East Cobb County as a sophomore…was also on the All-Tournament Team in the AAU World Series…was the MVP of the Summer team in 1995, 1996, and 1997…his ’97 AAU team won the World Series and finished with an 85-10 record…high school teammate of fellow Tiger signee Chad Bendinelli, also from the same hometown as former Tiger star Shane Monahan…Lassiter High has sent 13 players to college baseball in the last four years…lettered four times in baseball…coached by Mickey McMurtry at Lassiter High.
PERSONAL: Pronounced JAIR-ud…born Jarrod Scott Schmidt on October 2, 1980 in Washington, D.C.
RUSSELL TRIPLETT INF * R-R * 6-0 * 170 * Fr. * Brookland-Cayce HS * West Columbia, SC
BEFORE CLEMSON: Hit .543 with 53 runs scored, 13 doubles, three triples, eight homers, 42 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases in just 94 at bats as a junior at Brookland-Cayce High School…was Region Player-of-the-Year as a junior…was also the AAA State Player-of-the-Year by both the High School Sports Report and the Coaches Association as a junior, leading his team to the AAA State Championship and Region title…was also All-State, All-Region, and All-Area as a junior…was All-Region as a sophomore…helped team to the Region titles in his freshman and sophomore seasons…lettered four times in baseball and three times in football…coached by Charlie Assey at Brookland-Cayce High.
PERSONAL: Born Calvin Russell Triplett III on January 18, 1981 in Aiken, SC.
ANTHONY URRICO LHP * R-L * 5-10 * 165 * So. * Long Island Univ. * Staten Island, NY
BEFORE CLEMSON: Played one season at Long Island University…was 4-2 with a 6.75 ERA in 45.1 innings pitched for the Blackbirds…a top recruit in the New York area at Saint Joseph’s by the Sea High School…1998 All-Borough selection by the Daily News…was 6-2 with a 1.28 ERA as a senior…also played in the outfield and batted .353…led Saint Joseph’s by the Sea to a second-place finish in the Staten Island Catholic League as a senior…played for the Bayside Yankees in the summer of ’98 and posted a 10-1 record…two-time All-World Series Team recipient for both the Babe Ruth World Series and CABA World Series…lettered three times and was team captain twice in baseball…lettered twice in football…played a variety of positions on the gridiron…coached by Frank Giannone at Long Island.
PERSONAL: Pronounced yur-EE-coh…born November 9, 1980.
Urrico Career Stats Year ERA W-L G-GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER BB SO 1999* 6.75 4-2 9-7 3 0 0 45.1 58 38 34 20 29 * - stats at Long Island
BOBBY VAN KIRK C * R-R * 5-11 * 200 * Fr. * Westminster Academy * Fort Lauderdale, FL
BEFORE CLEMSON: Played at one of the top high school baseball programs in the country in Westminster Academy…The Herald and Sun Sentinel All-County First-Team selection as a sophomore and junior…played in the Continental Amateur Baseball Association High School World Series…played in the CABA High School World Series as a junior…team captain as a junior…received the George “HATS” Omachi Mr. Hustle Award…coached by Rich Hoffman at Westminster Academy.
PERSONAL: Born Robert Paul Van Kirk on February 11, 1981.
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