North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Baseball Nets Seven In November Signing Period
11/28/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Of the seven players signed to national letters-of-intent by Wolfpack coach Elliott Avent and his staff, six are high school players, three of them from North Carolina. Lefthanded pitcher Brandon Shipwash of Clayton, shortstop Josh Coyle of Hillsborough Orange, and outfielder Chas Pippitt of Winston-Salem and Woodberry Forest High School are in-state products who should compete for playing time as freshmen in 2002.
The Wolfpack made its biggest recruiting impact with its four out-of-state players, three of whom are highly regarded high school pitchers. Teammates Michael Rogers and Chris Neylan of Steinert High in Hamilton, N.J., and Phillip Davidson of Toll Gate High in Warwick, R.I., rank among the top prospects in the Northeast. Neylan is a lefthander, while Davidson and Rogers are righthanders.
The Wolfpack's one junior college recruit fills a pressing need for the Pack, a slick-fielding shortstop who can contribute offensively. Chad Orvella from Sammanish, Wash., and Columbia Basin College is among the top juco shortstops on the West Coast. He should be able to step into the NC State lineup immediately. Orvella also is a relief pitcher with above-average arm strength and projects as a potential closer at the Division I level.
"Looking at our current team, we felt our most immediate needs were pitching and middle-infield help," Avent said. "We have a young team, but we seem to have veterans concentrated at those two spots, so that's where our focus was with this recruiting class. We brought in four pitchers and two shortstops, one of whom also happens to be a very good pitcher, so we feel very good about having filled our needs.
"We also feel that we recruited quality. The three out-of-state pitchers are all top prospects, and as a junior college product, Chad Orvella should be able to provide immediate help. With our three in-state recruits, we feel that we've continued our recent history of signing as many of the best local players as we possibly can. They're very good players who will help us on the field. but just as important, they come to us already knowing what NC State and our program and traditions are all about."
