North Carolina State University Athletics
Baseball Inks Nine In Fall Signing Period
12/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
RALEIGH, N.C. — Looking to fill specific needs, NC State baseball coach Elliott Avent and his staff signed nine players to grants-in-aid during the November signing period. The Wolfpack signed four pitchers, one catcher, one infielder and three outfielders. Four signees are in-state players, five are high school signees and four are junior college transfers.
“This class was small but to the point,” Wolfpack associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Tom Holliday said. “It was a good follow-up to a great class last year. We didn’t need numbers this time around, but we did have specific needs, and we filled them with some real quality players.”
According to Holliday, the Wolfpack went into the signing period looking to add an infielder and a catcher, speed in the oufield, a lefthanded pitcher and overall depth on the pitching staff.
“We got all of the above, and then some,” Holliday said.
Infielder Antonio Alvarez, from Florida Christian School in Miami, is one of the top players in the Miami area and comes from the same prep power that produced current NC State freshmen Danny Canela and Felix Roque.
Peter Bako, a catcher and infielder from Connors State (Okla.) Community College, was drafted in the 15th round of the 2009 MLB draft following a strong freshman campaign.
Dylan Brown, a preseason All-American from Smithfield-Selma High School; Brett Williams from Pitt Community College and New Bern High School; and Marcus Knecht of Connors State by way of Oklahoma State bring offensive potential and should give NC State a boost in the outfield.
D.J. Thomas from Durham Riverside High School and Sean Nolin of San Jacinto (Texas) Junior College provide lefthanded upside and depth to the pitching staff.
Jay Gause from West Brunswick High School and J.R. Bradley, one of the top pitchers in West Virginia, add depth to the staff from the right side.
“We filled our needs and probably got a bonus in J.R. Bradley,” Holliday said. “We probably got a bonus in Marcus Knecht. We actually turned down some kids who were interested in coming here, but we didn’t feel we had room at this time. It went that well.”
In state, the Wolfpack signed Brown, Gause, Thomas and Williams. Brown, Gause and Thomas are ranked among the top 20 seniors in the state for the 2010 season. Williams was the leading hitter on one of the top junior college teams in the Southeast as a freshman in 2009.
Following are thumbnail bios on NC State's nine fall signees:
Antonio Alvarez • INF • 5-11 • 185 • S/R • Florida Christian School • Miami, Fla.
High school: Earned second-team All-Dade County honors from The Miami Herald after hitting .425 with four home runs, 20 RBIs and 12 stolen bases … Ranked the No. 59 prospect in the state of Florida in the class of 2010 by Perfect Game USA.
Summer league: Played for the South Florida Bandits in the 2009 WWBA World Championship
Personal: Is the son of Wanda and Antonio Alvarez.
Assistant coach Chris Hart: “Antonio is a very good baseball player who can play anywhere on the infield. Offensively, he has a very good flat swing that could put him in the top our lineup during his career here at NC State.”
Peter Bako • C/INF • 6-1 • 182 • L/R • Connors State (Okla.) CC • Mississauga, Toronto, Ont., Canada
At Connors State: Batted .368 (39-for-106) with two doubles, three home runs, 21 RBIs and a .462 on-base percentage in 32 games in 2008 and 2009 for the Oshawa Dodgers of the Intercounty Summer Baseball League.
MLB Draft: Drafted in the 15th round of the 2009 MLB draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Personal: Born September 14, 1989 … Is the son of Nick and Eileen Bako.
Associate head coach Tom Holliday: “Peter is a very athletic catcher who can also play the infield. He has the ability to be a high-quality hitter in the ACC. Peter is a very good student who plans to finish his degree here at NC State.”
J.R. Bradley • RHP • 6-3 • 185 • R/R • Nitro HS • Charleston, W.Va.
High school: Went 9-1 with a 1.68 ERA in 69 2/3 innings as a junior in 2009 … Recorded 85 strikeouts with just 13 walks … Helped lead Nitro High School to the state championship game … Ranked as the No. 389 prospect nationally in the class of 2010 by Perfect Game USA … Ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the class of 2010 in West Virginia by Perfect Game USA … Went 9-1 as a sophomore in 2008 with an ERA of less than 2.00 and pitched 63 innings with 103 strikeouts and 13 walks … Helped to pitch Nitro to the 2008 state championship … Was Charleston-area freshman of the year as named by The Charleston Daily Mail.
Summer league: Played for the Midland Redskins summer league program.
Associate head coach Tom Holliday: “J.R. is a very athletic righthanded pitcher who can run his fastball up in the low 90s. J.R. has tremendous upside and should be an outstanding starting pitcher in the ACC.”
Dylan Brown • OF • 5-9 • 160 • L/L • Smithfield-Selma HS, Smithfield
High school: An Under Armour preseason All-American after being selected to play in the Under Armour All-America Tournament in Tucson, Ariz., in January … Batted .431 (31-for-72) in 23 games as a junior in 2009 … Had six doubles, one triple, three home runs and 12 RBIs … Stole eight bases and scored 25 runs … Walked 16 times and struck out five … Had a .539 on-base percentage and a .667 slugging percentage … A two-time all-conference player (2008 and 2009) in the Greater Neuse River 4-A Conference … Ranked as the fifth-best rising senior in North Carolina by Impact Baseball … Ranked as the No. 262 prospect nationally in the class of 2010 by Perfect Game USA … Played for Region 3 at the 2008 and 2009 State Games of North Carolina … Played for Impact Baseball’s 2008 Futures Game.
Assistant coach Chris Hart: “Dylan Brown is a tough, hard-nosed young man who outworks everyone. Dylan is one of the best hitters in the state of North Carolina. His bat and speed should get him in the lineup early in his career.”
Jay Gause • RHP/OF • 6-2 • 215 • R/R • West Brunswick HS • Shallotte, N.C.
High school: Earned all-conference honors after ranking among the state leaders with four triples, five home runs, 31 RBIs and 27 runs scored … Had a 4-1 record with a 3.03 ERA in 39 1/3 innings as a pitcher … Walked 21 and struck out 69 … Named second-team all-area by The Wilmington Star-News … Ranked No. 239 nationally in the class of 2010 by Perfect Game USA … Listed as the No. 18 in-state prospect in the class of 2010 by Impact Baseball … Played in Impact Baseball’s 2009 Futures Game.
Assistant coach Chris Hart: “Jay Gause is a strong righthanded pitcher with real big potential. He runs his fastball up in the low to mid 90s. Jay has the ability to be an outstanding pitcher here at NC State.”
Marcus Knecht • OF • 6-1 • 198 • R/R • Connors State (Okla.) CC
At Oklahoma State: Played in 10 games as a freshman in 2009, starting twice … Had two hits and four RBIs in 12 at-bats, both hits being home runs.
Summer League: Batted .356 with 11 doubles, eight home runs, 30 RBIs and a .418 on-base percentage in 35 games in 2008 and 2009 for the Oshawa Dodgers of the Intercounty Summer Baseball League.
High school: Lettered all four years … Played for Team Canada in the Junior World Championships in 2008 … Also played hockey.
MLB Draft: Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 23rd round in the 2008 MLB Draft
Personal: Is the son of Mike and Gail Knecht … Born June 21, 1990.
Associate head coach Tom Holliday: “Marcus is an outfielder with the talent to hit and hit with power. His 6.6 speed [in the 60] and power combination should make a big impact on our 2010-2011 team.”
Sean Nolin • LHP • 6-4 • L/L • San Jacinto (Texas) JC • Seaford, N.Y.
At San Jacinto: Went 4-1 with a 2.91 ERA and one save as a freshman in 2009 … Helped pitch San Jacinto to a 45-11 record and its second consecutive trip to the NJCAA World Series … Made 11 appearances, seven starts, and allowed 35 hits and 25 walks while striking out 61 in 43 1/3 innings … Was 3-0 with a 3.63 ERA in four conference appearances, all of them starts.
High school: A three-time all-county and two-time All-Long Island selection at Seaford High School.
MLB Draft: Drafted in the 15th round by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2008 MLB draft.
Assistant coach Chris Hart: “Sean is a big lefthander who can run his fastball up in the low 90s. He’s developed into a quality three-pitch starter with very good command. Sean will be a perfect fit for our pitching staff next season.”
D.J. Thomas • LHP • Riverside HS • Durham
High school: A three-time all-conference player in the PAC-6 Conference … Went 3-2 with a 3.13 ERA as a junior in 2009… Worked 38 innings, striking out 50 and walking 13 … Batted .441 with four doubles, two home runs and 24 RBIs … Went 2-0 with a 2.19 ER in 16 innings on the mound, striking out 15 and walking just two as a sophomore in 2008 … Batted .371 with two doubles, two home runs and 17 RBIs … Played for Region 3 at the 2009 State Games of North Carolina ... Ranked the No. 15 in-state prospect in the class of 2010 by Impact Baseball … Played for Impact Baseball’s 2008 Futures Game.
Assistant coach Chris Hart: “D.J. is a lefthander who commands all three pitches. He has very good upside, and we feel the best has yet to come. He runs his fastball up in the upper 80s. D.J. should have a very bright future on the mound here at NC State.”
Brett Williams • CF • 6-0 • S/R • Pitt CC • New Bern, N.C.
Junior College: Batted .429 (69-for-161) with 14 doubles, 14 home runs, 43 RBIs and 12 steals in 13 attempts in 42 games played as a freshman in 2009 … Drew 12 walks and was hit by five pitches for a .478 on-base percentage … Had a .789 slugging percentage.
Assistant coach Chris Hart: “Brett is a true center fielder who can really run. He is extremely athletic, and was a standout quarterback for his high school football team. Offensively, Brett has very good bat speed that produced both average and power at the plate.”
