Seton Hill baseball coach Marc Marizzaldi has announced seven members of his recruiting class for the 2017 season.  These players were signed during the recent early signing period.

"We had a number of position specific needs to address in this class with 12 current seniors on the roster," stated Marizzaldi.  "Coach Cannon and Coach Jossey have been road warriors the past 12 months and they hit the bullseye with this group!  We succeeded in filling the needs we have for next year, but more importantly we were able to connect with some high character young men who share our vision of competing for a national championship."
 
 
ADAM BANKOVICH – CATCHER – DUBOIS AREA HS / DUBOIS, PA
Bankovich is a two-time District 9 All-Star and Central Mountain All-League performer.  Bankovich hit .473 in 2014 playing in just his final 7 games.  He spent the 2015 summer with the Northeast Twins Scout team after two years in the Flood City AAU program.  Bankovich is ranked 68^th overall in PA according to Prep Baseball Report.  Adam has carried a 4.0 GPA as a National Honor Society member at Dubois and plans to major in Business Administration at Seton Hill. 
 
"Adam has off-the-charts character and toughness – the exact leadership qualities you look for behind the plate.  He's battled a hand injury the last 12 months and now that he's returning to full strength, we're excited about his future in 2016 and well beyond."
 
 
BRIAN DABNEY – LHP – MONTOUR HS / CORAOPOLIS, PA
Dabney burst into the Spartan rotation as a junior posting a 1.77 ERA over 38 innings with a 3:1 strikeout to walk ratio, earning Montour's first ever state playoff victory in a complete game shutout over Cathedral Prep.  Dabney spent the 2014 summer with Pittsburgh Spikes.  Brian carries a 3.4 GPA and plans to study Criminal Justice at Seton Hill.
 
"Everyone loves tall lefthanded arms, but Brian's competitiveness really separates him from the pack.  We're anxious to help him develop physically as a pitcher, but his command of 3 pitches should allow him to fill an integral role on our pitching staff early in his career."
 
 
BAYLEY JAMANIS – RHP/IF – LANCASTER CATHOLIC HS / LANCASTER, PA
As team captain and team MVP of his Lancaster squad in 2014, Jamanis earned 1^st Team All-Section honors, as well as Under Armour Pre-Season All-America recognition.  Ranked #93 overall by PBR in the Pennsylvania 2016 class, Jamanis hit .373 as a junior with 17 RBI, and also posted a 1.00 ERA with a .167 opponents batting average on the mound.  Bayley has a 3.2 GPA is will enter SHU undecided.
 
"Bayley is a guy we've watched grow over the last 12 months into the makings of a potential 2-way player at the D2 level.  The biggest factor is his recruitment was his desire to win and develop – we love to build our program around those ideals.  Over his next four years we're confident Bayley will help us win games somewhere on the diamond."
 
 
AUSTIN BRAENDEL – CATCHER – ERIE CATHEDRAL PREP / ERIE, PA
Braendel is a two-time 1^st Team All-District and All-Region catcher and hit .422 as a junior with 10 doubles and 20 RBI.  He helped lead his Cathedral Prep squad to the District 10 title in both 2014 and 2015.  He spent his summer season with fellow Griff signee Bayley Jamanis on the Keystone State Bombers.  PBR has Braendel as the 47^th best player in PA and 3^rd best catching prospect in the state.  Austin grew up on the ice as a hockey player and maintained a 3.87 GPA at Cathedral Prep.  He plans to major in actuary science at Seton Hill. 
 
"We recognized back in the fall of 2014 that Austin had all the makings of an outstanding catcher at the college level.  His skill set, along with his intangibles really separate him from the majority of high school catchers.  His arm, stick and entire game defensively should allow him to contribute early and often."
 
 
KENNY WELLS – RHP – CLOVERLEAF HS / LODI, OH
Wells was a Suburban League honorable mention pick as a junior averaging over a strikeout an inning for Cloverleaf.  He took off in the summer posting a 1.72 ERA and 6-1 record for the North Coast Stixx with 51 strikeouts in 41 innings.  Wells is ranked 130^th in the 2016 Ohio class and holds a 3,35 GPA.  Kenny plans to major in Education at Seton Hill.
 
"Kenny may not pass everyone's eye test in terms of size, but he sure did pass our test when we watched him compete.  He has great life to his fastball and breaking ball.  Not only does he command his stuff, but he commands the entire game.  We know Kenny will work his tail off and will make himself and our team much better over the next four years."
 
 
CARL TURNER – OF – GAHANNA LINCOLN / COLUMBUS, OH
Turner hit .394  with 26 runs and 8 stolen bases for regional finalist Gahanna Lincoln as a junior and posted a .324 average for the Columbus Bruins this past summer.  Turner is a 4-time letter winner in wrestling at Gahanna Lincoln and plans to major in Computer Science at Seton Hill.   
 
"Carl was an athlete that stood out to us late in the process and will certainly add athleticism and depth to our outfield.  He has some exciting tools, both at the plate and on defense that will develop even more once he is on the Hill.  He is a super kid inside and out, one that we know brings high character and superb work ethic into our program."
 
 
CRAIG LEWIS – OF – HOWLAND HS / WARREN, OH
Lewis was a 2015 All-Conference pick for Howland where he hit .370 with 8 extra base hits and 18 stolen bases.  He hit .319 during the summer, including 4 doubles and 4 triples with Robbie Lee's in the Youngstown Class B League.  Lewis is ranked as the 84^th best player in Ohio according to Prep Baseball Report and will play next summer with the Brownlee Lookouts.  Lewis has carried a 3.6 GPA and his intended major at Seton Hill will be exercise science.
 
"Craig is a total package guy we feel very fortunate to have joining our family, because he is an elite student and elite athlete.  His speed from the left side coupled with his bat speed and swing play perfectly into the high pressure offense we strive to execute.  And we think he has only scratched the surface – his future on the Hill should be a very bright one."