One day, it's Dale Murphy coming to speak. Next day, Nick Backlund gets an All-America honor. And then early signings.
Mercer's baseball program has signed almost a dozen players it hopes keep the Bears among the better mid-major programs.
The recruiting class includes four pitchers and six position players who will enroll at Mercer in the fall of 2013 and play in 2014.
From the release:
Matt Meeder
Position: Shortstop
Hometown: Roswell, Ga.
Previous School: Roswell HS
Bio:
Three-year letterwinner and starter for Roswell High School and head coach Michael Power … Was named Team MVP his sophomore year with a .449 batting average … Voted a Georgia All-Region AAAAA first team selection as a sophomore and junior year while also named second team All-State as a junior.
Danny Edgeworth
Position: Third Baseman
Hometown: Suwanee, Ga.
Previous School: Lambert HS
Bio:
Despite struggling through injuries as a junior, he still batted .276 with three home runs, 20 RBI and a .436 on-base percentage on his way to being named to the 2012 All-Forsyth County second team.
Ryan Askew
Position: Right-handed Pitcher
Hometown: Suwanee, Ga.
Previous School: Collins Hill HS
Bio:
Compiled a 1.19 ERA in 41.3 innings pitched as a junior … Recorded 27 strikeouts and four complete games on his way to being named to the 2012 Gwinnett Dugout Club Academic All-County team and 2012 All-Region 7-AAAAA honorable mention team.
Charlie Madden
Position: Catcher
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
Previous School: Dunwoody HS
Bio:
Three-year letterwinner at Dunwoody High School under head coach Chan English … Batted .366 with a .438 on-base percentage as a sophomore and compiled a .300 batting average with nine doubles, two triples and two home runs as a junior … Received the team Academic Award and Best Defensive Player Award as a junior and was also voted to the All-Dekalb County team.
Bryce Conley
Position: Right-handed Pitcher
Hometown: Alpharetta, Ga.
Previous School: Alpharetta HS
Bio:
A two-way player in high school, he was named Offensive Player of the Year for his team as a sophomore … Pitched more as a junior and compiled a 2.59 ERA while averaging 1.2 strikeouts per inning on his way to winning the team Cy Young award.
Hunter Thornton
Position: Catcher/First Baseman
Hometown: Lilburn, Ga.
Previous School: Parkview HS
Bio:
Two-year letterwinner at Parkview High School under head coach Chan Brown … Played in 30 games as a junior and batted .366 with four doubles, three home runs, 22 RBI and a .549 slugging percentage while helping Parkview capture a AAAAA State Championship.
Peter Talisse
Position: Right-handed Pitcher
Hometown: Peachtree City, Ga.
Previous School: McIntosh HS
Bio:
Will look to bounce back and have a great senior season after missing all of the year due to injury.
Kyle Lewis
Position: First Baseman
Hometown: Snellville, Ga.
Previous School: Shiloh HS
Bio:
Hit .380 with 10 doubles and four home runs as a junior, helping lead Shiloh to the GHSA state playoffs … Was named the team’s Most Improved Offensive Player and the Defensive MVP while also earning a Gwinnett Dugout Club All-County team honorable mention.
Cam Wesolowski
Position: Right-handed Pitcher
Hometown: Brooks, Ga.
Previous School: Whitewater HS
Bio:
A three-year letterwinner at Whitewater High School under head coach Mark Jones … Owned an ERA of under 1.00 as a junior while helping Whitewater to a 26-9 overall record and an appearance in the AAAA State semi-finals.
Devin Bonin
Position: Second Baseman
Hometown: Auburn, Ga.
Previous School: Gordon College
Bio:
Hit .346 with 10 doubles, nine home runs, 39 RBI and 64 runs scored as a freshman at Gordon … Secured a spot on the Region XVII All-Tournament Team and helped lead Gordon to a third-place finish at the 2012 NJCAA Division I College World Series.
Mercer has six seniors and 12 juniors on the 2013 roster.
