Salukis sign 10 student-athletes, including seven in-state prospects"
Baseball in Illinois will only show details on players from Illinois.
Nov. 25, 2009
By Jason Clay
http://www.siusalukis.com/
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois head baseball coach Dan Callahan announced Wednesday that the Salukis have signed 10 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to play baseball and attend school beginning in the fall of 2010.
The Salukis inked nine high school athletes and one from the junior college ranks. Of the 10 signees, six are pitchers (one left-hander and five right-handers), two are infielders and there is one catcher and one outfielder in the class.
"I feel very good about this recruiting class," Callahan said. "We have signed guys who will help us fill some needs immediately, some of whom I feel will not only be quality contributors right now, but will also turn themselves into athletes who will compete beyond the college level.
"They all come very highly recommended as far as being good workers and fine citizens, and most of them represent themselves well in the classroom, too. This is a physical class, as well. They are good sized kids and I think with the close supervision of our strength coaches, they will become even more advanced than where they are right now.
"I also want to commend coaches (associate head coach Ken) Henderson and (assistant coach Tim) Dixon on this recruiting class. I have not been able to be on the road much this past year. I am pleased with their efforts and ultimate signing of these young men"
Dustin Huff, a catcher from Lincoln Trail College, is the lone junior college player signed in the class. He will help fill an immediate need behind the plate for the Salukis.
Saluki pitching coach Tim Dixon said that going after a number of quality pitchers in the class was important and feels that they found the right type of student-athletes to come in and be successful. "We think all of these guys have a chance to have a significant impact as freshmen," Dixon said. "They're all going to be guys who are fun to watch and fun to coach."
SIU has added size with this class. Eight of the 10 players signed have a height of 6-1 or taller and Kollin Dowdy (Harrisburg, Ill./Harrisburg HS) and Jake Welch (Malden, Mo./Bernie HS) bring an added dimension of speed.
Seven of the 10 signees hail from the state of Illinois while the other three come from Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Kollin Dowdy
6-2 • 205 • R/R OF
Harrisburg, Ill./Harrisburg HS
Dowdy is a two-time, first-team all-conference outfielder and he played in the 2009 North-South State All-Star game. He is coming off a junior season in which he hit .453 with three home runs and he also swiped 28 bases while leading Harrisburg High School to a 29-5 record. In the past two seasons, Dowdy has been a part of the Harrisburg ball club that has posted a 60-8 record. As a sophomore, Dowdy hit .393 with one home run and 17 doubles while stealing 15 bases. He was plotted as the fourth-best outfielder in the state buy the Illinois Prep Baseball Report and the 42nd top recruit overall. In addition to playing baseball, Dowdy also earned two first team all-conference accolades as a linebacker for the football team, where he served as their leading tackler in 2008 and 2009.
Associate Head Coach Ken Henderson on Kollin Dowdy:
"Kollin has a great combination of power and speed. He is a big kid who is obviously very athletic, as he played linebacker on a good high school football team. He is a tough kid and is a great sign for us. To keep a Southern Illinois kid with his ability at home is huge."
Tyler Dray
6-5 • 200 • LHP
Rockford, Ill./Boylan Catholic HS
Dray composed a 3-3 record on the mound in seven starts with a 3.22 ERA. He threw 37 innings and struck out 48 batters while walking 22. Dray threw one complete game and also had one save for Boylan Catholic High School in 2009.
Saluki Pitching Coach Tim Dixon on Tyler Dray:
"Tyler has a ton of upside. He's got a loose arm and hasn't even come close to reaching his potential. We are expecting great things from him, as he will be fun to work with and watch progress."
Donny Duschinsky
6-2 • 193 • R/R IF
Elk Grove, Ill./Elk Grove HS
The Illinois Prep Baseball Report ranked Duschinsky as the 36th-best player in the state of Illinois. He was voted all-area in 2009 after his junior season at Elk Grove High School. Duschinsky also plays basketball in high school and is a member of the National Honor Society.
Associate Head Coach Ken Henderson on Donny Duschinsky:
"Donny is a big, strong kid who is very athletic as evidenced by the fact that even though he'll probably play third for us, he is a good high school shortstop. He also plays basketball at a high level and is a good all-around athlete. He has good arm strength, possesses good defensive actions and has the capabilities to hit in the middle of our lineup."
Todd Eaton
6-2 • 180 • RHP
Greenville, Ill./Greenville HS
Eaton struck out 76 batters while posting an 8-1 record on the mound with a 1.08 ERA in 2009. He led Greenville High School to a 24-10 record last season and helped the Comets capture the conference and regional championships.
Saluki Pitching Coach Tim Dixon on Todd Eaton:
"Todd Eaton is a very good athlete. He is a three-sport star, playing basketball, football and baseball. When I saw him throw he possessed good arm strength and once he focuses on just baseball, he is going to excel on the mound. His athletic ability gives him tremendous upside and he's got a loose arm."
Brian Monette
6-2 • 180 • RHP/OF
Villa Park, Ill./Willowbrook HS
Monette hit .375 and drove in 25 runs in 2009 at Willowbrook High School. He had eight extra-base hits (five doubles and three triples) and also stole 13 bases. On the mound, he recorded a 4-1 record with a 2.75 ERA. Monette also recorded three saves on the year. He was ranked No. 22 by the Illinois Prep Baseball Report.
Saluki Pitching Coach Tim Dixon on Brian Monette:
"Brian is a really good athlete and is a potential two-way guy for us. He's got bat speed and has the athletic ability to play in the outfield. On the mound he is loose and somewhat raw, but in a good way. He is going to be a very good athlete and has tremendous upside, with a lot of room to grow."
Matt Murphy
6-3 • 160 • RHP
Grayslake, Ill./Grayslake Central HS
Murphy led Grayslake Central High School to a third place finish at state in 2009 by winning both of his starts in the playoffs. He had a 4-3 overall record as a junior with a 1.55 ERA and had 44 strikeouts against just 10 walks. Murphy was voted the Rookie of the Year by his teammates and coaches as a junior. He compiled a 1-1 record on the mound as a sophomore. Along with playing baseball, Murphy will have played four years of basketball. Murphy will be joining his former high school teammate, Aaron Snyder, a freshman right-handed pitcher with the Salukis.
Head coach Dan Callahan on Matt Murphy:
"Murph has a very loose arm. The day I saw him he pounded the strike zone and did it with a very quick arm. I feel his best years are down the road, and ultimately we feel he will be versatile enough to become our closer, a fine set-up guy or even a starter."
Bryan Waldrop
6-5 • 230 • RHP
Marion, Ill./Marion High School
Waldrop was ranked as the 21st-best baseball prospect in the state of Illinois by the Prep Baseball Report and the 10th-best right-handed pitcher. He has posted a 7-1 record and struck out 73 batters in 53 innings of work in his two seasons pitching at Marion High School. He finished his junior campaign with a 4-0 record and a 1.48 ERA while receiving first team all-conference accolades. As a sophomore, Waldrop posted a 3-1 record with a 2.72 ERA. He has played varsity basketball and baseball since his freshman year. His father, Kevin, was a pitcher for the Salukis and won games in both the NCAA Midwest Regional and College World Series for SIU in 1977.
Saluki Pitching Coach Tim Dixon on Bryan Waldrop:
"Bryan is another big-bodied guy who has good arm strength. I think once he gets on a baseball-specific weight and conditioning program and really locks in on just baseball, he is going to be a special one. He's got a high ceiling. Bryan is a local guy and has a chance to do some good things right in his own backyard. We're ecstatic we can keep Bryan close to home."
Dustin Huff
6-2 • 205 • R/R C
West Chester, Ohio/Lincoln Trail College/Lakota West HS
Huff started his college career as a quarterback at Murray State, before transferring to Lincoln Trail College. After not playing baseball for a year and a half, Huff returned to the diamond and hit .265 in his first year at Lincoln Trail. He threw out 50 percent of the base runners who attempted to steal on him.
