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Gardner-Webb Baseball Signs 13 For Its 2019 Recruiting Class
November 29, 2018 | Baseball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb head coach Rusty Stroupe announced the signing of 13 players during the early signing period for the 2019-20 academic year.
The Diamond 'Dogs welcomed Chase Britton (Jamestown, N.C. / High Point Christian Academy), Sean Casteel (Edgewood, Ky. / Covington Catholic HS), Carter Cunningham (Haymarket, Va. / Battlefield HS), Matt Duggan (Waxhaw, N.C. / Marvin Ridge HS), Danny Fish (Kernersville, N.C. / East Forsyth HS), Haiden Hunt (Lexington, Ky. / Frederick Douglass HS), Greyson LaSpaluto (Apex, N.C. / Apex Friendship HS), Brandon McBride (Clermont, Fla. / East Ridge HS), Ryan Restino (Denver, N.C. / Lincoln Charter School), Matt Rivers (Kernersville, N.C. / East Forsyth HS), Bo Rusher (Salisbury, N.C. / Salisbury HS), Luke Wood (Asheville, N.C. / T.C. Roberson HS), and junior college transfer Keiji Parkhurst (Granger, Ind. / Daytona State College).
The signing class is garnering attention across the country, as Perfect Game has placed it in its top-100 list, ranking it 92nd overall.
"We are extremely pleased with the quality of our recruiting class for next year," stated Stroupe. "Assistant coaches Ross Steedley and Conner Scarborough have once again identified and established positive relationships with young men who are not only excellent baseball players, but individuals of high character who we believe will be a credit to Gardner-Webb University on and off the field."
Britton, the 18th overall right-handed pitcher and 36th overall player in North Carolina according to Perfect Game, earned 2018 All-Area team honors and was also named the MVP of the NC State Games. Britton was named a 2018 Perfect Game All-American. This past season, the right-handed pitcher hurled 60.2 innings, posting a low 1.38 ERA while fanning 28 batters.
Casteel, one of the top-1,000 players in the nation according to Perfect Game, was a member of the 2018 WWBA 17U Perfect Game National Championship All-Tournament team and has earned KHSAA Academic All-State Honorable Mention honors. Last season, the left-handed pitcher had a 3.00 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 37.1 innings of work, earning four wins.
Cunningham, ranked in the top-500 nationally and 19th in the state of Virginia by Perfect Game, is a two-time All-Conference selection and a two-time Perfect Game All-Tournament team member. Cunningham is also ranked the seventh-best outfielder in Virginia according to Prep Baseball Report.
Duggan, a first-team All-SCC selection, is ranked in the top-300 in North Carolina by Prep Baseball Report and in the top-1,000 nationally by Perfect Game. This past season, he batted .304 with 21 base knocks, driving in 19 runs.
Fish, ranked the 18th best shortstop and the 107th overall player in North Carolina by Prep Baseball Report, has been named to multiple Perfect Game All-Tournament Teams and is in Perfect Game's top-1,000 national rankings. Fish also helped lead East Forsyth High School to a Central Piedmont 4-A title this past season.
Hunt, a two-sport standout at Frederick Douglas High School, is considered the third best outfielder and 17th best prospect in the state of Kentucky by Prep Baseball Report. Ranked in the top-500 nationally by Perfect Game, Hunt earned 2018 All-City and All-District honors. The starting wide receiver on the varsity football team, Hunt earned 2018 All-City Football team honors and was awarded the 2018 Fastest Man Award at the Jim Harbaugh Football Camp.
LaSpaluto, a two-way standout for Apex Friendship High School, is ranked the 12th best shortstop and 65th best player in the state of North Carolina by Perfect Game, which also ranks him in its top-500 of players across the nation. LaSpaluto led his team this past season in hits, doubles, triples, and walks, and has a fastball that tops out in the upper-80s on the mound.
McBride, named team MVP for East Ridge High School this past season, is ranked in the top 1,000 nationally by Perfect Game and has been named to six Perfect Game All-Tournament teams.
Restino, the 2018 Southern Piedmont 1A Conference Player of the Year and 2018 Gaston Gazette Player of the Year, posted a miniscule 0.66 ERA with a 9-2 record during his junior campaign, tossing a perfect game in a 3-0 win against Cherryville on March 7. He led Lincoln Charter to the Western N.C. 1A finals and is ranked the 16th best left-handed pitcher in North Carolina by Prep Baseball Report, as well as a top-1,000 overall player by Perfect Game.
Rivers, a two-sport standout at East Forsyth High School, was named the baseball team's Defensive Player of the Year while helping lead his squad to the Central Piedmont 4-A title and the NCHSAA 4-A State Semifinals. Rivers is also a starter on East Forsyth's varsity men's basketball team.
Rusher, a three-time All-Conference selection and two-time Salisbury Post All-Rowan County team member, is ranked the fourth-best catcher and 51st overall player in North Carolina by Prep Baseball Report. This past season, Rusher batted .430 with three home runs and 31 RBI.
Wood, a two-way standout for T.C. Roberson High School, is ranked among the top 300 players in North Carolina by Prep Baseball Report and is among Perfect Game's Top-1,000 national rankings. Wood is a three-time Perfect Game WWBA All-Tournament Team selection and was also selected to the 2018 IMG National Classic All-Tournament Team. He was also part of the 2018 NC Powerade State Games team. In 2017, Wood helped lead T.C. Roberson to the NCHSAA 3A state championship and in 2018 was named WMAC All-Conference.
Parkhurst comes to Gardner-Webb from Daytona State College, where last season he earned Second-Team Mid-Florida All-Conference team honors, as well as being named a 2018 Florida Junior College All-Star. Parkhurst was also named a 2017-18 Academic All-American. In 2018, he batted .305 with four home runs and recently participated in the 2018 FSCAA Fall JUCO Classic.
Gardner-Webb opens its 2019 season at home on Friday, February 15, hosting Navy at 4:00 pm in the first of a three-game weekend series. The Diamond 'Dogs are at home for the first eight games of the year and will have a total of 25 contests at Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium throughout the upcoming season.
Visit GWUSports.com or follow @GWUBaseball on Twitter for updated game times and adjustments.
The Diamond 'Dogs welcomed Chase Britton (Jamestown, N.C. / High Point Christian Academy), Sean Casteel (Edgewood, Ky. / Covington Catholic HS), Carter Cunningham (Haymarket, Va. / Battlefield HS), Matt Duggan (Waxhaw, N.C. / Marvin Ridge HS), Danny Fish (Kernersville, N.C. / East Forsyth HS), Haiden Hunt (Lexington, Ky. / Frederick Douglass HS), Greyson LaSpaluto (Apex, N.C. / Apex Friendship HS), Brandon McBride (Clermont, Fla. / East Ridge HS), Ryan Restino (Denver, N.C. / Lincoln Charter School), Matt Rivers (Kernersville, N.C. / East Forsyth HS), Bo Rusher (Salisbury, N.C. / Salisbury HS), Luke Wood (Asheville, N.C. / T.C. Roberson HS), and junior college transfer Keiji Parkhurst (Granger, Ind. / Daytona State College).
The signing class is garnering attention across the country, as Perfect Game has placed it in its top-100 list, ranking it 92nd overall.
"We are extremely pleased with the quality of our recruiting class for next year," stated Stroupe. "Assistant coaches Ross Steedley and Conner Scarborough have once again identified and established positive relationships with young men who are not only excellent baseball players, but individuals of high character who we believe will be a credit to Gardner-Webb University on and off the field."
Britton, the 18th overall right-handed pitcher and 36th overall player in North Carolina according to Perfect Game, earned 2018 All-Area team honors and was also named the MVP of the NC State Games. Britton was named a 2018 Perfect Game All-American. This past season, the right-handed pitcher hurled 60.2 innings, posting a low 1.38 ERA while fanning 28 batters.
Casteel, one of the top-1,000 players in the nation according to Perfect Game, was a member of the 2018 WWBA 17U Perfect Game National Championship All-Tournament team and has earned KHSAA Academic All-State Honorable Mention honors. Last season, the left-handed pitcher had a 3.00 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 37.1 innings of work, earning four wins.
Cunningham, ranked in the top-500 nationally and 19th in the state of Virginia by Perfect Game, is a two-time All-Conference selection and a two-time Perfect Game All-Tournament team member. Cunningham is also ranked the seventh-best outfielder in Virginia according to Prep Baseball Report.
Duggan, a first-team All-SCC selection, is ranked in the top-300 in North Carolina by Prep Baseball Report and in the top-1,000 nationally by Perfect Game. This past season, he batted .304 with 21 base knocks, driving in 19 runs.
Fish, ranked the 18th best shortstop and the 107th overall player in North Carolina by Prep Baseball Report, has been named to multiple Perfect Game All-Tournament Teams and is in Perfect Game's top-1,000 national rankings. Fish also helped lead East Forsyth High School to a Central Piedmont 4-A title this past season.
Hunt, a two-sport standout at Frederick Douglas High School, is considered the third best outfielder and 17th best prospect in the state of Kentucky by Prep Baseball Report. Ranked in the top-500 nationally by Perfect Game, Hunt earned 2018 All-City and All-District honors. The starting wide receiver on the varsity football team, Hunt earned 2018 All-City Football team honors and was awarded the 2018 Fastest Man Award at the Jim Harbaugh Football Camp.
LaSpaluto, a two-way standout for Apex Friendship High School, is ranked the 12th best shortstop and 65th best player in the state of North Carolina by Perfect Game, which also ranks him in its top-500 of players across the nation. LaSpaluto led his team this past season in hits, doubles, triples, and walks, and has a fastball that tops out in the upper-80s on the mound.
McBride, named team MVP for East Ridge High School this past season, is ranked in the top 1,000 nationally by Perfect Game and has been named to six Perfect Game All-Tournament teams.
Restino, the 2018 Southern Piedmont 1A Conference Player of the Year and 2018 Gaston Gazette Player of the Year, posted a miniscule 0.66 ERA with a 9-2 record during his junior campaign, tossing a perfect game in a 3-0 win against Cherryville on March 7. He led Lincoln Charter to the Western N.C. 1A finals and is ranked the 16th best left-handed pitcher in North Carolina by Prep Baseball Report, as well as a top-1,000 overall player by Perfect Game.
Rivers, a two-sport standout at East Forsyth High School, was named the baseball team's Defensive Player of the Year while helping lead his squad to the Central Piedmont 4-A title and the NCHSAA 4-A State Semifinals. Rivers is also a starter on East Forsyth's varsity men's basketball team.
Rusher, a three-time All-Conference selection and two-time Salisbury Post All-Rowan County team member, is ranked the fourth-best catcher and 51st overall player in North Carolina by Prep Baseball Report. This past season, Rusher batted .430 with three home runs and 31 RBI.
Wood, a two-way standout for T.C. Roberson High School, is ranked among the top 300 players in North Carolina by Prep Baseball Report and is among Perfect Game's Top-1,000 national rankings. Wood is a three-time Perfect Game WWBA All-Tournament Team selection and was also selected to the 2018 IMG National Classic All-Tournament Team. He was also part of the 2018 NC Powerade State Games team. In 2017, Wood helped lead T.C. Roberson to the NCHSAA 3A state championship and in 2018 was named WMAC All-Conference.
Parkhurst comes to Gardner-Webb from Daytona State College, where last season he earned Second-Team Mid-Florida All-Conference team honors, as well as being named a 2018 Florida Junior College All-Star. Parkhurst was also named a 2017-18 Academic All-American. In 2018, he batted .305 with four home runs and recently participated in the 2018 FSCAA Fall JUCO Classic.
Gardner-Webb opens its 2019 season at home on Friday, February 15, hosting Navy at 4:00 pm in the first of a three-game weekend series. The Diamond 'Dogs are at home for the first eight games of the year and will have a total of 25 contests at Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium throughout the upcoming season.
Visit GWUSports.com or follow @GWUBaseball on Twitter for updated game times and adjustments.
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