RUSTON, La. – Eight high school seniors signed National Letters of Intent and will be a part of the Louisiana Tech baseball program beginning with the 2008-09 school year, Coach Wade Simoneaux announced today.
“We signed eight very good athletes,” he said. “This class is comparable to the one from a few years ago that included Luke Burnett, Dylan Moseley, Chris Kersten, Jericho Jones, Nick Grunenwald and Kevin Winn. It is a very athletic class. The majority of these guys will have an opportunity to step in and produce as freshmen.”
Headlining the class are five players from north or central Louisiana. Dan Breazeale (Alexandria/Alexandria Senior HS), Alex Williams (Alexandria/Menard HS), Alan Williams (Mangham/Mangham HS), Ashton Hughes (Monroe/Neville HS) and Brian Colson (Rayville/Rayville HS) will join out-of-state signees Benn Fairbanks (Richmond, Texas), Alex Grunenwald (Merrill, Wis.) and Kyle Roliard (Spring, Texas) in the 2008-09 class.
With baseball season being shortened by three weeks, rosters limited to 35 players and the Western Athletic Conference going to four-game series, pitching is at a premium. The Bulldogs recruited accordingly with five hurlers in this year’s class.
Fairbanks is a 6-5, hard-throwing right-hander that attended the same high school as recently-drafted Tech standout Brian Rike. He is also the brother of Lady Techster volleyball player Kristen Fairbanks.
Alex Williams (6-5, 230) is a dual threat as a right-handed pitcher and a left-handed-hitting first baseman. Alan Williams – no relation – is a 6-2 lefty that pitches and can also play in the outfield.
Roliard, a 6-5 southpaw, is another combo threat on the mound and as a corner infielder/outfielder. And Colson, a 6-2, 220-pound righty, was described by Simoneaux as a “power pitcher” that can also play on the corners.
“Colson was hitting 92 in our camp as a high school junior,” the coach said. “All of these guys are going to contribute for us. Fairbanks can really bring it, and we’ve seen the kind of players that Stephen F. Austin High School puts out with Brian Rike. Alex Williams is a power pitcher and a power hitter. Alan Williams is a good runner, a tremendous hitter and will help us out in the outfield, too. And Roliard is going to be another good dual guy for us.”
The Bulldogs also inked three big bats on Wednesday, including the brother of one current player. Alex Grunenwald, the 6-3, 220-pound “little” brother of Bulldog junior shortstop Nick Grunenwald, will play first base and outfield for the Dawgs. Ashton Hughes, at 5-9, is a scrappy middle infielder that bats left and throws right. And Dan Breazeale will play several positions in the infield, primarily third base.
“Breazeale and Hughes both can contribute immediately in the infield,” Simoneaux said. “Both possess the ability to field, throw and hit. Grunenwald has good speed and good power and will also be able to contribute quickly.
“Overall, we’re very excited about the quality of players we were able to sign for next year. Our coaching staff and I believe that this is a very strong class. I give all the credit to Coach (Brian) Rountree and Coach (Fran) Andermann for another successful recruiting year.”
Tech’s 2008 baseball season gets underway Feb. 22 at home against McNeese State. Fans are urged to reserve their 2008 season tickets now by calling the Tech ticket office at 257-3631.
SIGNEE BIOS
Dan Breazeale
6-0, 185 – INF
Alexandria, La. – Alexandria Senior HS
High School: Will have started four years at Alexandria Senior High School for coach Daniel Tomlin…Helped the team to a District 3-4A Title in 2007…Named All-District all three seasons, All-State Honorable Mention as a pitcher in 2006, and First-Team All-State in 2007 as a third baseman…As a junior, batted .455 with three home runs and 30 RBI while only striking out five times…Went 5-2 as a pitcher as well…In three seasons, has pitched 96 innings while striking out 147 batters. Personal: Son of Keith and Sheila Breazeale…Has one brother, Josh, and one sister, Julie…Scored a 29 on his ACT…Born Aug. 20, 1989, in Alexandria, La.
Brian Colson
6-3, 225 – RHP
Holly Ridge, La. – Rayville HS
High School: Three-year letterman for coach Steven DuPont at Rayville High School…Member of Rayville’s 2007 District Championship team; was runner-up in 2006…Batted .506 as a sophomore and .420 as a junior…Named All-District each year of his high school career…Named All-Northeast and All-State as a junior, and All-State Honorable Mention as a sophomore…Played football as a freshman and sophomore. Personal: Son of Joey and Debby Colson…Has one brother, Josh…Born June 21, 1989, in Rayville, La.
Benn Fairbanks
6-5, 220 – RHP
Richmond, Texas – Stephen F. Austin HS
High School: Has lettered three years for the Bulldogs, will play his senior season in 2008…Coach at Stephen F. Austin HS is Randy Ursury…Attending the same high school as former Tech standout Brian Rike…Also played football for the Bulldogs. Personal: Son of Jay and Linda Fairbanks…Has one sister, Kristen, who is a senior on the Lady Techsters volleyball team.
Alex Grunenwald
6-3, 210 – 1B/OF/3B
Merrill, Wis. (Merrill HS)
High School: Three-year letterman entering his senior season for coach Brian Artac at Merrill High School…Named All-Conference, second-team All-District and Academic All-State as a junior…Was a member of Merrill’s conference championship team that fell one game short of the Wisconsin State Tournament…Finished his junior season at .400/.465/.600 with two home runs and 25 RBI in just 20 games…Won the American Legion State Championship in 2007…Was named MVP of the Wisconsin American Legion State Tournament…For his Legion team during the summer, was .487/.545/.855 at the plate with 6 HR and 26 RBI…Also played football four years for Merrill…In three years as the team’s starting quarterback, passed for 3,446 yards and 37 TDs…Chose Tech baseball over playing football for North Carolina, Harvard, Princeton, Northwestern and Wisconsin. Personal: Son of Bob and Janet Grunenwald…Has three brothers, Nick, Chris and Tyrus…Nick is a junior for the Bulldog baseball team…Chris is a graduate of Southern Cal, where he played rugby…Nick, Alex and Chris are all Eagle Scouts…High School GPA is 3.75…Born Sept. 14, 1989, in Merrill, Wis.
Ashton Hughes
5-7, 160 – 2B/SS
Monroe, La. (Neville HS)
High School: Will play his first season at Neville HS under coach Tim O’Neal…Lettered three seasons at Sterlington High School before transferring to Neville…While at Sterlington, was a member of the team in 2005 that won their district and finished as State Runner-Up in Class 2A…Named All-District and All-Northeast all three years; was All-State Honorable Mention as a freshman and First-Team All-State as a sophomore and a junior…In 2007, batted .420 with six home runs. Personal: Son of Eric and Kathy Hughes..Has two brothers, Cole and Spencer, and a sister, Erica Gross…Born Oct. 5, 1988, in Monroe, La.
Kyle Roliard
6-5, 185 – LHP/1B/OF
Spring, Texas – Klein HS
High School: Has lettered three years for Klein High School and head coach Barry Smith…Was named First Team All-District 16-5A in 2007 as a first baseman…Batted .400 as a junior…Was a member of the Klein team that advanced to the playoffs…Also played football for Klein as a wide receiver. Personal: Son of Larry and Brenda Roliard…Has a brother, Kevin, and a sister, Kelly…Born February 28, 1990, in Houston, Texas.
Alex Williams
6-5, 230 – RHP/1B
Alexandria, La. – Menard HS
High School: A three-year letterman for Menard High School under coach Jeff Adams…Is a dual threat as a right-handed pitcher and a left-handed-hitting first baseman…Was a member of Menard’s Class 2A state championship team in 2007…Menard has won district titles each of the last three seasons…Named All-District each of the last two seasons…Also a football player at Menard, named All-District as a sophomore and a junior. Personal: Son of Scott and Stacie Williams…Has one brother, Austin..Born Oct. 1, 1989, in Alexandria, La.
Alan Williams
6-2, 190 – LHP/1B/OF
Mangham, La. – Mangham HS
High School: Four-year starter for Mangham High School under coach Scott Wiltcher…Part of the team that finished as State Runner-Up…Named District MVP, All-Northeast and All-State…Ranked third in the nation with 221 strikeouts and batted .412 as a junior…Also played football for four years. Personal: Son of Ben and Connie Williams…Has one brother, Jared…Born March 5, 1990, in Monroe, La.
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