The late signing period for winter and spring programs proved beneficial for the Sioux Falls baseball team. Head coach Matt Guiliano has announced the signing of the twelve players who will arrive for the 2014-15 academic year. Included in this mix of signees are six players from South Dakota, two from Colorado, two from California and two from Minnesota (one high school, one junior college transfer).
“This is a group that will meet a number of needs for us,” said Guiliano. “We really addressed a lot of different area with a number of pitchers, a catcher, two outfielders and several middle infielders. I thought our coaching staff did a really good job of identifying the players that fit our system and our program. We addressed a number of needs as we look towards the future.”
Here is a look at the 12 additions to the Cougar baseball program for 2014-15.
Brent Jarvis
5'9, 175, INF, R/R
San Marcos, Calif. (Mission Hills High School—2013 San Diego Section CIF Champions)
315 avg., 435 obp., 13 steals, 2 homeruns, 20 hit by pitches
All league selection & Defensive Player of the Year
Why you chose to pursue college baseball at USF: “I choose to pursue USF because it was a great opportunity and I feel I fit in well with the program, In hopes of making a lasting impression on the university.”
Austin Isaacson
5'11, 158, SS/2B, L/R
New Prague, Minn. (New Prague Senior High)
Batted .333 and was the Trojans' total bases leader
Three-year letterman & 2013 All-Conference HM
Batted .350 for the St. Patrick Irish Baseball Club (State Class C Amateur)
Also played hockey; was the top scorer in the Minnesota State Class A-AA hockey tournament
2014 Class A All-Tournament Hockey Team
Why you chose to pursue college baseball at USF: “Because they play in a competitive conference at the NCAA Division II level and it's an up and coming program.”
Blake Dean
5'11, 185, OF, R/R
Pierre, S.D. (T.F. Riggs)
.500 BA, 8 RBI, .650 slugging percentage & .520 OBP for the Governors
Legion: .373 BA, .480 OBP, .542 SLU, 10 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HR, 31 RBI, 24 BB
Led State Class A High School Baseball in batting average
Led Pierre Post 8 in several offensive categories
Member of state champion Pierre Swim Team
Why you chose to pursue college baseball at USF: “I wanted a chance to receive a good education, grow in my Christian faith, and play baseball at a high level.”
Isaiah Iacabone
5'11, 185, UTL, R/R
Pueblo, Colo. (South High School)
Three-year letterman that batted .367 for the South HS Colts
Summer club: Evolution Baseball
A three-year varsity football starter; played both ways
Five-time academic letter winner
Why you chose to pursue college baseball at USF: “USF is a place that I feel that I can succeed and conquer my goals. The coaches and team are a perfect fit for my personality. The team is just that a TEAM…no I. Loved the campus life, culture, and atmosphere. USF is the place where I want to be.”
Damen Robish
6'0, 235, 1B, R/R
Huron, S.D. (Huron High School)
Four-year letterwinner for the Tigers; earned first team all-region honors as a junior in 2013
Summer club: Huron Post 7
Also played football
Why you chose to pursue college baseball at USF: “I felt like it was a good fit for me. I liked the coach, campus, and facilities. I felt like I could come and be an impact player at this respected program.”
Matt Woods
5'11, 175, C/INF, R/R
Canton, S.D. (Canton High School)
All-region and all-state honoree in baseball and football
Why you chose to pursue college baseball at USF: “I chose to pursue baseball at USF because I felt like it was a good fit. USF has the academic program that I would like to study and I want to be apart of their baseball program because it is on the rise.”
Tony Stanich
6'4, 180, INF, R/R
San Marcos, Calif. (Mission Hills High School)
Grizzlies went 20-13 last season en route to CIF Division 2 San Diego Championship
Avocado East honorable mention; batted .310 with seven doubles and 22 RBI
Summer Club: So Cal Dirtbags
Evo Shield Top 25 Player
Two-year varsity basketball starter
All-academic selection
Why you chose to pursue college baseball at USF: “After talking with the coaches I feel like it will be a great fit for me, and my future looks bright with this program.”
Dylan Lehr
5'10, 170, OF/UTL, R/R
Menno, S.D. (Menno High School)
Legion Club: Parkston Trojans
Town Club: Menno Mad Frogs
2013 9AA All-State Football Team-Wide Receiver
2013 All-State Football Academic Team
2013 Basketball 2nd Team All-Conference
2013 State Track Meet Qualifier
Why you chose to pursue college baseball at USF: “I wanted to play the sport that I love at a college level. USF is close to home, has the degree I want to pursue with a small school setting and has a good baseball program.”
Nicolas Peterson
5'10, 160, CF/RHP, R/R
Brandon Valley, S.D. (Brandon Valley High School)
The Lynx finished state runners up in the both the spring (18-8) spring & summer (33-22)
Member of the Class A All Region team & a Class A 1st team all-state pick
Batted .308 last summer with 35 stolen bases and 49 runs scored
4-5 record on the mound (2.49 ERA)
Four-year basketball letterman
Basketball: 2013 ESD all conference honorable mention, 2013 Class AA all-tournament team 2013, 2014 ESD All Conference, 2014 Metro Conference 1st team, 2014 second team all state
Why you chose to pursue college baseball at USF: “I chose USF because I want to continue playing baseball and this is a great opportunity. The coaches really treated me like family.”
Cole Julius
6'0, 165, INF, R/R
Watertown, S.D. (Watertown High School)
2013 Arrows squad went 32-22 en route to a berth in the state tournament
Batted .338 with only seven K's in 186 plate appearances
Summer Club: Watertown Post 17
Watertown Red Sox 15-16 State Champions
Letterwinner in baseball and basketball
Why you chose to pursue college baseball at USF: “I chose USF because it seems like it is trying to turn the corner and is on the way to big things and I would like to be a part of those big things that everyone is all going to strive for.”
Dominic Hernandez
5' 6, 164, LHP/UTL, L/L
Pueblo, Colo. (Pueblo Central High School)
Batting .400 with a .585 OBP for the Wildcats
ERA: 1.33 (42 innings)
1st Team All Chieftain (All-City)
Summer Club: Loaf n' Jug
Why you chose to pursue college baseball at USF: “USF has a good competitive baseball team where I see myself working hard to be the best ball player that I can be while winning a lot of games.”
Edward Reichenbach
6'3, 240, 1B/DH, R/R
Arlington, Minn. (Sibley East High School)
Played the last two seasons at St. Cloud Technical and Community College
Hit .304 last season for the SCTCC Cyclones (39-11) with six 2B and two home runs
All-area team pick, all-conference and conference MVP.
Summer Club: Green Isle Irish
Also played football and basketball in high school
Why you chose to pursue college baseball at USF: “To bring a couple of NSIC championships to USF and have fun doing it!”
“We're trying to get more athletic by recruiting players that can do multiple things,” added Guiliano. “We feel that the last couple years we've done that. We have some guys in this class that are pretty versatile and can play two or three positions. It's much easier to move athletes around, and we feel like we have an athletic class.”
