Bryan College head baseball coach Taylor Hasty is pleased to announce the 2008 Bryan baseball recruiting class. The largest incoming class in Bryan College history numbers 22 players, making the Lions deeper and more talented than they have ever been before. "While we have been building the program the past six years we have not had the luxury of depth, finally this class addresses that issue and makes us more talented at every position," Coach Hasty said. Hasty said that he believes this class is not only one of talent but also one of high character, "placing Christ first whether we're on the field or in the classroom is important here at Bryan and an integral part of our baseball program. I am proud of the young men who have decided to come to Bryan."
There are only three transfers in the class but they all play key positions. Patrick Miller, a transfer from Tennessee Tech University will pitch for the Lions and bring immediate experience to the mound. Josh Severt and Shane Clawson are both outfielders who transfer from Surry Community College in North Carolina. The two outfielders will help to fill the void left by a '08 senior class that took Bryan's three starting outfielders with it. Both young men will also pitch during their career for the Lions.
The incoming freshmen will especially deepen the Bryan pitching staff, a sore spot for the Lions last year who only saw 6 different pitchers take the mound on a regular basis. Eight incoming freshmen will look to pitch in the coming year including 3 new left handers. "Finding quality pitching has been a problem spot for us in the past, but I feel like the young men entering our program are talented and will help us to become very competitive right away," Coach Hasty remarked about the incoming pitching talent. Tyler Brown (Cleveland, TN), Drew Brown (Murfreesboro, TN), Chad Lee (Ooltewah, TN), Reid Merwin (Duluth, GA), Zach Gray (Ponte Vedra, FL), Brandon Copeland (Whitwell, TN), Zach Breazeale (Rockwood, TN) and Tyler Leamon (Dayton, TN) will join the Lions this August.
After seeing 3 outfield starters graduate in 2008, Coach Hasty brought in 5 freshmen outfielders to help address the lack of depth. Owen Kilgore (Whitwell, TN), Luke Jordan (Duluth, GA), Howie Meadows (Decatur, TN), Kevin Layne (Jasper, TN) and Brandon Hampton (Trion, GA) will all vie for playing time in the outfield. The Lions are returning four outfielders and according to Coach Hasty the competition will be high, "this fall will be interesting to watch to see which outfielders assert themselves and take the spots vacated by our three seniors last year."
The least amount of depth on the 2007-2008 roster was the infield. However, the recruiting class of 2008 will bring 6 new infielders to Bryan and 3 new catchers. "If we had had a serious injury in our infield last spring, we would have been in trouble, this recruiting class changes that," Hasty said. Mason Kitzmiller (Newport, TN), Jared Van Camp (Duluth, GA), Brantley Hattrich (Matthews, NC), Gordy Hendrix (Lenoir, NC), Drew Brown (Murfreesboro, TN), and Steven Brown (Cleveland, TN) will join the 5 returning infielders. At the catching position, Jordan Day (Summerville, GA), Logan Alley (Clinton, TN) and Chase Clem (Rockwood, TN) help deepen the Lions who will graduate 2 seniors at this position in 2009.
A class made up of mostly freshmen but with a few key transfers will help the Lions continue to grow and get better as they seek to move towards the top of the Appalachian Athletic Conference and compete on a national level. "If the team can come together and learn to play together, we have a shot of being very competitive right away," Coach Hasty remarked.
