University of Houston Athletics
Baseball Inks Six during Early Signing Period
11/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 17, 2006
HOUSTON - The University of Houston baseball program signed six players to National Letters of intent during the early period, head coach Rayner Noble announced Friday.
The group includes pitcher/outfielder Chase Dempsay (Sterling HS), pitcher Jared Ray (Midway HS), pitcher/infielder Ty Stuckey (Klein Collins) and infielders Danny Hernandez (Temple HS), Blake Kelso (Pflugerville HS) and David Murphy (Westbook HS).
All six players hail from the state of Texas and will compete as freshmen for the 2008 season.
"We wanted to get at least two two-way players, and we got that in Stuckey and Dempsay. We needed to fill some needs in the infield, and we did that with Murphy, Kelso and Hernandez. I am excited about the pitching side of it with Stuckey, Dempsay and Ray. That gives us three good arms to put in the mix," Noble said. "This is one of the better recruiting classes that we have put together in a while."
The signing of Dempsay and Stuckey continues the Cougars' rich tradition of two-way players as Dempsay could see time in the outfield, while Stuckey should compete for playing time at first base. Fans can expect similar signings in the near future, Noble said.
"I have talked to my coaching staff about this. We are going to make ourselves into Two-Way Player University like Penn State is Linebacker U," Noble said. "We are going to see that as this year's recruiting class unfolds and as we go into it in the future. It will be an exciting environment. Kids who are two-way players will know that this is the place to go."
UH opens its 2007 season when it plays host to Stephen F. Austin at 2 p.m., Feb. 6 at Cougar Field.
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON 2007 SIGNEES (Early Period)
As of 11:50 a.m., Nov. 17, 2006
Player, Pos., B-T, Ht., Wt., * Cl.-Exp., Hometown-High School
Chase Dempsay, RHP/OF, R-R, 6-3, 180, Fr.-HS, Baytown, Texas-Sterling
Danny Hernandez, INF, R-R, 5-11, 185, Fr.-HS, Temple, Texas-Temple
Blake Kelso, INF, R-R, 5-10, 170, Fr.-HS, Pflugerville, Texas-Pflugerville
David Murphy, INF, R-R, 6-1, 170, Fr.-HS, Beaumont, Texas-Westbrook
Jared Ray, RHP, R-R, 6-3, 195, Fr.-HS, Waco, Texas-Midway
Ty Stuckey, LHP/INF, L-L, 6-0, 185, Fr.-HS, Spring, Texas-Klein Collins
• - indicates collegiate class for 2008 season
SIGNEES BIOS
CHASE DEMPSAY
Freshman-HS (2007-08)
Pitcher/Outfield
6-3 • 180 • R-R
Baytown, Texas-Sterling
Played for head coach Paul Tadlock... Chose Houston over Tulane, LSU, Texas, Baylor, Texas A&M, Florida State and Miami (Fla.). 2006 (Junior): Named the District 22-5A Most Valuable Player... Batted .487 with four home runs, including two walkoff shots, four doubles and 17 RBIs in District play... Pitched to a 6-3 record while tossing 46 strikeouts in 39.0 innings in District games.
DANNY HERNANDEZ
Freshman-HS (2007-08)
Infield
5-11 • 185 • R-R
Temple, Texas-Temple
Played for head coach Larry Haynes... Chose Houston over Texas A&M, TCU and Arkansas. 2006 (Junior): Honored as the District 13-5A Most Valuable... Batted .404 with 10 home runs and 25 RBIs... Batted .511 in district games. 2004 (Sophomore): Also named the district's Newcomer of the Year... Finished third in a national home run derby for high school players... Competed in an invitation-only national tournament in California.
BLAKE KELSO
Freshman-HS (2007-08)
Infield
5-10 • 170 • R-R
Pflugerville, Texas-Pflugerville
Three-year letterwinner for head coach Don Fry. Junior (2006): Named to the All-District team as a shortstop after batting .405 with three home runs and 29 RBIs... Added 35 runs scored with 16 stolen bases and struck out only four times as the Panthers' leadoff hitter. Sophomore (2005): Named All-District Honorable Mention.
DAVID MURPHY
Freshman-HS (2007-08)
Infield
6-1 • 170 • R-R
Beaumont, Texas-Westbrook
Three-year letterwinner for head coach Jacob Walton. 2006 (Junior): Was an All-District 22-5A First Team honoree after batting .413 with six doubles, two triples and three home runs... Named to All-Southeast Texas Team and the Beaumont Enterprise Super Gold Team... Named Westbrook High Defensive Player of the Year... Recognized as SETXSPORTS.com Player of the Week.
JARED RAY
Freshman-HS (2007-08)
Pitcher
6-3 • 195 • R-R
Waco, Texas-Midway
Ranked No. 3 by Jason Becker's Inside Prep Baseball Texas Top 25... Played for head coach Tom Gladney. 2006 (Junior): Led the Panthers to a 24-10 overall record and a share of the District 16-4A championship... Finished as a bi-district finalist... Pitched to a 4-2 record with 55 strikeouts and a 2.55 ERA in 35.2 innings of work. Sophomore (2005): Helped lead Midway to the District 16-4A championship.
TY STUCKEY
Freshman-HS (2007-08)
Pitcher/Infield
6-0 • 185 • L-L
Spring, Texas-Klein Collins
Played for head coach Kent Meador... Competed for the Kyle Chapman All-Stars, which won the 2006 Premier Fall Championship in Arizona. 2006 (Junior): Selected to All-District 14-5A Second Team as a first baseman after batting .287 with 10 doubles and 18 RBIs... Compiled a 1.96 ERA with a 6-4 record and 45 strikeouts in 53.2 innings... Helped lead the Tigers to the 5A Region II finals... Allowed only one run off three hits in a playoff game against Pflugerville High... Threw a two-hit shutout against Naaman Forest High... Voted team Most Valuable Player by his teammates. 2005 (Sophomore): Helped lead the Tigers to the 5A Region II finals.
