Houston Baseball Inks 14 High School Players to NLIs
11/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Untitled Document
HOUSTON - Highlighted by a talented core of high school student-athletes, Houston Baseball has inked 14 National Letters of Intent during the NCAA Baseball Early Signing Period, announced by sixth-year head coach Todd Whitting on Wednesday.
13 of the 14 high school players hail from the state of Texas.
A strong mix of right-handed pitchers and left-handed pitchers join a couple of infielders and outfielders, which make up this year's early signing class.
All 14 signees are welcomed in by Whitting, recruiting coordinator Trip Couch, and assistant coaches Frank Anderson and Greg Evans as Cougars.
"Our staff is extremely excited about this outstanding group of student-athletes that will join our program next fall," Whitting said. "Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch is relentless on the road and in my opinion one of the best evaluators of talent in the nation. His efforts along with Coach Anderson and the rest of our staff have yielded what I believe is our deepest and most talented class yet.
"The commitment at Houston to winning at the highest level of college baseball through facility upgrades and enhancing the student athlete experience are evident and a huge factor in attracting great student-athletes."
Set to join Houston Baseball for the 2017 season are Tyler Bielamowicz (Cy-Ranch HS, LHP/OF), Hunter Edwards (Cy-Fair HS, RHP), Cody Erikson (Sweeny HS, INF), Landon Etzel (Clear Creek HS, OF), Kyle Fowler (Cy-Woods HS, LHP), Carter Henry (Port Neches-Groves HS, RHP), Brayson Hurdsman (Desert Hills HS (Utah), LHP), Dylan Lester (Brenham HS, RHP), Lael Lockhart, Jr. (Friendswood HS, LHP/1B), Marcus Mack (Bellaire HS, OF), Jared Pettitte (Second Baptist HS, LHP), Nick Slaughter (Klein HS, UTL), Jared Triolo (Lake Travis HS, INF), and Freddie Villarreal (Brownsville [Veterans] Memorial HS, RHP).
Tyler Bielamowicz
LHP/OF | Cy-Ranch HS (Cypress, Texas)
PG 2015 Underclass Honorable Mention
High School Coach: John Pope
Summer Team: Team Rawlings
Helped 2015 Cy-Ranch HS team to the Texas 6A State Championship Title
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Bielamowicz: Tyler is an extremely athletic player that as he continues to get stronger, the sky is the limit. He played a big role on his high school state championship team.
Hunter Edwards
RHP | Cy-Fair HS (Houston, Texas)
Summer Team: Team Rawlings PBF
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Edwards: Hunter is a great worker that has a great deal of upside. He keeps getting bigger and stronger and has pitched in many high-profile events the should prepare him early on.
Cody Erikson
INF | Sweeny HS (Sweeny, Texas)
PG 2015 Underclass Honorable Mention
High School Coach: David Luster
Summer Team: South Texas Sliders
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Erikson: Cody has the framework and body type to be a strong player, while also having the ability to play multiple infield positions.
Landon Etzel
OF | Clear Creek HS (League City, Texas)
High School Coach: Brett Kunefke
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Etzel: Landon is a great athlete and leader. He is everything you want in a kid. He will make us better the moment he steps on campus.
Kyle Fowler
LHP | Cy-Woods HS (Cypress, Texas)
2015 Underclass Honorable Mention
2014 Underclass Honorable Mention
PG Rankings: 29th OF in Texas
Summer Team: Houston Banditos Black
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Fowler: Kyle is a left-handed pitcher that is still getting stronger. He is a competitor that throws strikes.
Carter Henry
RHP | Port Neches-Groves HS (Port Neches-Groves, Texas)
PG 2015 Underclass Honorable Mention
PG Rankings: 9th RHP in Texas; 24th Player in Texas
High School Coach: Scott Carter
Summer Team: Houston Banditos Black
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Henry: Carter is a high-ceiling guy that pitched at a high level for his summer team, the Banditos. He has a chance to be a very high draft pick in a few years.
Brayson Hurdsman
LHP | Desert Hills HS (St. George, Utah)
High School Coach: Jerry Beck
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Hurdsman: Brayson has the ability to step in immediately and make a strong impact on our pitching staff.
Dylan Lester
RHP | Brenham HS (Brenham, Texas)
PG 2015 Underclass Honorable Mention
PG 2014 Underclass Honorable Mention
PG Rankings: 26th RHP in Texas
High School Coach: Lanny Williams
Summer Team: Houston Banditos Black
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Lester: Dylan has the chance to be an early contributor to our pitching staff. He throws a ton of strikes and really competes on the mound.
Lael Lockhart, Jr.
LHP/1B | Friendswood HS (Friendswood, Texas)
2015 Underclass Honorable Mention
2014 Underclass Honorable Mention
PG Rankings: 1st 1B in Texas; 26th Overall Player in Texas; 11th 1B Nationally
High School Coach: Steve Hecker
Summer Team: Houston Banditos Black
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Lockhart: Lael is a polished left-handed pitcher that should help immediately. He also has the ability to play first base and switch hit for us.
Marcus Mack
OF | Bellaire HS (Houston, Texas)
High School Coach: Rocky Manuel
Summer Team: Bellaire Off Season Cards
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Mack: Marcus is an extremely talented guy that can hit from the left side and can fly. As he grows into his body, he can be a major impact player for us.
Jared Pettitte
LHP | Second Baptist HS (Houston, Texas)
PG Rankings: 14th LHP in Texas
High School Coaches: Lance Berkman and father, Andy Pettitte
Summer Team: Houston Banditos Black
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Pettitte: Jared has great upside as a left-handed pitcher and really competes on the mound. We are extremely excited to see him development as a Cougar.
Nick Slaughter
UTL | Klein HS (Spring, Texas)
2015 Underclass Honorable Mention
2014 Underclass Honorable Mention
PG Rankings: 9th C in Texas; 68th Overall Player in Texas; 65th C Nationally
High School Coach: Barry Smith
Summer Team: Atlanta Blue Jays
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Slaughter: Nick is a strong right-handed hitter that has a good track record offensively. He has versatility defensively, which will provide us depth at catcher and other positions.
Jared Triolo
INF | Lake Travis HS (Austin, Texas)
High School Coach: Mike Rogers
Summer Team: Austin Wings
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Triolo: Jared is a strong kid that can play multiple positions on the infield. He is a real grinder with great leadership ability.
Freddie Villarreal
RHP | Brownsville [Veterans] Memorial HS (Brownsville, Texas)
2015 Underclass Third Team
PG Rankings: 12th RHP in Texas; 34th Overall Player in Texas
High School Coach: Leo Rodriguez
Summer Team: Houston Banditos Black
Recruiting Coordinator Trip Couch on Villarreal: Freddie is a great competitor that pitched well on all of the big stages for the Banditos. He should contribute right away for us.
BUY SEASON TICKETS
Houston Baseball will play 32 home games at Cougar Field this upcoming 2016 season and fans can purchase season tickets for as low as $99 online by visiting UHCougars.com/tickets and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.
To purchase tickets in person, fans can visit the Athletics Ticket Stadium Office located on the northeast corner of TDECU Stadium, just outside of Gate 1 off Cullen Boulevard. Parking is available in the TDECU Stadium parking garage with the first 30 minutes free of charge. Regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m., to 5:30 p.m.
All UH main campus students are admitted FREE to regular-season baseball home games with a valid student ID.
2016 SCHEDULE QUICK HITS
Highlighted by 32 home games, 38 in the city of Houston, a neutral site matchup against the University of Texas, home contests against Texas A&M and Baylor and three first-time opponents, Houston Baseball and head coach Todd Whitting have unveiled an exciting 2016 schedule.
For the 10th consecutive season, Houston will open its slate at Cougar Field. In the five seasons under Whitting, Houston has accumulated a winning record of 14-1 in those season-opening series, which includes four weekend sweeps.
"We are excited about the challenges that are ahead during the 2016 season. Not only will we compete in the American Athletic Conference, which is one of the toughest leagues in the nation (#3 RPI in 2015), but we will once again play an aggressive schedule against non-conference opponents," Whitting, who will begin his sixth season at the helm said. "With 20 games against 2015 NCAA Regional teams, we must diligently prepare for success during this offseason. We are excited to build off back-to-back 40+ win seasons against some of the best competition in the country."
Houston will open the season hosting the Big East's Villanova Feb. 19-21. The Cougars and Wildcats will meet for the first time in the program's history.
OUR CITY
• 32 home games; 38 in the city of Houston
• First 12 games of the season will be played in the city of Houston
• 21 of the first 25 games will be played in the city of Houston
• 18 of the first 25 games will be played at Cougar Field
OPENING WEEKEND
• Houston will host Opening Weekend for the 10th consecutive season
• Cougars are 14-1 all-time during Opening Weekend under Todd Whitting
• Cougars have swept four of the five Opening Weekend series under Whitting
COLLEGE CLASSIC
• Houston to make 16th straight appearance in Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park
• Cougars to face Texas Tech, Arkansas and TCU
• Cougars own a 20-25 all-time record in tournament; has earned seven wins over Top 30 teams
FIRST-TIME OPPONENTS
• Houston has three first-time opponents on the schedule: Villanova, Grand Canyon, George Washington
RICE & TEXAS IN SUGAR LAND, TEXAS AT CONSTELLATION FIELD
• Houston will meet both Texas (April 12) and Rice (May 17) for non-conference, midweek games at Sugar Land's Constellation Field.
NCAA TOURNAMENT COMPETITION
• 20 games this season will be played against an NCAA-tournament team from 2015
• Arkansas, TCU, Texas Southern, Rice, Texas A&M, East Carolina, Texas, USF, Tulane
A LOOK AT 2015
Houston is coming off its second straight 40-win season in 2015 as it captured its first American Athletic Conference regular-season title, first league title since 2002 and eighth in program history after recording a 16-8 mark among the toughest conference in the nation.
The Cougars, led by head coach Todd Whitting, who was named the ABCA South Central Regional Coach of the Year, notched its second straight 40-win season, finishing with a 43-20 record and ranked No. 18 in the nation.
With its impressive regular-season play, Houston was awarded an NCAA Regional hosting bid and the No. 1 seed at Cougar Field - the first time hosting since 2000 and just the third time ever in program history.
Houston finished the year with a 26-8 mark at home, tallying the most home wins ever, while earning five weekend sweeps and eight shutouts on the season - a number that ranks among the nation's Top 10. Houston went on to capture its second straight Silver Glove series - the first time since trophy was established in 1998.
Cougar Field saw a program-record 1,832 fans on average in 2015.
The Cougars were highlighted by sophomore Andrew Lantrip's Third Team All-America honor by Perfect Game and freshman Seth Romero, who led the league with a 1.94 ERA and was tabbed a Freshman All-American and the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year.
Three Cougars were named to the All-Region Team (Survance, Lantrip, Iriart) and seven Cougars earned All-Conference honors with Kyle Survance leading the way as a First Team selection.
Eight Cougars were selected in the 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft (Lemoine, Weigel, Survance, Iriart, Dowdy, Cobb, Fulmer, Rice) - the most since 11 in 2000.
Houston Baseball, once again, excelled in the classroom - posting a program-record 3.09 cumulative GPA and the fourth-highest spring GPA at 2.97 as 24 student-athletes posted a 3.0 GPA or better.
STAY CONNECTED
Stay up to date with all Houston Baseball news and highlights by following us on Twitter @UHCougarBB or on Facebook at /HoustonCougarBaseball. Fans can also follow head coach Todd Whitting @toddwhitting on Twitter.
