FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UCLA Baseball September 28, 2006 Contact: Alex Timiraos UCLA BASEBALL WELCOMES 13 PLAYERS TO WESTWOOD Head Coach John Savage unveils his second recruiting class at UCLA Los Angeles UCLA baseball head coach John Savage welcomed 13 incoming student-athletes to the Bruins baseball program Thursday afternoon as classes began on the UCLA campus in Westwood. Ten true freshmen and three transfer students comprise the 2007 recruiting class which, along with several key returning players from the 2006 squad, will begin its fall schedule early next month. We feel that we added several immediate impact players to join our program, said Savage, who has compiled his second full recruiting class as UCLA s head coach. Our first two recruiting classes are a credit to our assistant coaches hard work and dedication in bringing quality student-athletes to UCLA. Our recruiting coordinator, Brian Green, is doing an outstanding job bringing in players. Rated the 18th-best incoming class in the nation by Collegiate Baseball, the 2007 recruiting class features the Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year (Charles Brewer) and four players selected in the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft as high school seniors (Brewer, Raul Duran, Matt Drummond and Casey Haerther). Last fall, UCLA s incoming group was ranked fifth-best by Baseball America and helped lead the 2006 Bruins to the NCAA Malibu Regional and a third-place Pac-10 finish. This recruiting class is very talented and will be ready to face Pac-10 teams when we begin conference play next spring, Savage said. It is imperative that we recruit the best players to UCLA who can handle the challenges both on and off the field. UCLA will begin its fall workouts Monday, Oct. 2, and will open a 12-game intersquad schedule culminating with the annual Blue-Gold World Series from Nov. 13-18. Scout Day will take place Saturday, Nov. 11, at 10:00 a.m. Daily workouts will begin at 2 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. on Saturdays. All baseball practices will take place at UCLA s Jackie Robinson Stadium. 2007 UCLA Newcomers at a Glance Four players selected in the 2006 MLB Draft Six all-region selections Four All-CIF selections Three high school All-Americans One junior college All-American Nine All-Conference/League selections One Gatorade Player of the Year Two AFLAC All-Americans
Charles Brewer Paradise Valley, Ariz. (Chaparral HS) 6-4, 185 Three-year varsity baseball letterwinner under head coach Jerry Dawson at Chaparral High School helped lead Chaparral to three state titles compiled a 19-0 varsity career record, capped by an 11-0 record as a senior (went 33-0 through four years in high school) posted a 1.51 ERA and compiled four saves his senior season, one coming in the state championship game was used as both a starter and closer by Jerry Dawson earned EA Sports first-team All-America honors and 2006 Louisville Slugger All-America accolades as a senior was also named the 2006 Arizona 4-A, Region, Student Sports Arizona and Arizona Gatorade Player of the year in 2005, recorded an 8-0 record and a 0.80 ERA also tallied 62 strikeouts and four saves in 45.0 innings pitched; one of his four saves came in the state championship game earned 2005 all-state and all-region honors was named a Cape Cod All-Star High School Classic top-10 prospect and a Baseball America 2006 Top-100 prospect rated a top-50 pitching prospect by rivals.com in 2006 also was ranked 51st among the top-100 high school seniors by teamonebaseball.com. Gavin Brooks LHP/OF Freshman Vista, Calif. (Rancho Buena Vista HS) 6-3, 195 Three-year varsity baseball letterwinner under head coaches Leo Fletes and Steve Hargrave (sophomore season) at Rancho Buena Vista High School recorded a.375 batting average and a.573 on-base percentage as a senior tallied 24 runs scored, 11 RBI and two home runs as a senior also pitched eight scoreless innings, striking out 12 batters while allowing just two hits earned AFLAC All-America honors in 2005 named the 2006 Rancho Buena Vista male athlete of the year posted a.400 batting average as a junior and collected a team-best 24 RBI gained 2005 All-Avocado League honors captured San Diego Union-Tribune All-Academic accolades with a 4.1 GPA as a junior and a 4.2 GPA as a senior ranked the third-best prospect in the nation among high school juniors in the 2004 Perfect Game World Wood Bat Association Fall Championship posted a 6-1 record with 56 strikeouts in 50 innings as a sophomore; that season, he earned Rancho Buena Vista most outstanding pitching accolades earned most valuable player honors at Rancho Buena Vista as a freshman ranked No. 33 among the top-100 high school seniors by teamonebaseball.com was a Dean s List honoree each of his four years also played three years of basketball, earning all-conference honors as a junior. Alden Carrithers INF, Junior Portland, Ore. (UC Santa Barbara) 5-10, 165 Two-year letterwinner in baseball for head coach Bob Brontsema at UC Santa Barbara started 53 of 54 games in the infield in 2006, leading UC Santa Barbara in batting average (.342), runs scored (60), walks (45) and on-base percentage (.465); tied for the team lead in doubles (12) was voted the Offensive Player of the Year in 2006 also earned first-team All-Big West Conference accolades at second base led the Big West Conference in runs scored and walks as a freshman, played in 44 games, starting 38 for UC Santa Barbara compiled a.285 batting average and led the squad with a.413 on-base percentage (ranked seventh in the Big West Conference) also tallied nine doubles, one home run, 14 RBI, 26 walks and six stolen bases...attended Oregon Episcopal School but played baseball for Beaverton High School as OES did not field a program.
Garett Claypool West Hills, Calif. (El Camino HS) 6-2, 180 Three-year varsity letterwinner in baseball for head coach Matt LaCour at El Camino Real High School recorded a 1.86 ERA in 49.0 innings his senior season limited opponents to a.170 batting average, striking out 54 batters and walking 21 posted a 0.90 ERA in 23.1 innings of relief as a junior compiled a 7-0 record and 1.00 ERA in 35 innings during the summer of 2005 was a two-time member of the Woodland Hills VIBL summer team helped lead El Camino Real to the 2005 California State Championship tallied a.387 batting average as a sophomore. Gabe Cohen Woodland Hills, Calif. (El Camino HS) 6-2, 205 Four-year letterwinner in baseball as a senior under head coach Matt LaCour at El Camino Real High School; spent previous three season playing for head coach Tim Cunningham at Harvard-Westlake High School posted a.341 batting average as a senior at El Camino Real collected eight doubles, four home runs, 21 walks, 39 runs scored and 30 RBI his senior year played in the Connie Mack League and hit.582 with seven home runs and 36 RBI during the summer of 2005 played in the Cape Cod High School All-Star game, the Joplin USA Tournament of Stars, the Area Code Games, and the Perfect Game National Showcase earned all-league honors and Goodwill Series MVP accolades ranked No. 76 among the top-100 high school seniors by teamonebaseball.com. Brent Dean C, Junior Torrance, Calif. (Harbor JC) 6-0, 200 Two-year letterwinner in baseball for head coach Marco Alvillar at L.A. Harbor Junior College posted a.276 batting average with three home runs and 28 RBI in 2006 gained first-team All-South Coast Conference (SCC) accolades as a catcher in 2006 earned a scholarship at L.A. Harbor as the recipient of the President s Student Leader Award. Raul Duran Santa Ana, Calif. (Saddleback HS) 6-2, 200 Played baseball for head coach Steve Sedele at Saddleback High School posted a.544 batting average as a senior also tallied three home runs, 26 RBI and 20 stolen bases drafted in the 45th round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox as a senior, earned first-team All-Golden West League first-team accolades and second-team All-County and All-CIF Division III honors captured Orange County Register second-team accolades participated in the 2006 Orange County All-Star Game as a junior, compiled a.500 batting average, 43 hits and 23 runs scored.
Matt Drummond LHP, Freshman Paso Robles, Calif. (Paso Robles HS) 6-1, 170 Three-year varsity letterwinner in baseball under head coach Derek Stroud at Paso Robles High School compiled a 10-1 record with a 2.10 ERA, two saves and 91 strikeouts in 67.1 innings pitched as a senior drafted in the 35th round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles captured 2006 County Baseball Player of the Year accolades from the San Luis Obispo Tribune earned first-team All- CIF Division II honors pitched complete games against nationally fifth-ranked Cypress HS and Dos Pueblos HS also posted a.385 batting average as a senior earned the Paso Robles HS 2006 Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year award was a 2006 PAC-5 Athletic League Outstanding Scholarship recipient and a Paso Robles HS Senior Excellence Award winner also named to the PAC-5 All-Star Team his senior season pitched on the American team for the Australian Goodwill Series Games in 2005. Casey Haerther INF, Freshman Chatsworth, Calif. (Chaminade HS) 6-1, 205 Four-year varsity letterwinner in baseball under head coach Sid Lopez at Chaminade High School registered a.554 batting average his senior season, blasting seven home runs and 38 RBI drafted in the 34th round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres was a three-time All- CIF selection and All-Mission League first-team honoree as a senior, was named to the All-National Classic Team earned first-team recognition from the Los Angeles Times and the Daily News gained team most valuable players honors played in the Perfect Game National Showcase in 2005 and 2006 as a junior, compiled a.485 batting average with nine home runs and 38 RBI named the California State Freshman of the Year in 2003 older brother Cody was a former recruit by John Savage at UC Irvine and is currently playing in the St. Louis Cardinals minor league organization. J.D. Haver Long Beach, Calif. (Wilson HS) 6-5, 200 Two-year varsity letter winner in baseball for head coach Andy Hall at Long Beach Wilson High School captured first-team All-Moore League honors as a pitcher his senior season posted a 7-4 record with a 1.44 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 63.1 innings pitched pitched a complete-game shutout with 12 strikeouts against Lakewood High registered a.303 batting average with 22 RBI as a senior named to the 2006 All-Dream Team by the Long Beach Press Telegram. Jeff Rapoport Westlake Village, Calif. (Westlake HS) 6-0, 185 Four-year varsity letterwinner in baseball for head coaches Mike Lee and Josh Eby at Westlake High School tallied a.300 batting average and.450 on-base percentage as a senior clubbed six home runs and established a school record with 28 stolen bases captured Louisville Slugger All-America accolades in 2006 earned 2005 and 2006 Los Angeles Times All-Area team honors...was a 2005 AFLAC All-
America honoree was a first-team All-Ventura County Coaches Team selection in 2006 earned the 2006 Westlake High School and Ventura County Student-Athlete of the Year awards...was a first-team All-Marmonte League selection in 2006 played in the 2004 Perfect Game National Showcase was ranked No. 25 among the top-100 high school seniors by teamonebaseball.com brother, Jim, played center field for Stanford and is currently in the St. Louis Cardinals organization mother, Lisa, was a standout UCLA women s volleyball player and assistant coach for the program. Justin Uribe LHP/ Santa Ana, Calif. (Foothill HS) 5-11, 175 Three-year varsity letterwinner in baseball for head coach Gary Fishel at Foothill High School posted a.349 batting average with 14 RBI in 11 games (saw limited action due to an injury) helped lead Foothill to the CIF-SS Division II Championship with his game-tying three-run home run in the CIF title game against St. Francis High School at Angel Stadium captured Student-Athlete of the Year honors his senior year at Foothill, earning a 4.6 GPA also was ranked the No. 74 player in California by Perfect Game as a junior, posted a.402 batting average at the plate also compiled a 6-2 pitching record and 2.10 ERA in 65 innings pitched boasted a 1.29 ERA in the Sea View League earned first-team All- CIF accolades captured Foothill High and Sea View League MVP honors. Mickey Weisser 1B/OF, Junior Rocklin, Calif. (Sierra JC) 5-10, 180 Two-year letterwinner in baseball at Sierra Junior College for head coach Rob Willson led the Big-7 Conference in 2006 with a.420 batting average and a.535 on-base percentage earned Northern California Community College All-America accolades as a designated hitter and first-team All-Big-7 Conference honors helped lead Sierra JC to its first-ever Final Four appearance and a 35-16 overall record (6-3 postseason) suffered an injury in Sierra s first Big-7 Conference game in 2005 and was forced to miss the remainder of the season excelled in the classroom, making the Dean s List played baseball in high school at Casa Roble HS. ####