Sooner Baseball Lands Top Talent During Early Signing Period

Dec. 18, 2002

NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma baseball team reloaded with some exceptional prospects when it recently signed its latest crop of talent during the early signing period. The program released its list of future Sooners on Wednesday which includes five high school players and three junior college tranfers. Head coach Larry Cochell is very optimistic about the immediate impact that this group has a chance to make.

"We're extremely excited about this new recruiting class we've signed for next fall. We think they're going to be great additions to our club. Their talent and the maturity they've already displayed should allow most of them to step in and see playing time right away," commented Cochell.

"This is a highly decorated group with some impressive credentials," elaborated Cochell. "Four out of the five high school players have already captured All-State recognition in their young careers, including one (Charles Benoit) who was named the Texas High School Player of the Year as a junior, and our junior college standouts come from some great programs."

Cochell continued his trend of snatching some of the top talent from across the border as three of the most highly-touted high school prospects out of Texas committed to Oklahoma. Lefthanded pitcher Charles Benoit of Southlake Carroll, catcher Josh Stinson of Port Neches Grove and utility man Ryan Mottern of Palestine were recently ranked by Texas Baseball News' Top 25 Texas high school player list with Benoit coming in at No. 10, Stinson at No. 16 and Mottern at No. 21.

The following is a brief run-down (in alphabetical order) of each member of the Sooners' outstanding incoming class of 2004:

Bryant Beavers, Pitcher/Outfielder, Henryetta High School (Henryetta, Okla.) - A three year starter for Henryetta ... A talented pitcher and athlete ... Also played shortstop ... Will likely pitch for the Sooners ... Has been clocked between 94-96 mph ... Most effective pitches are his fastball, changeup and slider ... Throws from different arm angles ... Averaged over 140 strikeouts per season ... Lost only two games during his career ... Batted over .440 all three seasons ... Led team in hitting the last two years ... A three-time conference, Blanchard Tournament and team Most Valuable Player ... Helped lead his team to three-straight state playoff appearances ... In 2002 (Junior): Named to the Daily Oklahoman All-State team ... Earned conference, Blanchard Tournament and team MVP awards ... Member of the Oklahoma Junior Sunbelt Team ... Led team in most pitching categories ... Team compiled a 35-3 record and finished the season as the runnerup in the state tournament.

Charles Benoit, Pitcher, Southlake Carroll High School (Southlake, Texas) - A 6-2, 240 lbs. hard throwing lefthander ... Fastball has been clocked between 89-92 mph ... His arsenal also includes a slider and circle change ... In 2002 (Junior): Named the Texas Class 4A Player of the Year by the Texas Sports Writers Association (T.S.W.A.) ... Selected as a member of the Texas Class 4A first team All-State team by the T.S.W.A., the first team all-district and first team all-area teams ... Posted a 13-1 record with a 1.23 ERA ... Struck out 142 batters in 85 innings ... Led the Dragons to a Class 4A state championship ... Garnered all-state tournament honors after posting a 6-0 record with a 0.20 ERA and fanning 56 batters in 34 frames during the playoffs ... In 2001 (Sophomore): Captured all-district accolades ... Went 7-2-1 with a 2.10 ERA ... Registered 78 strikeouts in 53 innings of work ... Helped his team to the first of two straight regional finals appearances.

Justin Garza, Infielder, Seminole State College (Frederick, Okla.) - Stands 6-1 and weighs 190 lbs. ... A switch-hitting shortstop for the Trojans ... In 2002 (JUCO Freshman): Batted .321 with 37 runs scored and 34 RBI ... Displayed occassional power by hitting four home runs and eight doubles ... Only struck out 21 times in 156 at bats ... Caught stealing once in eight attempts ... Made four pitching appearances and came away with a 1-0 record ... Team posted a 42-12 record ... In High School: An Oklahoma All-State and Daily Oklahoman All-State selection in 2001 ... Garnered all-area recognition as a sophomore, junior and senior.

Aaron Ivey, Outfielder, Putnam City North High School (Oklahoma City, Okla.) - A speedy outfielder for P.C. North ... Also a talented wide receiver for the football team ... In 2002 (Junior): Hit .420 and swiped 42 bases ... Awarded the Warren Spahn/Ferguson Jenkins Outstanding Student-Athlete honor ... Named to the Friday Paper All-Friday Baseball Team ... Racked up numerous football honors including Daily Oklahoman Big All-City Offensive Player of the Year and All-State accolades, Sports Magazine Junior All-American recognition, Friday Paper Male Athlete of the Year, All-Friday Football Team and a two-time Star of the Week, and P.C. Gazette Player of the Week ... Was the leading wide receiver in the state with 57 catches, 1,257 yards and 16 touchdowns ... Broke the school records for most receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in a season and most touchdowns in a game for a receiver (3) ... In 2001 (Sophomore): Football honors included P.C. Gazette Player of the Week accolades, Friday Paper Star of the Week and All-Friday Team recognition.

Ryan Mottern, Utility, Palestine High School (Palestine, Texas) - Stands 6-2 and weighs 190 lbs. ... Throws right and bats right ... A three-year starter for Palestine ... Plays multiple positions in the field including shortstop, third base and the outfield ... Also known as an exceptional pitcher ... Expected to play in the field for the Sooners ... In 2002 (Junior): Named first team all-district and all-area ... Selected to several all-tournament teams including the Tiny Woods Classic and the Texas Coaches Team (All-Sunbelt) ... Batted .370 with eight home runs and 32 RBI ... Scored 26 runs and swiped eight bases ... His home run and RBI totals led the team ... Went 5-5 with a 2.24 ERA on the mound ... Fanned 115 batters in 59.1 inning pitched ... Team went 15-13 last year ... Received first team all-district punter recognition on the gridiron for the second year in a row ... In 2001 (Sophomore): Highly decorated as a sophomore ... Honored as the 15-4A district Most Valuable Player ... Picked as the All-East Texas Pitcher of the Year ... Earned honorable mention accolades on the Texas Sports Writer's Association All-State team and the all-area team ... Helped lead his team to the state playoffs for the first time in school history ... Garnered numerous football honors as well including first team all-district punter and first team all-area and All-East Texas.

Nick Pesco, Pitcher, Consumnes River Community College (Lodi, Calif.) - A 6-6 righthander ... Played alongside current Sooner hurler Charlie House at Consumnes River last year ... In 2002 (JUCO Freshman): A member of the starting rotation ... Earned 12 starts which ranked third on the squad ... Posted a 5-2 record and 3.53 ERA in his first season ... Struck out 61 batters in 58.2 innings of work ... His 9.4 strikeouts per game average ranked second on the team and sixth-best in the Bay Valley Conference ... In High School: Attended Tokay High School ... Received all-area and all-league honors ... Tossed the third no-hitter in school history ... Drafted in the 30th round by the Florida Marlins following his senior campaign.

Josh Stinson, Catcher, Port Neches Grove High School (Port Neches, Texas) - A lefthanded power hitter ... Throws righthanded from behind the plate ... Rated as the No. 160 prospect in the country for the 2003 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft by Prospects Plus ... Competed as a member of the Houston Heat this fall in the Perfect Game/Baseball America World Wood Bat Association championships in Jupiter, Fla. ... In 2002 (Junior): Garnered All-State and all-district Most Valuable Player honors ... Batted .451, scored 31 runs and collected 47 RBIs ... Recorded an .835 slugging percentage and a .591 on base percentage ... Produced 17 extra-base hits including eight home runs, seven doubles and two triples ... Excellent defensive player who posted a .927 fielding percentage ... Led team to a 22-8 record.

Eric Thornton, Infielder, Cowley County Community College/Oral Roberts University (McCloud, Okla.) - Stands 6-0 and weighs 185 lbs. ... Will compete for Cowley County Community College this season after transferring from Oral Roberts where he started as a freshman ... In 2002 (Freshman at Oral Roberts): Started 55 of the team's 67 games ... Played at third base and also saw time as the team's designated hitter ... Finished fourth on the team in hitting with a .336 average ... Scored 32 runs and drove in 52 more ... Pounded out seven home runs and ranked second on the team with 20 doubles ... Recorded one of the lowest strikeout totals on the team by fanning only 28 times in 217 at bats ... Ranked among the team leaders in several offensive categories where he finished third in slugging percentage, RBI, home runs, total bases and fourth in hits ... Perfect on the base paths where he was not thrown out in six attempts ... Helped lead the Golden Eagles to a 48-19 overall record and 16-2 Mid-Continent Conference mark ... A member of the Golden Eagles' fifth-straight conference title and NCAA Tournament squad ... In High School: Attended Dale High School ... An All-State performer as a senior ... Batted .514 with 18 doubles, one triple, 19 home runs and 81 RBI his senior year ... Set the Oklahoma state high school record with 18 straight hits in his final campaign ... Hit a three-run home run in the 11th inning to win the state championship for Dale in 2001 ... Selected as a senior team captain ... A member of the Oklahoma Sunbelt team where he garnered all-tournament honors ... Excelled in the classroom where he finished his scholastic career as his class' salutatorian.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooner Baseball Lands Top Talent During Early Signing Period

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