AGGIE BASEBALL SIGNS 11
TEXAS A&M BASEBALL
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, November 19, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas—The Texas A&M baseball team signed 11 student-athletes to national letters of intent, head coach Rob Childress announced Thursday.
Krey Bratsen (Bryan), Blair Dickey (Amarillo), Kyle Chaskin (Houston), Charlie Curl (Amarillo), Spencer Davis (The Woodlands), Derrick Hadley (Navasota), Ty Marlow (Giddings), Kendrick Perkins (La Porte), Jace Statum (Orangefield), Kirby Taylor (Bellaire) and James Wooster (League City/Alvin JC) make up the all-Texan class that is slated to take the field for the Aggies in the fall of 2010.
“I think it’s an incredible class,” Childress said. “The position players all fit our criteria of strength and speed and will fit into our philosophy of what we’re trying to do offensively, and the pitchers are all difference-makers that could help us today. It’s a solid group of athletes that are also great people and great students, and I feel like they are going to fit very well into our program. (Assistant Coach) Justin (Seely) and (Associate Head Coach) Matt (Deggs) both spent countless hours on the road evaluating and recruiting these kids and have put together another outstanding class for Texas A&M baseball.”
The group is comprised of four outfielders, four infielders and three pitchers, two of which are two-way players.
“My favorite part of this group is its versatility,” said Seely, who is also the program’s recruiting coordinator. “There are a lot of guys who can play several different positions. Athleticism was a priority with this group and I think we got that. It’s a class that leans more towards position players, which will give us even more balance.”
“This is a class made up of a bunch of guys that play hard, play the game the right way and really fit in to what we do,” Deggs said. “This class is very versatile and athletic, and features a lot of strength, speed and interchangeable parts.”
Krey Bratsen, the son of James and Karen Bratsen, is a two-time all-Brazos Valley selection by The Bryan-College Station Eagle for coach David Powers at Bryan High School. Bratsen earned second-team All-State honors in 2009 from the Texas Sports Writers Association after hitting .471 with seven doubles, three triples, five home runs, 25 RBIs and 28 stolen bases. He also compiled a 3.13 ERA in 13 innings of work on the mound, striking out 26.
Kyle Chaskin, the son of Marvin and Tracy Chaskin, was a first-team all-district and second-team all-greater Houston selection for coach Rocky Manuel at Bellaire High School. A three-year starter and two-way standout, Chaskin helped lead the Cardinals to the state semifinals as a sophomore and the regional semifinals in 2009 by hitting .459 with three home runs and 25 RBIs while compiling a 6-1 record on the mound. Chaskin is one of two Bellaire Cardinals in the signing class, joining Kirby Taylor.
Charlie Curl, the son of Charles and Jackie Curl, was a second-team all-district third baseman for Tascosa High School and coach Jason Patrick. He led the Rebels in three major offensive categories in 2009, posting a team-best .430 batting average, 35 RBIs and 47 runs scored. Curl played summer ball with fellow signee Blair Dickey on the Oklahoma Travelers.
Spencer Davis, the son of Kevin and Dianne Davis, is a two-way standout for coach Ron Eastman at The Woodlands High School. He helped lead the Highlanders to the regional round of the 2009 state playoffs. Davis played summer ball with the Banditos North Select team and was a member of the 2009 Texas Rangers Area Code Team.
Blair Dickey, the son of Kevin and Wazetta Dickey, hit leadoff for coach Gary Hix’s Amarillo Sandies. A first-team all-district honoree as an outfielder, he compiled a .404 average as a junior with 29 runs scored and 23 RBIs. Dickey played summer ball with fellow signee Charlie Curl on the Oklahoma Travelers and participated in the Texas Rangers Area Code tryouts. Also a standout defensive back on the gridiron, he picked off five passes this fall in helping lead AHS to the second round of the playoffs.
Derrick Hadley, the son of Bill and Debra Hadley, is a three-year starter for Navasota and coach Calvin Barber. Named the team’s most valuable player and District 24-3A Defensive Player of the Year this past spring, Hadley was a second-team All-Brazos Valley honoree by The Bryan College Station Eagle. He went 7-2 on the hill with a 1.43 ERA, striking out 66 batters in 41 innings of work while tossing a pair of no-hitters—one coming against second-ranked Taylor. Hadley also hit .443 with a pair of home runs.
Ty Marlow, the son of Mike and Page Marlow, is a first-team all-state shortstop for his father at Giddings High School. He hit .576 with 12 home runs and 51 RBIs as a junior, leading the Buffaloes to the district title and the state championship game. Marlow played summer ball for the Austin Wings Junior Black team, helping the squad claim the Premier Baseball junior national championship in July.
Kendrick Perkins, the son of Kevin and Felita Perkins, is a two-time all-greater Houston selection for coach Ricky Torres at La Porte High School. Perkins was a first-team all-district honoree as the Bulldogs won the district title and advanced to the state playoffs. In addition, he joined fellow signee Spencer Davis on the 2009 Texas Rangers Area Code Team this past summer. A two-sport star, Perkins has also earned all-greater Houston honors on the gridiron at running back.
Jace Statum, the son of Kevin and Laura Statum, was a first-team all-district and second-team all-state outfielder for coach Jeff Bennett at Orangefield High School. Named the Utility Player of the Year by the Orange Leader on its All-Orange Leader Baseball Team, Statum led the Bobcats to the playoffs for the first time in four seasons after hitting .462 with four home runs, 13 doubles, 26 RBIs and 49 runs scored. He played summer ball for the Texas Sun Devils Select team.
Kirby Taylor, the son of Keith and Gina Taylor, was an honorable mention all-America infielder for coach Rocky Manuel at Bellaire High School. A first-team all-district selection, Taylor helped lead the Cardinals to the regional semifinals this past spring with a .456 average, eight home runs and 55 RBIs. In addition, he added 20 doubles and five triples and was 14-of-15 in stolen base attempts. Taylor is one of two Bellaire Cardinals in the signing class, joining Kyle Chaskin.
The Aggies’ lone JUCO player in the class, James Wooster is the son of David Wooster and Kristal Flores, and was a standout two-way player for coach Bryan Alexander at Alvin Community College. Wooster led the Dolphins to the Region XIV tournament, earning all-region XIV honors after hitting .389 on the year with 11 home runs, 36 RBIs, 33 runs scored and 16 doubles. He was selected in the 44th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft by the New York Mets.
Texas A&M opens the 2010 season on Friday, Feb. 19 when the Aggies host Seton Hall at Olsen Field. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.
2009-10 TEXAS A&M BASEBALL SIGNING CLASS (11)
Name Pos Ht Wt B/T Cl-Exp Hometown (High School)
Krey Bratsen OF 6-0 165 R/R Fr-HS Bryan, Texas (Bryan)
Blair Dickey OF 5-8 165 R/R Fr-HS Amarillo, Texas (Amarillo)
Kyle Chaskin P/INF 5-11 190 L/R Fr-HS Houston, Texas (Bellaire)
Charlie Curl INF 5-10 170 R/R Fr-HS Amarillo, Texas (Tascosa)
Spencer Davis INF 6-3 200 R/R Fr-HS The Woodlands, Texas (The Woodlands)
Derrick Hadley P 6-1 175 R/R Fr-HS Navasota, Texas (Navasota)
Ty Marlow INF 5-10 175 R/R Fr-HS Giddings, Texas (Giddings)
Kendrick Perkins OF/1B 6-2 220 L/L Fr-HS La Porte, Texas (La Porte)
Jace Statum OF 5-9 165 L/L Fr-HS Orangefield, Texas (Orangefield)
Kirby Taylor INF 6-0 175 R/R Fr-HS Bellaire, Texas (Bellaire)
James Wooster P/OF 6-2 200 L/L Jr-TR League City, Texas (Clear Creek/Alvin JC)
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