Baseball Signs Five During Early Signing Period
12/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate baseball team signed a total of five players during the early signing period for the class of 2015. Joining the Spartans are Anthony Dimino (Charlotte, N.C.), Greg Guers (Washington, Pa.), L.J. Newman (Easley, S.C.), David Palladino (Emerson, N.J.) and Jonathon Pulley (Boiling Springs, S.C.).
Anthony Dimino will join the Spartans from North Mecklenburg HS in Huntersville, N.C. As a junior, he finished the season with a .402 average and tallied 23 RBI to go along with 16 extra base hits. Dimino also stole 10 bases in 2010.
During the 4-A playoffs he owned a .600 average batting third in the Viking lineup. The incoming Spartan has earned three letters in baseball at North Mecklenburg and has picked up All-Conference honors along the way. Dimino played primarily at shortstop where he led the team in fielding position last season.
Greg Guers will arrive in Spartanburg from Germantown Academy in Washington, Pa. Last season Guers finished with a .459 average, 29 RBI, 10 extra base hits and eight stolen bases. Germantown finished the season 29-3 and was ranked 14th-nationally by Baseball America.
In conference only games, Guers batted .483 and drove in 18 runs. He also had three doubles and three home runs. On April 15, 2010, against Penn Charter, the conference champion, Guers went 3-for-3. All three of his hits were for extra bases (two homeruns and a double) and he finished with nine RBI. Guers was also a member of the Newton, Pa. little league baseball team that advanced to the 2005 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
L.J. Newman will make the short trip to Upstate from Wren HS in Easley, S.C. During his time at Wren, Newman has been the starting varsity catcher all three seasons and will be the starting catcher on opening day. He earned all-region and all-area honors after his sophomore and junior campaigns.
Newman was also honored as a USSSA All-American this past spring. Newman also excels in the classroom as he has been honored by the National Honor Society (2009-10 & 2010-11) and the National Spanish Honor Society (2010-11).
David Palladino will join the Spartans after wrapping up his prep career at Emerson HS in Emerson, N.J. Palladino transferred to Emerson HS on April 12 of this year and began playing on May 14th and pitched 34 2/3 innings in a 20-day span as he posted a 5-1 record with a 1.62 ERA and 33 strikeouts. In the New Jersey State Quarterfinals, Palladino tossed a no-hitter. Emerson claimed the league and sectional championships before falling in the state semifinals.
Prior to joining Emerson, Palladino played at Paramus Catholic HS (Paramus, N.J.). As a sophomore, finished with a team-best .455 average and totaled 14 RBI. Finished the season 4-2 and fanned 55 batters in 45 innings of work. While on the freshman team in 2008, Palladino served as a team captain and batted .425 and drove in 28 runs. On the mound, he posted a 5-2 mark with a 1.91 ERA and 56 strikeouts.
Jonathon Pulley will make the shortest trip of all early signees as the Boiling Springs, S.C., native will make the short trip down Valley Falls Road to Upstate's campus. Pulley is a three-year letterwinner at Boiling Springs HS where he is rated in the top 10 among right-handed pitchers in the state of South Carolina and ranked in the top-300 nationally (among RHP).
In a world wooden bat league game, Pulley went the distance as he tossed a no-hitter. He was also selected to the Continental Amateur Baseball Association International Team.
Upstate will kick-off the 2011 season when Colonial Athletic Association member George Mason travels to Harley Park on Feb. 18. First pitch between the Spartans and the Patriots is slated for 4:00 p.m.
