Baseball Announces Fall Signing Class
11/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Spartanburg, S.C. - USC Upstate head baseball coach Matt Fincher has announced the signing of nine players during the early signing period. The early signees attend schools in six different states and one province.
"This class addresses several needs," Fincher said. "Assistant coaches Tyler Cook and Tim Brown put in a lot of work putting this group together and we're excited to see what they can do for our team moving forward."
The nine early signees are Cole Albers, Brandon Bischof, Tyson Ellis, Will Hardigree, Jordan Marks, Austin Morgan, Toran Shahidi, Mason Stewart and Jacob Theissen.
Cole Albers, IF, Champlin Park High School (Minnesota)
A top 500 player by Perfect Game, Albers was an All-Section honoree while leading Champlin Park to a State Runner-Up finish. As a junior, he hit .303 and was named the team's Gold Glove Award winner.
"Cole is a rangy shortstop who can make all the plays," assistant coach Tyler Cook said. "He has established himself as one of the top infielders in the state of Minnesota, and I am so excited to have him down here. I think he has the ability to compete for a job right away in our program."
"I chose USC Upstate because of the relationship I had with the coaches and how they treated me as a priority in the recruiting process," said Albers of his decision to commit to the Spartans. "The opportunity to come in and earn playing time as a freshman was also a huge factor."
Brandon Bischof, OF/LHP, Saint Vincent/Saint Mary (Ohio)
Bischof enters his senior season ranked as a top 10 outfielder in the state of Ohio according to Prep Baseball Report. As a junior, Bischof hit .329 with six doubles, and also struck out 40 batters on the mound in 30 innings of work. In the fall, Bischof is a starting linebacker for the Irish football team.
"Brandon comes from a highly respected program in the state of Ohio," Cook stated. "He is a physical outfielder who swings it well from the left side of the plate. As a lefty, his ability to mix three pitches will fill a void in our pitching staff. A two-sport athlete in high school, his athleticism will be a pleasure to coach over the next four years."
"I chose USC Upstate because it gives me an opportunity to do what I love at a high level," Bischof explained. "I have built a great relationship with the coaches so far, and I love the campus and facilities. The nice southern weather was also a huge bonus."
Tyson Ellis, RHP, Columbia High School (Florida)
A Top 1000 recruit by Perfect Game, Ellis will enter his senior year as the ace of the Columbia staff. This past summer, he was one of the best arms on the Orlando Scorpions North team. He will bring a strong three-pitch mix to Spartanburg in the fall of 2017.
"Tyson is an extremely athletic pitcher who will compete in the zone," Cook commented. "He has three pitches that he can throw for strikes and as his body fills out, I see him being an important piece of our program moving forward."
"I chose Upstate because they believe in my ability to perform at a high level and when I visited the campus and the facilities I felt at home," Ellis said.
Will Hardigree, C/RHP, Winder Barrow High School (Georgia)
Ranked the 364th best player in the country by Perfect Game, Hardigree was an important piece to Winder Barrow High School as a junior. He led the team in walks and on base percentage, all while going 8-1 on the mound.
"Will has a presence on the field that you cannot teach," Cook stated. "His feel for the game is something that caught my eye right away. He has power from the right side of the plate and great hands behind it. I cannot wait to get him to campus and for him to unlock his enormous potential as a baseball player."
"Upstate is the perfect fit for me," Hardigree said. "The moment I walked on campus I knew it was the place I wanted to spend the next four years."
Jordan Marks, RHP, Saint Clair Secondary (Ontario, Canada)
Jordan will come to USC Upstate after an impressive summer with the Great Lake Canadians. The right hander threw 79 innings this summer, with 66 strikeouts and a 1.40 ERA in the Canadian Premier Baseball League.
"Jordan has tremendous upside," assistant coach Tim Brown said. "He commands his fastball to both sides of the plate and has gained valuable experience pitching against US College Teams this past fall. We are excited to get him to campus and think he has a very bright future."
"Upstate has a very nice campus and plays in a very competitive conference," Marks said. "The guys all had one goal: to win a conference championship. It was an opportunity I could not pass up."
Austin Morgan, C, Easley High School (South Carolina)
A Top 1000 player by Perfect Game, Morgan will begin his senior season at Easley after hitting .320 as a junior. Along with his average, he hit five home runs and had 30 RBI's. Morgan is also a starting defensive end for the Easley football team.
"Austin is a tall, physical catcher that will be a great addition to our team," Cook stated. "He has power at the plate and an extremely strong arm behind the dish. He plays for a great high school program in the state and we are excited to get him to campus."
The combination of athletics and academics were a major selling point for Morgan on coming to Upstate. "I decided to extend my baseball career at USC Upstate because I felt it was the best place for me academically and athletically," Morgan said of his decision to sign at Upstate. "The coaching staff showed genuine interest in me, and I wasn't just another player to them."
Toran Shahidi, C, Kirkwood Community College (Iowa)
Shahidi will come to USC Upstate after spending the last three years at Kirkwood Community College. As a freshman in 2015, he hit .342 with a 2:1 walk to strikeout ratio. In 2016, his season was lost due to injury. A former Top 1000 recruit in high school, Shahidi starred at Ames High School.
"The energy and leadership that Toran brings on a daily basis is a pleasure to watch," Cook said. "Every time I saw him play, he found a way to get on base and help his team. I am looking forward to seeing what that mentality can provide in our locker room next year."
"I picked Upstate because of the opportunity to further my baseball and academic career," Shahidi said. "It has been a lifelong dream of mine to play Division I baseball in the south. I believe that Upstate gives me the best chance to be successful on and off the field. I am excited to be a Spartan."
Mason Stewart, IF/OF, Easley High School (South Carolina)
Stewart will begin his senior season at Easley High School as a top 30 player in the state and a top 1000 recruit overall by Perfect Game. As a junior, he hit .350 from the leadoff spot with 15 RBI and 27 runs scored. That production helped Easley to their best record in school history and a berth in the semifinals of the Upper State Championship.
"Mason is a guy who will provide great versatility to our team," Cook commented. "He is a guy that can play multiple positions, and his bat will allow him to compete early for playing time. He is a strong leader, and we are looking forward to having him as a part of our program."
"Upstate felt like home to me the day I stepped foot on campus," Stewart said. "The coaching staff made me feel very comfortable and invested a lot of time in me. I am looking forward to my next four years as a Spartan."
Jacob Thiessen, RHP, Indian Hills Community College (Iowa)
Thiessen comes to Spartanburg after spending the last two years at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa. As a freshman in 2016, Thiessen appeared in 16 games, throwing 37 innings for IHCC. He finished the year averaging over five strikeouts per nine innings and will bring a very competitive mentality to the mound for the Spartans.
"Jacob will be a key piece again this spring for a tradition-rich junior college in Iowa," Brown said. "He had a very successful summer season, and his arm will only continue to get stronger. His work ethic and character will be extremely valuable to our team the next two years."
The George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics was part of what led Thiessen to sign with the Spartans. "I chose Upstate because of the winning atmosphere not only the baseball team has but the entire school. I wanted to be a part of a family and Upstate welcomed me like I was one of their own. The accomplished business school and beautiful campus is something I look forward to," Thiessen said.
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