Clark Inks 16 to National Letters of Intent
Dec 17, 2001 | Baseball
Dec. 17, 2001
Manhattan, Kan. - Head baseball coach Mike Clark announced Monday the signing of 16 student-athletes to national letters of intent to play baseball at Kansas State, beginning in the 2003 season. The class includes 10 junior-college transfers and six incoming freshmen.
Among the signees from the junior college ranks are Ryan Ashley (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Marc Chabot (Kingston, Ontario), Sean Clancy (Aurora, Colo.), Josh Heinrich (Englewood, Colo.), Gerron McGary (Texarkana, Texas), Terry Montoya (Pueblo West, Colo), Brian Patty (Burkburnett, Texas), Michael and Steven Reiss (Thornhill, Ontario) and Jim Ripley (Toronto, Ontario). Chris Carlson (Topeka, Kan.), Devin Collis (St. Charles, Mo.), Nick DiPaolo (Englewood, Colo.), Jon Mallett (Topeka, Kan.), Danny Vais (Arvada, Colo.) and Allan Woodward (Columbia, Mo.) join the squad as freshmen.
"Our biggest need was pitching and catching and I think we did a good job in both areas with this class," Clark said. "We not only like the quantity of players we signed, but the quality. We signed 10 pitchers who will really push us to the top of the league. They're good arms right now. We also think that the three catchers we signed will provide us good competition at a really critical position."
By position, the class has 10 pitchers, including three left-handed hurlers, three catchers, two infielders and one outfielder. The 16 signees come from five different states and Canada. The Wildcats grabbed five prospects from Colorado, four from Canada, two each from Kansas, Missouri and Texas and one from Oklahoma. The four Canadian signees will join three current Canadian Wildcats - Andrew Dunsmore, Jason Simon, Brendan Sullivan.
Bio sketches on each of the 16 signees to follow.
Ryan Ashley
RHP * 6-1 * 195 * Junior
Oklahoma City, Okla. (Midwest City HS/Texarkana (Texas) College)
Will enter Kansas State as a junior... One of two Texarkana players to sign with the Wildcats, joining teammate Gerron McGary... In his second year as the primary closer for Texarkana College in Texarkana, Texas... In 2001, the Bulldogs claimed the Region XIV and TEAC Conference titles before advancing to the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colo., where they went 0-2... Finished the season at 39-21 overall... Named second team all-TEAC as a freshman... Made 20 appearances from the mound as a freshman... Tallied a 5-3 mark and 2.44 ERA with five saves and one complete game... Allowed 30 runs (13 earned) on 50 hits in 48 innings pitched with 32 strikeouts and 13 walks... Set the conference mark for fewest walks with eight... Averaged six strikeouts per game and held opposing batters to a .246 average... Coached at Texarkana by Matt Deggs... A four-year letterwinner at Midwest City High School in Midwest City, Okla. ... Earned honorable mention all-state honors and honorable mention Big All-City accolades from the Daily Oklahoman as a senior... Compiled an 11-1 record and 1.34 ERA with 73 strikeouts in 68 innings pitched as a senior... Pitched for the Midwest City Outlaws during the summer of 2001... Hails from the same high school as current Wildcat OF Gabe Luttrell.
Chris Carlson
1B/3B * 6-4 * 215 * Freshman
Topeka, Kan. (Seaman)
Four-year starter and letterman in baseball at Seaman High School in Topeka, Kan. ... Hails from the same hometown as fellow signee Jon Mallett (Washburn Rural HS) and current Wildcat IF Jerad Head (Hayden HS)... Nominated for the Wendy's High School Heisman Award as a senior... Twice earned first team Topeka Capital-Journal All-City and All-Centennial League honors, first as a utility player (sophomore) and then as a catcher (junior)... Ranks in the top 5 in five career and two single-season records at Seaman, including the career leader in RBIs with 69... Places third in career hits (66) and home runs (9), fourth in games played (61) and at-bats (186) and fifth in single-season home runs (5) and RBIs (30)... Has a career .355 batting average... Also has seen action as a pitcher in his career, tallying a 4-0 record and 3.11 ERA in 54 innings pitched with 41 strikeouts... Led the team in home runs and RBIs as both a sophomore and junior... As a junior, tallied a .385 average in 65 at-bats with 16 runs scored on 25 hits and 25 RBIs... Helped the Vikings win the 2000 5A State Baseball Championship as a sophomore... Had two hits and four RBIs in the championship... Was the winning pitcher against top-ranked Haysville-Campus in the state semifinals... A three-sport athlete who also stars in football and basketball... Lettered three years in both football and basketball... As a senior, collected first team All-City and All-Centennial League accolades as a quarterback and punter... Led Seaman to a perfect 9-0 regular season record en route to the Centennial League championship and third straight berth in the Class 5A playoffs... Accounted for 1,125 yards of total offense and 17 touchdowns, while also leading the city in punting (36.0 yards/game)... Completed 46 of 93 passes for 845 yards and a city-high 10 touchdowns to go with 280 yards on the ground and seven touchdowns... Nominated for the 2002 Shrine Bowl... Also honored as a first team all-league and second team all-city selection as a tight end and defensive end as a junior... Earned second team all-league accolades as a punter as a sophomore... Earned second team All-City honors in basketball in 2000 after averaging a team-best 13.3 points and 6.9 rebounds... Also named first team All-Centennial League... Currently averaging a team-best 15.3 points, which ranks fourth in city stats... Uncle, Mike Carlson, was a first team NAIA All-American at Emporia State in 1987... Mike still holds many career hitting records at ESU... Inducted into the ESU Hall of Fame this past fall... Two-year member of the National Honor Society... Earned Seaman's Scholar-Athlete award as a junior... High Honor Roll for three years at Seaman... Coached by Steve Bushnell.
Marc Chabot [sha-BOT]
SS * 5-11 * 165 * Junior
Kingston, Ontario (Lasalle HS/ Connors State (Okla.) College)
Will enter Kansas State as a junior... One of two Connors State players to sign with the Wildcats, joining teammate Jim Ripley... One of four signees from Canada... In his second year as the starting second baseman for Connors State College in Warner, Okla. ... In 2001, the Shabs finished at No. 2 in the final NJCAA Top 20 poll with a 46-12 record... Lost in the second round of the Region II playoffs... Named to the All-Region II team and the team's defensive MVP... Saw action in all 58 games for Connors... As a freshman, tallied a .325 average in 126 at-bats with 31 runs scored on 41 hits and 28 RBIs... Also added a home run and six stolen bases... Struck out just 12 times, while earning 24 walks... Collected an impressive .986 fielding percentage... Coached by Perry Keith... A three-year letterwinner at Lasalle High School in Kingston, Ontario... Member of Team Ontario (elite provincial team)... Also lettered in basketball.
Sean Clancy
LHP * 6-1 * 175 * Junior
Aurora, Colo. (Overland HS/Lamar (Colo.) College)
Will enter Kansas State as a junior... One of two Lamar players to sign with the Wildcats, joining teammate Terry Montoya... One of five signees from Colorado... In his second year as a starting pitcher for Lamar College in Lamar, Colo. ... Will fill one of the team's top two spots in the rotation in 2002... In 2001, the Lopes finished at No. 13 in the final NJCAA Top 20 poll with a 47-12 record... Lost in the second round of the Region IX playoffs... Made 13 appearances from the mound as the team's lone freshman in the rotation... Posted a 5-1 mark and 5.82 ERA in six starts with one complete game... Allowed 42 runs on 67 hits in 43.1 innings pitched with 30 strikeouts and 15 walks... Coached at Lamar by Scott Crampton... A three-year starter and letterwinner at Overland High School in Aurora, Colo. ... Earned first team All-Centennial Conference accolades as both a pitcher and outfielder as a senior... Selected to the league all-star team and played in the Colorado Top 40 senior game played at Coors Field, where he was the winning pitcher... Named the team's MVP and Offensive Player of the Year as a senior... Also lettered four years in golf, holding the team's top spot for three years... Senior Class President... Member of the National Art Honor Society and FCA... Coached by Don Parker.
Devin Collis [COLL-is]
LHP * 6-3 * 165 * Freshman
St. Charles, Mo. (Francis Howell North)
Four-year letterman and three-year starter in baseball at Francis Howell North High School in St. Charles, Mo. ... One of two signees from Missouri... Helped the Knights to a 24-7 record and runner-up finish to Joplin in the Class 4A state championship in 2001... Team finished ranked No. 1 among large high schools in the St. Louis Metro Area... Earned second team all-state and all-Metro honors as a junior... Also named first team all-county... Led the team in five categories, including inning pitched, wins, complete games, shutouts and strikeouts... Made 11 appearance from the mound... Compiled an 8-2 mark and 2.77 ERA in 10 starts with five complete games and one shutout... Allowed 28 runs (24 earned) on 59 hits in 60.7 innings pitched with 75 strikeouts and just seven walks... Held opposing batters to a .244 average... Posted a 6-2 mark and 1.89 ERA as a sophomore... Named a Varsity Legion All-Star as a sophomore and junior... During the summer, helped the Midwest Prospects to a second-place finish at the NABF High School World Series... Also lettered four years in soccer and one in basketball... Helped soccer to runner-up finish at state... Team captain in soccer as a sophomore... Father, Ted, was a swimmer at Arizona State, while mother, Holly, was a cheerleader for the Sun Devils... Grandfather played professional baseball... Coached by Bob Dunghue.
Nick DiPaolo [de-PAUL-oh]
C * 6-0 * 195 * Freshman
Englewood, Colo. (Cherry Creek)
Four-year starter and letterman in baseball at Cherry Creek High School in Englewood, Colo. ... One of five signees from Colorado... Hails from the same high school as fellow signee Josh Heinrich and current Wildcat OF Brad Anzman... Helped the team to an 18-7 record and runner-up finish to Smoky Hill in the Class 5A state championship in 2001... Selected first team All-Centennial League as a junior... Hit a season-best 18 home runs in 2001... Named MVP of the Connie Mack League Tournament as a junior, while he was runner-up MVP as a sophomore... Also lettered two years in football and wrestling... Grandfather was a catcher in the Chicago Cubs organization... Coached by Marc Johnson, who was named Baseball America's National High School Coach for the 1990s.
Josh Heinrich [HINE-rick]
C * 5-10 * 180 * Junior
Englewood, Colo. (Cherry Creek HS/Seward County (Kan.) College)
Will enter Kansas State as a junior... One of two Seward County players to sign with the Wildcats, joining teammate Brian Patty... One of five signees from Colorado... Hails from the same junior college as current Wildcat OF Nick Sorensen... Also comes from the same high school as fellow signee Nick DiPaolo and current Wildcat OF Brad Anzman... In his second year as the starting catcher at Seward County College in Liberal, Kan. ... Helped the Saints to a 36-18 record and the Jayhawk West Championship in 2001... Saw action in 40 of 56 games for Seward... As a freshman, tallied a .347 average in 98 at-bats with 21 runs scored on 34 hits and 18 RBIs... Posted 10 extra-base hits, including three home runs... Coached at Seward by Galen McSpadden... A two-year letterman and one-year starter at Cherry Creek High School in Englewood, Colo. ... Selected first team All-Centennial League as a senior... Batted .450 as a senior... Helped Cherry Creek to the 1999 Class 5A state title as a junior... Coached by Marc Johnson, who was named Baseball America's National High School Coach for the 1990s.
Jon Mallett [MAL-lit]
C * 5-10 * 190 * Freshman
Topeka, Kan. (Washburn Rural)
Three-year starter and letterman in baseball at Washburn Rural High School in Topeka, Kan. ... Hails from the same hometown as fellow signee Chris Carlson and current Wildcat IF Jerad Head (Hayden HS)... Earned Topeka Capital-Journal second team All-City and All-Centennial League honors as a junior... Posted a .380 average and a team-leading three home runs... Had seven RBIs in the two-game regional that earned Rural a state tournament berth... The Junior Blues lost to Lawrence High in the Class 6A state quarterfinals in 2001 in extra-innings... Mallett had a home run in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings... Hit 14 home runs over the summer for the Topeka Stars that finished second in the high school division of the NBC Tournament in Arkansas... Also lettered one year in football... High school teammate Blair Johnson signed a baseball scholarship at Nebraska... Comes from a baseball family... Father, Greg, played semiprofessional baseball for seven years, while grandfather made the St. Louis Cardinals team in the 1930s... Coached by Doug Holmes.
Gerron [jah-RON] McGary
LHP * 6-1 * 185 * Junior
Texarkana, Texas (Nashville HS/Texarkana (Texas) College)
Will enter Kansas State as a junior... One of two Texarkana players to sign with the Wildcats, joining teammate Ryan Ashley... In his second year as the non-conference starting pitcher for Texarkana College in Texarkana, Texas... Will be the team's No. 2 starter this spring... In 2001, the Bulldogs claimed the Region XIV and TEAC Conference titles before advancing to the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colo., where they went 0-2... Finished the season at 39-21 overall... Drafted in the 45th round by the Chicago White Sox in the 2001 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft... Made 13 appearances from the mound as a freshman... Tallied a 2-5 mark and 5.00 ERA... Allowed 26 runs (19 earned) on 24 hits in 32 innings pitched with 31 strikeouts and 30 walks... Averaged nine strikeouts per game and held opposing batters to a .200 average... Coached at Texarkana by Matt Deggs... A three-year starter and letterman at Nashville High School in Texarkana, Texas ... Earned all-region and honorable mention all-conference honors as a senior... Grandfather played for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro League... Coached by Brad Bray and Frank Puryear.
Terry Montoya
RHP * 6-1 * 205 * Junior
Pueblo West, Colo. (Pueblo Centennial HS/Lamar (Colo.) College)
Will enter Kansas State as a junior... One of two Lamar players to sign with the Wildcats, joining teammate Sean Clancy... One of five signees from Colorado... In his second year as a middle reliever/closer for Lamar College in Lamar, Colo. ... In 2001, the Lopes finished at No. 13 in the final NJCAA Top 20 poll with a 47-12 record... Lost in the second round of the Region IX playoffs... Made 21 appearances from the mound with one start... Collected a 2-2 mark and 4.12 ERA with five saves... Ranked ninth in saves in the NJCAA... Allowed 22 runs on 28 hits in 34 innings pitched with 35 strikeouts and 27 walks... Coached at Lamar by Scott Crampton... A four-year starter and letterman at Pueblo Centennial High School in Pueblo, Colo. ... A three-time All-South Central League selection... Named the team MVP as a sophomore and senior... Also lettered four years in football where he earned all-state honors as a senior and was a three-year all-conference selection... Father, Sam, was a linebacker at UNLV from 1973-74... Coached by Jeff Kurtz.
Brian Patty
OF * 6-2 * 185 * Junior
Burkburnett, Texas (Burkburnett HS/Seward County (Kan.) College)
Will enter Kansas State as a junior... One of two Seward County players to sign with the Wildcats, joining teammate Josh Heinrich... Hails from the same junior college as current Wildcat OF Nick Sorensen... In his second year as the starting outfielder at Seward County College in Liberal, Kan. ... Helped the Saints to a 36-18 record and the Jayhawk West Championship in 2001... Saw action in 51 of 56 games for Seward... Selected to the NJCAA All-Star Game where he ran the fastest 60-yard dash (6.61)... As a freshman, tallied a .333 average in 128 at-bats with 32 runs scored on 40 hits and 25 RBIs... Posted 16 extra-base hits, including five home runs... Posted seven stolen bases and 23 walks... Coached at Seward by Galen McSpadden... A four-year starter and letterman at Burkburnett High School in Burkburnett, Texas ... Named all-district as a junior and senior... Also lettered four years in track and two years in basketball... Coached by Mike Leach.
Michael Reiss [Reese]
RHP * 6-5 * 195 * Sophomore
Thornhill, Ontario (Vaughan S.S./Houston/Seminole (Fla.) College)
Will enter Kansas State as a sophomore... One of two Seminole College players to sign with the Wildcats, joining twin brother Steven... Part of the third set of twins to sign with the Kansas State program (Tim and Pat Hertzel & Ross and Ryan Hawley)... One of four signees from Canada... In his first year at Seminole Community College after transferring from the University of Houston before the fall semester... In 2001, Houston finished second in Conference USA and advanced to the NCAA Regional held at Rice... Finished the season at 29-30 overall... Saw limited action as a freshman, tallying a 0-0 record and 14.73 ERA in five appearances and two starts... Started games against Arizona and Rice... Coached at Houston by Rayner Noble... A four-year starter and letterman at Vaughan Secondary School in Thornhill, Ontario... Drafted in the 26th round by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2000 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft... Played two years for the Canadian National Team... Ranked among the Top 40 prospects in Canada by Baseball America... Played for Team Ontario in the 1998 Canadian National Championships and pitched a one-hitter in the opening round of the tournament... Also lettered in basketball where he was team MVP as a senior... Named the school's freshman and junior Athlete of the Year... Relates that he and his brother threw back-to-back no-hitters as high school freshmen... Coached by Neil Saigai... Chose Kansas State over Clemson but was also recruited by LSU, Miami and N.C. State.
Steven Reiss [Reese]
RHP * 6-5 * 190 * Junior
Thornhill, Ontario (Vaughan S.S./Houston/Seminole (Fla.) College)
Will enter Kansas State as a junior... One of two Seminole College players to sign with the Wildcats, joining twin brother Michael... Part of the third set of twins to sign with the Kansas State program (Tim and Pat Hertzel & Ross and Ryan Hawley)... One of four signees from Canada... In his first year at Seminole Community College after transferring from the University of Houston before the fall semester... In 2001, Houston finished second in Conference USA and advanced to the NCAA Regional held at Rice... Finished the season at 29-30 overall... Saw limited action as a freshman, tallying a 0-0 record and 9.00 ERA in nine appearances... Allowed 10 runs (10 earned) on 10 hits in 10 innings pitched with eight strikeouts and eight walks... Held opposing batters to a .256 batting average... Threw two shutout innings against top-ranked Rice, allowing one hit and striking out four... Opened his college career at Enron Field against Baylor and threw two scoreless innings... Coached at Houston by Rayner Noble... A four-year starter and letterman at Vaughan Secondary School in Thornhill, Ontario... Drafted in the 27th round by the Minnesota Twins in the 2000 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft... Played in the Area Code Games with the Chicago White Sox... Ranked 125th by Baseball America before 2000 draft... Placed among the Top 40 prospects in Canada by Baseball America... Also lettered in basketball, volleyball and cross country... Relates that he and his brother threw back-to-back no-hitters as high school freshmen... Coached by Neil Saigai... Chose Kansas State over Clemson but was also recruited by North Carolina, Arizona State and N.C. State.
Jim Ripley
RHP * 6-2 * 180 * Junior
Toronto, Ontario (Pickering HS/ Connors State (Okla.) College)
Will enter Kansas State as a junior... One of two Connors State players to sign with the Wildcats, joining teammate Marc Chabot... One of four signees from Canada... In his second year as a relief pitcher for Connors State College in Warner, Okla. ... In 2001, the Shabs finished at No. 2 in the final NJCAA Top 20 poll with a 46-12 record... Lost in the second round of the Region II playoffs... Collected a 3-2 record and 5.74 ERA in 23 innings pitched... Allowed 24 runs (17 earned) with 21 strikeouts and 18 walks... Coached by Perry Keith... A three-year letterwinner at Pickering High School in Toronto, Ontario... Earned all-city and all-province honors as a senior... Member of Team Ontario (elite provincial team)... Also lettered in football and basketball... Collected all-city honors in football and was named the defensive player of the year in basketball.
Danny Vais [Vase]
RHP * 6-1 * 195 * Freshman
Arvada, Colo. (Arvada West)
Three-year starter and letterman in baseball at Arvada West High School in Arvada, Colo. ... One of five signees from Colorado... Collected all-Jefferson County and Denver Post honorable mention Class 5A all-state honors as a junior... Also lettered four years in basketball... Earned all-conference and honorable mention all-state accolades as a junior... Selected as a "Player to Watch" by the Denver Post... Coached by Jim Capra.
Allan Woodward
RHP * 6-0 * 180 * Freshman
Columbia, Mo. (Rock Bridge)
Four-year starter and letterman in baseball at Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, Mo. ... One of two signees from Missouri... Tied for the school record in career wins with 13, while he ranks third in career strikeouts with 130... Selected to the All-North Central Missouri Conference and all-district teams as a sophomore and junior... Named to the Columbia Tribune's All-Area team as a third baseman in 2001... Posted a 5-2 record and 2.49 ERA from the mound as a junior, while batting .413 with 15 RBIs... Helped the Bruins to a 16-7 record and the semifinals of the Class 4A playoffs... Tallied a 3.43 ERA in 60 innings pitched as a sophomore with 60 strikeouts... Earned honorable mention all-conference accolades as a freshman... Also lettered four years in football, earning starts as sophomore and junior at running back... High school football coach is Dan Devine, Jr., son of the legendary Missouri and Notre Dame head coach... Coached by Terry Whitney... First Rock Bridge baseball player to sign with a Division I since 1993... Chose Kansas State over Missouri, Saint Louis and SW Missouri State.
