Memphis Baseball Inks Four Top Recruits

Dave Anderson

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Head baseball coach Dave Anderson released the names today of four additional signees, giving him a total of eight heading into the 2003 season. Anderson welcomes three pitchers in Stephen Gostkowski, Jarrett Grube, Corey Kines and third baseman John Moran.

Gostkowski, a 6-3, 195 pound graduate of Madison Central high school in Madison, MS, was tabbed the 13th best prospect of all draft eligible players in Mississippi by Baseball America. During his senior season, the righthanded Gostkowski sported an 8-2 record to go with a 1.70 ERA, recorded three saves and struck out a total of 83 batters in just 70 innings pitched, en route to leading MCHS to the 2002 5A state championship.

No slouch at the plate, he collected 38 hits, slammed three home runs, drove in 25 runs, batted .349 and swiped 15 stolen bases in 16 attempts.

As a junior pitcher, Gostkowski was named all-metro and second-team all-state, competed in the Mississippi state games that summer and also ventured to the East Coast Professional Showcase in Wilmington, NC where he played with the New York Mets.

Following his senior campaign, Gostkowski was chosen first-team all-state by both the Clarion Ledger and the MAC Coaches Poll, this time however, as both a pitcher and centerfielder. He is currently set to participate in the 4A-5A Mississippi high school baseball all-star game in Jackson, Miss. on June 8th.

A two-sport threat, Gostkowski is expected to compete for the starting kicker spot on the U of M football team this fall after a successful three-year kicking career at MCHS. Gostkowski's kicking efforts earned him first-team all-state (MAC Coaches Poll) honors three years straight and all-metro accolades following his sophomore and junior seasons. Gostkowski was a key member of the 2000 Madison Central 5A state championship team.

"He's a great all-around athlete who was signed mainly as a pitcher but also has the ability to play the outfield," said Anderson.

Grube, a 6-4 RHP, comes to Memphis as a transfer from Vincennes University JC in Vincennes, Indiana. In his two seasons at VU, the big 220 pound hurler went 12-7 in over 118 innings of work and fanned 172 batters. This past year, Grube held a 3.03 ERA, allowed just 21 earned runs, struck out over 90 hitters and recorded four complete games through 11 starts. Grube's head coach at Vincennes, Jerry Blemker, also coached current U of M pitching coach Larry Owens. The Dekalb high school (Dekalb, IN) graduate played prep baseball for Chris Rhodes.

"We signed him as a starting pitcher. He's another big, strong righthanded pitcher who had an outstanding year at Vincennes," offered Anderson.

Kines, is a local righthanded pitching prospect out of Southwest Tennessee CC by way of Germantown high school. The six-foot, 185 pound workhorse enjoyed a superb sophomore season at SW TN CC where he was a TJCCAA first-team all-West Division selection after posting a 3.47 ERA over 12 starts with 46 K's and three complete games. That same year, Kines batted .345 with 30 RBI, 13 doubles, one home run, drew 24 walks and maintained an on-base percentage of .434. Kines' freshman campaign saw the hurler go 8-1 through just 10 starts, fan 45 batters, and hit .314 from the plate with 12 doubles and 24 RBI. A 2000 GHS graduate, Kines was coached by Phil Clark with the Red Devils and later by Doug Darnall at SW TN CC.

"Corey's a versatile pitcher who can fill several roles for us," said Anderson. "From starting, to relief, to the end of ballgames. He has great control and can help us in many different areas."

Moran, a 6-3/190 pound, three-year infielder/relief pitcher for Southaven high school (Southaven, MS), hit .407 with seven doubles, three home runs, 17 RBI, stole seven bases and drew 24 walks his senior season. Last year, Moran also went 3-2 from the mound with a 2.17 ERA, recorded four saves and produced 36 strikeout's through just 32 innings. The 2002 SHS honors graduate was named one of the Commercial Appeals Top 20 seniors and received all-Shelby metro and all-conference honors this season, in addition to being selected to the 5A Mississippi All-Star squad. As a junior, the Mississippi native garnered all-conference, all-Shelby metro and all-DeSoto county accolades and two years prior, helped guide SHS to back-to-back state titles in 1999 and 2000. Moran played under head coach Ed Rich at Southhaven high.

"He's a solid defensive player with the potenteial to become a good power hitter," stated Anderson. "He has the abitliy to play several different postitions."

As a group, Anderson feels fairly optimistic about this class. "We're excited about our class for 2003," said Anderson. "They all bring athleticism and winning backgrounds to the University of Memphis."

In other developments

Local U of M signee Matt Cain was the 25th overall selection in Tuesday's 2002 MLB draft after being taken in the first round by the San Francisco Giants. The Giants' selection of the 6-3 righthander from Houston high school marks the fourth straight year the club has used their first pick on a righthanded hurler.

Another Tiger signee, Alabama Southern CC centerfielder Kevin House (Memphis, Tenn./Whitehaven HS) was recently named a 2002 NJCAA Men's Baseball Division II All-American.

Both House and Cain originally inked with Memphis during the early signing period last November.