NORFOLK, VA-- ODU Head Baseball Coach Chris Finwood, announced the signing of nine student-athletes in last week's early signing period. The Class includes six high school players and three junior college transfers. Four of the high school players are from Virginia and three of them are from the Hampton roads area.
“We are fired up about this class,” said Finwood, the 2014 ABCA Regional Coach of the Year. “I certainly want to recognize Karl Nonemaker, our recruiting coordinator, and Tim LaVigne, our pitching coach, for their hard work in creating the relationships with these young men and their families. We met our immediate and future needs with this class with a good blend of high school and junior college talent. The common denominator in this class, besides talent, is that they are a great group of competitors with fun, outgoing personalities.”
The signees are listed below, along with more information on each player, their accomplishments, and Finwood’s comments.
Kyle Beam - 6’1 R/R Catcher - Hood River, OR - Lane CC
Beam is a physical catcher from Lane CC in Eugene, Oregon. As a freshman at Lane, he was selected 2nd team All-Southern Region for the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC). In 2013, Beam’s senior year of high school, he was the 5A State Player of the Year for Oregon while batting .506 with seven home runs. He was a 1st team All-State performer as a junior and senior in high school.
Finwood on Beam:
“Kyle is an outstanding defensive catcher with a strong arm and tons of power potential. We were looking for a junior college catcher and Kyle was the first one we wanted. He has great make-up and runs the game very well. We also think he has the ability to help shut down opposing teams’ running games.”
Jack Jett - 6’4 RHP - Reedville, VA - Northumberland High School
Jett was the starting pitcher on the 2014 State Champion Northumberland High School baseball team. He went 8-2 on the mound with a 2.8 ERA and was selected first team all-conference, region, and state at second base.
Finwood on Jett:
“Jack won the State Championship last year and he is the son of Super Bowl Champion Punter with the Dallas Cowboys, John Jett. Jack has a very good feel for his off-speed pitches and as he continues to mature, he should be a very good pitcher here in our program.”
Reign Letkeman - 6’3 RHP - Red Deer, Alberta, Canada - Big Bend CC
Reign is the starting short stop and a starting pitcher for Big Bend CC in Moses Lake, Washington. As a freshman in college, Reign went 4-2 on the mound with a 2.61 ERA. He struck out 50 batters and gave up 43 hits in 51.2 innings pitched. He was a 2nd team East Region selection of the NWAC (Northwest Athletic Conference). In high school, Reign played for Team Alberta, an all-star team made up of the province’s best players.
Finwood on Letkeman:
“Reign is a very versatile and athletic RHP who has a bright future here at ODU. He has had success at both closing and starting games, which will add valuable experience for when he arrives at ODU. Once he can concentrate on pitching full-time, he should really blossom.”
Morgan Maguire - 6’2 RHP - Rumson, NJ - Rumson Fair-Haven High School
Maguire went 8-2 with a 1.45 ERA on the mound for Rumson Fair-Haven HS last spring. He was selected 1st team All-Shore Conference and was named the 2014 A-Central Division Hitter of the year. Maguire plays summer baseball for Coach Rob Maida and the 9ers Baseball Club out of NJ with fellow signee Will Morgan.
Finwood on Maguire:
“Morgan is an ultra-competitive RHP who we think can fill a variety of roles on our pitching staff in the future. We love Morgan’s make-up and he should compete for innings immediately.”
Will Morgan - L/R OF - Middletown, NJ - Christian Brothers Academy
Will is a lefty hitting outfielder for Christian Brothers Academy. As a junior in 2014, Will helped his team win both the Shore Conference and Monmouth County Tournaments. He hit .360 with 12 doubles and 25 RBI and was named 1st team All-Shore Conference and 1st team all A-North Division.
Finwood on Morgan:
“Will is one of the top outfielders in the state of New Jersey and was highly recruited. He also plays in the prestigious 9ers travel program. Will can hit, run, and throw and we think he has a fantastic future ahead of him. Will has great energy and loves to play. He fits right in with the type of young men we want in our program.”
Drew Moyer - 6’6 RHP - Newport News, VA - Woodside High School
Drew is a long and athletic RHP from Newport News. He went 8-2 with a 1.9 ERA in 2014 for Woodside High. He was selected 1st team All-Conference 6A as a junior and helped lead his team to a regional appearance.
Finwood on Moyer:
“Drew is a very projectable RHP who has his best days on the mound well in front of him. He has a good track record of success at the high school level and plays in an outstanding program for Coach Kevin Hare at Woodside. As he matures, we expect big things from Drew.”
Brett Nielsen - 6’4 LHP - Eugene, OR - Tacoma CC
Brett pitches and plays first base for Coach Ryan Mummert at Tacoma CC in Tacoma, Washington. He was tied for the team lead in games played as a freshman with 46, and also led the team in home runs. At Sheldon High School, Brett was a 4-year letterman and an all-conference player in football. On the baseball field, he was a 3-year varsity player and was selected to the area code games in both 2011 and 2012. While in high school, he was named top prep baseball player by Max Preps for Oregon.
Finwood on Nielsen:
“Brett was a University of Oregon signee out of high school before separating his shoulder in football. He ended up going to Tacoma CC. Brett has big time potential on the mound and is an outstanding competitor who also is a very good hitter. We expect Brett to compete right away for a starting job.”
Brett Smith - 6’4 RHP - Chesapeake, VA - Grassfield High School
Brett has been a varsity starter in baseball and football since the 10th grade. On the football field, Brett was a two-year captain and amassed 27 career touchdowns. He was also a 1st team All-South Region punter. On the baseball diamond, he is 9-3 with a 1.98 ERA. He was 2nd team all-conference on the mound in 2014.
Finwood on Smith:
“Brett is an exceptionally athletic RHP and we are so excited about his future here at ODU. He is the younger brother of former ODU standout pitcher Brandon Smith. Brett has always been a football player so we are excited to watch his development as he transitions to baseball full time. Brett plays for Coach Gary Spedden at Grassfield who is one of the top coaches in the state. We feel like Brett is one of the top pitchers in the state that not a lot of people know about.”
Seth Woodard - 6’2 R/R IF - Newport News, VA - Woodside High School
Woodard has been starting for Woodside since his freshman year. He batted .441 with 2 HR as a junior and was selected 1st team All-Conference (Monitor-Merrimac). He was also selected 2nd team All-Eastern Region. Seth and fellow ODU signee Drew Moyer are high school teammates and have been teammates since playing for Warwick Little League.
Finwood on Woodard:
“Seth was our first commit in the 2015 class and he also plays for Coach Kevin Hare at Woodside High School. Seth has a ton of power and a keen eye for the strike zone, which has led him to be a very productive hitter at Woodside. Seth is a big and strong young man, but also is very athletic. He projects as a middle of the order hitter in the future.”
The ODU Monarchs advanced to the NCAA regionals last year after compiling a 36-26 record.