NORFOLK, Va. -- Head coach Chris Finwood and the Old Dominion baseball program signed nine student-athletes to national letters of intent last week on National Signing Day.
“First off, I want to thank our new recruiting coordinator, Logan Robbins, and our pitching coach, Mike Marron, for their countless hours of hard work in putting this class together and creating the relationships necessary to get the kind of players and young men that we want representing our baseball program," said Finwood. "I also want to thank our former assistant coach Karl Nonemaker for all his hard work on this class before he left for Auburn this past Summer."
The nine-player class features representation from five different states and includes five pitchers and four position players.
"We are excited to announce this 2018 class of incoming Monarchs," said Finwood. "The pitchers are all strike throwers with some good growth potential and the hitters are all very athletic and also are good defenders."
Pitchers include right-handers Kris Artis (Norfolk, Va.), Matt Busher (Pittstown, N.J.), Aaron Holiday (Bear, Del.), Kevin Teschko (National Park, N.J.) and lefty Jon Sawyers (Chesapeake, Va.).
Position players include first baseman/outfielder Andy Garriola (Sierra Madre, Calif.), catcher Michael Marrale (Sykesville, Md.), outfielder Ryan Teschko (National Park, N.J.) and outfielder Jacob Wetzel (Walkersville, Md.). In addition, Busher is also expected to contribute at the plate.
"More importantly, these are all fantastic young men from great families that really value the college experience and are all very good students," continued Finwood. "We are very proud to add them to our baseball family here at ODU and feel that they will all represent our University very well."
View a detailed breakdown of the Class of 2018 below.
KRIS ARTIS / RHP / 6-0 / 190 / R/R / Norfolk, Va. / Granby
2017 Stats | 5-1, 0.36 ERA, 39 IP, 57 K
Notes:
- First Team All-Tidewater selection
- Versatile athlete also played outfield as a junior and will play shortstop as a senior
- First-team All-6A South Region and co-player of the year in the Monitor-Merrimac Conference
- Played AAU for Norfolk Destroyers Elite and US Elite
“Kris is an athletic RHP who plays for coach Robbie Butler at Granby High School here in Norfolk. Kris has an upper 80’s fastball and good feel for his change up and slider. He is a strike thrower and does a lot of the little things well like fielding his position and holding runners. Kris is an outstanding competitor.” - Coach Finwood
MATT BUSHER / RHP/OF / 6-2 / 185 / R/R / Pittstown, N.J. / North Hunterdon
2017 Stats | 5-2, 1.92 ERA, 40 IP, 40 K
Notes:
- First Team All-Hunterdon Democrat selection
- Also played outfield in 2017, hitting .352 with 3 triples, 3 home runs and 12 RBIs
- Helped lead North Hunterdon to sectional title in 2016
- A multi-sport athlete, Busher was the Hunterdon Democrat Football Player of the Year in 2016
“Matt is a powerful RHP from North Hunterdon High school who plays for head coach Mike Kane, along with the and Flemington American Legion program and coach Steve Farsiou. Matt has a fastball that has been in the low 90’s and a good feel for his breaking ball. Matt is also the quarterback on his football team and a fantastic competitor. Matt is also a very good hitter and will swing the bat for us as well.” - Coach Finwood
ANDY GARRIOLA / 1B/OF / 6-4 / 195 / R/R / Sierra Madre, Calif. / Damien
2017 Stats | .348, 4 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 12 RBI
Notes:
- Hit .348 with 7 XBH in 2017 at Damien High School
- Missed half of the 2017 season due to hand injury
- Helped guide Damien to a 17-win season and sectional semifinal as a sophomore in 2016
- Named to All-Tournament Team at 17U WWBA National Championship
“Andy is a powerful hitter and very athletic. Andy can play first base and outfield. We project Andy to be a middle of the order type hitter here at ODU. We saw Andy play down at the Perfect Game tourney this summer for the prestigious CBA Marucci team and plays high school baseball for head coach Andy Nieto and assistant coach Chris Beck.” - Coach Finwood
AARON HOLIDAY / RHP / 6-2 / 190 / R/R / Bear, Del. / Caravel Academy
2017 Stats | 12 IP, 3-0, 21 K
Notes:
- Helped guide Caravel Academy to 2017 Delaware State Championship
- All-around athlete who also played C and OF for Caravel
- Named to All-Tournament Team at 17U WWBA National Championship
- Played AAU for All Star Baseball Academy
“Aaron is a powerful RHP who plays for Ian Law and All Star Baseball Academy. Aaron is a converted catcher who has a tremendous upside on the mound. He is a fantastic student as well. We are really excited about Aaron.” - Coach Finwood
MICHAEL MARRALE / C / 6-1 / 180 / R/R / Sykesville, Md. / Century
2017 Stats | 10 HR, 31 RBI, .907 SLUG%
Notes:
- Carroll County Baseball Player of the Year in 2017
- Led the county in home runs with 10 (.907 slugging %)
- AAU teammate of fellow signee Jacob Wetzel (Maryland Cardinals)
- Sister, Morgan, played lacrosse at Old Dominion
“Mike was our first commit in this class. We think Mike has a bright future behind the plate here. Mike’s dad was a starting catcher at UVA back in the 80s. Mike plays for his dad in high school at Century high school and with the Maryland Cardinals. "- Coach Finwood
JON SAWYERS / LHP / 6-1 / 160 / L/L / Chesapeake, Va. / Atlantic Shores Christian
2017 Stats | 0.24 ERA, 29 IP, 43 K, 4 saves
Notes:
- Closer for Atlantic Shores Christian in 2017, allowing just 1 ER in 29 innings
- First Team All-Tidewater selection
- In only start pitched a 13-strikeout, one-hitter in a state quarterfinal win
- Also played in the field, hitting .390 with 7 doubles and 18 RBIs
“Jon is a LHP from Atlantic Shores high school who plays for Phil Kojak. Jon has a good fastball, curveball, change up mix and can really pitch and is a tough competitor on the mound. Jon also plays in the summer for Don Celata and the CBA Rays program out of Chesapeake.” - Coach Finwood
KEVIN TESCHKO / RHP / 6-1 / 180 / R/R / National Park, N.J. / Gateway
2017 Stats | 1.96 ERA, 2-3, 35.2 IP, 43 K
Notes:
- Named Second Team All-South Jersey in 2017
- Also played infield, hitting .521 with 5 XBH and 21 RBIs
- Two-time Preseason Underclass All-American by Perfect Game
- Twin brother, Ryan, also signed with Old Dominion
“Kevin is a very projectable RHP who has won a lot during his high school career. Kevin and his twin brother, Ryan, play for the prestigious “All Out” program out of New Jersey for coach Guy Lynam. Kevin is a tough as nails competitor and mixes a mid to upper 80’s fastball with a really good curveball.” - Coach Finwood
RYAN TESCHKO / OF / 6-1 / 180 / R/R / National Park, N.J. / Gateway
2017 Stats | .500, 4 HR, 22 runs, 8 SB
Notes:
- Named Second Team All-South Jersey in 2017
- Hit over .400 during both his sophomore and junior seasons
- Named to All-Tournament Team at 17U WWBA National Championship
- Twin brother, Kevin, also signed with Old Dominion
“Ryan is a right-handed hitting athletic outfielder who along with his twin brother, Kevin, also plays for Gateway Regional high school and coach Frank Alloway. Ryan has outstanding tools across the board and a bright future here in our outfield.” - Coach Finwood
JACOB WETZEL / OF / 5-11 / 195 / L/L / Walkersville, Md. / Walkersville
2017 Stats | .420, 5 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 22 SB
Notes:
- Posted a slash line of .420/.524/.710 last season
- Holds the school record for career triples with 15
- AAU teammate of fellow signee Michael Marrale (Maryland Cardinals)
- Also played football for Walkersville (running back and safety)
“Jacob is a left-handed hitting outfielder who was a summer teammate of Michael Marrale’s with the Maryland Cardinals. Jacob has a short contact oriented swing with gap power and runs well. Jacob is also an outstanding football player at Walkersville High School and plays baseball for coach Erik Greene.” - Coach Finwood