Baseball Finalizes 2020 Signing Class

NORFOLK, Va. – Head coach of the Old Dominion baseball Chris Finwood announced his 2019 signing class on Thursday afternoon, which features nine student-athletes, four hailing from the Garden State, New Jersey, three from in-state Virginia and one from both Pennsylvania and North Carolina. 

"First and foremost I want to thank Logan Robbins and Mike Marron for their tireless work in developing relationships with these young men and their families. In most cases, we have known these families for more than 3 years before they actually sign their scholarship papers and there are countless conversations that occur during that time," said Finwood. "For us it really is important to get not just the talented athlete but the right kind of young man from the right kind of family. These are young men that value our outlook on developing the whole player and person from the moment they step on campus. Actually this starts during the recruiting process and continues until they graduate from ODU. We couldn't be happier with the character, work ethic and integrity of all of these kids."
 

 
Kenny Levari 
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175 
Position: INF/RHP 
Hometown: Vineland, N.J.
High School: St. Augustine Preparatory 
Bio: Levari helped St. Augustine reach the Non-Public A state final for a fourth-straight year. He batted .337 with nine doubles, a triple and two home runs. Levari also was 14-of-16 in stolen bases, scored 24 runs and collected 23 RBIs. In 2018, he batted .326 with 11 extra-base hits and 22 RBIs.
Finwood on Levari: "Kenny is an all-conference and All-South Jersey pitcher and infielder who plays for coach Mike Bylone and ODU alum Mike Ney at St. Augustine prep in Richland NJ. Although most professional scouts love his arm and project him as a pitcher, we really think Kenny can be a fantastic two-way player in college. On the mound, he possesses a low to mid 90's fastball with a good curveball. In the field he is a really good left handed hitter with a strong arm and has a bright future as an infielder as well. We love Kenny's competitive nature and are excited about his future in pinstripes. Kenny also played in the prestigious Area Code games in California last summer."

 

Jacob Gomez 
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175
Position: LHP
Hometown: Rutherford, N.J.
High School: Rutherford HS
Bio: The New Jersey product pitched 58.5 innings his junior season, giving up just 32 hits, 15 runs and eight earned runs. Gomez also recorded 81 strikeouts. 
Finwood on Gomez: "Jacob is a very polished lefty with a mid to upper 80's fastball and commands three pitches. He is ultra competitive, has a high baseball IQ and a long track record of winning for coach Carmen Spina at Rutherford High School. Jacob also plays for Jim Wladyka baseball in the summers."


 
Lincoln Ransom
Height: 6-2
Weight: 200
Position: C/1B/OF/RHP 
Hometown: Whiteville, N.C.
High School: Whiteville HS 
Bio: Ransom is a three-time All-Conference member, Regional Player of the Year, First Team All-State, Conference Player of the Year and a two-time All-Conference member in football. Ransom hit .439, driving in a team-high 31 RBIs and scoring 19 runs for the Wolfpack.
Finwood on Ransom: "Lincoln is an All-State player and conference player of the year who plays for Brett Harwood at Whiteville High School in  Whiteville, North Carolina. Lincoln also plays for the Canes American program in the Summer. Lincoln is a physical right-handed power hitter who can play multiple positions and projects to be a middle of the order hitter in college. We are excited about Lincolns versatility and his competitiveness is a common theme among this class."


 
Carter Trice 
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185 
Position: INF
Hometown: Mechanicsville, Va.
High School: Lee Davis HS 
Bio: Trice has been named First Team All-Metro and Second Team All-Region while at Mechanicsville High School, hitting .433 with 10 doubles, seven home runs, 28 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.
Finwood on Trice: "Carter is an All-Metro and All-Region infielder who plays for coach Tyler Johnson at Lee Davis High in Mechanicsville, Va. He also plays for coach Rich Graham and the Virginia Cardinals in the Summer. Carter is an explosive athlete who has a special desire to be great. He is a ballplayer in every sense of the word. Carter really reminds me of former VCU great and big leaguer, Brandon Inge who I recruited and coached at VCU. Carter has a very strong arm and tons of pop in the bat. He has a chance to play anywhere in the infield and hit in the top of the batting order."


 
Robbie Barrientos
Height: 5-11
Weight: 175 
Position: C/INF
Hometown: Pennsauken, N.J.
High School: Pennsauken HS 
Bio: Barrientos, a two-time First Team All-Conference player at Pennsauken High School helped the Indians earn their first playoff victory since 2012 in 2018. In 2019, they went 10-4 and capturing their first division championship in seven years. As a junior, Barrientos compiled 56 at bats, 18 hits, nine RBIs and one home run. 
Finwood on Barrientos: "Robbie is an all conference player who plays for coach Cetshwayo Byrd at Pennsauken High School and coach Keith Garragozzo and South Jersey Elite in the Summer .  We really like Robbie's work ethic and energy.  He loves catching and it really shows up when you watch him play.  Robbie has a very strong throwing arm and quick release.  Robbie reminds me of former Monarch PJ Higgins who is catching in triple A with the Cubs."


 
Luke Vaks
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185 
Position: RHP
Hometown: Mays Landing, N.J.
High School: Cedar Creek HS 
Bio: At Cedar Creek, Vaks has pitched 37.3 innings as a junior. The Pirates finished 16-10 in 2019, making it to the South Jersey Group II semifinals, which they lost 2-1 to West Deptford. In the previous round, Vaks struck out 14 in six innings en route to an 8-3 win over Delran. Vaks also earned a spot on the 2019 Press High School All-Star Team. 
Finwood on Vaks: "Luke is a loose athletic righty from Cedar Creek High and plays for coach Ryan Flannery. Luke also plays for All Out and coach Guy Lynam in the summer. Luke really came on last spring and summer and developed a fastball that worked into the low 90's and a really good low 80's slider. Luke also played in the prestigious Area Code games out in California last summer."


 
Brady Gibble
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190 
Position: OF
Hometown: Sinking Springs, Pa.
High School: Wilson Area HS 
Bio: Gibble, the lone Pennsylvania native was a a First Team All-County selection in baseball and two-time First Team All-County selection in football. Gibble also was selected to the Big 26 Pennsylvania roster in 2019.
Finwood on Gibble: "Brady is a left-handed hitting centerfielder who is an All-County player, who plays for coach Sal Raccuglia at Wilson Area High School in Sinking Spring, Pa. Brady can really run and play centerfield. We like his swing and his skill set lends itself to being a top of the order hitter in college. Brady is also an all county wide receiver on the football team."



Vincent Bashara
Height: 5-11
Weight: 170
Position: RHP/IF
Hometown: Norfolk, Va. 
High School: Maury
Bio: As a junior with Maury, Bashara compiled a .638 ERA, with eight appearances and one save. He threw seven strikes and faced 37 batters. 
Finwood on Bashara: "Vincent plays at Maury High School for coach Larry Gordon in Norfolk. He also plays for the Old Dominion Hitters summer program. We have watched Vincent really develop over the last few years into a very polished pitcher with a fastball in the mid to upper 80's and a good feel for his secondary pitches. Vincent's brother Brian is an ODU baseball alum and his sister is an ODU women's soccer alum."  



Cade Brewer
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
Position: C/1B
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Va. 
High School: Atlantic Shores High School
Bio: A local product, Brewer has been named to the First Team All-County team and was a two-time First Team All-County football player. Prior to joining Atlantic Shores, Brewer attended Salem High, where they put together a 16-5 overall record, playing in 15 games, batting .467 with 21 hits, 11 RBIs and two homeruns.
Finwood on Brewer: Cade is an All-Area catcher from Atlantic Shores High School and plays for coach Phil Kojack. Cade is a very athletic versatile athlete that can catch and play shortstop which is a very rare combination. He is a strong young man who can drive the ball as well. We like Cade's enthusiasm and competitive nature behind the plate and also the fact that he can move around the field, as many of the hitters in this class can as well."