Mountaineers sign eight baseball players to letters
by Steve Behr Sports Editor
By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com
Appalachian State's baseball team landed eight players during the early signing period, including local product Cal Hardee.
Hardee, a middle infielder, is a senior at Watauga who can play second base, shortstop or third base. He'll pitch at Watauga this spring, but will play one of the other three positions at Appalachian State.
He is the son of former ASU pitcher Pete Hardee, who is also his coach at Watauga.
"The thing about him is that he makes a lot of plays in the field," Appalachian State coach Chris Pollard said. "Obviously he's well coached in playing for his dad, so he knows the game really well. He puts himself in positions to be successful."
Pollard went after five pitchers during the signing period. Right-handers Austin Brice, Lawrence Pardo, Preston Troutman and Ben Watson, and left-hander Chad Farmer all signed letters of intent to play at Appalachian State in 2011.
Joining them are a pair of brothers - Noah Holmes and Trey Holmes - who played for the Salisbury American Legion team that participated in the Legion World Series this summer.
Pollard did not want to compare this class to the class of 2009, which eventually had six players drafted and another sign a free agent contract into the professional ranks. However, he said this class filled some depth needs, particularly with pitching.
"I don't want to heap a lot of expectations on those who just signed, but we answered a lot of needs," Pollard said. "Two things we wanted to fill was depth at left-handed pitching and we did that. We really wanted to address losing (David) Towarnicky and (Wes) Hobson when they graduate. So, I think we addressed that with some guys who are heady players."
Pardo, who preps at Christopher Columbus High in Miami, Fla., hit .400 and led his team in doubles, slugging percentage and fielding percentage as a first baseman his junior year.
Pardo plays on a prep team that saw nine starters and three extra pitchers sign early letters of intent. He played in the prestigious East Coast Pro Showcase, and his father Larry Pardo, played professionally for the Texas Rangers, California Angels, New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox organizations.
Florida State, South Carolina, The Citadel, Penn State and Ohio recruited Pardo.
Trey Holmes, one of three recruits to play in the state 3-A championship in 2008, hit .455 with 16 home runs and 73 RBI for the Salisbury Legion team this past summer. He currently plays for Pitt Community College, which is ranked in the top 15 in national junior college baseball teams.
His brother, Noah, returns to East Rowan for his senior season. He played third base for Salisbury and also played for the 2008 state 3-A finalists.
Farmer, the lone left-handed pitcher, recorded 113 strikeouts at Greenbrier High School in Evans, Ga. Recruited by SoCon rivals Western Carolina, College of Charleston and The Citadel, Farmer played for the Upstate Mavericks Showcase team that is coached by former Pollard player Chris Nall, who played at Pfeiffer.
Brice, a Pittsboro Northwood senior, is one of the top 40 players in North Carolina ranked by Impact Baseball. He played in the Impact Select games and played in the N.C. State games.
The third member of the Salisbury Legion team, Troutman also played shortstop for East Rowan in 2008. He played for the Region 6 team in the state games and was recruited by Western Carolina. Watson, a junior college transfer from Young Harris J.C., made 14 appearances for a team that is also ranked among the top 10 junior college programs in the country.
"It's hard for any class to top that first class, but we are still extremely high on these freshmen," Pollard said. "Some of them have a chance to be special."
sports@wataugademocrat.com
Appalachian State's baseball team landed eight players during the early signing period, including local product Cal Hardee.
Hardee, a middle infielder, is a senior at Watauga who can play second base, shortstop or third base. He'll pitch at Watauga this spring, but will play one of the other three positions at Appalachian State.
He is the son of former ASU pitcher Pete Hardee, who is also his coach at Watauga.
"The thing about him is that he makes a lot of plays in the field," Appalachian State coach Chris Pollard said. "Obviously he's well coached in playing for his dad, so he knows the game really well. He puts himself in positions to be successful."
Pollard went after five pitchers during the signing period. Right-handers Austin Brice, Lawrence Pardo, Preston Troutman and Ben Watson, and left-hander Chad Farmer all signed letters of intent to play at Appalachian State in 2011.
Joining them are a pair of brothers - Noah Holmes and Trey Holmes - who played for the Salisbury American Legion team that participated in the Legion World Series this summer.
Pollard did not want to compare this class to the class of 2009, which eventually had six players drafted and another sign a free agent contract into the professional ranks. However, he said this class filled some depth needs, particularly with pitching.
"I don't want to heap a lot of expectations on those who just signed, but we answered a lot of needs," Pollard said. "Two things we wanted to fill was depth at left-handed pitching and we did that. We really wanted to address losing (David) Towarnicky and (Wes) Hobson when they graduate. So, I think we addressed that with some guys who are heady players."
Pardo, who preps at Christopher Columbus High in Miami, Fla., hit .400 and led his team in doubles, slugging percentage and fielding percentage as a first baseman his junior year.
Pardo plays on a prep team that saw nine starters and three extra pitchers sign early letters of intent. He played in the prestigious East Coast Pro Showcase, and his father Larry Pardo, played professionally for the Texas Rangers, California Angels, New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox organizations.
Florida State, South Carolina, The Citadel, Penn State and Ohio recruited Pardo.
Trey Holmes, one of three recruits to play in the state 3-A championship in 2008, hit .455 with 16 home runs and 73 RBI for the Salisbury Legion team this past summer. He currently plays for Pitt Community College, which is ranked in the top 15 in national junior college baseball teams.
His brother, Noah, returns to East Rowan for his senior season. He played third base for Salisbury and also played for the 2008 state 3-A finalists.
Farmer, the lone left-handed pitcher, recorded 113 strikeouts at Greenbrier High School in Evans, Ga. Recruited by SoCon rivals Western Carolina, College of Charleston and The Citadel, Farmer played for the Upstate Mavericks Showcase team that is coached by former Pollard player Chris Nall, who played at Pfeiffer.
Brice, a Pittsboro Northwood senior, is one of the top 40 players in North Carolina ranked by Impact Baseball. He played in the Impact Select games and played in the N.C. State games.
The third member of the Salisbury Legion team, Troutman also played shortstop for East Rowan in 2008. He played for the Region 6 team in the state games and was recruited by Western Carolina. Watson, a junior college transfer from Young Harris J.C., made 14 appearances for a team that is also ranked among the top 10 junior college programs in the country.
"It's hard for any class to top that first class, but we are still extremely high on these freshmen," Pollard said. "Some of them have a chance to be special."