Dirtbags Sign Nine During Fall Signing Period
11/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Long Beach, Calif. - The Long Beach State baseball program added a strong crop of talent during the fall signing period, receiving National Letters of Intent from nine players who will become Dirtbags in the 2016-17 school year.
The class features mainly Southern California talent, as eight of the nine signees are SoCal natives. There are six pitchers in the class along with three position players--a catcher, a shortstop and an outfielder.
"We are pleased to announce the signing of our 2016 class. This class fulfills our needs for the upcoming years for the program," said LBSU head coach Troy Buckley, now entering his sixth season at the helm. "My coaches, Mike Steele and Greg Bergeron, deserve a lot of credit. Mike was tireless and diligent in identifying and securing commitments from the majority of this class. Though just recently joining our staff, Greg was very instrumental as well. The common thread with this class is they fit the style, mentality and skill set of our program. We look forward to their progress and development and their arrival to campus next fall."
Here's a brief look at each member of the 2015 signing class, along with Coach Buckley's assessment of each player:
Dominic Abbadessa (OF, 6'0", 180 - Huntington Beach High School)
The speedy outfielder helped lead a talent-rich Oilers team to a CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship as a junior. Starting in left field and batting second in the lineup, Abbadessa was a table-setter at the plate and a playmaker in the outfield. His over-the-shoulder basket catch in the CIF semifinals against Norco drew comparisons to "The Catch" by Willie Mays. Following his junior campaign, Abbadessa was named first team All-Sunset League and second team All-County by the Orange County Register.
"Dominic may be one of the fastest amateur baseball players on the west coast. Even hitting from the right side, his run skillset is very special and profiles as a plus tool. He has strength in his swing and will continue to mature and grow as a hitter as he accrues more reps. Playing on one of the best high school teams in the country will bridge the gap to our level."
George Castillo (RHP, 6'3", 215 - Gahr High School/Central Arizona College)
The big righthander made 12 starts in his freshman season at Central Arizona, going 8-3 with a 2.02 ERA. He struck out 80 batters over 75.2 innings pitched, averaging 9.52 strikeouts per game. He also tossed three complete games including one shutout for the Vaqueros. Prior to his stint in Arizona, Castillo was a prep standout at nearby Gahr High School. As a senior he tossed a no-hitter against Mater Dei High School and was an Honorable Mention on the Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream Team.
"George is a physical presence that can throw up to 92 with command of his breaking ball. But the most important quality in this kid is, he is a winner. He figures out a way to get it done. We are very excited to bring him back home to be a part of the Dirtbag family."
Chad Germaine (RHP, 6'3", 190 - Villa Park High School)
As a junior at Villa Park, Germaine allowed just one earned run over 13.1 innings pitched on his way to a 3-1 record and a 0.52 ERA. The righthander struck out 13 batters and allowed opponents just a .167 batting average. Also plays for SoCal Bombers 2016 Black.
"Chad is a strong, competitive RP that features a mid-upper 80's sinker with advanced command of his slider and feel for a changeup. He's probably one of the best arms that no one knows about. He's a very intelligent kid and has the physical strength to be a massive factor his freshman year. We love the kid's work ethic and make up. Chad understands the game and is focused on getting better every day."
AJ Jones (RHP, 6'0", 195 - ThunderRidge (Colo.) High School/College of Southern Nevada)
Jones was a three-time All-League selection at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo., and was All-State as a senior in 2014. In 2013, he was a Perfect Game Underclassman All-American Honorable Mention selection and received Honorable Mention honors for the West Region in 2014. Last season he played at the College of Southern Nevada, going 7-3 in 11 starts with a 3.59 ERA over 47.2 innings.
"AJ will impact this program in many ways. He comes from one of the best junior college programs in the country and is used to performing at a high level on a big stage. He has competitive make up and work ethic that will permeate through the pitching staff and the team. On the mound he has a fastball that ranges from 89-93 and commands his sinker. He already has a strikeout slider and has a chance to have an average changeup."
Tyler Lawson (RHP, 6'4", 175 - Rancho Cucamonga High School)
As a junior at Rancho Cucamonga, the lanky righthander posted a 2.26 ERA over 65 IP showing impressive command. He struck out 40 batters while issuing just seven walks and was named second team All-Baseline League. Lawson plays club ball for the Colton Nighthawks and was also recruited by Michigan, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Riverside.
"We are excited that Tyler is coming into this class. He is an extremely intelligent kid with huge upside on the bump. He has a 6-foot-4, projectable frame with command of three quality pitches and possesses a clean delivery and mechanics. Has an advanced knowledge of how to pitch and with the addition of strength and our pitching program, his ceiling is very, very high."
Ryan Mauch (LHP, 6'4", 190 - South Hills High School)
The only southpaw in the class, Mauch has been dominant the last two seasons at South Hills High, which is the alma mater of Dirtbags legend Jason Giambi. Mauch went 6-1 as a sophomore with a 2.49 ERA and was even better as an 11th grader. During his 2015 season, Mauch went a perfect 8-0 with an impressive 0.76 ERA in eight starts. He threw a pair of shutouts, striking out 38 batters in 55 innings with just 10 walks. Mauch also pitches for So Cal Birds and was a Perfect Game Underclassmen All-American Honorable Mention in 2015.
Ryan's father, Tom, pitched at Cal Poly Pomona and was a first round draft pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1983 MLB Draft.
"Ryan is an athletic 6-foot-4 LHP that we expect to have an immediate impact as a freshman. He features a three-pitch arsenal (fastball, curveball and changeup) with the ability to command his secondary pitches. Ryan has a solid pitching foundation that comes from his father and also from a solid and successful high school program which will benefit in his transition to our level."
Ryan Mendoza (C, 6'0", 185 - Birmingham High School)
A two-sport star at Birmingham High School, Mendoza is not only a standout defensive catcher for the Patriots, he was also the starting quarterback on the football team before deciding to focus on baseball. He's a righthanded throwing catcher who bats lefty and plays his Summer and Fall ball with SGV Arsenal. Mendoza was a 2015 Perfect Game All-American High Honorable Mention selection.
"Ryan has the makings to be an impact catcher. He prioritizes being a catcher and loves to catch. He also loves to handle his pitching staff and is a `team first' guy. Has experience handling top level pitching, blocks, throws and loves to work. Ryan has a chance to hit for average from the left side and has a quality line drive stroke."
Dylan Spacke (RHP, 6'1", 190 - Ramona High School)
Prior to his high school career, Spacke was named to USA Baseball's 14U National team in 2012 as a pitcher and a switch-hitting outfielder. Now at Ramona High, he has been used primarily on the mound. He posted a 1.11 ERA as a sophomore, then went 5-3 on the hill with a 2.81 ERA in nine appearances as a junior. He struck out 39 batters in just 37.1 innings for the Bulldogs and was a second team All-Valley League selection. He also plays for Quakes Baseball Academy and was a 2015 Perfect Game All-American High Honorable Mention selection.
"Dylan brings a bulldog mentality that we identified early on in summer and fell in love with. His tenacity, competitiveness and leadership skills are at a high level. He is a tremendous worker which has led to an improvement in his stuff. Dylan will be one of the top pitchers in the San Diego area and we are really excited to be adding him to the Dirtbag family."
Ramsey Romano (SS, 6'2", 205 - Valhalla High School/Univ. of Michigan/Yavapai (Ariz.) College)
Romano has taken the most interesting road to Long Beach State, and enters the program with a lot of praise. Out of high school, he was a 35th Round selection of the Chicago Cubs in the 2013 MLB Draft, but decided to attend the University of Michigan. He made 24 starts as a freshman with the Wolverines, starting the season on a six-game hitting streak and posting a .244 batting average. In March of 2015, he was listed on the Michigan football roster as a backup quarterback during spring practices. Romano has since transferred to Yavapai College in Arizona for the 2015-16 baseball season.
Prior to his college career, Romano was a baseball and football star at Valhalla High in El Cajon, Calif. He spent all four years on the varsity baseball team, compiling 124 career hits and posting a top batting average of .356 as a senior. Romano was twice named first team All-East County and was a two-time team MVP. As a quarterback for the Norsemen, he threw for 3,415 yards and 30 touchdowns as a senior on his way to all-state honors.
"Ramsey has a chance to be a special player for us. He is a physical athlete that has the tools to play in the middle of the infield, yet his bat profiles to have strength and speed to be a corner bat at the next level. We are excited that he went back to baseball (from football) and that he is going to be a Dirtbag."
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