ROCK HILL, SC – Winthrop head baseball coach Tom Riginos has announced the signing of 10 players to play baseball with the Eagles for the 2013 campaign.

The 10 individuals for the 2012 Early Signing Class hail from six different states throughout the eastern part of the country including Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Florida and Illinois. The class is also made up of five pitchers, a third/first baseman, two outfielders, one catcher, and a middle infielder.

“First of all, I want to thank Coach Clint Chrysler, Coach Ben Hall and Coach Wilson Boyd for their effort in putting this class together,” said Riginos. “I am very excited about the athleticism and competitive attitude in this recruiting class. I believe we are laying a solid foundation for the success of Winthrop baseball. One of the major goals in our recruiting is making sure we recruit character, and you will see that these young men are good kids that come from good families.”

The 10 members of the 2012 Early Signing Class, along with comments from Coach Riginos, are:

Kaden Hepler (Right-handed Pitcher, West York H.S., York, PA)
Hepler is a two-sport athlete at West York High School, playing both baseball and football. He was named 2010 Honorable Mention All-State and First Team All-County as a quarterback. Hepler has been recognized as a 2011 ESPN Rise Top 10 pitcher in the state of Pennsylvania, while also picking up York County First Team honors and Player of the Year and was a tryout participant for the Area Code Games. He posted a 6-4 record on the mound with 99 strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA. Hepler, as a junior, was named First Team All-State and York County First Team as he went 9-1 with a 1.73 ERA and 103 strikeouts. He recorded a 19 strikeout performance as well in 2010 during the York County Semi-Final Game. Hepler has excelled in the classroom as he ranks in the top 15% of his class to go with his 3.8 GPA. He also received a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Coach Riginos on Hepler:  “Kaden has great athleticism as he is a two-sport athlete. He is going to play a major role in our pitching staff. Kaden has all the tools for him to be a front-line pitcher in the Big South Conference.”

Stephen Wallace (Third Base/First Base, South Stanley H.S., Norwood, NC)
Wallace is ranked in the top 500 nationally and 34^th in the state of North Carolina by Perfect Games USA. He was also ranked 56^th in North Carolina by Max Preps. Wallace has been a part of a North Carolina Class A State Championship team in 2009, and runner-up in 2011, while also earning a Bronze Medal in the 2011 NC State Games. He was named First Team All-Charlotte Observer this past season and was a participant in the Perfect Game National Underclass Main Event.

Coach Riginos on Wallace:  “Steven will provide an impact bat for us. He will have a chance to be a middle-of-the-order hitter for us. Steven has great competiveness and work ethic. He has the drive to be the best player he can be. Steven is one of the best players to come out of North Carolina, and I am excited about the future Steven will have as an Eagle.”

Michael Patrick (Outfielder, Northwestern H.S., Rock Hill, SC)
Patrick was named Second Team All-State and First Team All-Region in 2011 as he posted a .416 average at the plate with a .660 on-base percentage as the team's leadoff hitter. He is ranked the fifth-best outfielder in South Carolina by Diamond Prospects, and was also recognized as a National High Follow by Perfect Game USA. Patrick earned MVP honors of the 2011 SC Palmetto Games and was a participant in the 2011 South Atlantic Border Battle, Palmetto Games and Border All-Stars Game.

Coach Riginos on Patrick:  “I am very excited about Michael joining our program. I want to make sure we recruit our local area well and with Michael we did this. He has a passion and work ethic that is second to none and he plays the game the way I want all of my players to play. Michael will give 100% all the time. He is a very athletic outfielder and will make a major impact on this program.”

Joey Strain (Right-handed Pitcher, Huntington H.S., Prince Frederick, MD)
Strain is ranked the third-best player in the state of Maryland and 258^th nationally by Perfect Game USA. He was also touted as the 28^th-ranked player in Maryland by Max Preps. Strain earned County Athlete of the Year in 2011 along with First Team SMAC All-Conference recognition. He received 2011 Perfect Game USA Underclass Honorable Mention All-America honors and was placed on the 2012 Rawlings National Top Prospect List.

Coach Riginos on Strain:  “Joey is a strong armed right-handed pitcher that has a bright future in our program. He is another athletic pitcher that is joining our program. Joey has the competitiveness and desire to have great success in our program.”

Devin Walker (Catcher, Lugoff-Elgin H.S., Lugoff, SC)
Walker is ranked in the top 1,000 nationally by Perfect Game USA after participating in the 2011 South Atlantic Border Battle, and the 2010 and 2011 Palmetto Games. He is rated as the second-best catcher in the state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects. Walker was also awarded the 2010 Palmetto Games Silver Slugger Award and was the starting catcher for the 2010 Class AAA State Championship team at Lugoff-Elgin. He posted solid numbers at the plate in back-to-back seasons with a .420 average in 2010 and .340 in 2011. Walker also takes part in after-school activities including being a member in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and National Beta Club.

Coach Riginos on Walker:  “Devin has a great passion for Winthrop University and Winthrop Baseball. He comes from a high school and summer program that has a great tradition of winning. Devin is a very athletic catcher that can run very well. He has a bright future in our program.”

Kyle Edwards (Middle Infielder, Seneca H.S., Westminster, SC)
Edwards was recognized as a National High Follow by Perfect Game USA and the third-rated shortstop in South Carolina by Diamond Prospects. He received 2011 National Underclass Honorable Mention honors, while also being named SC Western Region AAA Player of the Year this past season along with Independent Mail All-Area First Team recognition. Edwards is a four-year starting infielder at Seneca and is a member of both the National Honor Society and Beta Club. He has also been awarded Perfect School Attendance for the last 10 years.

Coach Riginos on Edwards:  “Kyle is one of the best middle infielders in the state of South Carolina. He has the ability to play second base, shortstop and third base. Kyle will be an offensive middle infielder that makes a major impact in our program.”

Nick Bateman (Outfielder, Malvern Prep, Aston, PA)
Bateman is rated in the top 500 nationally and 24^th in the state of Pennsylvania by Perfect Game USA. He also rates eighth in Pennsylvania and 697^th in the country by Max Preps. Bateman was recognized by Perfect Game USA as a 2011 National Underclass Honorable Mention All-American and named First Team All-City and All-Area. He was a member of the 2011 USA Baseball North Atlantic Team and has been named the SE Pennsylvania Top Outfielder in 2010 and 2011. Bateman has also been a 2010 invitee to the New York Yankees Prospect workout at Yankee Stadium and 2011 East Coast Pro/Area Code Tryout.

Coach Riginos on Bateman:  “Nick comes to us from one of the top high school baseball programs in the country in Malvern Prep. He is an outstanding athlete that has the competitiveness and work ethic to be a very successful college outfielder. Nick has a chance to make an impact as a freshman.”

Ryan Owens (Right-handed Pitcher, West Boca H.S., West Boca, FL)
Owens' 2011 team at West Boca High School finished the season ranked ninth nationally, and he enters his senior season ranked in the top 500 nationally and 134^th in the state of Florida by Perfect Game USA. He is also ranked 39^th in Florida and 409^th in the country by Max Preps. Owens was honored as a National Underclass Honorable Mention member last season and plays travel baseball for the South Florida Elite Black. The South Florida Elite Black squad finished 2010 ranked fifth in the nation and eighth in 2011.

Coach Riginos on Owens:  “Ryan is a big, strong right-handed pitcher that has the power arm we have been looking for. He comes from a high school program and summer ball team that has had great success the last couple of years. I look for Ryan to play a major part of our pitching staff.”

Jordan Crawford (Right-handed Pitcher, Evanston Township H.S., Evanston, IL)
Crawford, this past season, finished a combined 24-11 on the mound with a 1.64 ERA during both his spring and summer seasons. He has been named Team Captain for the North Shore Yankees in 2010 and 2011. Jordan has also been very active in his community participating in various community services projects including:  Youth Baseball, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago Marathon and Evanston Soup Kitchen. He was awarded the “Top Athlete” for the Athletes Against Drugs organization for the 2011-2012 academic year.

Coach Riginos on Crawford:  “I am very excited about Jordan joining our program. He is a great example of a student-athlete. Jordan is a three-pitch mix guy that has very good movement on his fastball. He has a bright future in our program.”

Michael Green (Right-handed Pitcher, Brunswick Community College, Wake Forest, NC)
Green was considered to have one of the top arms coming out of high school in North Carolina. He posted a 2-1 record on the mound last season as a freshman with a 2.69 ERA with 13 strikeouts and only six walks. Green also went 2-2 in 30.2 innings pitched during two stops in the Coastal Plains League this past summer. He is expected to be the No. 1 pitcher for Brunswick Community College this upcoming season.

Coach Riginos on Green:  “Michael is the lone junior college transfer that we recruited this year. He is a very competitive right-handed pitcher that will have a chance to make a major impact on our pitching staff. Michael has a power arm that shows three plus pitches. I am excited that he is part of our 2012 recruiting class.”