Baseball Announces Four Additions To 2007 Roster
Sep 1, 2006 | Baseball
Sept. 1, 2006
NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Tulane University baseball team added a quartet of newcomers to the roster for the 2007 season as outfielder Jay Ackal, catcher Jared Dyer, right-handed pitcher Shooter Hunt and outfielder Ryan Scott signed National Letters of Intent during the offseason, Green Wave head coach Rick Jones announced Friday.
Sophomores Dyer and Hunt come to Tulane from San Jacinto College-North and the University of Virginia, respectively, while true freshmen Ackal (St. Paul's School) and Scott (Archbishop Rummel) join the Green Wave family from the local prep ranks. The foursome completes a nine-member recruiting class, joining true freshmen Preston Claiborne, Hunter Johnson, Aaron Loup, Taylor Rogers and Drew Zizinia, who committed last November during the early signing period.
"In the face of the unprecedented events of the past year, this class - along with a new stadium and the veterans returning - allows us to not only maintain but continue to grow as a nationally-prominent program," Jones said. "I'm extremely excited about the incoming freshmen and their future in our program. I can't imagine our momentum heading into fall practice being any better at this point."
Hunt, a 2005 graduate of Ramapo High and native of Wyckoff, N.J., played the 2006 season with the Cavaliers where he appeared in 17 games and struck out 33 batters in 34.1 innings. Three of his games at UVA were as a starter, and he limited opponents to a .267 batting average.
This past summer, Hunt was named the No. 9 prospect in the Cape Cod League after leading the league with 54 strikeouts. With the Falmouth Commodores, Hunt started six of his 11 appearances, tied for the team lead in wins (3-0) and finished second in innings pitched (40.0).
In high school, he was a two-time all-league and all-city selection, earned all-state honors as a senior, and was the Gatorade and Louisville Slugger Player of the Year for the state of New Jersey.
"Shooter gives our staff a tremendous lift," associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Mark Kingston said. "He is extremely talented and a tireless worker. His success in the Cape Cod League shows that he can be as good as anyone. We look for him to make a significant and immediate impact."
Dyer comes to Tulane from one of the most successful junior college programs in the country. As a redshirt-freshman in 2006, he hit .316 with six home runs and 35 RBI while helping San Jac win the Region 14 championship and post a third-place showing in the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series. In the NJCAA World Series, Dyer hit .307 (4-for-13) with three bombs and six RBI while scoring six runs.
A native of Houston, Texas and a 2004 graduate of Deer Park High, Dyer originally signed with the University of Houston, but redshirted the 2005 season before transferring to San Jacinto. At Deer Park, Dyer was a two-time first-team all-district honoree where he hit .420 with five homers as a junior before batting .350 with two round-trippers in an injury shortened senior season.
"Jared will bring good stability to our catching position," Kingston said. "He started for one of the best JuCo programs in the country, helping them make the Junior College World Series in 2006. That type of winning experience is very important to us."
Scott, a native New Orleanian, comes to Tulane following a stellar senior season at Archbishop Rummel when he was named all-state, all-district, all-metro and all-East after hitting .484 with three home runs and 37 RBI. A two-year starter for the Raiders, Scott helped Rummel win the Catholic League in 2006 and helped guide the team to the state semi finals both years.
During the summer, Scott helped Nationwide Refurbishing win the American League World Series. During the tournament, he hit .244 (10-for-41) with four doubles, a triple and a team-leading 13 RBI.
"Ryan brings athleticism, size and a quality left-handed bat," Kingston said. "His championship experience has greatly prepared him to be a big part of our program."
Ackal, meanwhile, brings impressive credentials as a prepster, where he was a three-time All-District 4-5A selection. As a senior, he hit .411 with six homers, 30 RBI and 10 stolen bases en route to earning All-St. Tammany Parish and All-Clarion Herald honors and earning a spot on the State All-Star Game.
A three-year letterwinner at St. Paul's, Ackal helped lead the Wolves to the playoffs each year, including a trip to the state quarterfinals in 2005.
"Jay is a very good athlete who is starting to tap his potential in baseball," Kingston said. "He had a good summer and will bring speed, defense, and an improving bat to our team."
The four late signees join a 2007 club that features 23 letterwinners and eight starters from last years squad which went 43-21, earned its ninth consecutive trip to the NCAA postseason and advance to the championship game of the NCAA Regional for the third straight year. In addition, the Green Wave also return the talents of senior southpaw J.R. Crowel and sophomore infielder Jonny Weiss, who received medical-redshirts for the 2006 season.
