The University of Akron Athletics
UA Baseball Adds Seven to 2010-11 Signing Class
November 30 | Baseball
- Head coach Pat Bangtson and the Akron baseball program are pleased to announce the signing of seven high school standouts for the 2010-11 season. Devan Ahart, Daniel Becks, Andrew Fanning, Kurt Gamby, Myles McVeigh, Jonathan Pusateri and Brandon Winter have all signed National Letters of Intent to play baseball at the University of Akron next season. The class is highlighted by five pitchers and two position players and includes four highly touted Ohio natives, while two players come from the state of Wyoming and one joins the Zips from Michigan.
Devan Ahart (Detroit, Mich.) comes to the Zips from Orchard Lakes-Saint Mary's Prep where he is instructed by coach Nick Di Ponio. An outfielder, Bangtson expects, "Devan could possibly be one of the most athletic baseball players the University of Akron has ever seen. Look for Ahart to roam the outfield and utilize his above average speed."
Daniel Becks (Avon Lake, Ohio) boasts a 3.4 GPA out of Avon Lake High School, as a right-handed pitcher under head coach Jeff Stratton. Becks is a gifted pitcher with power and speed as Bangtson adds, "Daniel possess a fastball with speed in the 80-90 range. I look forward to him adding depth to our starting pitching rotation."
Andrew Fanning (Cheyenne, Wyoming) joins the Zips as a right-handed pitcher next season. Fanning is product out of Cheyenne Central High School and the exceptional Cheyenne American Legion Post Six summer baseball program coached by Tagg Lain. Fanning filled the closer's role for the Legion Post Six team, which won the State Championship as Bangtson adds, "Andrew is an extraordinary right-handed pitcher who has gained significant experience, winning a State Championship. His 80-plus fastball will definitely add depth to our relief corps." Fanning, a well-rounded student-athlete also boasts a 3.9 GPA.
Kurt Gamby (Green, Ohio) is a power-hitting pitcher from Green High School, UA pitcher Scott Foster's alma mater. Under the tutelage of Jeff Wallace, Gamby has developed into a talented hitter as Bangtson adds, "Kurt is one of the finest hitters in the state of Ohio with great power potential. He could also add depth to our pitching unit next season. We've been extremely focused on recruiting local talent to improve the baseball team and Kurt adds versatility with his ability to hit and pitch for us." Gamby is also a focused student-athlete with a 3.5 GPA, entering his final year of high school.
Myles McVeigh (Cheyenne, Wyoming) of Cheyenne East High School is also a member of Tagg Lain's Cheyenne American Legion Post Six summer baseball program and teammate to Fanning. A solid right-handed pitcher standing tall at 6'5", he helped lead the American Legion Post Six team to a championship along side Fanning. "Myles will make an immediate impact on our pitching staff and brings an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio to the team" added Bangtson.
Jonathan Pusateri (Mogadore, Ohio) a right-handed pitcher, is a product of the Waterloo High School baseball program and an exceptional student-athlete with a 3.4 GPA who will add. "Coach Conley has worked with Jon and molded him into an exceptional pitcher. Jon possess an array of pitches and has the ability to throw in the upper 80's and low 90's," notes Bangtson.
Brandon Winter (Bellefontaine, Ohio) joins the Zips next season as an impressive student-athlete from Bellefontaine High School, boasting a 3.95 GPA. The middle infielder will help fortify the defense for Akron next season, which loses two middle infielders to graduation this year. Bangtson adds, "Brandon is a very athletic player and will help solidify the defense of the future. He comes from a high school run by Mark Brunswick, which has produced a great number of Division I players, including his brother Brad, who plays for Kent State."
Wrapping up the 2010-11 signing class, Bangtson concludes by stating, "My staff and I are extremely pleased with the 2010-11 signing class. All of these young men have the ability to come into our program and contribute immediately. Our goal was to add very athletic position players as well as depth to our pitching staff, which we have done. I look forward to having these young men join us in the fall of 2010."
