Akron Baseball Signs Seven Student-Athletes

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AKRON, Ohio — University of Akron first-year head baseball coach Chris Sabo announced the signing of seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent who will join the Zips' program in 2020-21.

"We as a staff are excited about our 2020 recruiting class," Sabo said. "It is a class with an emphasis on pitching. We are bringing in a good mix of JUCO transfers and freshmen that are capable of playing immediately at the MAC level. Four of the five high school signees are from Ohio, which we will always emphasize when possible. I would like to thank Coach (Jordon) Banfield and Coach (Dan) McKinney for their hard work on the road and putting together an outstanding 2020 recruiting class."

Pitcher Luke Llewellyn (Urbandale, Iowa) is ranked the No. 111 JUCO prospect in the country by Perfect Game. He is the only MAC signee to make the list.

The class features homegrown talent as four student-athletes list their hometowns within the state of Ohio, all within a 30-mile radius of campus.

Five are high school seniors, while two are junior college transfers. Five are listed as pitchers, with one infielder and one outfielder. Six played more than one sport in high school, while five have earned academic honors.

Akron baseball begins competition on Feb. 14, 2020, against Oakland.

2020 Akron Baseball Commitments

Name                            Pos.    B/T    Elig.    Ht.       Wt.       Hometown | High School | Previous School
Spencer Atkins               RHP    R/R    Fr.     6-1      170      Sylvania, Ohio | Sylvania Northview
Tim Baird                       RHP    R/R    Fr.     6-1      185      Parma, Ohio | North Royalton
Drew Collins                    OF     L/R    Fr.     6-1      165      Oregon, Ohio | Clay
Anthony Fett                   LHP     L/L     Fr.     6-3      195      Farmington Hills, Mich. | Orchard Lake St. Mary's Prep
Luke Llewellyn #             RHP    R/R    Jr.     6-4      220      Urbandale, Iowa | Urbandale | Kirkwood CC
Ian McMahon #               LHP     L/L     Jr.    5-10     190      Benton, Ill. | Benton Consolidated | Logan College
Petey Taylor                     IF      R/R    Fr.     6-0      160      Massillon, Ohio | Jackson

# Transfer

Signee Biographies

Quotes on each player from associate head coach Jordon Banfield.

SPENCER ATKINS
Pitcher • R/R • Fr. • 6-1 • 170
Sylvania, Ohio | Sylvania Northview HS

High School: Tow-year letterwinner for coach Greg Szparka at Sylvania Northview HS ... also played first base and outfield ... 2019 Third-Team All-Northern Lakes League pitcher ... went 6-1 on the mound with a 2.49 ERA in 45 innings pitched with 30 strikeouts ... also played ice hickey for three seasons.

Personal: Born September 25, 2001 ... parents are Mark and Maureen Atkins ... has an older sister Elizabeth ... parents were student-athletes at Bowling Green ... father played golf, while mom was a swimmer ... plans to study computer science cybersecurity.

From Banfield: "We had planned on being done with the 2020 high school class, but Spencer showed up to our fall camp, and we just felt like he was too talented to pass on. A proven strike thrower and high school winner, he's made a recent jump and sat 85-87 with a tight breaking ball and tons of room left in his body to mature. There's starter potential down the line for Spencer, and he's another kid that brings a 3.5 GPA."

* * *

TIM BAIRD
Pitcher • R/R • Fr. • 6-1 • 185
Parma, Ohio | North Royalton HS

High School: 2018 Honorable Mention All-Suburban League pitcher for coach Matthew Stricker at North Royalton HS ... also played outfield ... played summer ball with the Force Ohio UnderArmour U17 team.

Personal: Born January 5, 2002 ... parents are Lana and Tim Baird ... has three older sisters– Megan, Allison, and Katie ... Allison plays volleyball at Mount Union, while Katie plays volleyball at Mercyhurst ... father played baseball at Akron (1986-87) ... plans to study statistics.

From Banfield: "Tim's father is actually an Akron baseball alum, and we're excited to continue that family tradition. He'll run his fastball into the low-90s already and projects as the type of guy who could pitch with a true plus fastball down the line. I'm excited to see his work with Coach McKinney once he gets here and really refines his delivery. Tim also brings a 3.5 GPA."

* * *

DREW COLLINS
Outfielder • L/R • Fr. • 6-1 • 165
Oregon, Ohio | Clay HS

High School: Three-year letterwinner for coach Jim Phillips at Clay HS ... first-team All-Conference selection ... helped team to a 17-8 record and the district championship ... preseason All-State Honorable Mention pick ... also lettered in football ... second-team All-Conference honoree.

Personal: Born February 21, 2002 ... parents are Ron and Christina Collins ... has an older brother Ronnie ... expects to study business.

From Banfield: "Drew is a guy we've known and followed for a long time. He's always had a high-waisted, projectable body and very natural left-handed swing with an ability to find the barrel. This summer he really made a jump in the athleticism department, turning in consistent 4.2 times down the line, which made it obvious he was a guy we had to have in the class."

* * *

ANTHONY FETT
Pitcher • L/L • Fr. • 6-3 • 195
Farmington Hills, Mich. | Orchard Lake St. Mary's Prep

High School: 2019 All-District and All-League pitcher for coach Matt Petry at Orchard Lake St. Mary's Prep ... helped team to 2019 Michigan Division II state championship ... 2019 Academic All-District selection ... also played basketball in 2018.

Personal: Born May 18, 2002 ... parents are Graham and Kristen Fett ... has a younger brother Michael ... volunteered with Catholic Athletes for Christ ... plans to study kinesiology en route to a career in athletic training or physical therapy.

From Banfield: "Anthony is a big 6-foot-4 lefty that's a three-pitch strike thrower and played a pivotal role on a state championship team at Orchard Lake St. Mary's in Michigan. He's the type of guy that doesn't need a high-end fastball to win, but I'm excited to watch his physical development under Coach McKinney, because there's certainly more in the tank with the type of physical specimen that he is. Anthony is also a high-end student at an elite college prep high school."

* * *

LUKE LLEWELLYN
Pitcher • R/R • Jr. • 6-4 • 220
Urbandale, Iowa | Urbandale HS | Kirkwood CC

College: Ranked the No. 111 JUCO prospect in the country by Perfect Game ... only MAC recruit to make the list ... spent two seasons with coach Todd Rima at Kirkwood Community College ... as a freshman in 2019, team went 33-20 ... on the mound, had 28 strikeouts in 16.2 innings of work ... first-team Academic All-Region pick.

High School: Two-year letterwinner for coach Jeremy Heinen at Urbandale HS ... as a senior, helped team to a 36-6 record and the state championship ... in prep career, had 127 strikeouts in 91.3 innings of action ... as a senior, struck out 86 in 53.3 innings while posting a 0.39 ERA ... selected for the 2018 All-Star Game ... also a 2017 first-team All-District selection in football.

Personal: Born September 8, 1999 ... parents are Shawn Llewellyn and Amy Kintzle ... has a young brother Max and a younger sister Ava ... uncles Jay and Mike Llewellyn wrestled at Northern Iowa ... business major.

From Banfield: "Luke is actually a kid that Coach McKinney signed to Kirkwood CC as one of the top arms in Iowa two years ago. He fought through a back injury as a freshman, but really stood out this fall as a big physical presence who can hold 89-91 and touch 93 with a quality breaking ball. He's an elite student with high-end makeup that will have an opportunity to compete for a rotation spot here."

* * *

IAN McMAHON
Pitcher • L/L • Jr. • 5-10 • 190
Benton, Ill. | Benton Consolidated HS | John A. Logan College

College: Spent two seasons at John A. Logan College with coach Kyle Suprinant.

High School: Three-year letterwinner for coach Brett Blondi at Benton Consolidate HS ... pitched and played right field and first base ... 2018 first-team All-State and 2018 Prep Sports Illustrated Player of the Year ... 2017 and 2018 All-South selection ... three-time All-Conference pick ... set the school records for single-season strike outs (101 in 2018), and finished second on the all-time list for career ERA (2.03) and third for strikeouts (206) ... helped team to the 2018 regional championship, sectional championship, and Elite 8 ... went 8-2 as a senior with a 1.98 ERA, a save, and 101 strikeouts in 70.2 innings pitched ... over prep career, had a .311 batting average ... also a two-time All-Conference selection in wrestling .

Personal: Born August 16, 1999 ... parents are Phil McMahon and Andrea McMahon ... has an older brother Jordan and a younger sister Brooklyn ... media studies major.

From Banfield: "Ian actually came to our camp this winter after missing a big chunk of the fall and showed a mid-80s fastball and sharp upper 70s slider from the left side. He should be able to make a significant impact out of our bullpen and has shown the ability to use the breaking ball as a weapon to both right and left-handed hitters."

* * *

PETEY TAYLOR
Infielder • R/R • Fr. • 6-0 • 160
Massillon, Ohio | Jackson HS

High School: Three-year letterwinner at shortstop for coach Bill Gamble at Jackson HS ... 2019 second-team All-Federal League selection ... in 2019, team went 26-4 en route to the Federal League championship and district championship ... 2018 Honorable Mention All-League pick ... in 2018, team won the Federal League championship and the district championship ... regional runner-up ... over prep career, batted .380 ... also lettered in basketball for three seasons.

Personal: Born May 10, 2001 ... legal name is Peyton ... parents are Daniel and Christine Taylor ... has two older sisters– Katie and Sammy ... his grandfather played basketball at Kent State ... baseball camp and basketball camp volunteer ... biology major.

From Banfield: "Petey has been the starting shortstop at one of the top programs in Ohio for two years, while fighting through colitis that caused him to lose a tremendous amount of weight. He's truly a 'straw that stirs the drink' type of player who brings elite energy and winning mentality every day. Physically he has a chance to stick at shortstop and potential top of the order profile offensively from the left side. Another high-end student; Petey has a 3.5 GPA."

The University of Akron Athletics

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