Baseball program announces addition of 11 players to 2015 squad

ABILENE – ACU head baseball coach Britt Bonneau announced Thursday that his program has added 11 players for the 2015 season and beyond.

The Wildcats signed nine high school players to binding letters-of-national intent and also added a pair of players from Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College. ACU will begin play in the Southland Conference and as an NCAA Division I program this coming spring.

ACU added Aaron Mason, a 6-0, 210-pound left-hander from Broken Arrow, Okla., and 5-10, 185-pound catcher Alex Copeland – also from Broken Arrow, Okla. – both from Fort Scott C.C.

The Wildcats signed nine high school players: right-handed pitcher Drew Hanson (Coppell / Coppell HS), infielder Brayden Gomez (Fair Oaks, Calif. / Bella Vista HS), infielder Cody Huson (Parker, Colo. / Chaparral HS), outfielder Taylor Fajardo (Alisa Viejo, Calif. / Capistrano Valley Christian HS), infielder Jeff Clarke (Lafayette, Colo. / Fair View HS), infielder Garrett Hale (Southlake / Carroll HS), catcher Kelly Dorsett (Rockwall / Heath HS), catcher Joshua Thompson (Burnet / Burnet HS), and catcher Samuel Etter (Baca Raton, Fla. / Westminster Academy).

"As we continue to build our foundation for the future of (NCAA) Division I baseball at ACU, I'm very pleased with the quality student-athletes we've attracted," Bonneau said. "This class features athletes with size, power, strength and student-athletes with strong academic backgrounds. We were able to fill our needs in the starting rotation, at the catcher spot, in the middle of the lineup, and with athletic defensive players.

"Our first two signing classes in this transition have been very young, but we really believe these student-athletes will set high standards for those who follow them here at ACU," he said. "I also want to thank our recruiting coordinator and assistant coach Brandon Stover and our new pitching coach, Josh Scott, for their long hours and hard work in putting this class together."

Here's a brief biographical sketch on each player:

AARON MASON, LHP
6-0, 210 (Broken Arrow, Okla.)
Fort Scott Community College
Parents – Ed & Carrie Mason
Head coach – John Hill
Awards – 2013 NJCAA all-America … 2014 NJCAA pre-season all-America … 2013 first team all-conference … Jayhawk Conference Pitcher of the Year … FSCC Honor Roll

2013 Stats – 11-0 / 82.1 (IP) / 1.97 (ERA) / 75 (K) / 10 (BB) / 6 (CG)

Brandon Stover quote: "Aaron had a great freshman year and we expect that to continue over the next few years. He can really pitch and we expect him to come in and be an impact arm for our program"

DREW HANSON, RHP
6-0, 185 (Coppell, TX)
Coppell High School
Parents – David Hanson & Pamela Boylen
Head coach –Kendall Clark
Awards – 2013 all-District 5-5A

Brandon Stover quote: "Drew has a chance to be a dominant arm out of the bullpen. He's been a starter and a closer at Coppell and we see him being really good for us in the future."

BRAYDEN GOMEZ, IF
6-1, 180 (Fair Oaks, Calif.)
Bella Vista High School
Parents – Mike & Marsha Gomez
Head coach – Greg Olsen
Awards – CVC all-league … Sacramento all-Metro … Team Northern California … Bella Vista Scholar Athlete.
Stats – Spring 2013: .366 (avg) / 16 (RBI) / 1 (HR) / .418 (OPS) … Summer 2013: .388 (avg) / 17 (RBI) / 8 (2B) / .505 (OPS)
Summer Team –Brewers Scout Team & Walbeck Baseball Academy
Personal – Played and trained for ex-professional player and coach Matt Walbeck (third base coach in the big leagues for Rangers and others and managed in the minor leagues).

Brandon Stover quote: "Brayden can play anywhere on the field. He is a great fit for our program on every level, and we think he will be a great player while here at ACU. He's versatile and has a huge upside."

CODY HUSON, IF
6-2, 170 (Parker, Colo.)
Chaparral High School
Parents – Jeff & Wendy Huson
Head coach – Tony Persichina
Awards – Three-year letterman … member of the National Honors Society … three-time academic award winner.
Stats – Hit .444 as a junior
Summer Team – Colorado Rockies Scout Team
Personal – Cody's father, Jeff, played 12 seasons in the majors, four of which were with the Texas Rangers. Jeff now works for the Rockies as a TV analyst.

Brandon Stover quote: "Cody is a leader on the field. He controls the game in the infield. We are excited to have him in our program and expect big things from him. Just like his dad, he can really play defense."

TAYLOR FAJARDO, OF
6-3, 220 (Aliso Viejo, Calif.)
Capistrano Valley Christian High School
Parents – Angel & Liz Fajardo
Head coach – Clemente Bonilla

Brandon Stover quote: "Taylor can really hit. He has phenomenal power, and he will have a chance to be a middle-of-the-lineup hitter for us from his first day here. He's a plus-runner and has a plus-arm. We think he can be the whole package in the future."

JEFF CLARKE, IF
6-1, 200 (Lafayette, Colo.)
Fair View High School
Mother – Carol
Head coach – Rick Haring
Awards – BoCoPreps.com first team all-region … Team MVP … Team Silver Slugger.
Stats – .415 (avg) / 76 (RBI) / 30 (2B) / 8 (3B) / 3 (HR)
Summer Team – WYCO Braves Scout Team

Brandon Stover quote: "Jeff is a corner infielder that can swing the bat. He has shown the ability to hit to all fields and be a run-producer. He is a great addition to our program."

GARRETT HALE
6-2, 175 (Southlake, TX)
Southlake Carroll High School
Parents – Todd & Julie Hale
Head coach – Larry Hughes
Awards – Hitter of the Week (Metro Scout League 2013) … 2013 Teammate of the Year.
Summer Team – Dallas Tigers

Brandon Stover quote: "Garrett knows how to win; he has done it in both football and baseball. There is nothing more valuable than kids from winning programs, and we believe he has a chance to be a good player for us as we move forward."

ALEX COPELAND, C
5-10, 185 (Broken Arrow, Okla.)
Fort Scott Community College
Parents – Brad Copeland & April Jackson
Head coach – John Hill
Stats -- .349 / 8 (2B) / 1 (3B) / 3 (HR) / 31 (RBI) in freshman season at Fort Scott CC.

Brandon Stover quote: "Alex had a great season last year at Fort Scott and in the California League last summer. And with his experience and leadership behind the plate, he can control the game from the catcher spot."

KELLY DORSETT, C
6-0, 190 (Rockwall, TX)
Rockwall Heath High School
Parents – Ken & Kim Dorsett
Head coach – Greg Harvey
Awards – All-tournament at the World Wood Bat Tournament in Jupiter, Fla. … All-Tournament the PG World Series in Phoneix. … Led Rockwall Heath to the 2012 Class 4A Texas high school state championship.
Summer Team – Dallas Patriots

Brandon Stover quote: "Kelly is a athletic kid with chance to do some good things for us. He's been on a state championship Team, so he knows how to win and how to compete. We are glad he's coming to ACU."

JOSHUA THOMPSON, C
5-10, 170 (Burnet, TX)
Burnet High School
Parents – Roy & Tamara Thompson
Head coach – Jose' Sierra
Awards – All-district in both 2011 and 2012 … all-academic in both 2011 and 2012.
Stats – .431 batting average over the last 2 seasons. (2013 Under Armour Preseason All-America Team
Major – Engineering
Summer Team – Austin Wings

Brandon Stover quote: "Josh is a solid catcher that we think will continue to mature here at ACU. He receives and throws it well and is still developing into a good switch hitter."

SAMUEL ETTER, C
5-10, 170 (Boca Raton, Fla.)
Westminster Academy
Parents – Eric & Cheryl Etter
Head coach – Nick James
Awards – USSSA WS Tournament Defensive MVP (first eam Honorable Mention 2012)
Stats – .317 (avg) / threw out 50 percent of would-be base stealers ... FCA co-leader

Brandon Stover: "Samuel has been around our program for a long time, and knows what this school is all about. He will be a great fit for this university and program. We are excited to have him."

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Baseball program announces addition of 11 players to 2015 squad

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