Ten Saints Sign With Upper Division Schools
July 2, 2012
SF BASEBALL
Gainesville, FL – Florida College System Activities Association "All-State" baseball players Shane Kennedy and Brad Markey have signed their letters of intent and both will continue their careers in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Kennedy inked his LOI with Clemson University and Markey with Virginia Tech University. Eight other Saints also recently signed scholarships with NCAA and NAIA institutions.
"This was a great group of sophomores who left their mark here at Santa Fe," said SF Coach Johnny Wiggs. "I am excited to watch them move on and leave their mark at the four year level. These guys represented themselves, their families, and Santa Fe College very well. I am really proud of all of them."
Kennedy joins a Clemson team that finished 35-28 overall and 16-14 in the Atlantic Coast Conference under head coach Jack Leggett. The advanced to the NCAA Tournament as a #2 seed but were eliminated by eventual national runner-up South Carolina.
As a sophomore at SF, Kennedy hit .364 with a team high 63 hits, 60 runs scored, eight homeruns, eight triples and 41 RBI in 2012. He also smashed nine doubles, stole 21 bases and slugged .647.
Brad Markey will also play in the ACC after signing with Virginia Tech. The Hokies were 34-21 overall and 11-19 in conference play under head coach Pete Hughes.
Markey won 10 of his 14 starts and finished with a record of 10-4, one short of the all-time single season wins mark set last season by Malcolm Clapsaddle. Four of his wins were of the complete game variety. He finished with a 1.33 ERA and struck out 70 batters in 95 innings pitched with only nine walks and opposing hitters managed just a .223 average against him.
Sophomore pitcher Ryan Yarbrough signed his letter of intent with Old Dominion University, former school of American League MVP and Cy Young award winner Justin Verlander. The Monarchs were 19-34 in 2012 and 9-21 in the Colonial Conference under first year head coach Chris Finwood.
Yarbrough finished his sophomore season with an 8-1 record 2.26 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 71.2 innings pitched. He pitched sparingly his freshman year out of the bullpen and completed his SF career with a 3.33 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 89 innings of work.
Sophomore outfielder Trey Griffin has signed with NAIA school Southern Polytechnic State University (Marietta, GA). The Hornets were 36-25 in 2012 under head coach Matt Griffin. Marty Lovrich will take over the head coaching duties next season.
Griffin finished a solid two year career at SF with a .311 average his sophomore season with 14 doubles, three homeruns and 36 RBI. For his career he hit .314 (96-for-305) with 25 doubles, seven homeruns and 64 RBI.
Sophomore outfielder Drew Doty and freshman short stop Jacob Tillotson have both signed with the University of Tampa. The Spartans are led by head coach Joe Urso and finished 38-10 overall and 18-6 in the NCAA Division II Sunshine State Conference. UT has won 40 or more games nine of the last 12 years and won the NCAA DII National Championship in 2006 and 2007.
Doty, a two year starter in centerfield for the Saints, finished his sophomore season with a .365 batting average, 12 doubles, 36 RBI and 13 stolen bases. For his career he hit .374 (128-for-342) with 29 doubles, seven homeruns, 82 RBI and 21 stolen bases.
Tillotson was named the 2012 Mid-Florida Conference Defensive Player of the Year and hit .282 with 10 doubles, 21 RBI and eight stolen bases in his lone year at SF. He will have three years of eligibility at UT.
Sophomore first baseman Garrett Greenwell inked his letter of intent with Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK. The Golden Eagles finished 2012 38-25 overall and 17-6 in the Summit Conference under Head Coach Rob Walton and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Greenwell hit .289 his sophomore season with nine doubles and 15 RBI. In two seasons at Santa Fe he hit .307 (52-for-169) with two homeruns, 15 doubles and 31 RBI.
Sophomore third baseman Graham Ramos will play for Lander University next season. Lander is a NCAA Division II school located in Greenwood, SC. The Bearcats were 38-20 overall in 2012 and finished 18-12 in the Peach Belt Conference, good enough to earn a spot in the NCAA II Tournament.
Ramos hit .314 his only year with SF, nailing five homeruns, seven doubles and had 30 RBI with seven steals.
Sophomore pitcher Felix Roque has signed with Marshall University of Conference USA. The Thundering Herd were 17-37 in 2012 under Head Coach Jeff Waggoner and 5-19 in conference play.
Roque was 3-1 with a 3.53 ERA in 17 appearances. He struck out 25 and allowed just four extra base hits in 35.2 innings.
Sophomore pitcher Trevor Berry recently signed a letter of intent with Florida Tech. The Panthers compete at the NCAA Division II level and finished 2012 with a 26-23 overall record and were 11-12 in the Sunshine State Conference under Head Coach Greg Berkemeier.
Berry made 11 appearances for the Saints in 2012, finishing with a 1-0 record, a 3.79 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 19 innings.
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