Nine SF Baseball Players Sign with Upper Division Schools

June 4, 2013

June 4, 2013
Contact: Scott Jamison
352-395-5616
scott.jamison@sfcollege.edu

SF BASEBALL

NINE SAINTS SIGN WITH UPPER DIVISION SCHOOLS

Gainesville, FL – Nine Santa Fe baseball players inked letters of intent with upper division schools during the fall and spring signing periods, with six staying in the state of Florida and three taking their talents out of state.

Shortstop Jarred Mederos turned in an excellent sophomore season at Santa Fe and parlayed his efforts into a scholarship with St. John's University in New York City.  The Red Storm were up and down this season, finishing with an overall record of 23-25 and a 10-14 mark in the Big East.  In 2013, Mederos hit .317 with 11 doubles, 25 RBI, seven stolen bases and was named First Team All-MFC.

Infielder Connor Castellano dealt with injuries a majority of the season, but when he was on the field he was a difference maker for the Saints.  He hit .311 with a homerun and 15 RBI in 20 games and recently signed with Texas Christian University.  TCU was 29-28 overall in 2013 and 12-12 in the Big 12.

Pitcher Dylan Barrow signed with the University of Tampa, the 2013 NCAA Division II National Champions. UT finished the year with a 47-12 record, capping it with an 8-2 win over Minnesota State for the Spartans' sixth National Title.  Barrow finished his sophomore season with a 4-2 record, 3.78 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 50 innings pitched.

Pitcher JT Simpson has signed his LOI with Thomas University, a NAIA school located in Thomasville, GA.  The Night Hawks were 23-26 overall in 2013 and 12-14 in The Sun Conference.  Simpson had a 3-4 mark his sophomore season and a 5.76 ERA in 60 innings pitched.

Catcher Blake Berger has inked with Florida Gulf Coast University, a NCAA Division I institution in Fort Myers.  The Eagles were 37-20 overall in 2013 and 19-8 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.  Berger, the Saints primary backstop, hit .204 with 21 RBI as a sophomore.

Infielder/pitcher Caleb Denmark has signed with Lynn University, a NCAA Division II school in Boca Raton, FL.  The Knights were 30-20 in 2013 and 13-11 in the Sunshine State Conference.  Denmark was a duel threat for the Saints, hitting .273 with a team high seven homeruns and 38 RBI.  As a pitcher he led SF in ERA with a 1.50 and had 15 strikeouts in 12 innings pitched with two saves.

Pitcher Clayton Wagner signed his LOI with Embry Riddle University, a NAIA powerhouse in Daytona Beach.  The Eagles finished a stellar 2013 season with a 50-15 record, the Sun Conference championship, and a semi-final appearance at the NAIA World Series.  Wagner pitched out of the bullpen and made some starts for Santa Fe, finishing a productive sophomore season with a 2-2 record, 2.51 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 32.1 innings pitched.

Pitcher Josh Larson inked with Armstrong Atlantic State University, a NCAA Division II school in Savannah, GA. The Pirates advanced on to the NCAA DII National Tournament and finished the year with a 31-17 overall record and a 19-10 mark in the Peach Belt Conference.  Larson was a key member of the Saints pitching staff and finished his sophomore season with a 4-2 record, 2.47 ERA and 54 strikeouts in a team leading 69.1 innings pitched.

Infielder Josh Stewart made his decision last fall when he signed with Rollins College, a NCAA Division II school in Winter Park, FL.  The Tars compete in the Sunshine State Conference and finished 2013 with a 24-23 overall record and a 9-14 mark in conference play.  Stewart started 39 games at second base for the Saints in 2013 and finished with a .198 batting average and 19 RBI.

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