Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Baseball Recruiting Class Ranked 16th
October 07, 1999 | Cowboy Baseball
Oct. 7, 1999
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State's 1999-2000 baseball recruiting class was ranked No. 16 according to a release today by Collegiate Baseball magazine.
The Cowboys added 25 newcomers to help offset the losses of six position starters from last year's team, which went to the College World Series and finished with a 46-21 ledger.
Head coach Tom Holliday likes the large recruiting class, which he deemed necessary for the 2000 season. "The recruiting class is large, and it is rare when you can bring in an abundance of outfielders and infielders. We only brought in one catcher (Darren Heal) because we have Ryan Budde returning, and he has the potential to be an All-American.
"We should be outstanding up the middle defensively. We tried to recruit power to fit in right and left field as well as at third and first base, and I think we have done that. We recruited guys with bigger and stronger bodies and guys that are ready to play now, unlike the last two years, in which we were freshman-oriented."
Some of the newcomers expected to make an immediate impact and challenge for starting spots according to the coaching staff include shortstop Curt Anthony, second baseman Anthony Purkiss, outfielder Luke Scott and pitchers Clint Salisbury and Josh Merrigan.
Anthony was the 1996 USA Today High School Player of the Year in Nevada and an all-region shortstop at Dixie Junior College in 1999, when he hit .390 with 19 homers and 68 RBIs and also stole 10 bases.
Purkiss hit .350 with 16 doubles, two triples, one homer while also stealing 25 bases and scoring a school-record 65 runs last season at Fresno City Community College.
Scott hit .404 with a school-record 10 homers, 21 doubles and 60 RBIs last season at Indian River Community College, where he picked up all-conference plaudits.
Salisbury, a right-handed hurler, was an all-region honoree last season at Dixie Junior College, where he posted an 11-2 record with a 3.89 ERA in 89 innings.
Merrigan, a left-handed pitcher, posted a 10-4 record over two seasons at Butler County Community College, where he earned all-conference honors in 1999.
The Cowboys brought in the third-highest-ranked class in the Big 12 behind Texas' class was at No. 3 followed by Texas A&M at No. 7. Other Big 12 schools ranked in the Top 30 included Texas Tech at No. 28 and Oklahoma at No. 29.
OSU will close out its fall baseball schedule with an Orange vs. Black scrimmage Saturday, Oct. 9, at 1 p.m. at Reynolds Stadium.
