Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Sign 14 In Baseball Fall Signing Period
December 23, 2000 | Cowboy Baseball
Dec. 23, 2000
STILLWATER, Okla. - Head coach Tom Holliday and his coaching staff announced the signing of 14 baseball players to national letter of intents during the fall signing period.
The Cowboys signed 10 junior college athletes and four high school products to play baseball at OSU in the 2002 season.
Coach Holliday was excited about this class and the talent that each of the players possess and issued the following statement.
"Our recruiting efforts were based on our immediate needs. We will lose our graduating seniors and some juniors eligible for the Major League baseball draft in June of 2001. Two of these primary needs are left-handed pitching and catching, to replace junior Ryan Budde who is a candidate to be a high draft choice. We were also in need of an outfielder with the ability to run, throw and hit with power."
"As the 2001 season unfolds we will continue to evaluate the team?s performance and identify further needs. The group already committed to play for us is the result of a full summer and fall of scouting and recruiting by our entire staff."
The 2001 fall baseball signee class is listed below followed by background information on each:
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/Last School Brandon Banks P 6-2 180 Edmond, Okla./Connors JC Brent Bush P 6-1 185 Boca Raton, Fla./Palm Beach CC Shawn Callahan 3B/SS 6-2 180 Holden, Mo./Holden HS Don DeHollander P 6-1 170 Fairport, NY/Fairport HS Kenneth Hansley INF 5-10 175 Cooper City, FL/Manatee JC Jason Jaramillo C 6-2 190 Franksville, Wis./Case HS Jason Kramer P 6-1 175 Flower Mound, Texas/Vernon CC Daylon Monette OF 6-3 200 Cypress, Calif./Cypress JC Mike Patitucci OF 6-0 190 Brownsville, Pa./Gulf Coast CC Kyle Roat C 5-10 205 Coweta, Okla./Connors JC Jeffrey Salazar OF 6-0 190 Oklahoma City, Okla./Connors JC Greg Stone INF 6-1 185 Claremore, Okla./Connors JC Brian Valichka C 6-3 175 Frederick, Md./Urbana HS Cory Von Tungeln C 6-0 180 Bethany, Okla./Cowley County JC
Brandon Banks:
Ace of the Connors State staff, Banks posted a 9-3 record as
a freshman in 2000 with a 3.33 ERA. He struck out 82 batters in 73 innings
pitched.
Brent Bush:
No junior college information provided. He was a three-year
letterwinner at Boca Raton High. He was the MVP and team captain his senior
season and led the squad in wins and ERA.
Shawn Callahan:
One of the top prep players in the state of Missouri
according to Baseball America. He was named a high school All-American from
Missouri by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper last season.
Kenneth Hansley:
Second-team All-Suncoast Conference as a freshman infielder
last season at Manatee Community College. Hit .369 with with 11 doubles,
three homers and 31 RBIs in 51 games for the Lancers. Also was selected to
play in 2000 Fall Florida JUCO All-Star game and the 2000 All-State
tournament team. Helped Manatee win its fifth consecutive Suncoast
Conference Championship and 29th appearance at the Florida JUCO state
tournament, a state record. Hit a home run off of Pete Schourek of the
Pittsburgh Pirates in a spring exhibition contest.
Donald DeHollander:
Played on the 2000 Empire State team which represents
the best players in western New York. A two-year letterwinner at Fairport
High, he helped lead his American Legion team to the district championship
game last season.
Jason Jaramillo:
One of the top prep prospects in the state of Wisconsin
according to Baseball America. He is listed as a first baseman/catcher with
his future at Oklahoma State behind the plate.
Jason Kramer:
A two-time draft pick of the Colorado Rockies. Was drafted in
the 38th round after his senior season at Flower Mound HS and in the 49th
round last season after his freshman season at Vernon Junior College.
Daylon Monette:
Drafted in the seventh round by the Cleveland Indians in
1999 out of high school. He was drafted in the 17th round by Pittsburgh
following his freshman season at Cypress College. Monette helped lead
Cypress College to a 36-12 record and the Southern California regional
finals last year with a .329 batting average and 11 stolen bases.
Mike Patitucci:
Versatile performer who played in the outfield and pitched
as a freshman at Gulf Coast Community College in 2000.
Kyle Roat:
A 20th round selection by the Atlanta Braves in the 2000 draft.
Hit .407 with 13 homers and 62 RBIs as a freshman at Connors College.
Jeffrey Salazar:
A 35th round selection by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2000
draft. Hit .327 with 25 stolen bases as a freshman at Connors College.
Greg Stone:
A 39th round selection by the San Francisco Giants in the 2000
draft. Hit .385 with 52 runs scored as the leadoff hitter for Connors last
season.
Brian Valichka:
Selected to the All-Area team (Frederick News Post) last
year following his high school season. He played American Legion Baseball
for the Mt. Airy, MD legion team and in 1999 help lead that team to the
Maryland State Championship. He batted .500 as a junior with 10 doubles,
four homers and 30 RBIs, earning first team All-Central Maryland Conference.
Valichka earned honorable mention All-Area and All-Conference as a sophomore
at Urbana under coach Steve Sigler.
Cory Van Tungeln:
Is in his first year at Cowley County Community College.
Transferred there from the University of Oklahoma where he saw limited
action last season. Was a first team All-City selection as a shortstop in
his senior season at Putnam City West High in 1999.
