Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Announce 2001 Recruiting Class
June 16, 2001 | Cowboy Baseball
June 16, 2001
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State head coach Tom Holliday and his staff announced that 18 baseball players had signed letters of intent to play for the Cowboys during the 2002 season.
The list includes 12 junior college athletes and six high school prospects.
"This class was put together to solve the problems that we would foresee," Holliday said. "I think that it's a class that provides us with everything we need to put together a complete ball club in the fall. We have eliminated every visible shortcoming, and the maneuverability of the ball club in 2001 to overcome some injuries allowed them to still have a very successful season."
"We think that this recruiting class, united with the returning players, should provide us with the same depth and improve our talent level again to the point where we can compete nationally and certainly in the Big 12."
The 2001 baseball signee class is listed below with background information on each and comments from Holliday.
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 Chase McElree P 6-2 185 Davis, Calif./Davis HS Daylon Monette OF 6-3 200 Cypress, Calif./Cypress JC Jerry Nelson INF 6-5 250 Miami, Fla. /Maple Woods CC Mike Patitucci OF 6-0 190 Brownsville, Pa./Gulf Coast CC Justin Quaempts P 6-3 200 Pendleton, Ore./Linn-Benton 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 Aaron Whitehead P 6-2 195 Benbrook, Texas/Nolan Catholic HS
Brandon Banks * LHP * Edmond, Okla. (Connors JC)
"We expect an immediate contribution from Brandon Banks as we shore up the shortage of left-handed pitching from this year's squad. He is capable of starting and relieving, and his experience is valuable."
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 * LHP * Boca Raton, Fla. (Palm Beach CC)
"Another junior college guy who will help us in middle relief. He also has the ability to be a spot starter."
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 * INF * Holden, Mo. (Holden HS)
"Callahan is a player for the future with good athletic ability. We'll have to work with him to decide what position he settles into."
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 * INF * Cooper City, Fla. (Manatee JC)
"Kenny is a very strong middle infielder with great bat control."
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 * RHP * Fairport, N.Y. (Fairport HS)
"DeHollander is a pitcher who should only get better. He's a freshman that we can bring along at a normal pace. There won't be a lot of pressure for him to step up and be big as a freshman. He's only going to get better and better."
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 * C * Franksville, Wis. (Case HS)
"Jason is a very talented young catcher and a guy that we will look to groom to become our everyday catcher."
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 * LHP * Flower Mound, Texas (Vernon CC)
"He's another guy we expect to come in and help with the shortage of left-handed pitching. He also has the ability to be both a starter and a reliever."
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.
Chase McElree * LHP * Davis, Calif. (Davis HS)
"Chase is a left-hander that we expect to be a guy that we can groom. He's a pitcher that could be very strong in the future."
One of the top 100 prospects in the state of California, he had a 7-2 record in 2000 with a 1.96 ERA and struck out 65 batters in 57 innings pitched. Named All-League, All-Area and All-State last year.
Daylon Monette *?OF * Cypress, Calif. (Cypress JC)
"Monette is one of the most gifted players in this year's recruiting class. He's an outfielder who is capable of playing all three positions, and we expect him to jump in and become a starter."
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.
Jerry Nelson * INF * Miami, Fla. (Maple Woods CC)
"He will be looked to for power. He's a guy that was brought to provide right-handed power hitting."
Batted .345 this year with 14 home runs, 12 doubles and 59 RBI. Helped lead Maple Woods CC to the district finals as they finished one game shy of the Junior College World Series.
Mike Patitucci * LHP/OF * Brownsville, Pa. (Gulf Coast JC)
"Patitucci is the only two-way guy that we signed in this class. He's a great athlete. He should compete for a starting position in the outfield and help us on the mound."
Versatile performer who played in the outfield and pitched as a freshman at Gulf Coast Community College in 2000.
Justin Quaempts * RHP * Pendleton, Ore. (Linn-Benton CC)
"Justin is another two-time draft choice who turned down the Texas Rangers to go to Oklahoma State. He's a right-handed pitcher who was brought in for immediate help. He is a power arm that can go either as a starter or a reliever. We will determine his role in the fall."
Named the 15th-best junior college prospect by Baseball America before the 2001 season. Had a 2.50 ERA this season pitching for Linn-Benton Community College. Ended his career at Pendleton High School with the third-most strikeouts in school history.
Kyle Roat * C * Coweta, Okla. (Connors JC)
"Kyle signed professionally with the Atlanta Braves for a large bonus. He was ticketed to be our starting catcher, but he got a bonus that made him and his family happy. We wish him the best of luck."
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 * OF * Oklahoma City, Okla. (Connors JC)
"Salazar is a very gifted outfielder and hitter, and we expect him to compete for a starting position. He should provide speed and outstanding defense to our outfield."
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 * INF *?Claremore, Okla. (Connors JC)
"We expect him to help solidify our defense in the middle. He will compete for the starting job at shortstop."
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 * C * Frederick, Md. (Urbana HS)
"Brian is a freshman catcher that we plan to groom and develop. He has a very strong arm, and he's a great receiver."
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 * C * Bethany, Okla. (Cowley County CC)
"He's a catcher who was converted from the infield. Van Tungeln should be the number one competitor for the everyday catching job."
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.
Aaron Whitehead * RHP * Benbrook, Texas (Nolan Catholic HS)
"Whitehead is another freshman that should progress into an outstanding college pitcher. He's one of the guys that we recruited for the future."
All-District and All-State pitcher in 2001. Also earned second team All-District honors in 2000 at Nolan Catholic High School.
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