Tech baseball team announces nine signees for 2020 campaign
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With the first season of the Justin Holmes era officially over, the Tennessee Tech baseball team has announced the addition of several new players for the future of Tennessee Tech baseball, the 2019 signing class.
By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With the first season of the Justin Holmes era officially over, the Tennessee Tech baseball team has announced the addition of several new players for the future of Tennessee Tech baseball, the 2019 signing class.
The class of nine will look to add to a young team full of returners from the 2019 campaign, which includes All-Ohio Valley Conference First Team honorees Jason Hinchman and John Dyer, as well as All-Freshman Team member Nathan McMeans.
Here's a look at the signees of the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagle baseball team Class of 2019:
|
Elijah Brooks - OF | L/L | 5-10 | 195 Hometown: Goodlettsville, Tenn. High School: Ensworth HS Travel Team: Middle Tennessee Outlaws |
|
High School: Brooks was a two-sport athlete at Ensworth High School in Nashville, racking up eight varsity letters between baseball and football... an outfielder, first baseman and left-handed pitcher for head coach Jason Maxwell, wrapped up his junior season batting .330 with an on-base percentage of .450 and five home runs... went on to capture Nissan MyTV30 Scholar-Athlete of the Week honors, All-Region Accolades twice, and Rawlings Preseason All-American honors two times... also played linebacker and fullback for head football coach Jeremy Garrett. Personal: Son of Sonya and Malik Brooks... born Feb. 9, 2001... full name is Elijah McKinley Brooks... father, Malik, played football at Knoxville College from 1991-94... uncle, Marlin Simms, played basketball at Northern Illinois from 1991-96. Holmes' Take: Elijah is one of several talented freshmen in this class. He was a multisport standout in high school and I am excited to see him focus solely on baseball. Elijah will bring us depth in the outfield and a left-handed option at the plate. |
|
Ty Fisher - LHP | L/L | 6-3 | 200 Hometown: LaFayette, Ga. High School: Northwest Whitfield HS Travel Team: DRB Elite |
|
High School: Fisher lettered in both baseball and football at Northwest Whitfield High School in Tunnel Hill, Ga., racking up two as a left-handed pitcher for head coach Todd Middleton... also lettered for two years at LaFayette High School... after a sophomore campaign with 48 strikeouts in 57 innings, posted a 5-3 mark with a 1.45 ERA and 78 punch outs in 67.1 innings as a junior... as a senior, finished 7-3 with a save, a 1.24 ERA and 100 Ks to just 14 walks in 61.2 innings... named the Region 6-AAAA Pitcher of the Year as a senior... earned First-Team All-Area and First-Team All-Region honors as a junior and senior... took home All-State honors in 2018 and was named a Perfect Game Preseason All-American in both 2018 and 2019... led his team to a Region 6-AAAA title as a senior... played quarterback for two years at LHS before transferring to NWHS and playing two more for head coach Josh Robinson... set the single-season passing record as a senior with 2,376 yards... earned First-Team All-Region and First-Team All-Area honors as a senior. Personal: Son of Cecilia and Chad Fisher... born Oct. 4, 2000... full name is Ty Daniel Fisher... mother, Cecilia (Ramsey), played four seasons and was an All-American for the Tennessee Tech women's basketball team from 1988-91... she was inducted into the TTU Sports Hall of Fame in 2006... father, Chad, played football at Mars Hill University from 1991-94. Holmes' Take: Ty is a very talented left-handed pitcher with deep ties to Tennessee Tech. His ability to compete in the strike zone gives him the ability to contribute right away. |
|
Christian Herberholz - RHP | R/R | 6-1 | 195 Hometown: Scottsboro, Ala. High School: Scottsboro HS Travel Team: Viper Baseball Academy |
|
High School: Herberholz earned four letters as a right-handed pitcher and outfielder at Scottsboro High School in Scottsboro, Ala., playing for head coach Blake Talley in his final season... lost just one contest in his career, accumulating a 10-1 record with three saves, 112 strikeouts and just 22 walks in 82 innings... serving mainly as a reliever in 2018, racked up a 201 record with a pair of saves while fanning 33 and walking nine in 23.2 innings... led his team with a 6-0 record and 0.68 ERA as a senior, totaling over 50 punch outs in more than 30 innings of work... hit .281 in his career with 25 RBI and 29 runs scored in 56 games... named Perfect Game Preseason All-American Southeast Region and Preseason All-American Honorable Mention in 2019. Personal: Son of Dede and Larry Herberholz. Holmes' Take: Christian has a special arm. I can see big things for the young man in the future. He will compete for time on the mound right away and I can't wait for him to get here. |
|
Luke Jones - C | R/R | 6-0 | 195 Hometown: Greenbrier, Tenn. High School: Greenbrier HS Travel Team: Nashville Knights |
|
High School: Jones was a four-year letterwinner at catcher for head coach Justin Alberson at Greenbrier High School in Greenbrier... hit .346 with three doubles, two home runs and 20 RBI as a freshman and followed it up with a monster sophomore campaign, hitting .510 with 16 doubles, five home runs and 48 RBI... in his junior season, hit .430 with with eight doubles, seven home runs and 47 RBI... posted a monster sophomore campaign, batting .510 with 16 doubles, five home runs and 48 RBI... as a freshman, drove in 20 runs with a .346 batting average... led GHS to a District 9AA championships and Region 5AA title as a sophomore... named All-District and All-Region as both a sophomore and junior... earned District MVP honors and a place on both the Class AA All-State Team and the TBCA Team Tennessee. Personal: Son of Traci and Ray Jones... born July 2, 2001... full name is Nathan Luke Jones... father, Ray, played football at Middle Tennessee from 1987-88. Holmes' Take: Luke can potentially play many different positions on the diamond. He can also flat out hit. Luke has the ability to be another impact freshman in this class. |
|
Stan King - LHP/OF | L/L | 6-0 | 200 Hometown: LaFayette, Ga. High School: Baylor HS Travel Team: Game On Prospects |
|
High School: King lettered while playing first base, outfield and pitching at Baylor High School in Chattanooga.... led Baylor to back-to-back TSSAA Division II Class AA state titles... named a 2019 Perfect Game Preseason All-American Southest Region Honorable Mention... earned a whopping 11 All-Tournament Team honors throughout his high school travel ball career. Personal: Son of Lynn and Stan King. Holmes' Take: We love two-way players here at Tech. Stan has a chance to have an impact in the field and on the mound. Stan can roam the outfield, hit at the plate, and be explosive on the bump. He is another great addition for us. |
|
Brett Roberts - MIF | R/R | 6-1 | 175 Hometown: Atlanta, Ga. High School: North Atlanta HS Travel Team: Georgia Bombers Travel Baseball |
|
High School: Roberts was a four-year letterwinner as a shortstop for head coach Ricky Plante at North Atlanta High School in Atlanta... during his senior campaign, batted .438 with 36 runs scored, 38 RBI, nine stolen bases, 15 doubles, three triples and a whopping 10 home runs... as a junior, hit .430 with seven home runs and 16 RBI... turned in a .341 average as a sophomore... named to All-Region 7 AAAAAA Team and to the APS All-Star Game as both a junior and senior... earned Perfect Game Honorable Mention status in 2017 and 2018 and PG High Honorable Mention honors in 2019. Personal: Son of Gayle and Michael Roberts... born Mar. 12, 2001... cousin, Keyshawn Askew, currently plays baseball for Clemson. Holmes' Take: Brett is a very exciting offensive player. The sky is the limit for Brett and his time in the weight room this fall will be big for him. I expect him to impact our lineup right away. |
|
Paul Steffensen - OF | R/R | 5-9 | 190 |
|
2019 (Sophomore – Mesa CC): Steffensen played in 50 games during his sophomore campaign... hit .319 with 60 hits, 18 doubles, three triples and four home runs... posted a .376 on-base percentage and .511 slugging percentage with 36 RBI, 34 runs scored and 13 walks... drove in a season-high six runs versus Benedictine (Feb. 5)... drew a season-best three walks at Paradise Valley CC (Mar. 9)... scored a season-high three runs at home against Paradise Valley CC (Mar. 8)... totaled multiple hits in 17 games and drove in multiple runs eight times... scored at least two runs in eight contests. 2018 (Freshman – Mesa CC): Steffensen played in 56 games as a freshman... slashed .398/.443/.551 with 86 hits, 53 runs scored and 42 RBI... totaled seven doubles, 10 triples and four home runs while drawing 17 walks... tallied season-high marks of five hits and three runs at Gateway CC (Feb. 23) and again at Eastern Arizona College (Mar. 20)... recorded a season-best two triples and three RBI at EAC... racked up 23 multi-hit performances and 11 multi-RBI games... posted three or more hits seven times and two or more runs 14 times... boasted separate hit streaks of 26 and 15 games during the year... the 26-game hit streak is believed to be the longest for an Alaskan player at the collegiate level. Personal: Son of DeeAnn and Stan Steffensen. Holmes' Take: Paul is a winner. He has been productive throughout his junior college career and I expect him to have a major impact. He is a fantastic addition for us on and off the field. |
|
Solomon Washington - RHP/MIF | R/R | 6-0 | 180 Hometown: Franklin, Tenn. High School: Centennial HS Travel Team: Nashville Knights |
|
High School: Washington was a three-year starter at Centennial High School in Franklin... two-way player for CHS, pitched and played the infield throughout his college career... named to the 2019 Perfect Game Preseason All-American Southeast Region Second Team... earned All-Tournament Team honors twice while playing for the Nashville Knights travel team in 2018. Personal: Son of Delinar and Howard Washington. Holmes' Take: Solomon is another potential two way player for us. He has an electric arm and juice at the plate. It will be fun to see his development over his career at Tech. |
|
Trey Wright - RHP | R/R | 6-0 | 185 Hometown: Huntsville, Ala. High School: Buckhorn HS Travel Team: Viper Baseball Academy |
|
High School: Wright was a four-year letterwinner as a pitcher and first baseman for his father, head coach Roger Wright, at Buckhorn High School in New Market, Ala.... named the MVP pitcher of the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Southeastern Shootout Tournament... earned AHSAA North-South All-Star honors in 2018... helped BHS to appearances in the state playoffs in both 2017 and 2019. Personal: Son of Belinda and Roger Wright... born Sept. 4, 2000... full name is Trey Nicholas Wright... father, Roger, played baseball at Calhoun CC and North Alabama from 1984-87... oldest brother, Mitchell, played baseball at West Alabama, Calhoun CC and UAH from 2012-15 and currently serves as Tech's assistant coach/recruiting coordinator... older brother, Kyle, played baseball at Vanderbilt from 2015-17 and was selected with fifth overall pick in 2017 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves. Holmes' Take: Trey comes from a strong baseball family. On the mound, he has a great three-pitch arsenal and I believe his skill will shine on the bump. I am excited to watch him compete. |
