Four Added to Baseball Incoming Class
June 27, 2019 | Baseball
IRVINE, Calif. --- The 2019 signing class continues to grow for head coach Ben Orloff and the Anteaters with four more junior college talents as the Summer approaches.
Head Coach Ben Orloff took some time to break down each of the new 'Eaters to see what each will bring to the program in the coming years:
RHP - Josh Ibarra
- First Team All-Conference
- 1.62 ERA leads Southern California JC pitchers
- 18 appearances in 2019, 4 starts, 4-1, 8 saves
- 61 IP, 33 H, 84 strikeouts
"Josh finished the year as one of the best junior college pitchers in the state of California. His last outing he threw 9 no-hit innings in a playoff game with 15 strikeouts. He has a fastball that can reach the mid-90s and a good slider. Josh will play a huge role in replacing the important innings we lost from last year's pitching staff."
INF/OF - Riley Kasper
- First Team All-Conference
- .382 AVG / .470 OBP / .586 SLG
- 12 2B, 8 3B, 1 HR, 31 RBI, 41 R, 10 SB
- Finished year on a 15-game hit streak
"Riley is the exact type of position player we are trying to recruit. He is athletic, can hit for power, and defend at multiple positions. He had 20 extra base hits and 10 stolen bases this past year at Saddleback. He should come in right away and make a big impact."
INF - Taishi Nakawake
- Second Team All-Conference
- 2019 ABCA/Rawlings Pacific Assocation Division Gold Glove Award winner
- .299 AVG, 50 hits, 13 extra-base hits, 23 RBI in 49 games
- State championship runner-up
"Taishi is the best junior college defensive shortstop in the state. He can make all of the plays and is very steady. Taishi will play an important role in our team continuing to defend at a high level."
LHP - Troy Wentworth
- State Championship Final Four appearance
- Conference champion
- 19 appearances out of the bullpen, 19 IP
- 1.42 ERA, 9 hits, 3 ER, 22 strikeouts
"Troy is a physical left handed pitcher that we think is only scratching the surface in terms of his potential. He has made big strides this past year and it's not often that you can bring in a 6'4 left-handed pitcher that's 90mph. Troy will be fun to watch as he continues to develop and mature."
| Student-Athlete | Ht / Wt | B/T | Position | Hometown | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Ibarra | 6-1 / 200 | R/R | Pitcher | Chino, Calif. | Golden West College / Don Lugo HS |
| Riley Kasper | 6-1 / 185 | R/R | INF / OF | Mission Viejo, Calif. | Saddleback College / Capistrano Valley HS |
| Taishi Nakawake | 5-10 / 165 | R/R | Infielder | Torrance, Calif. | El Camino College / Torrance HS |
| Troy Wentworth | 6-4 / 225 | L/L | Pitcher | Livermore, Calif. | San Joaquin Delta College / Granada HS |
Head Coach Ben Orloff took some time to break down each of the new 'Eaters to see what each will bring to the program in the coming years:
RHP - Josh Ibarra
- First Team All-Conference
- 1.62 ERA leads Southern California JC pitchers
- 18 appearances in 2019, 4 starts, 4-1, 8 saves
- 61 IP, 33 H, 84 strikeouts
"Josh finished the year as one of the best junior college pitchers in the state of California. His last outing he threw 9 no-hit innings in a playoff game with 15 strikeouts. He has a fastball that can reach the mid-90s and a good slider. Josh will play a huge role in replacing the important innings we lost from last year's pitching staff."
INF/OF - Riley Kasper
- First Team All-Conference
- .382 AVG / .470 OBP / .586 SLG
- 12 2B, 8 3B, 1 HR, 31 RBI, 41 R, 10 SB
- Finished year on a 15-game hit streak
"Riley is the exact type of position player we are trying to recruit. He is athletic, can hit for power, and defend at multiple positions. He had 20 extra base hits and 10 stolen bases this past year at Saddleback. He should come in right away and make a big impact."
INF - Taishi Nakawake
- Second Team All-Conference
- 2019 ABCA/Rawlings Pacific Assocation Division Gold Glove Award winner
- .299 AVG, 50 hits, 13 extra-base hits, 23 RBI in 49 games
- State championship runner-up
"Taishi is the best junior college defensive shortstop in the state. He can make all of the plays and is very steady. Taishi will play an important role in our team continuing to defend at a high level."
LHP - Troy Wentworth
- State Championship Final Four appearance
- Conference champion
- 19 appearances out of the bullpen, 19 IP
- 1.42 ERA, 9 hits, 3 ER, 22 strikeouts
"Troy is a physical left handed pitcher that we think is only scratching the surface in terms of his potential. He has made big strides this past year and it's not often that you can bring in a 6'4 left-handed pitcher that's 90mph. Troy will be fun to watch as he continues to develop and mature."
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