Sept. 26, 2005

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The 2005 Samford baseball recruiting class was ranked 69th nationally among 290 Division I programs by Collegiate Baseball on Monday.

"As a staff, we are excited about the group of kids we were able to bring into this program," Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. "Having the opportunity to be recognized by Collegiate Baseball in our first year says a lot about the direction of the program. We are excited about the direction the program is headed."

Samford, which was 29th among schools from the southeast, signed 20 new players for the upcoming season, including nine transfer players. Samford was the top team listed from the Ohio Valley Conference, and the Bulldogs were third in the state of Alabama, behind only Alabama and Auburn.

Of the athletes Samford brought in with the 2005 class, 11 are pitchers, seven are infielders and two are catchers.

Below is a complete list of Samford's 2005 signing class:

Daniel Davidson (RHP, 6-6, 215, Wake Forest University, Huntsville, Ala.)
Joshua Ehmke (LHP, 5-10, 180, U of South Alabama, Waterloo, Ind.)
Doug Denson (RHP, 6-1, 185, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Ala.)
Michael Marseco (SS, 5-9, 140, St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Miami, Fla.)

Louis Rojas (1B, 6-3, 225, St Petersburg CC, Miami, Fla.)
Jeffrey Rodriguez (LHP, 5-11, 165, Pensacola Junior College, Pensacola, Fla.)
Benji Waite (RHP, 6-3, 220, Madison Academy, Huntsville, Ala.)
Justin Aldridge (SS, 6-0, 190, West Orange High School, Ocoee, Fla.)

Clint Jones (RHP, 5-11, 175, Oak Mountain HS, Birmingham, Ala.)
Joseph Ballew (SS, 5-10, 180, Opelika HS, Opelika, Ala.)
PJ Fandetti (C, 5-10, 185, St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Miami, Fla.)
Eric Lassiter (RHP, 6-4, 215, Bishop State JC, Mobile, Ala.)

David Knapp (RHP, 5-10, 165, Lassiter High School, Marietta, Ga.)
Joshua Vanfleteren (RHP, 6-4, 185, Brentwood Academy, Nashville, Tenn.)
Jonathan Lowery (INF, 6-4, 200, Hillcrest HS, Hillcrest, Ala.)
Mark Lewallyn (RHP, 5-11, 180, Vestavia Hills HS, Birmingham, Ala.)

Joe McAbee (LHP, 6-1, 185, American Christian, Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Kyle Kilgore (INF, 5-11, 180, University of Alabama Huntsville, Jasper, Ala.)
Luke Peavy (C, 5-10, 190, University of South Alabama, Semmes, Ala.)
Mark Davis (1B/DH, 6-3, 245, Lake City Junior College, Tarpon Springs, Fla.)