Nov. 10, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball program has signed five student-athletes for the 2007 season. We will highlight a different signee each day. Today's highlighted signee is Niko Navarro.

The Bulldogs' signees are: Jonathan Stephens, Niko Navarro, Alex Godshall, Michael Johnson and Bronson McGriff.

"I feel Nikko has the ability to come in and make an instant impact on our program from day one," Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. "His leadership skills and ability to handle a pitching staff are very advanced for his age. He is also a very good offensive player with the ability to hit from both sides of the plate. He has had success at every level to this point with state titles in high school and various championships as part of the All-American Prospects program in the summer."

Niko Navarro (C, 5'11", 180 lbs, Flanagan HS, Pembroke Pines, Fla) is a switch-hitting catcher with power who helped lead his high school to back-to-back 6A state championships in Florida as well as leading his summer team, the All-American Prospects, to multiple championships as well. Navarro was a highly recruited prospect out of one of the top high school programs in Florida.

The premiere program All-American Prospects team is among the top amateur baseball programs in the country. He helped lead the team to the 17 and under National Championships in the World Wood Bat Tournament. He hits with power from both sides of the plate and is a top level defensive catcher behind the plate.

Navarro will be a four year starting catcher at Flanagan High School, hitting in the middle of the order for both 6A state championship teams. During the team's run to the title last season, he hit four home runs in one five-game stretch on his way to being selected to the All-County Team. He was also his team's Defensive MVP.

He completed his sophomore season by being named the team's Offensive MVP, named to the All-County Miami Herald team and All-State in Florida while batting .434 on the season. Navarro began his high school career as a starting freshman on the varsity team and was voted the Offensive MVP in his first season on the varsity.

Among the schools that pursued Navarro were Florida State, Tulane and College of Charleston.