2009 Signing Photos
GOSHEN, Ind. – Looking to add some young talent to a crop of players that has gained valuable experience in the past two seasons, Goshen College Head Baseball Coach Josh Keister announced his 2008-09 recruiting class on Tuesday.
“I’m extremely excited about this year’s incoming class,” explained Keister. “We have a good mix of local kids as well as some guys from new areas that we haven’t recruited from before. The class is well balanced with a good mix of pitchers and position players.”
The class includes four local standouts in Goshen’s Jon Sevison, Jimtown’s Jason Crocker, Shane Davis of Elkhart Memorial and Andrew Shields, who graduated from West Noble in 2007. Crocker and Davis will step in immediately to compete for jobs in the starting rotation, while Sevison and Shields join 2006 Elkhart Memorial graduate Sean Sears at catcher. Sevison and Shields both have the versatility to move to corner infield spots as well.
Outside of the Goshen area, Keister has reeled in David Stoesz of Indianapolis, Garrett Cannizzo of Rolling Meadows, Ill., and Andrew Swisher of Mooresville, Ind. Swisher and Cannizzo will join a wide-open competition in the outfield, while Stoesz provides depth at first base.
“May of these guys will have an opportunity to make an immediate impact for us this year and help us take the program to the next level,” added Keister.
Here is an overview of the class of 2008-09:
Local Signings:
Jon Sevison (C/3B, Goshen High School)
After starting at third base his junior year, Sevison moved behind the plate and batted .286 in his final year for the Redskins. In the postseason, Sevison took his game to the next level as he batted .357, while having an instrumental role on Goshen’s first sectional title in eight years. In his first high school season at catcher, Sevison gunned down an outstanding 29.4% of potential base stealers. A team captain, Sevison was rewarded with the Beets Hoke Teamwork Award (voted by teammates) and the Paul Underwood Mental Attitude Award (voted by coaches).
“John was a special player for us this season,” said Goshen High School Head Coach Hal Farmwald. “His intelligence, positive leadership, and toughness were huge keys to our success. He only knows one way to play the game and that is all-out. He is highly respected by his teammates, coaches and opponents and his graduation leaves a big hole for us next year. Goshen College is getting a talented player and an outstanding young man.”
Jason Crocker (RHP, Jimtown High School)
A three-year letterman at Jimtown, Crocker was the No. 1 starter for the Jimmies the past two seasons. As a senior, Crocker led Jimtown to a 23-4 record, a conference championship, and the championship at the Edwardsburg Invitational. In 2008, Crocker posted a sparkling 3.18 earned run average in 68 1/3 innings, while striking out 56. Just as strong at the plate, Crocker batted .344 with a pair of home runs. For his efforts, Crocker was named team MVP and first-team all conference, an honor he also received in his junior season. Off the field, the soon-to-be Maple Leaf was on the honor roll every year throughout high school and graduated ranked 21st in his senior class.
Shane Davis (RHP, Elkhart Memorial High School)
An All-Northern Lakes Conference Honorable Mention selection in 2008, Davis received the Pitching Excellence Award for Elkhart Memorial High School.
Andrew Shields (C/1B, West Noble High School)
Shields will transfer to Goshen College after spending one year at Ancilla Community College. He was a high school teammate of current junior Maple Leaf Aaron Coy at West Noble High School and was the starting catcher for the team that won the section championship in 2006.
Non-Local Signings:
David Stoesz (1B, Indianapolis Pike High School)
Garrett Cannizzo (C/OF, Rolling Meadows High School, Rolling Meadows, Ill.)
Andrew Swisher (OF, Mooresville High School, Mooresville, Ind.)
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  Head Coach Josh Keister
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