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Air Force Has Some Gems Among the Recruits for 2016
The Falcons could be pretty good in 2016. They return most of the staff and most of the top hitters. They also get three (in my opinion) good recruits that may get some serious playing time. In any event, the newbies look to contribute to a largely veteran team. Falcon fans best notice.
Karter Cook, RHP, Tualatin HS, Tualatin, OR
I think the Falcons have themselves a good one Cook. He was the Pitcher of the Year in Oregon and also was all-state for two years in a row. He fits the mold of the big righty as he's 6'4" and 210. MaxPreps is my usual source for high school stats and I tip my cap to them but I found nothing on Karter but POY say enough, I think. Don't you?
Rob Dau, C/IF, Gordon State College/North Paulding HS, Dallas, GA
Rob comes in as a freshman as he didn't play at his last school so lost no eligibility. Sorry, no stats.
Brett Decker, LHP, Gordon State College, Warner Robbins, GA
Brett was 1-0 and 5.28 at Gordon. He's a juco transfer and comes in as a sophomore. He pitched only 15 innings and his numbers are not impressive. Coach saw something.
Jake Gilbert, RHP, Lakeside HS, Evans, GA
This kid might give basketball a try as he's 6'7" and 215. Small forward, I'd say. he was 2-5 and 2.89 his senior season. He had 46 IP and 34/42 strikeouts to walks. It looks to me as he's long on potential and short on control. A good pitching coach can mold this kid into something special.
Matt Hargreaves, RHP, Franklin HS, Franklin, TN
He made All-Region and All-Conference in 2015 and was Pitcher-of-the-Year in 2014 in his region. I found no stats.
Matt Hopkins, INF, Alton HS, Godfrey, IL
Good size at 6'2" for an infielder. He bats left and throws right which is also good. I found no stats but he made All-Conference and All-Region I think.
Daniel Jones, OF, Coppell HS, Coppell, TX
Didn't hit very well at .244 his senior season so he's got some provin' to do.
Gabe Martinez, C, Keller HS, Keller, TX
Found nothing but he played for a good team.
Austin McDaniel, RHP, Paris CC, Flower Mound, TX
Nothing.
Tyler Mortenson, RHP/C, College Park High School, The Woodlands, TX
He made an All-Region team as a utility player and that's all I found.
Ethan Nichols, LHP, Marcus HS, Highland Village, TX
I found little for Ethan other than he made the All-Region team. He was on a lot of folks' radar but I need numbers.
Steven Plaskett, RHP, East Lake HS, Palm Harbor, FL
Found nothing.
Nic Ready, INF, Jesuit Prep of Dallas HS, Dallas, TX
Finally, something I can work with. He comes in as an INF recruit but he's 6'3" and 230 so I suspect he's gonna be a corner player. In any even he's got some pretty good numbers. He hit .410 and 3 his senior year so he knows how to use his size. He made second team Louisville Slugger AA which is great accomplishment.
Sam Rexroad, LHP, Loudon County HS, Leesburg, VA
I found little but a list from before the 2014 season which placed him on an underclassman AA list. Not bad to be noticed like that.
Drew Wiss, OF/IF, Burlington HS, Elgin, IL
He made his division's All-State team as an infielder in 2015 and that's about it.
As I've said before, Air Force is always tough when it comes to talking about recruits. They get good ones but even administration doesn't know who's going to cut the mustard when it comes to getting in at the last minute. Air Force will always be challenged in pitching because of the strange ball park they call home and what a home advantage it is. Anyway, the good ones to watch have to be Nic Ready, Matt Hargreaves, and Karter Cook. Two pitchers and then there's this kid. Jake Gilbert could be something if he ever finds the plate. Let me put it this way, when you watch a game and the coach goes out to pull a pitcher and the guy coming in walks the first batter he faces, how do you feel? It's called the strangulation blues.