CLINTON, S.C. ? The Presbyterian College athletics department, in conjunction with head baseball coach Elton Pollock have announced the signing of six student-athletes for the upcoming school year.
The Blue Hose inked Nathan Chong, Josh Ellerbee, Chase Goude, Ryan Morris, Buck Mosteller and Kelly Wright. The class includes five high school student-athletes and one junior college player. Three of the six are from the Palmetto state while two hail from Georgia and one comes from Rhode Island.
Chong is a native of Duluth, Ga. The utility player attends Peachtree Ridge H.S. A two-time All-Gwinnett County selection, Chong garnered all-region accolades in 2007. As a sophomore, he was a member of the East Cobb Astros that has won three national championships. A Georgia Dugout Club Top 100 player, Chong is a three-time Player of the Month. At his high school, Chong was named the top offensive player in both 2007 and 2008.
“Nathan is a very versatile baseball player whose position will be labeled as ?utility',” Pollock said. “He runs extremely well and showcases a tremendous amount of gap power at the plate. He will compete for a starting spot as a freshman either in the outfield or in our middle infield.”
Ellerbe, a native of Winder, Ga., attends Winder-Barrow H.S. The right-handed pitcher and outfielder is a part of the Georgia Dugout Club Top 100 list. Ellerbe established an outfield arm strength record for the Georgia Dugout Club Top 100 after recording a throw of 95 mph.
“Josh is another versatile athlete who could potentially see action in our outfield and/or on the mound,” Pollock said. “With his arm being his greatest asset, he currently projects more as a pitcher than as a position player. His passion and drive will make it difficult to keep him out of the line-up.”
Goude is a left-handed pitcher from Beaufort, S.C. A student-athlete at Battery Creek H.S., Goude was rated the fifth-best left-handed pitcher in the state by Diamond Prospects. In 2008, Goude earned all-region honors.
“I am extremely excited Chase decided to make PC his home for the next four years,” Pollock said. “At 6-4 and over 200 pounds, this young left-handed pitcher is expected to come in and make an immediate impact. His upside is tremendous and he easily projects as a future starter in the Blue Hose baseball program.”
Morris, a native of Jamestown, R.I., attends North Kingston H.S. Morris plays third base and is a right-handed pitcher. A two-time first-team all-division selection, Morris batted over .400 with six homeruns and 40 RBIs during his sophomore and junior seasons. Morris is also a two-time co-captain of North Kingston H.S.
“I truly believe Ryan Morris is a ?diamond in the rough,'” Pollock said. “His versatility and athleticism could help him see significant playing time early in his career. With arm strength being one of his biggest attributes, Ryan is a two-way guy. Thus, he could see significant action on the mound. I am very excited about his potential to eventually develop into one of our leaders on the field.”
Mosteller is a right-handed pitcher that hails from Woodruff, S.C. Mosteller signed with PC from USC-Sumter junior college. A three-time all-region selection, he was named regional Player of the Year in 2007. At USC-Sumter, Mosteller started 13 games on the mound, compiling a record of 4-5 with a 4.77 ERA. He averaged 6.71 strikeouts per game.
“Buck will add much needed experience and depth to our pitching staff,” Pollock said. “I fully expect him to integrate himself as an important piece to our puzzle next season. His control and command of all pitches could easily catapult him into our starting rotation out of the gate.”
Wright, a native of Myrtle Beach, S.C., attends St. James H.S. The left-handed pitcher earned all-region honors in 2008. A first-team all-academic selection by Diamond Prospects in 2008, Wright amassed a stellar 5-1 record with a 2.86 ERA and 45 strikeouts at St. James.
“In my opinion, Kelly Wright has as much potential as any other left-handed pitcher on our staff,” Pollock said. “His mound presence, pitch development and confidence all improved as he progressed from the beginning of last season to the end of the summer. If he continues to develop, he could develop into a valuable member of our staff. I am excited about Kelly's baseball future at PC.”
Pollock and his squad open the 2009 campaign at Georgia Southern on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m.
