Nov. 11, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" Penn State baseball received National Letters of Intent from five signees, head coach Rob Cooper announced Wednesday. The class, which will begin participation in the 2016-17 academic year, includes two pitchers, an infielder, an outfielder and one two-way player.
Three of the five are Pennsylvania natives, including Dante Biasi (Hazel Township/Hazelton Area), the younger brother of current Penn State baseball sophomore Sal Biasi, Myles Gayman (Greencastle/Greencastle Antrim) and Mason Nadeau (Lansdale/North Penn). Cole Bartels (Belmont/Belmont H.S.) hails from Massachusetts, while Logan Goodnight (Wheeling/The Linsly School) is the top-ranked player from West Virginia.
"I am extremely excited to welcome this group of Diamond Lions!" said head coach Rob Cooper. "Coach [Brian] Anderson and Coach [Ross] Oeder have worked relentlessly to put together an outstanding recruiting class. We are always trying to identify young men that will represent Penn State University in a first class manner, are of high moral character, and have the desire to win championships. We believe this group exemplifies that and will help us to continue to build a first class program."
Cole Bartels
RHP | 6-2/170 | R/R
Belmont, Mass. | Belmont H.S. | Team Boston Scorpions (Travel)
Achievements: Rated as the second-best RHP in Massachusetts and in the top 500 in the nation according to Perfect Game … Posted a 0.88 ERA and 98 strikeouts as a junior … Middlesex League MVP last season … Middlesex League All-Star and team MVP as a sophomore and junior … Team captain as a junior … Boston Glove and Boston Herald All-Scholastic … Massachusetts Junior All-Star game MVP.
Coach Cooper: "Cole cares a great deal about winning and making himself the best pitcher he can be. He will bring great energy and work ethic to our program and has the ability to be a frontline starter for us."
Dante Biasi
LHP/1B/OF | 6-0/195 | L/L
Hazel Township, Pa. | Hazelton Area | Tri State Arsenal (Travel)
Achievements: Rated as the fifth-best player in Pennsylvania, 26th-best LHP nationally and No. 241 overall by Perfect Game … Batted .435 and went 3-1 with two saves, a 1.28 ERA, 52 strikeouts and a no-hitter in 38 1/3 innings pitched during junior season … First-team All-Wyoming Valley Conference as a sophomore and junior … Named Wyoming Valley Conference MVP as a sophomore … Named to 2015 WWBA All-Tournament Team.
Coach Cooper: "Dante is a highly competitive pitcher who can also swing the bat. He has the ability and work ethic to be a frontline starter on the mound for us and he is continuing to improve as an offensive weapon. He will bring great energy and desire to our program."
Myles Gayman
RHP | 6-3/165 | R/R
Greencastle, Pa. | Greencastle Antrim | Mid Atlantic Red Sox (Travel)
Achievements: Rated in Top 500 Players in the country and 14th best in Pennsylvania by Perfect Game … Mid-Penn Colonial Division First Team All Star as a freshman as a freshman and sophomore … Public Opinion First Team All Star (SOPH) … Penn Live BIG 11 Underclassmen Team (SOPH).
Coach Cooper: "Myles has the ability to be a game changer on the mound and a frontline starter. He is a great competitor who is extremely coachable. He brings a winning, blue collar mindset to our program."
Logan Goodnight
SS | 6-2/185 | R/R
Wheeling, W. Va. | The Linsly School | Chandler Baseball (Travel)
Achievements: Ranked No. 1 player in West Virginia and top 500 overall according to Perfect Game … Ranked No. 1 player in West Virginia according to Prep Baseball Report … Batted .485, posted a .528 on-base percentage and went 23-for-23 stealing bases during junior high school season … USA Today All-West Virginia ... 2015 Perfect Game All-American … Three-time Perfect Game WWBA All-Tournament Team … Named OVAC 3A Player of the Year … Named first-team All-East Ohio Baseball League and All-Ohio Valley Athletic Conference last season.
Coach Cooper: "Logan is a blue collar, tough minded young man. He will bring a winning mentality to our program and desire to continuously improve his game. We are very excited to have Logan join Nittany Nation."
Mason Nadeau
OF | 5-10/165 | L/R
Lansdale, Pa. | North Penn | New Jersey Marlins (Travel)
Achievements: Top 500 player in the country according to Perfect Game … Batted .356 as a junior … Continental Conference First Team … Big 26 Participant … Perfect Game WWBA All-Tournament Team … Carpenter Cup Participant … Team captain … Two-time state champion (PIAA AAAA).
Coach Cooper: "Mason is a proven winner and has already had great success a Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. His North Penn Teams have won 2 State titles in his career, with both championship games being played in State College. He is a top of the order type talent with exceptional speed."
Penn State will play four exhibition games in Cuba over Thanksgiving break and then open the 2016 season by hosting a four-team tournament at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary, North Carolina, Feb. 19-21.
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