Nov. 18, 2009
Click on photos link on baseball home page to see action shots of 2010-11 recruiting class
The IUP baseball team has signed Branden Barnes, Pat Bradley, Devin Doutt, Paul Indrihovic, Aaron Lupia, Mike Lupia, Tyler Mroz, Evan Phillips, Chase Wallace, Jared Weed, Jake Weibley and Christian Wolosik to NCAA National Letters of Intent for the 2010-11 season.
"This recruiting class is loaded with quality individuals who possess a high level of talent," IUP head coach Jeff Ditch commented. "We will continue to have a strong foundation of baseball skills and academic excellence. The pitchers are very talented on the mound and the position players are extremely athletic.
"Recruiting coordinator Anthony Rebyanski did a great job representing IUP, and we are thrilled to have these young men join our team. It will be fun to watch them compete in the highly-competitive PSAC next year."
IUP will graduate 13 seniors from the current team.
"Our players are very important in the recruiting process, along with IUP's reputation for a quality education, the new dorms and KCAC and the campus atmosphere," Ditch added. "We have an outstanding senior class this year. It is a tremendous recruiting challenge to fill the shoes of our current seniors."
This is the sixth recruiting class for Ditch at IUP. Since 2006, his teams have been ranked nationally by Collegiate Baseball, Ping!Baseball and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
In 2008, the Crimson Hawks posted a school-record 36 wins, were the runners-up in the PSAC West and participated in the PSAC tournament for the first time in 10 years.
That season IUP set 20 school records and had the best three-year improvement of any baseball level at all NCAA levels, increasing their win total from 10 in 2006 to 36 in 2008. Over the past three years the team has compiled a 3.08 cumulative grade point average, 108 Dean's List honors, 44 PSAC scholar awards and two PSAC Top Ten scholar awards.
IUP recently completed the fall practice season and is now in the skilled instruction, lifting and conditioning phase as they prepare for the 2010 season opener on Saturday, February 13, at Wingate, North Carolina.
2010-2011 Signees:
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School
Branden Barnes LHP 5-11 165 Tylersport/Souderton
Pat Bradley RHP 6-1 170 Pittsburgh/North Allegheny
Devin Doutt LHP 5-10 165 Lower Burrell/Burrell
Paul Indrihovic LHP 6-0 180 Coraopolis/Montour
Aaron Lupia SS 6-1 190 Middletown/Middletown
Mike Lupia C 6-1 195 Middletown/Middletown
Tyler Mroz 3B 6-3 210 Pittsburgh/Chartiers Valley
Evan Phillips LHP 5-11 170 Harrisburg/Susquehanna Township
Chase Wallace RHP 6-3 185 New Florence/United
Jared Weed RHP 6-3 170 Washington Crossing/Council Rock North
Jake Weibley OF/LHP 6-0 175 Duncansville/Hollidaysburg
Christian Wolosik RHP 6-2 170 Pittsburgh/North Catholic
BRANDEN BARNES - left handed pitcher
- Parents Jeffery and Shawn Barnes
- Plans to study Safety Science
- Souderton Area High School coach Mike Childs
- Summer team All Star Baseball Academy, coach Mark Freed
- Phillies Camp Cy Young award
- Cocoa Expo Home Run Derby Runner-up
- Bellefonte Showdown Tournament MVP
PAT BRADLEY - right handed pitcher
- Parents Daniel and Louise Bradley
- Plans to study Education / Journalism
- North Allegheny High School coach Andy Maddix
- 2009 WPIAL Champion and State Runner-up
- Summer team Pittsburgh Diamond Dawgs (WPEBL), coach Ray Antonelli
- 2009 West Penn Elite Baseball League Champion
- Won three games in WPEBL playoffs and pitched CG win in the championship
- Fall team Pittsburgh Diamond Dawgs, coaches Chase Rowe and Ray Antonelli
DEVIN DOUTT - left handed pitcher
- Parents Mark and Susan Doutt
- Plans to study Business
- Burrell High School coach Mark Spohn
- Honors Society
- Section 3 WPIAL Class AA Champions in 2007, 2008
- PIAA State Runner-up in 2007
- Pitched a no-hitter with 12 K's, three year baseball letter winner
- Summer team Springdale (WPEBL), coach Bill Devine
- Fall team Burrell Buccaneers, coach Mark Spohn
PAUL INDRIHOVIC - left handed pitcher
- Parents Liane and Paul Indrihovic
- Plans to study Physical Education
- Montour High School coach Glenn Vietmeir
- Honor Roll and Honor Society
- Bobby DiClemente Award for MVP and DiCesaro Sports Award
- Three year letter winner in baseball and one year in bowling
- Pittsburgh Post Gazette strikeout leaders in WPIAL
- Summer team 1080 Media, coach Andy Timko
- 2008 Youngstown Class B Summer League Championship
- Fall team Robinson Township, coach Glenn Vietmeir
AARON LUPIA - catcher
- Parents Joseph and Terry Lupia, identical twin brother of Mike
- Plans to study Elementary Education or Physical Education
- Middletown High School coach Rick Givens
- 2009 National Honor Society and Top 10% of class
- Three year letter winner in baseball, basketball, two year letter winner in football
- Mid-Penn Conference 1st team
- Summer team Middletown Legion Post 594, coach John Williams
- Participated in Pennsylvania American Legion East-West All-Star game
- Dauphin County All-Star Catcher, Region 4 All-Star
MIKE LUPIA - shortstop
- Parents Joseph and Terry Lupia, identical twin brother of Aaron
- Plans to study Elementary Education or Physical Education
- Middletown High School coach Rick Givens
- 2009 National Honor Society and Top 10% of class
- Three year letter winner in baseball, basketball, two year letter winner in football
- Mid-Penn Conference 1st team
- Summer team Middletown Legion Post 594, coach John Williams
- Participated in Pennsylvania American Legion East-West All-Star game
- Dauphin County All-Star Shortstop, Region 4 All-Star
TYLER MROZ - third base
- Parents Frank and Carolyn Mroz
- Plans to study Athletic Training
- Chartiers Valley High School coach Jim Jaskowski
- 2009 Class AAA WPIAL and PIAA Runner-up
- Junior season .361 batting average, 8 HR, 8 2B, 35 RBI, 26 runs scored
- MSA Sports Diamond Stud Award
- Pittsburgh Tribune-Review All-Star
- Summer team Steel City Wildcats (WPEBL), coach Mark Saghy
EVAN PHILLIPS - left handed pitcher
- Parents Dave and Teresa Phillips
- Plans to study History Education and Coaching
- Susquehanna Township High School coach Matt Rau
- Honor Roll
- Sophomore season 6-0 with 64 K's and 2.62 ERA
- Patriot News Big 11 All-Underclass team
- Junior season 7-2 with 73 K's and 1.88 ERA
- Patriot News Big 11 third team
- Summer team Paxton American Legion, coach John Mazolla
- Fall team Mid-Penn Aces, coached by Al Hobby
CHASE WALLACE - right handed pitcher
- Parents Robert and Cindy Wallace
- Plans to study Safety Science
- United High School coaches Bill Huss and Greg Mytrysak
- Heritage Conference All-Star 2008, 2009
- High School tournament MVP 2009
- Honor Roll Student
- Summer team AAABA Berkley Hills Renegades, coach Roland Black
- Summer team Westmont American Legion, coach Dave Price
- Fall team ERA Elite, coach Rick Roberts
JARED WEED - right handed pitcher
- Parents Bruce and Kim Weed
- Plans to study Business Marketing
- Council Rock North High School coach Dan Kusters
- 2009 District runner up, Elite Eight
- 30 K's in 20 innings pitched as closer
- Summer team Newtown Senior American Legion, coach Bob Maley
- Fall team Big League 30's, coach Paul Zikmund
- Won college select tournament in Rhode Island with Big League 30's
- Allowed four earned runs in 25 innings pitch with Big League 30's
JAKE WEIBLEY - outfield / left handed pitcher
- Parents Steve and Jan Weibley
- Plans to study Criminology
- Hollidaysburg High School coach Jon Szynal
- 2009 District 6 Class AAAA Champions
- PIAA Class AAAA Playoffs
- Junior season led team in HR's and RBI's
- Four year letter winner and four year starter in baseball
- Summer team Hollidaysburg Legion, coach Chris Glass
- Fall team ERA Elite, coach Rick Roberts
CHRISTIAN WOLOSIK - right handed pitcher
- Parents Christopher and Pamela Wolosik
- Plans to study Business Management / Accounting
- North Catholic High School coach Pat Walsh
- All-Section in 2009, 7 - 4 W/L, 1.81 ERA, 58 innings pitched, 37 hits, 90 K's
- Pitched no-hitter with 11 K's and two one-hitters with 10 and 13 K's
- 2007 WPIAL Champion
- 2009 WPIAL Runner-up
- Summer team Independent Players (WPEBL), coach Jim Basilone
