|
![[Under Construction]](images/undercon.gif)
| |
November 15, 2004: AUBURN - Auburn head baseball coach
Tom Slater announced Monday the signing of 15 players to National Letters of
Intent during the early signing period. The class, which includes 11 high school
and four junior college players, will join Auburn for the 2005-06 academic year.
The class features four players - Brandon Monk, Zack Martin,
Colby
Rasmus, and Brian Woodall*that were teammates on the 1999 Phenix City
(Ala.) team that won the U.S. Championship at the Little World Series and
eventually finished second to Osaka, Japan. Monk hails from LaGrange, Ga.,
Martin from Columbus, Ga., and
Rasmus and Woodall call Phenix City, Ala., home.
Brandon Monk, a 5-9, 185-pound infielder/right-handed pitcher,
hit .412 with six home runs, 17 doubles and 33 runs batted in while helping
LaGrange High School to the Georgia AAA State Championship last season. Monk is
listed by Baseball America as the 66th-ranked prospect.
"Brandon Monk is a winner. He won a state championship this past season at
LaGrange High School for coach Donnie Branch and was a member of the 1999 Phenix
City Little League World Series team," Slater said. "He has great work ethic and
is a tough competitor. Brandon is an outstanding bat swinger and has plus arm
strength across the infield. He reminds me of former Tigers' star (shortstop in
1997-98) Heath Kelly. On the mound, Brandon's fastball will be 87-90 and he
compliments it with a good curve ball."
A 6-3, 210-pound infielder from Columbus High School in Columbus, Ga., Zack
Martin hit .417 with 10 doubles and 37 RBI as a junior while helping lead
Columbus to the Georgia 6-A State Championship.
"Zack Martin is a physical left-handed hitter that can really swing the bat. He
plays with a lot of energy and loves to compete. He comes from a great high
school program at Columbus High School, which won the Georgia 6-A State
championship last season under coach Bobby Howard, who was named the USA Today
National High School Coach of the Year. Zack has impressed us with his work
ethic and competitiveness."
Colby
Rasmus, a 6-2, 175-pound outfielder/left-handed pitcher has been a
four-year starter at Russell County High School. As a junior,
Rasmus hit .490 with 18 home runs and was 2-3 on the mound. As a
freshman,
Rasmus tallied a 10-1 record with a 0.83 ERA while fanning 107 batters in
just 76 innings.
Rasmus is rated the No. 28 high school prospect according to Baseball
America.
"Colby
is a very gifted hitter with gap-to-gap pop. In addition to his hitting ability,
Colby is an above average runner and has great arm strength. He has been
well coached by his dad, Tony
Rasmus, at Russell County High School. We love
Colby's competitiveness and work ethic."
Brian Woodall, the fourth member of the 1999 Phenix City Little League World
Series team, is a 5-10, 175-pound pitcher from Central High School in Phenix
City, Ala. Woodall, who was the winning pitcher in the 1999 U.S. Little League
World Series Championship game, was an All-BiCity Team and all-area recipient as
a junior at Central High School. Woodall was 8-1 with three saves and a 1.68 ERA
last season. He also fanned 80 batters in 63 innings and hit .414 with two home
runs, 16 doubles, 32 RBI and 15 stolen bases.
"Brian is a tough competitor who attended our Labor Day Showcase Camp. Brian
pitches for head coach Ron Nelson at Central High School in Phenix City, which
also produced former Auburn star pitcher Bryan Hebson. Brian is 86-89 with his
fastball and really spins the curveball well. He's a good athlete, who also
plays football for Central and is another member of the 1999 Little League World
Series team."
|
