SFA Baseball Signs 1st Recruiting Class Since 1993
11/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 17, 2004
NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack baseball roster began to take shape as 11 players announced their intentions to continue their careers at SFA announced head coach Donnie Watson Tuesday afternoon. The class consists of seven junior college transfers and four freshmen.
"I'm very excited about the student-athletes we are bringing to SFA in this first class," said Watson. "Our goal is to be a competitive NCAA Division I program in our first season, and these young men are going to help us achieve that goal."
The Lumberjacks have brought in a wealth of pitching talent in their first signing class, which includes seven right-handed pitchers and two lefthanders. The right-handers are Josh Bone (Humble, Texas), Richard Folmer (Houston, Texas), Erich Lehmann (Ft. Worth, Texas), Jacob Leonhardt (Cypress, Texas), David Miller (Ft. Worth, Texas), Brian Steinocher (Hallettsville, Texas) and Vincent Wade (Bullard, Texas). The two lefthanders are Angel Hernandez (Hildalgo, Texas) and Lance Luetge (Industry, Texas).
Steven Hill (Houston, Texas) will be competing to be the battery mate for this crop of young talented pitchers. The 6-1 catcher comes to Nacogdoches after a highly decorated prep career at Langham Creek High School and junior college career at Eastfield College.
Watson added lefthanded outfielder Zack Love (McKinney, Texas) to this inaugural class. He will bring a solid mix of speed, power and the ability to hit for average in the `Jacks' lineup. Hernandez and Wade are accomplished outfielders as well.
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2004 Stephen F. Austin Baseball Signing Class
Richard Folmer, 6-2, RHP, Houston, Texas (Stratford) Played one season at Spring Woods High School before transferring to Stratford ... Fastball has been clocked in the high 80s ... Also a weapon at the plate after leading Stratford in homeruns as a junior.
"Richard is a high 80s pitcher that many people didn't know about. I believe that everyone will know about him soon. His signing is a real steal for SFA."
Josh Bone, 6-0, RHP, Humble, Texas (Humble/Galveston College) Won 11 games as a senior at Humble High School ... An all-state honoree who threw three no-hitters ... Named Humble MVP ... Is the top option out of the bullpen, recording six saves for Galveston College last season.
"Josh will be a workhorse on the SFA staff. He can start, pitch long relief and has the pitches to be a quality stopper in short relief. He will set the pace for our staff's work ethic and our players will benefit from his leadership style."
Angel Hernandez, 6-1, LHP/CF, Hidalgo, Texas (Hidalgo) Earned all-valley, all-area and all-district honors in 2004 ... Hit .489, stole 36 bases and scored 42 runs from his leadoff spot as a junior ... His 36 stolen bases set is a school record ... Also went 5-0 on the mound last season ... Guided Hidalgo to a 27-4 record and an area championship.
"Angel is a Reynosa, Mexico product who is one of the Valley's top prospects. He is a left-handed pitcher and centerfielder with great speed who will be a centerpiece of the rebuilding effort at SFA. Angel can play at the Division I level right now."
Steven Hill, 6-1, C, Houston, Texas (Langham Creek/Eastfield College) A three-year letterwinner at Langham Creek ... A solid defensive catcher (.995 fielding percentage) who brings power to the lineup ... Named the No. 2 Major League Baseball prospect from the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League ... First-team All-GLSCL catcher ... GLSCL all-star catcher ... Recorded a .438 batting average with 9 homeruns and 34 RBI's in the GLSCL ... A three-time first-team all-district selection who was named district MVP as a senior ... Finished his senior season tied for most homeruns in Houston in 2003 ... An all-state catcher.
"Steven is a great receiver, knows pitching and can hit for power too. He is an impressive field general who expects to and will be an NCAA Division I impact player."
Erich Lehmann, 6-1, RHP, Fort Worth, Texas (Harvest Christian Academy) Has been dominating on the mound during his prep career recording a 1.02 earned run average, with 285 career strikeouts ... Has also recorded a .555 batting average in high school ... Named district newcomer of the year as a freshman ... Three-time district MVP ... Two-time all-state selection ... Named athlete of the year as a sophomore ... A two-time Fort Worth Star Telegram first-team all-area private school honoree ... Also named Fort Worth Star Telegram Private School Player of the Year ... Holds school records for most strikeouts in a season twice and fewest walks in a season three times ... Pitched a perfect game for his select team ... True-definition of the a student-athlete earning the Presidential Scholar Award and earning honor student of the year recognition.
"Erich has been clocked in the mid-to-high 80s and has exceptional command of three pitches. He has had an exceptional high school career and is only going to get better. I believe he could start for a lot of colleges right now."
Jake Leonhardt, 6-5, RHP, Cypress, Texas (Cy-Fair/Angelina JC) A two-sport letterwinner in high school ... A two-time all-district selection at Cy-Fair ... Named team MVP as a pitcher for the Indianapolis Servants team ... One of the top pitchers on the Angelina staff ... Has been clocked in the low 90s.
"Jake is really emerging as one of the top pitchers at pitching-heavy Angelina Junior College. He had an impressive fall for coach Jeff Livin and will be asked to anchor the Lumberjack staff in 2006."
Zach Love, 6-0, OF, McKinney, Texas (McKinney/Eastfield College) A two-sport letterwinner in high school ... Hit .320 during his prep career ... Lists his best individual game as a 4-for-4 night with a homerun and two doubles during the district playoffs ... Guided his prep squad to a 2003 district title ... A letterwinner last spring for coach Michael Martin at Eastfield College ... Hit .400 this past fall with two homeruns.
"He provides leadership and left-handed power at the plate. I was very impressed with the way he handles himself both on and off the field."
Lance Luetge, 6-4, LHP, Industry, Texas (Bellville/McLennan CC) Another talented pitcher in the Lumberjacks' recruiting class ... Has a lively fastball and a major league change-up ... Pitched in the Babe Ruth World Series 16-18 year olds ... Led prep squad to the state quarterfinals ... Won six games for Bellville High School, including two playoff victories ... Batted .468 with one homerun last season ... Signed with Blinn Junior College out of high school ... Pitched 20 innings with two wins and five saves last season ... Really came into his own pitching for the Karl Young Sand Crabs this past summer ... Is a projected major league left hander.
"A pro prospect that is expected to have a great year at MCC. Lance will be a starting left-handed pitcher for SFA in 2006. He has the ability to pitch at any level. He is the exclamation mark on an already great recruiting class."
David Miller, 6-8, RHP, Fort Worth, Texas (C.F. Brewer/Hill JC) A two-time all-district selection in high school ... Guided his high school team to the 2003 district title ... Recorded a 4-1 record with a 2.38 earned run average as a junior ... He won 8 games and recorded a 2.20 ERA as senior ... Recorded a .345 batting average as a senior ... The true-definition of a student-athlete earning academic all-state honors as a senior ... List the best game of his career as a seven-inning, eight-strikeout game where he didn't surrender a run to earn his first collegiate victory.
"David is beginning to bloom into the pitcher that I thought he would become. The best thing for SFA is that he is only going to get better as he gets used to his body after a tremendous growth spurt over the past couple of years. I'm a big fan of David and extremely proud that he is a Lumberjack."
Brian Steinocher, 6-1, RHP, Hallettsville, Texas (Sacred Heart/Texas A&M) A four-sport letterwinner in high school ... Earned first-team all-state honors while guiding Sacred Heart to the state title as a junior and a senior ... Named district MVP as a senior ... Named Texas TAPPS 2A Male Athlete of the Year in 2002 ... Also a two-time first-team all-state selection in football ... A two-year letterwinner in College Station.
"Brian is a transfer from Texas A&M who will have two years of eligibility remaining at SFA. He is a perfect fit for the Lumberjack baseball program. He is a workhorse and a great student. I can see Brian being one of our starting pitchers in 2006. He has a live sinking fastball and quality off speed pitches but his best asset is his competitiveness."
Vincent Wade, 6-2, RHP/CF, Bullard, Texas (Brook Hill Academy) Has been clocked in the upper 80s ... Hit .459 last season ... Another Lumberjack signee with tremendous speed ... Stole 27 bases in 29 attempts last season ... Went 6-1 on the mound with a 1.11 ERA ... Coached by Sean Collins at Brook Hill Academy.
"I expect Vincent to re-write every record at SFA. He is a five-tool player who can hit, run, throw, play centerfield and pitch. Vincent's upside is off the chart. We were really excited to sign him. Wade also has Lumberjack bloodlines as his father also played baseball here at SFA."
