University of Richmond Athletics
Spider Baseball Announces Eight Member Recruiting Class
01/07/2015 | Baseball
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - University of Richmond Spider head baseball coach Tracy Woodson announced an eight-member recruiting class on Wednesday. All eight student-athletes will be eligible to begin play for the Spiders in the 2016 season.
"We are really excited to land such a great recruiting class,” Woodson remarked. “My assistant coaches Matt Tyner and Josh Davis did an exceptional job evaluating our team, our needs and getting the commitments to fill those needs. Our top priority was to find pitchers that could make an immediate impact as we lose seven seniors, all pitchers, after this year. Plus, we signed a few athletic position players that would strengthen our team up the middle defensively as well as add a punch in the batting lineup. As a staff, we want hard-nosed, gritty players who are ready to put in the hard work and sacrifice necessary to win championships here at the University of Richmond.”
Included in the eight-member class are three pitchers – one left-handed and two right-handed – two potential two-way players, one catcher, one outfielder and one utility player. The class joins a talented Richmond roster that returns 19 letterwinners from last year's team that reached the Atlantic 10 Tournament for the fourth-straight season.
“We believe this group fits this mold and will continue to build on the foundation we have already begun to set here," said Woodson. "All eight guys are outstanding players, gifted students and high character young men - all of which are part of the makeup that we look for in our future Spiders.”
Below are biographies of all eight student-athletes, as well as a quote on each player from Woodson.
Jacob Lamb • LHP
6-5 • 235 • Salisbury, Conn. • Salisbury School
Ranked nationally as “Top 1000” prospect and No. 1-rated LHP in Connecticut by Perfect Game … Named 2014 Northeast All-Region Second-Team All-American by Perfect Game … Named 2012 and 2013 Underclass Honorable Mention All-American by Perfect Game … Perfect Game Super 25 Tournament First-Team … Guided Salisbury to three straight WNEPBL championships and a top-10 national high school ranking for the 2014 season (Eighth overall by Perfect Game) … Recorded a 1.67 ERA with 118 Ks in 71.1 innings pitched and a record of 11-0 the past two seasons … 2013 and 2014 All-Western New England Prep School League First-Team All-Star … Area Code invitee … 2012-2013 Honor Roll … Member of New England Ruffnecks coached by Matt Blake.
“Jacob is a lefty who throws in the upper 80's with the potential to make a jump because of how big and strong he is. We see him developing into a frontline guy that will compete as a weekend starter. I know the pro scouts will be following him closely.”
Layne Looney • RHP
5-11 • 190 • Dallas, Texas • Highland Park
Ranked nationally as “Top 500” prospect and No. 22-rated RHP in the state of Texas by Perfect Game … Posted a 12-0 record, including four no-hitters with a 0.53 ERA and 119 strikeouts as a junior for the Highland Park Scots … Named to 2014 CBS Sports Online-MaxPreps Underclass All-American Team (One of six players from Texas) … 2014 Underclass Third-Team All-American by Perfect Game … Awarded First-Team All-State by both Texas Sports Writers Association and Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association … Invited to be an Under Armor Pre-Season All-American in 2015 … Named First-Team All-Area by Dallas Morning News … Voted District MVP … 2013 Perfect Game 16U National Championship All-Tournament Team … Selected as Dallas Morning News Player of the Week, VYPE Magazine Player of the Week and Texas High School Baseball Player of the Week … Texas Rangers Area Code and NY Mets Metropolitan Classic participant … Invited to represent Team Texas at Sun Belt Classic … National Honor Society … Cornerstone Scholar Athlete … HPISD Baseball Scholar Athlete … Member of Dallas Mustangs coached by Sam Carpenter.
“Layne is a power right-handed arm that will have an immediate impact on our program next fall. To be able to bring in a guy that already throws 90-94 MPH with excellent control is very exciting. We will have the luxury of using him as either a starter or a closer. Layne was recruited nationwide and we are ecstatic that he chose Richmond.”
Matt Olson • RHP
6-4 • 200 • Mableton, Ga. • Whitfield Academy
Ranked nationally as “Top 500” prospect by Perfect Game … Named 2014 Underclass High Honorable Mention All American by Perfect Game … 2014 Perfect Game 17U National Championship All-Tournament Team … Posted a 4-2 record with a 1.52 ERA in 46 innings on the mound as a junior in 2014 … Led Whitefield to its first ever winning season … 2014 Cy Young Award winner … Voted 2014 First-Team All-Region Pitcher … Named 2013 All-Region Honorable Mention … Three-sport athlete who also plays football and basketball … Cobb County All-Star for football and selected to play in Cobb County Senior Bowl … Awarded Principal List for maintaining a high GPA … National Honor Society … Distinguished Christian High School Student … Two-year member of Student Council … Member of 643 DP Baseball Academy coached by Danny Pralgo.
"Matt was a highly sought after individual this summer as he's a great athlete with a tremendous work ethic. He is a complete pitcher who has great feel and pounds the zone with multiple pitches, including an above average slider. We believe he possesses both the physical and mental attributes to contribute right away.”
Dalton Light • SS/RHP
6-2 • 185 • Atlanta, Ga. • The Westminster School
Ranked nationally as “Top 500” prospect by Perfect Game … Named 2014 Underclass High Honorable Mention All-American by Perfect Game … Selected to 2013 Perfect Game 16U WWBA All-Tournament Team … 2013 Perfect Game Underclass All-American Games "Infield Standout”… 16U Defensive Player of the Year for 643 DP Athletics … Led Westminster to a 27-10 record and 2A state runner-up in 2013 … Hit .303 with two homeruns and 15 RBI with a .343 on-base percentage and .424 slugging percentage his sophomore season … Recorded a 4.30 ERA in 27.2 innings pitched with 24 strikeouts on the mound … Sat out his junior season due to an injury … Three-sport athlete who also plays football and basketball … Honor Roll Student … Member of 643 DP Baseball Academy coached by Danny Pralgo.
“Dalton is a gifted athlete who is versatile enough to play multiple positions at a very high level. He has size, power, great range, arm strength and speed – a five-tool guy. He has been slowed by some injuries the last two years but once healthy he will be a game changer for our program.”
Kyle Schmidt • C
6-1 • 205 • Smithville, Texas • Smithville
2014 THSBCA Third-Team All-State ... Led Smithville High School baseball his junior season with a .446 batting average and .507 on-base percentage including eight doubles, two triples, two home runs and 20 RBI … 2014 All-Area and District 26-AAA Defensive MVP … 2014 Area Code Invite … 2014 All-Tournament selection Weimar HS Tournament and Stanley Krist HS Tournament … Selected to the USA Baseball 16U North Texas NTIS Team … 2013 District 26-AAA First-Team … 2013 All County and District 26-AAA All Academic … 2012 District 26-AAA Newcomer of the year (Freshman) … National Honor Society … Member of Action Baseball coached by Keith Jackson.
"Kyle is a catcher with a strong frame who blocks and receives very well. I honestly believe he is one of the best catchers out of the state of Texas this year and feel very lucky to steal him away from all the schools in that state. Offensively, he has very good bat speed and projects as a middle of the order type bat. We expect him to come in and make an impact right away for us both at the plate and behind the plate.”
Michael Strait • OF
6-0 • 190 • Cumming, Ga. • South Forsyth
Ranked nationally as “Top 1000” prospect by Perfect Game … Named 2013 and 2014 Underclass Honorable Mention All-American by Perfect Game … 2014 18U Perfect Game East Cobb National All-Tournament Team … Hit .332 with five home runs as a junior … Led South Forsyth to the “Sweet Sixteen” and a final 2014 ranking of eight-best high school baseball team in Georgia … 2013 and 2014 Georgia All Region 6AAAAAA – HM and Second-Team … 2013 and 2014 Second Team All County … 2012 and 2013 Georgia Dugout Club Top 100 … 2012-2013 Honor Roll … Member of Team Georgia.
“Michael is a blue-collar, hard-nosed outfielder who can flat-out hit. We see him playing in centerfield with the range he creates from his instincts and aggressive mentality. Our staff also believes he will bolster our batting lineup immediately.”
Caleb Ward • RHP/OF
6-2 • 185 • Hampton, Va. • Phoebus
Rated 20th-best RHP in the state of Virginia by Perfect Game … 2014 17U Perfect Game BCS Finals All-Tournament Team … Led the Hampton Roads Hurricanes (coached by Bryan Kersey) to an 18-8 record this past summer … Posted a 9-2 record with a 2.13 ERA on the mound along with a .436 batting average with four home runs, seven doubles and two triples … Named 2014 Second-Team Ironclad Conference Pitcher … Also named Second-Team Ironclad Conference outfielder his junior season … National Honor Society … National Math Honor Society … National Science Honor Society.
"Caleb is a two-way player, an outfielder as well as a pitcher. He is athletic in everything he does. He runs well and hits for contact but he also has a mid to upper 80's fastball to go along with good off speed. He is a little raw but with continued development, we see him doing a lot of things both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball once he gets here."
Zach Kurtz • UTIL
6-0 • 190 • Gladwyn, Pa. • William Penn
2014 Inter-Ac All-League First Team and Second-Team All-City … Batted .391 with 12 doubles, three home runs, 24 RBI, 28 runs scored and 16-for-16 stolen bases his senior season at Penn Charter … Led team to a 19-6 record with a league championship and a PAISSA State Semi-Finalist this past spring … Selected to play in Independents/Inter-Ac Carpenter Cup Classic where he hit two home runs in the game … Honor Roll … Member of Philadelphia Reds coached by Sandy D'Orazio.
"Zach was a bit under-the-radar and we believe we got an absolute steal. He is a versatile player that can play any infield or outfield position. Zach runs well and uses all parts of the field. Spider fans will enjoy watching how hard he plays the game.”
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