Oct. 11, 2007

VILLANOVA, Pa. - In its annual list of the top college baseball recruiting classes, the College Baseball Newspaper has listed Villanova as one of the top classes in the nation. This marks the sixth time in the last seven years that the Wildcats have been ranked as one of the top 100 overall recruiting classes.

At the beginning of each fall season, the College Baseball Newspaper recognizes the top 40 recruiting classes in the country and produces a list of other top classes to include the top 100. Villanova was ranked 81st overall for its most recent class, which includes seven incoming freshmen.

The Wildcats announce each year's recruiting class each November but the excitement of a new season is building now as the incoming players are on campus and the team is in the midst of its fall season. Villanova added four position players and three pitchers and expects the newcomers to make immediate contributions to the team.

"In my time at Villanova we have seen our recruiting classes fall in the top third to the middle among the BIG EAST teams each year," head coach Joe Godri said. "The results of those classes are now being seen in our play on the field, as we have been able to move into the middle of the BIG EAST standings as well. With each recruiting class we have seen our play improve and our expectation is to continue moving up in the conference standings towards the top third of teams."

The three pitchers in this year's recruiting class include right-handers Will Hebard (Winnetica, Ill.) and David Koczirka (Thornton, Pa.) and left-hander Mike Francisco (Newtown Square, Pa.). Hebard, 6-7, is a well-polished pitcher from New Trier HS and adds to the growing Wildcat footprint in the state of Illinois. Koczirka and Francisco were each considered among the top high school pitchers in the area and have a tremendous amount of potential.

In the field, Villanova added infielders Sean Carberry (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Dain Hall (Barrington, Ill.) and catchers Nick Shuman (York, Pa.) and Matt Szczur (Erma, N.J.). Carberry and Hall can each play multiple positions and have potential impact bats. Carberry is a switch hitter and Hall has shown potential to hit near the top of the lineup. Shuman possesses outstanding catching skills and is a good hitter, while Szczur will make an immediate impact in the spring after starting this fall for the Villanova football team. This past summer, Szczur was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

"The assistant coaches did an outstanding job with this year's recruiting class," Godri said. "Recruiting coordinator Matt Kirby, assistant coach Rod Johnson and former assistant Doc Kennedy did a terrific job bringing in these seven players."

The recruiting rankings from College Baseball Newspaper listed Louisiana State as the top class for the second time in the last four years. Florida State and Oregon State rounded out the top three ahead of BIG EAST member Notre Dame at No. 4. The Fighting Irish and Louisville (No. 28) were the lone BIG EAST schools in the top 40, while Villanova was joined in the top 100 by University of South Florida, Seton Hall, Connecticut, West Virginia and Rutgers.