Kennedy Inks Eight to National Letters

ELON, N.C. -- Elon Phoenix baseball head coach Mike Kennedy has announced that he has signed eight players to National Letters of Intent for the 2011 season. Joining the Phoenix next year will be: Scott Carcaise (Maple Shade, N.J./Bishop Eustace Prep), Ryan Kinsella (Warren, N.J./Morristown-Beard School), Garrett Koster (Fort Mill, S.C./Walters State CC), Jake Luce (Fairview, Texas/Jefferson College), Ryan Pennell (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Rye Neck), C.J. Riefenhauser (Mahopac, N.Y./Chipola College), Eric Serra (Miami, Fla./Florida Christian) and David Whitehead (West Chester, Ohio/Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller).

 

“With the personnel losses from last year’s regular-season championship club and the possibility of losing a few underclassmen to the draft from this year’s team, our focus was on trying to sign a class that could make an immediate impact on our program early in their Elon careers,” said Kennedy.

 

“On the mound we went after front line arms. We believe the three arms we have in this class will play a large role in the continued success of Elon baseball. It’s no secret the Southern Conference historically is an offensive league, and at the plate we continued to recruit players that fit our system and fit well into the style of play necessary to compete at a high level in the Southern Conference. We went after players that have the potential to drive baseballs at the plate, have great speed and the ability to create pressure on the bases. I have to commend my coaching staff for the work they put in and the class signed while I was handling my responsibilities with USA Baseball over the summer. Coach Starbuck, Coach Huffstetler, and Coach Brannon did a terrific job assembling this class.”

 

• Hit .478 with 10 home runs during his junior season.

• Helped lead Sam Tropiano’s Bishop Eustace squad to an Olympic Conference title and a runner-up finish in the South Jersey Championship.

• Is the son of Pasquale and Susan Carcaise.

 

Recruiting Coordinator Greg Starbuck on Carcaise: “Scott is a sweet swinging, left-handed hitting first baseman. He has as good of an approach as any young hitter I have seen at this stage in his career. He has power to all fields and is very good defensively at first base. He is athletic for his size and has a bright future ahead of him.”

 

• Batted .523 with 10 homers, seven doubles and 38 RBI as a junior for John Sheppard’s Morristown-Beard squad.

• Hit .505 with 10 home runs, 11 doubles and 46 RBI while playing for the N.J. Super 17 in 2009.

• Collected first-team all-conference, all-state Prep B and All-Daily Record as a third baseman a year ago.

• Named conference player of the year in 2009.

• 2009 team MVP.

• Was a Power Showcase All-American.

• Helped his prep team capture a Prep B state title.

• Led the N.J. Diamond Jacks Gold side to a second-place finish at the Perfect Game WWBA National Championships.

• Is the son of William and Valorie Kinsella.

 

Starbuck on Kinsella: “Ryan just continued to grow on me all summer the more I saw him play. He continually hit and hit for power each time I saw him play. He is a switch-hitting catcher with pop from both sides of the plate. He has very good arm strength behind the plate and an exceptional work ethic. He is very athletic for a catcher and has the ability to play a corner infield spot and outfield as well.”

 

• Played his freshman season at Winthrop University in 2009, batting .239 in 19 appearances.

• Attended the MLB East Coast Pro Showcase.

• Was a three-time all-region selection while at Fort Mill High School where he played for Darren Wilson.

• Collected all-state accolades in 2008.

• Named the South Carolina MVP of the North Carolina/South Carolina State Games.

• Rated as the top high school shortstop in South Carolina by Diamond Prospects in 2008.

• Is the son of Keith and Gaye Koster.

 

Starbuck on Koster: “Garret is a very athletic middle infielder who has tremendous defensive ability. He is so good defensively that his bat often gets over looked. He will be a middle-of-the-order type hitter. He comes from a great program in Walters State that does a lot of the same things we do here at Elon.”

 

• Batted .359 with 14 doubles and three home runs as a freshman at Jefferson College in 2009.

• Selected as a 2009 first-team all-conference performer.

• Earned one Texas Collegiate League Player of the Week nod while playing for the McKinney Marshals this summer.

• Two-year first-team all-district choice as a prep at Allen High where he played for Paul Pool.

• Named the 2006 defensive player of the year as well as the 2007 offensive player of the year.

• Helped Jefferson win the 2009 conference title and runner-up status in the regional tournament.

• Was an academic all-region pick last year.

• Is the son of Ronda Rogers and Joe Luce and step-mother Jill Luce.

 

Starbuck on Luce: “Jake is a top-of-the-order sparkplug type player that we love here at Elon. Has great ability to handle the bat, work counts and play the short game. His speed and arm strength will allow him to play all three outfield positions.”

 

• Three-year all-league selection.

• Went 9-0 with a 0.44 ERA and 136 strikeouts as a junior for Tyler Slater’s Rye Neck squad.

• Collected all-section accolades.

• Named first team All-Journal News and all-state.

• Helped his prep team to the 2009 Port Chester Tournament crown.

• Is the son of Glenn and Ellen Pennell.

 

Starbuck on Pennell: “Ryan is a left-hander that has a chance to have an immediate impact on our pitching staff. He was the number one left-hander on our recruiting board coming out of last spring and we feel very fortunate to get him. He has a chance to be a power arm from the left side with some pitchability and those guys are hard to come by at the collegiate level.”

 

• Logged 53.0 innings in 16 appearances as a freshman at Guilford Tech in 2009.

• Was a two-time all-league and all-section player while a prep at Mahopac High for Frank Maloney.

• Named the 1-C Pitcher of the Year.

• Hurled a no-hitter in a win over Putnam Valley during his senior year.

• Earned first-team All-Journal News and All-North County News accolades.

• Played for Hudson Valley in the Empire State Games.

• Is the son of Chuck and Mary Lou Riefenhauser.

 

Starbuck on Riefenhauser: “C.J. has the ability to be a weekend-type pitcher here at Elon. He is very familiar with our program and will fit in immediately with our coaches and players. He throws three pitches for a strike and has great arm strength from the left side. He plays for one of the top junior college programs in the nation in Chipola. I look forward to him bringing that winning mentality here with him to Elon.”

 

• Two-time second-team All-Dade choice.

• Has earned his team’s rookie of the year, hustler award, defensive player of the year and offensive player of the year honors.

• Played for Ernie Padron at Florida Christian.

• Is the son of Ubaldo and Isabel Serra.

 

Starbuck on Serra: “Eric is a product of highly successful Florida Christian in Miami, Florida. We saw Eric late in the fall and knew right away he was a great fit for Elon. He has above average speed and can create havoc on the bases. He is a smaller guy with big tools. Has a very good arm and will be a gap-to-gap type hitter. He can play both in the outfield and the infield.”

 

• Named a Perfect Game Top Prospect.

• Was a 2010 preseason-all-American selection.

• Went 2-1 with a 2.04 ERA, one complete game and 24 strikeouts in 2009 for Tim Held’s Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller squad.

• Posted a 5-2 record with a 2.95 ERA, four complete games and 37 strikeouts for the Cincy Flames in the summer of 2009.

• Helped lead his prep team to the 2009 Division 1 state title.

• Was a member of the Midland Redskins which claimed the 2009 Connie Mack national crown.

• Is the son of Dave and Diana Whitehead.

 

Starbuck on Whitehead: “David is a big, strong right-handed pitcher that just continued to get better as the summer and fall progressed. He has the potential to be a power arm with very good stuff. He has a ton of upside.”