Seven baseball student-athletes have each signed a National Letter of Intent to continue their academic and baseball futures at Youngstown State University, YSU head coach Dan Bertolini announced on Monday.
The class includes Alejandro Covas (Peninsula, Ohio), Chris Domke (North Royalton, Ohio), Brandon McClain-Banks (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Braden Mosby (Harrisburg, Pa.), Olindo Pezzone (Struthers, Ohio), Michael Shallcross (Washington, Pa.) and Derrick Tarpley Jr. (Brownsville, Pa.).
Bertolini on Signing Class: "This is such a great time of year where we can welcome not only great players and people, but great families into our Youngstown State Baseball family. This year is no exception. Shane Davis and Eric Bunnell have done an excellent job as always finding and identifying players that really fit into what YSU Baseball is all about. This class, from a position player standpoint, has a ton of speed and athleticism as well as a good mix of power. On the pitching side, this is a very talented group with a ton of upside. There is a good mix of velocity and projectability as well as pitchers who have great command and can really spin a breaking ball. We are very excited to see the impact this class will make in 2024."
Information on each of the student-athletes who committed during the signing period is below:
Alejandro Covas
OF/UTIL | 6'1 | 190 | Peninsula, Ohio | Walsh Jesuit High School
Highlights: Starting outfielder at Walsh Jesuit High School in 2021 and 2022… Helped lead Walsh Jesuit to the Ohio Division I State Semifinals in 2021 and to the Division I Regional Finals in 2022… Named Honorable Mention All-Crown Conference in 2022… Ranked as the No. 48 overall player and the No. 8 outfielder for the 2023 class by Prep Baseball Report… Prep Baseball Report Future Games Invitee for Team Ohio in 2021… Played summer/travel ball for Release Baseball… Led his team with a .413 batting average, 36 RBIs and 23 stolen bases during the summer of 2022… Awarded Perfect Game All-Tournament Team honors in the 2022 WWBA 17U National Championship, the 2022 17U National Elite Championship and the 2022 Ascendant Baseball Classic.
Personal: Parents are Michael and Stephanie… Plans to study exercise science at YSU.
Chris Domke
RHP | 6'3 | 190 | North Royalton, Ohio | North Royalton High School
Highlights: Plays for Coach Matt Stricker at North Royalton High School… Posted a 2.36 ERA, 45 strikeouts and a .153 opponent batting average in 35.1 innings pitched in 2022… Named Second-Team All-Suburban League and honorable mention all-district in 2022… On pace to become a four-year letter winner and four-year member of the honor roll… Played summer/travel ball for the T3 Warhawks under coaches Andrew Abrahamowicz, Ryan Rua and Todd Mezlak.
Personal: Parents are Steve and Cindy.
Brandon McClain-Banks
IF | 5'8 | 160 | Pittsburgh, Pa. | Obama Academy of International Studies
Highlights: Plays for Coach Bill Helterbran at the Obama Academy of International Studies… Batted .538 with a .609 on-base percentage, a 1.404 OPS and 15 stolen bases in 2022… Participated in the 2021 Hank Aaron Invitational… Named a 2022 Perfect Game Preseason All-American… Ranked as the No. 54 overall player in Pennsylvania by Perfect Game… Ranked as the No. 500 overall player in the nation by Perfect Game… Played summer/travel ball for Pittsburgh Hardball Academy under Coach Nelson Cooper and Coach Brian Jacobson… Batted .360 with a .409 on-base percentage, a .956 OPS and 10 stolen bases during the summer of 2022.
Personal: Parents are Robert Banks and Tonya McClain.
Braden Mosby
C | 5'9 | 195 | Harrisburg, Pa. | Central Dauphin High School
Highlights: Plays for Coach Troy Smith at Central Dauphin High School… Serves as a team co-captain… Tied for the best fielding percentage in the state of Pennsylvania in 2022… Played for Team Pennsylvania in the Big 26 Baseball Classic and was named the Defensive Player of the Game… Ranked as the No. 2 catcher in Pennsylvania for the class of 2023 by Perfect Game… Ranked as the No. 84 catcher in the nation for the class of 2023 by Perfect Game… Played summer/travel ball for the Dodgers Scout Team under Coach Jon Link.
Personal: Parents are Corey and Chasity.
Olindo Pezzone
RHP | 6'3 | 200 | Struthers, Ohio | Struthers High School
Highlights: Plays for Coach Tom Otto at Struthers High School… On track to become a four-year varsity letter winner… Named second-team all-conference as a junior in 2022… Allowed just one extra-base hit in 33.2 innings pitched in 2022… Played travel ball for Team Ohio Pro Select under coaches Chris Check and Joe Gunn… Played in the Youngstown Class B League under Coach Britt Taylor… Recorded a .400 batting average in the Youngstown Class B League in two straight seasons.
Personal: Parents are Lindy and Rhonda.
Michael Shallcross
RHP | 6'4 | 195 | Washington, Pa. | Washington High School
Highlights: Plays for Coach John Digon at Washington High School… Posted a 2.80 ERA, 38 strikeouts and a .198 opponent batting average in 20 innings pitched over seven appearances on the mound in 2022… Batted .550 and slugged 1.100 with five doubles, four triples, three home runs, 18 RBIs, 20 runs scored and a .684 on-base percentage in 2022… Played summer/travel ball for the Pittsburgh Spikes Baseball Club under Coach Chase Rowe… Member of National Honor Society.
Personal: Parents are Bryan and Amy.
Derrick Tarpley Jr.
OF | 6'4 | 190 | Brownsville, Pa. | Brownsville Area High School
Highlights: Plays for Coach Scott Roebuck at Brownsville Area High School… Batted .651 and slugged 1.069 with 28 hits, two home runs, three doubles, five triples, 22 runs scored, 13 stolen bases and a .700 on-base percentage in 2022… Two-time All-County and two-time All-Section honoree… Also played basketball and soccer… Played summer/travel ball for Pittsburgh Hardball Academy under Coach Nelson Cooper… Played fall ball under Coach Fred Albert.
Personal: Parents are Derrick Tarpley Sr. and Janele Tardd.
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