BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Campbell head baseball coach Greg Goff announced today the signing of one of the largest early sign classes in school history.  The ten member signing class comes from four different states and is made up of a catcher, two infielders, two outfielders, and five pitchers.  This class marks the third that Goff has brought to Buies Creek and it promises to be a class that will bring success to Taylor Field for years to come.

"This recruiting class is one of the strongest, if not the strongest, class that we have been able to sign since I have been here," Goff stated.  "We will be losing a lot of good players to graduation this year, and I feel like the guys that have made up this class will have the ability to step right in to our program and make an impact early in their respective careers.."

The early sign period concluded on November 18th, and the ten signees included: Manny Alvarez, Jimmy Brennemann, Brandon Chance, Corey Forrester, Tyler Hutchinson, Ryan Koopman, Robbie Penny, Jake Smith, Joe Turkson, and Brandon Wilson.
Manny Alvarez, a 5-foot-11 170-pound infielder, will come to Campbell from Miami, Fla.  Alvarez is a three-year letterman at Christopher Columbus High School, where he helped lead the Explorers to the 6A Florida state runner-up in 2009.   Alvarez, a switch-hitter, hit .305 with a .495 on-base percentage, while being recognized as one of the best shortstops in the Miami area.  He is one of nine players at Christopher Columbus High to sign Division 1 scholarships in this early sign period, and his high school is expected to be ranked in the top 10 in the country this spring.

Goff on Alvarez:  "Manny is a slick fielding, switch-hitting, infielder that will be a tremendous asset to our program.  He knows how to win, as he will be coming to us from one of the top programs, not only in the state of Florida, but in the entire country.  Manny has great aptitude, and makes all the plays.  He will be fun to watch in the Black and Orange over the next few years, and I know he will have an outstanding career here."

Jimmy Brenneman, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound outfielder, comes to Buies Creek from Lincoln Trail Community College in Robinson, Ill.  Brenneman hit .351 for the Statesmen with a .473 OBP, and stole 20-23 bases as a freshman.  He is originally from West Chester, Ohio where he helped lead Lakota West High to the Division 1 Ohio state championship in 2007.  Brenneman was a two-time First Team All-State selection in Ohio, and was an all-conference selection as freshman at Lincoln Trail CC.  Last summer, while playing in the prestigious Great Lakes League, he ranked in the top ten in five offensive categories: stolen bases, on-base percentage, walks, hit by pitch, and plate appearances.  

Goff on Brenneman:  "Jimmy is a very hard-nosed, tough outfielder that will be counted on to hit at the top of the order when he arrives on campus.  His athleticism will be another big factor in our explosive offense, and he gives us another weapon for the next two years.  His ability to get on base and go will be fun to watch for us as coaching staff and for all of our fans."

Brandon Chance is a 6-foot-3, 185-pound left-handed pitcher, from Triton High in Dunn, N.C.  He will join the Fighting Camels pitching staff after an accomplished junior year for the Hawks, as he posted a 5-3 record with 72 strikeouts in only 48 innings pitched, while allowing only 36 hits.  Chance was an all-conference selection in 2009, and is a two-time NC State Games participant.  As a junior he posted five complete games, and two games in which he struck out twelve opposing hitters, and one game in which he punched out eleven hitters.  He was also named Triton High School Outstanding Offensive Player of the Year.  

Goff on Chance:  "Brandon is one of the top left-handed pitchers in the state of North Carolina.  He should be a force to be reckoned with over the next four years, and we are excited to have him in our stables.  He has electric stuff that will give him an opportunity to log significant innings early in his career.  We are very pleased to have Brandon's commitment, and his dedication to helping us get to where we want to go."

Corey Forrester, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound infielder, will arrive in Buies Creek after a decorated career at Bishop England High School i Charleston, S.C.  The three-year letterman hit .381 as junior while leading the Bishops to their second 2A state title in three years (2007 and 2009).  Forrester was named All-SC Low Country in 2009 and was a standout for the prestigious Diamond Devils summer program for three years.  In the summer of 2008, he helped lead the Diamond Devils to the 17U World Wood Bat World Series Championship and the 18U CABA World Series Championship.

Goff on Forrester:  "Corey is a very athletic and skilled middle infielder that swings it from the left side.  He has speed, and will fit very well into our aggressive style of play.  Corey is a tremendous student both on the field and in the classroom, and will be an asset to our program both as a player, and as a young man off the field."

Tyler Hutchinson is a 6-foot, 220-pound, catcher from Lebanon, Ohio.  He attends Archbishop Moeller High and helped lead the Crusaders to the 2009 Division 1 Ohio state championship by batting .452 with four home runs, 22 RBI and slugging .850.  In the summer, Hutchinson played for the esteemed Cincy Flames, where he batted .425 with 11 home runs and 55 RBI.  He also earned all-conference, all-city honors in both baseball and football, and was named a "Top Prospect" by Perfect Game baseball.

Goff on Hutchinson:  "Tyler is one of the most dominating hitters in the state of Ohio, and he will have a chance to make a big impact early in his career here at Campbell.  His tireless work ethic and big-game mentality will be a valuable asset to our program.  Our fans are really going to enjoy watching this guy hit for the next four years."

Ryan Koopman, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound, right-handed pitcher, will be coming to Campbell from Tippecanoe High School in Tipp City, Ohio.  As a junior, Koopman went 5-2 with a save, tallying 71 strikeouts in only 49.1 innings pitched.  He was named all-conference, all-Greater Dayton area, and awarded as the Central Buckeye Conference Scholar Athlete of the year.  Koopman is a three-year letterman that was named a Top 100 prospect by thebuckeyescout.com.  

Goff on Koopman:  "Ryan is another top prospect that hails from the state of Ohio, and yet another recruit that excels both on the field and in the classroom.  He is a big, strong, physical pitcher that will have an opportunity to do some great things in his career.  He will also bring an infectious work ethic, and major competitive spirit on the mound.  We are very excited to have Ryan coming to Buies Creek."

Robbie Penny is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound, right-handed pitcher from Whiteville, N.C. that will be joining the Fighting Camels after two years at Pitt Community College.  Penny helped lead Pitt to the Region X title game as a freshman, with a 6-2 record and 65 K in 53 IP while registering only 15 BB.  Penny also went a string of 26 consecutive scoreless innings for the Bulldogs.  Pitt finished the year ranked in the Top 25 nationally, runner-up in Region X, and posted a 37-8 record.

Goff on Penny: "Robbie is a big-game pitcher that has tremendous stuff.  He possesses a plus fastball with a big-time out-pitch.  He also has a great mental make up that should make him a dominant pitcher in the Atlantic Sun.  It will be very exciting to watch him in the Black and Orange for the next two years.  He will be counted on heavily to pick up a lot of important innings right away."

Jake Smith, a 6-foot-5, 195-pound, right-handed pitcher, will be making the journey to Buies Creek from Darton College in Albany, GA after two years for the Cavaliers.  The North Augusta, S.C. native pitched in 13 games a freshman with five wins as well as registering 57 strikeouts in just 45 innings pitched.  Smith was home schooled and led his high school team to the 2008 Homeschool World Series and a 3rd place finish going 2-0 on the mound at the tournament.  This past summer he worked out with former MLB pitcher Steve Kline, and pitched for the Augusta Angels Showcase team.

Goff on Smith: "Jake is a big, tall, projectable pitcher that has a tremendous arm.  He will be an immediate impact pitcher in our league with his plus fastball.  He is a great competitor that will lead by example, and be a good role model for our younger pitchers.  Jake is another fine young man that will represent our program and university in a first class manner.  He will also be counted on to be a big-game arm for us over the next two years."

Joe Turkson is 5-foot-10, 185-pound, outfielder that comes to Campbell courtesy of Western Guilford High School in Greensboro, N.C.  As a junior, Turkson earned all-conference and all-region accolades by batting .436 with 11 HR and 42 RBI while swiping 14 bases.  He has been on the honor roll every semester at Western Guilford.  His rare combination of speed and power has made him a one of the top athletes in the state, and allowed him to be a three-time letterman in both baseball and football for the Hornets.
Goff on Turkson:  "Joe is a very physical athlete that will bring a unique combination of both power and speed to our lineup.  He has the ability to change a game with one swing, but also has the athleticism to beat you with his legs.  Joe has also made a commitment to excelling in the classroom, and obviously he excels on the playing field as well."

Brandon Wilson, a 6-foot, 175-pound, right-handed pitcher, will make the short journey to Campbell from Cary Academy in Cary, N.C. Wilson has had a decorated sophomore and junior year at Cary Academy, registering a combined 19-4 record with 192 strikeouts in 147 innings pitched.  He earned 2009 All-State honors, as well as 2009 Conference Player of the Year.  He is a two-time all-conference selection, and two-time NC State Games participant.  He already has the career and single season records at CAS for wins and strikeouts.  Wilson is also a member of the Headmaster's Honor Roll (all A's), and the National Honor Society.

Goff on Wilson:  "Brandon is a highly touted right-handed pitcher that will make his mark on Campbell baseball before he graduates.  He is a proven winner that really knows how to pitch and possesses three very quality pitches.  Brandon is also another of our recruits that has done an outstanding job in the classroom as well as on the playing field.  We are very thankful that he has decided to come to Campbell."

The ten-member class comes four different states, including North Carolina (4), Ohio (3), South Carolina (2), and Florida (1), continuing Coach Goff's penchant, and ability to recruit nationwide to find players that will fit in to his program.

"Our staff has worked extremely hard compiling this class, and I am very proud of the ten guys that we have been able to ink this fall.  This just shows that our recruiting is still very strong in-state, and we have been able to get out all over the country and find guys that are going to fit into our program, and university." Goff continued, "And being able to not only recruit some of the best players in our immediate region (NC, SC, and VA), but also throughout the entire nation is just another sign that we are taking great strides as a program to get this program to where we want it to be-and that is to the top of our conference and region."

Click on the Photo Album at the beginning for pictures of the new recruits.