Baseball Signs Five Student-Athletes to Letters-of-Intent
12/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
CONWAY, S.C. –The Coastal Carolina University baseball program and head coach Gary Gilmore have signed five student-athletes to National Letters-of-Intent in the early signing period. The Chanticleers will welcome Dan Lombardozzi (Herndon, Va./Herndon), Nick McCully (Lakeland, Fla./Santa Fe Catholic), Jeremiah Meiners (Silver Springs, Md./St. Albans), Spence Nagy (Jacksonville, Fla./Talahassee C.C.) and David Poutier (Yorktown, Va./Grafton) for the 2006-07 academic year.
Lombardozzi, a righthanded pitcher, had a 6-3-1 record and 79 strikeouts his junior season at Herndon High School in Herndon, Va. He is a two-time Second Team All-District honoree and was chosen to the Commonwealth Team and the Florida Marlins Pro Baseball Showcase Team. Lombardozzi had a 1.95 earned-run average his sophomore year. His uncle, Steve Lombardozzi, played for the Minnesota Twins and was the starting second baseman for the 1987 World Champions. Lombardozzi is coached in high school by Alan McCullock and played summer ball for the Virginia Barnstormers.
"Dan will be a real sleeper for us," Gilmore said. "He has a great feel for throwing his fastball and slider consistenly for strikes. He has a quick arm, and with strength and maturity, should be a guy that challenges to pitch early in his career and be a weekend pitcher as he gains experience."
McCully, a righthanded pitcher, was a First Team All-State selection as a junior at Santa Fe Catholic High School. During that year, he batted .462 with three home runs, 26 runs-batted-in, a 1.07 earned-run average and 95 strikeouts in 65 innings. He had 90 or more strikeouts each of the last two seasons and is a three-time team Most Valuable Player. In his sophomore season, he was a Second Team All-State honoree and was a Junior Olympic Finalist in 2004. McCully is coached in high school by Matt Franzino and played summer ball for the Central Florida Renegades.
"Nick could play both positions (catcher and pitcher) but will be primarily a pitcher." Gilmore said. "He is possibly the most complete pitcher to come here as a freshman in my 10 years at CCU. Although not the prototype Major League pitcher in height, Nick will display professional ability walking in the door at CCU. He will make an immediate impact on our pitching staff at the top end."
Meiners, a lefthanded pitcher, was named Second Team All-Metro by the Washington Post his junior season. Meiners also was an All-Interscholastic Athletic Conference member in 2005. Meiners is coached in high school by David Badd and played summer ball with the Headfirst Gamers.
"Jeremiah will be another sleeper," Gilmore said. "He’s fairly unknown to the travel team and showcase crowd, but he will be an immediate impact guy to our pitching staff. He has outstanding stuff that he is able to throw from different arm angles. He has showed to be especially tough on lefthanded hitters and has significant pro potential."
Nagy, a shortstop, was at Tallahassee Community College in Tallahassee, Fla., last season. He was an honorable mention selection in the Panhandle Conference and was a First Team All-Academic Junior College honoree. Nagy was a Florida All-State selection his senior year at The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla., where he hit .401 as a senior and was the team’s MVP. He also was a two-time All-City First Team selection and helped The Bolles School to a 3A state championship his sophomore season. Nagy plays for Mike McCloud at Tallahassee and played summer ball for the Tallahassee Titans.
"Spence is a great all-around athlete, a switch hitter who has fantastic feel for defense," Gilmore said. "He will be an immediate impact player. He is the type of junior college player that can help lead us to Omaha."
Poutier, an infielder, hit .339, stole 15 bases and went 5-2 on the mound with a 2.02 ERA his junior year at Grafton High School in Yorktown, Va. He was a Second Team All-Bay Rivers District selection at shortstop and at pitcher. He helped the Clippers to the district and Region 1 championship. He had a .386 batting average as a sophomore and went 3-0 on the mound. Poutier also is a two-time Bay Rivers District Player of the Year in football and led Grafton to a district championship the past two years. Poutier is coached in high school by John Hammons and played summer ball for the Tidewater Devil Rays.
"David is a great athlete, an outstanding quarterback in football, and will bring a great competitive spirit and toughness to our infield," Gilmore said. "David will fit into the Coastal philosophy very well. He should challenge to play early and has the chance to be a good draft pick in three years."
Coastal is coming off a 50-16 season, a Big South Conference regular-season championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament as the number one seed out of the Tempe Regional.
2006-07 Coastal Baseball Signees
Name Pos. Hometown High School/Previous School
Dan Lombardozzi RHP Herndon, Va. Herndon
Nick McCully RHP Lakeland, Fla. Santa Fe Catholic
Jeremiah Meiners LHP Silver Springs, Md. St. Albans
Spence Nagy SS Jacksonville, Fla. The Bolles School/Tallahassee C.C.
David Poutier IF Yorktown, Va. Grafton
