ROCHESTER, Mich. – New Oakland baseball Head Coach Jordon Banfield has added 16 student-athletes in Carson Collins, Travis Densmore, Cooper Donlin, Josh Dudden, Avain Guillory-Rivera, Brandon Heidal, Andrew Hill, Ethan Kulich, Christian Lewis, Hayden Nierman, Reagan Paulina, Liam Pollock, Seth Sas, Jacob Schellpfeffer, Seth Tucker and Aris Zimakas to the 2021 recruiting class which consists of 26 total newcomers.
“I couldn’t be more excited to add these young men to our team this fall. As we have now nearly completed the 2021 Golden Grizzlies roster, I am certain we have added talent and character that will help move the program forward,” said Banfield. “Once again I must thank Coach Dan McKinney for his tireless work on the phone recruiting this group of student-athletes. I cannot wait to get them all together on campus in September and continue establishing the foundation of our program.”
CARSON COLLINS – RHP/INF
Hometown: Clio, Mich.
High School: Clio
Highlights:
• Helped Clio to District and Regional championship in 2019
• Two-time Flint Metro League All-Conference selection (2018, 2019)
• 2019 Flint Journal First-Team Dream Team selection as a pitcher
TRAVIS DENSMORE – LHP
Previous School: Gateway CC (Ariz.)
Hometown: Mesa, Ariz.
High School: Mountain View
Highlights:
• Made eight appearances with five starts recording and 2-1 record at Gateway
• Posted 17 strikeouts in 31.1 innings of work
• Recorded wins against Utah State Eastern and at Glendale CC
COOPER DONLIN – OF
Hometown: Plymouth, Mich.
High School: Detroit Catholic Central
Highlights:
• Helped lead Detroit CC to district and regional championship in 2019
• 2019 All-Conference and All-Catholic League selection
• Rawlings Pre-Season All-American for all three seasons in high school
JOSH DUDDEN – INF
Previous School: Creighton
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colo.
High School: Air Academy
Highlights:
• Appeared in 87 games over two seasons at second base at Central Arizona
• Hit .309 in 30 games as a freshman and .273 with 31 RBI as a sophomore helping the Vaqueros win the Junior College World Series in 2019
• Three-year starter at Air Academy hitting .396 with 74 hits, 29 extra-base hits, and 44 RBI over 68 games in three seasons
AVAIN GUILLORY-RIVERA – OF
Hometown: Midland, Mich.
High School: H.H. Dow
Highlights:
• Helped lead H.H. Dow to City and District title
• Two-time First Team All-Saginaw Valley League and All-District selection
• Named Second Team All-State and MVP following junior season after hitting .443 with 95 RBI and 70 runs scored
BRANDON HEIDAL – C
Previous School: Lamar CC (Col.)
Hometown: Montrose, Col.
High School: Montrose
Highlights:
• Helped Orange Lutheran to a 25-8 record and National High School Invitational Tournament title in 2018 along with a Trinity League title in 2019
• Appeared in 20 games hitting .333 as a junior
ANDREW HILL – RHP
Previous School: College of Wooster
Hometown: New Albany, Ohio
High School: Fork Union Military Academy
Highlights:
• Helped lead College of Wooster to two North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) championships, two Regional Championships, Super Regional Appearance and College World Series Appearance
• Fired the 13th no-hitter in program history versus Allegheny (April 21) striking out three Gators on 96 pitches in the seven-inning no-hitter
• Earned a spot on D3baseball.com’s Team of the Week and was the NCAC Pitcher of the Week
ETHAN KULICH – OF
Previous School: Sinclair CC
Hometown: Canton, Ohio
High School: Jackson
Highlights:
• Saw action in seven games hitting .364 with four hits and four runs scored at Sinclair in 2020
• 2018 First-Team All-League and Second-Team All-District selection at Jackson HS
• Helped lead Jackson to 54 straight league wins over four-year span, four consecutive District championships and 2017 Ohio State title
CHRISTIAN LEWIS – RHP
Previous School: Palomar College (Calif.)
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
High School: Rancho Bernardo
Highlights:
• Helped Rancho Bernardo claim two consecutive Palomar League championships (2017, 2018)
• 2018 All-League selection
• Holds Rancho Bernardo career ERA mark of 2.10 through 46.2 innings pitched with 46 strikeouts
HAYDEN NIERMAN – RHP
Previous School: Gateway CC (Ariz.)
Hometown: Scottsdale, Ariz.
High School: Desert Mountain
Highlights:
• Made 10 appearances recording 2-1 record with a save posting 16 strikeouts in 19.2 innings of work in 2020 at Gateway
• Made 15 appearance posting 15 strikeouts in 21.0 innings with a 3.43 ERA in 2019
• Tossed no-hitter as a freshman at Desert Mountain in 2014
REAGAN PAULINA – INF
Hometown: Highland, Mich.
High School: Detroit Catholic Central
Highlights:
• Helped lead Detroit CC to district and regional championship in 2019
• Named to Detroit CC All-Decade Team in 2020 posted in Prep Baseball Report
• Honor Roll selection and National Honor Society member
LIAM POLLOCK – OF
Hometown: Rochester Hills, Mich.
High School: Bishop Foley
Highlights:
• Helped Bishop Foley win 2017 Division III State Championship
• Two-time All-Catholic League selection (2018 & 2019) and 2018 First-Team All-State selection
• Earned All-Tournament Team honors after leading the Pastime 2019 17U National Championship Tournament (held at Notre Dame University) with a .882 batting average with 12 hits, two doubles, triple and home run while playing with the Motor City Hit Dogs
SETH SAS – RHP
Previous School: Gateway CC (Ariz.)
Hometown: Chandler, Ariz.
High School: Hamilton
Highlights:
• Started in 13 games with 16 appearances in 2019 recording 29 strikeouts in 60.0 innings pitched at Gateway in 2019
• Started in three games with four appearances posting a 3-1 record with 16 strikeouts in 21.2 innings pitched with a 3.74 ERA
• Helped Hamilton to back-to-back Arizona State Baseball Championships (2016 & 2017)
JACOB SCHELLPFEFFER – LHP
Previous School: Ellsworth CC (Iowa)
Hometown: Mayville, Wisc.
High School: Mayville
Highlights:
• Started five games posting a 2-3 record with 24 strikeouts in 23.0 innings at Ellsworth in 2020
• Appeared in 17 games starting in six during 2019 season with 35 strikeouts in 41.0 innings pitched
• 2018 First-Team All-Conference, All-District, All-Area, Second-Team All-State, MVP, All-Conference selection and Player of the Year at Mayville
SETH TUCKER – OF
Previous School: Hendrix College (Ark.)
Hometown: Bryant, Ark.
High School: Bryant
Highlights:
• Started in 85 of 92 games played recording 99 hits, 56 runs, 20 doubles, 39 RBIs, three triples and 27 walks with one home run and 36 stolen bases at Hendrix
• Went 3-6 on the bump tossing 59.0 innings with 40 strikeouts in 19 appearances and eight starts
• Started in 39 of 40 games played hitting .348 with 33 runs, 10 doubles, 3 triples, 20 RBI, 70 total bases and .452 slugging percentage in 2019
ARIS ZIMAKAS – LHP
Previous School: Lamar CC (Col.)
Hometown: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
High School: Royal West Academy
Highlights:
• Made six appearances with one start recording 11 strikeouts in 8.1 innings pitched at Lamar in 2020
• Made 12 appearances with five starts recording 30 strikeouts with a 5.20 ERA in 27.2 innings pitched at Chesapeake College in 2019
• First Team NJCAA Academic All-American
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