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August 20, 1997
CLEMSON, SC--Thirteen Clemson baseball signees began classes today. The list includes four draftees in the major league June draft: Patrick Boyd, Peter Nystrom, Justin Singleton, and Paul Stryhas. Singleton is the son of former major leaguer Ken Singleton of the Baltimore Orioles.
Of the 13 signees, four are from Florida, three from South Carolina, two apiece from Maryland and North Carolina, and one apiece from Georgia and New Jersey. Ten freshmen and three junior college transfers are also amongst the '97 signees.
"We are very pleased with the class we signed this year," Head Coach Jack Leggett said. "Tim Corbin, John Pawlowski, Kevin Erminio (assistant coaches), and myself have all worked extremely hard to bring in the players that fit our needs.
"Patrick Boyd (second-round pick of the Seattle Mariners) was a highly touted player in high school. We think he will develop into an outstanding player as a switch-hitter.
"Overall I am very pleased with the position players in this class. We did not go very heavy on pitching because of our experience of our returning players."
Clemson begins fall practice on September 9.
Player Pos. Cl. B-T Hgt. Wgt. Hometown Chris Benson C/OF Fr. R-R 6-1 190 Poolesville, MD Patrick Boyd OF Fr. S-R 6-3 195 Palm Harbor, FL Brandt Cook LHP Fr. L-L 6-0 185 Greer, SC Jesse Douglass 1B/3B Fr. S-R 6-5 235 Woodcliff Lake, NJ Jason Harris 1B Jr. L-L 6-3 200 Hickory, NC Johnny Hedges INF/RHP Fr. R-R 6-1 190 Summerville, SC Justin Hyde INF/OF Jr. R-R 6-4 200 New Bern, NC Russ Moon 1B/3B Fr. R-R 6-3 200 Colbert, GA Peter Nystrom OF Fr. R-R 6-3 190 Dunedin, FL Mike Rhue LHP Fr. L-L 6-7 205 Gainesville, FL Justin Singleton SS/2B Fr. L-R 6-2 165 Lutherville, MD Casey Stone SS/OF Fr. L-R 5-8 150 Abbeville, SC Paul Stryhas 3B/1B Jr. R-R 5-11 180 Sarasota, FL
Chris Benson...C/OF...Fr...R-R...6-1...190...Poolesville, MD
In High School: Averaged over .500 at the plate in his four-year high
school career at Mercersburg Academy...also was team MVP in those four
years...a Hagerstown Morning Herald First-Team All-Area player in 1996 and
1997 and the Co-player of the Year in 1997...a First-Team All-Area player
in all four seasons by the Chambersburg Public Opinion...hit 18 homers in
his high school career, including seven in 1997...also hit .540 with 37
RBIs in '97...played in the Area Code games in the summer of
1996...lettered four times in baseball, four times in football, and twice
in basketball...broke the tri-state area passing record with over 5,000
career yards...a second-team All-State quarterback in 1996...team MVP in
football his sophomore through senior seasons...his uncle, Tim, played
baseball at the Naval Academy...coached by Karl Riesner at Mercersburg
Academy...no relation to former Tiger great Kris Benson...born Jul. 8, 1978
in Washington D.C.
Patrick Boyd...OF...Fr...S-R...6-3...195...Palm Harbor, FL
In High School: A USA Today Super 25 national player out of Clearwater Central Catholic High School...also tabbed an All-American by USA Today...the ninth best high school prospect by Student Sports magazine...drafted in the second round, by the Seattle Mariners...lettered three times in baseball...1996 Eastern Conference MVP for the Devil Rays in the Area Code Games...also a First-Team All-State selection in 1996 as an outfielder...the '96 team was 27-4 and ranked number-one in the state...member of the Team One Showcase...coached by Todd Vaughn at Clearwater Central Catholic High School...born Sept. 7, 1978 in Dunedin, FL.
Brandt Cook...LHP...Fr...L-L...6-0...185...Greer, SC
In High School: First-Team All-State selection as an infielder in '97...also an Honorable Mention All-State pitcher in 1997...had a 1.44 ERA in 63.0 innings pitched...also had 10 wins and 95 strikeouts on the mound...a member of the 1997 North-South All-Star team...1996 and 1997 Foothills Player-of-the-Year...also a '96 and '97 High School Sports Report All-State honoree...All-Conference selection in 1995, 1996, and 1997...named the 1996 Spartanburg Herald-Journal Player-of-the-Year...also was All-Area by the Spartanburg Herald-Journal...a 1996 and 1997 High School Coaches Association All-State selection...led his team to a 51-6 record in 1996 and 1997...lettered four times in baseball, two times in football, and once in golf at Riverside High School...selected to "Who's Who in Sports" National High School Edition in 1996...coached by Don Miller at Riverside High School...born Sept. 21, 1978 in New Braunfels, TX.
Jesse Douglass...1B/3B...Fr...S-R...6-5...235...Woodcliff Lake, NJ
In High School: 1997 team was ranked number-one in preseason in New Jersey by the Star Ledger...A 1996 All-Bergen County selection in 1996...also earned All-Suburban and All-League Honors in '96...hit 14 homers in 60 total games during high school and legion seasons...a member of the 1995 State Sectional Champions...also was a decorated football player...selected to play in the North-South Senior All-Star Classic in 1997...earned All-County honors as a defensive lineman...was heavily recruited by over 50 colleges to play football; and is the only athlete in Pascack Hills High School history to be offered Division I football scholarships...also lettered in basketball and was team's leading rebounder in junior and senior seasons at center...coached by Bucky Rehain at Pascack Hills High School...born Sept. 15, 1979 in Ridgewood, NJ.
Jason Harris...1B...Jr...L-L...6-3...200...Hickory, NC
In High School: Played at Brevard College in 1996 and 1997...set the Saint Stephens High School single-season record for batting average by hitting.531 in 1995...lettered three times each in baseball, football, and basketball...team's MVP in 1994 and 1995 at Saint Stephens High...Western Piedmont (3A) Conference Player-of-the-Year in 1995 in football...also and All-State choice in '95 and All-Conference in 1993-95...was the first varsity player in school history to score 1,000 points...Western Piedmont (3A) Conference Player-of-the-Year in 1994-95 in basketball...team MVP in 1994 and 1995 in basketball...also played football and was an All-Conference selection in 1993 and 1994...won his third Conference Player-of-the-Year award, this time in football in 1994...USA Today's Quarterback-of-the-Week in 1994 by passing for 388 yards in a game...coached by Rusty Stroupe at Brevard College and Todd Setzer at Saint Stephens High School...born Mar. 14, 1976 in Hickory, NC.
Johnny Hedges...INF/RHP...Fr...R-R...6-1...190...Summerville, SC
In High School: An American Legion and SCISA All-Star team selection...played at Stratford High School and was a member of the 1996 State Championship team that amassed a 24-8 record...born Apr. 11, 1978 in Charleston, SC.
Justin Hyde...INF/OF...Jr...R-R...6-4...200...New Bern, NC
In High School: 1997 Pitt Community College MVP and tri-captain on team that had a 41-7 record in only its second year of existence...that team was the Region 10 Regular Season Champions...hit .410 with 46 runs, nine doubles, eight homers, 39 RBIs, and 11 steals in 11 attempts in 1997...hit three home runs in a game in 1996...also hit for the cycle in the Region 10 tournament in '97...lettered three times in baseball and once in basketball at New Bern High School...an All-Conference selection in 1994 and 1995...team's Most Outstanding Hitter in 1994...coached by Monte Little (1997) and George Whitfield (1996) at Pitt Community College...born Dec. 29, 1976 in Elizabeth City, NC.
Russ Moon...1B/3B...Fr...R-R...6-3...210...Colbert, GA
In High School: 1997 Northeast Georgia All-Star and nominated "Team Georgia" player at Madison County High School...also was a member of the 1997 Northeast Georgia Tournament Champions...lettered three times in baseball...batted .338 with five homers, 10 doubles, and a .458 on-base percentage at Madison County High in 1997...hit .363 with 37 RBIs and seven homers in 1996 as a junior...that year he was voted team's "Most Improved" player...member of the 8-AAA Region Champions in '96...also a member of the 1995 8-AAA Region Champs...coached by Charlie Griffeth at Madison County High School...an active member of FCA and was selected and served as an officer and captain his junior and senior seasons...born Jan. 12, 1979 in Athens, GA.
Peter Nystrom...OF...Fr...R-R...6-3...190...Dunedin, FL
In High School: Team captain in '97...hit .477 with 13 doubles and 37 RBIs (high school record) in only 86 at-bats in 1996...also was team's captain and MVP in '96 as an outfielder...drafted in the 13th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks...a 1996 Team One Nationals selection and All-Star...made First-Team All-Tournament team in the 1996 CABA High School World Series...also a 1997 USA Baseball Junior National Team Trials selection...called by the Devil Rays for the East Coast Area Code Games...played in the 1991 Little League World Series...coached by Greg Nichols at Dunedin High School...born Jan. 23, 1979 in Elmhurst, IL.
Mike Rhue...LHP...Fr...L-L...6-7...205...Gainesville, FL
In High School: A Team Florida All-Star selection...stands 6'7'' and throws left-handed...a member of two district high school championship baseball teams at Buchholz High School...his sister, Marcy, was a swimmer at West Virginia in 1993-97...coached by Bob Smith at Buchholz High School...born Jan. 8, 1979 in Gainesville, FL.
Justin Singleton...SS/2B...Fr...L-R...6-2...165...Lutherville, MD
In High School: a Team One Showcase All-Star in 1996...also a '96 Baltimore Metro League Summer All-Star...drafted in the ninth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks...Justin's father, Ken, played professional baseball for 15 years...Justin played for the 1995 and 1996 MIAA 'B' Conference Champions in baseball...also was an MIAA First-Team shortstop in 1995 and 1996...hit .328 with 33 RBIs and 23 stolen bases in '96 as a junior...hit .397 with five homers in 1996 as a sophomore...was the '93 NABF World Series MVP...coached by Paul Bernstorf at Saint Paul's School...born Apr. 10, 1979 in Towson, MD.
Casey Stone...SS/OF...Fr...L-R...5-8...150...Abbeville, SC
In High School: First-Team All-State in 1997 as an infielder...led the state in runs scored (48), at-bats (101), and hits (49) in 1997...also was second in the state in stolen bases with 31 in '97...an All-State Coaches Association selection in 1996...hit .420 in 1996 and an All-Region 3-AA Coaches Association selection...also All-Region in 1995 and the top sophomore in the region that year...played in the High School Report All-Star Game...member of the Upper-State Champions in 1994 with a team record of 24-6...won the Greenwood Legion Post 20 batting title in 1996 with a .445 batting average...also was a perfect 28-28 on stolen bases in '96 for Post 20...named Post 20 MVP in 1995 and won the team batting title with a .433 batting average...also a member of the 1996 Football State Champions...that team was a perfect 15-0...coached by Mark Smith at Abbeville High School...born Sept. 10, 1978 in Abbeville, SC.
Paul Stryhas...3B/1B...Jr...R-R...5-11...180...Sarasota, FL
In High School: 1997 Conference Player-of-the-Year at Manatee Community College in Florida as a third-baseman...hit .475 with 35 doubles, 14 home runs, and 88 RBIs in 1997...the 88 RBIs led the nation in the JUCO ranks, and the doubles and RBI marks set state JUCO records...also named Player-of-the-Week three times in 1997...First-Team All-Conference and JUCO All-Star team member in 1996 that played in Japan...drafted in the 21st round in the '97 draft by the San Francisco Giants...as a junior at Sarasota High School, his team won the State and National Titles...coached by Tim Hill at Manatee Community College and Clyde Metcalf at Sarasota High School...lettered four times in baseball...pronounced STRI (as in eye)-house...born Dec. 20, 1976 in Freehold, NJ.
  
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