Sept. 25, 2008

IRVINE, Calif. --- The 2009 UC Irvine Baseball recruiting class has been ranked 22nd in Collegiate Baseball's Top 40 poll.

"We are very excited about the 2008 recruiting class," said recruiting coordinate and associate head coach Pat Shine. "We feel that we have identified talented players who have the character and intangibles to be successful at UC Irvine, both on and off the field. We expect that this group of players will be competitive and instrumental in helping the UC Irvine program remain an elite program," said Shine.

The Anteaters posted a 42-18 record last season and advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals for the second consecutive year. UC Irvine returns 24 letterwinners, including three All-Big West Conference selections. The Anteaters, under the guidance of second-year head coach Mike Gillespie, have brought in a 14-player class consisting of 10 freshman and four junior college transfers.

Michael Cole OF R-R 6-1 196 Jr. Foothill Ranch/Saddleback CC
D.J. Crumlich INF R-R 6-0 185 Fr. Irvine/Irvine HS
Jordan Fox INF/OF L-L 5-9 160 Fr. Hacienda Heights/Bishop Amat HS
Scott Gottschling UTL R-R 5-11 185 Fr. Orange/Villa Park HS
Nick Hoover RHP R-R 6-0 185 So. Alta Loma/Riverside CC
Jordan Leyland INF R-R 6-3 220 Fr. San Dimas/San Dimas HS
Andy Lines LHP L-L 6-2 175 Fr. Palos Verdes Estates/Palisades HS
Steven Malcolm INF/OF/P R-R 5-11 165 Fr. Stockton/Tokay HS
E.C. McSweeney RHP R-R 6-1 155 Fr. Calabasas/Crespi HS
Brian Murphy RHP R-R 6-2 185 Fr. San Clemente/San Clemente HS
Cory Olson OF R-R 5-9 160 So. Anaheim/Orange Coast CC
Dean Persinger RHP R-R 5-10 180 Jr. Fountain Valley/Irvine Valley CC
Tommy Reyes INF R-R 6-0 165 Fr. Rancho Cucomonga/Bishop Amat HS
Matt Summers OF/RHP L-R 6-2 210 Fr. Phoenix, AZ/Chapparal HS