Beals Signs Nine to National Letters of Intent
11/11/2020 3:48:42 PM | Baseball
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Nine student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to further their academic and athletic careers as members of the Ohio State baseball team, head coach Greg Beals announced today. Seven of the 10 signees hail from the state of Ohio.
The newest Buckeyes are: Drew Bachman (Liberty Township, Ohio), Gavin Bruni (Alliance, Ohio), Jacob Gehring (Canfield, Ohio), Jake Johnson (Medina, Ohio), Trey Lipsey (Southfield, Mich.), Josh McAlister (Homewood, Ill.), Jace Middleton (Lewis Center, Ohio), Trey Pancake (North Lima, Ohio) and Taylor Pettorini (Wooster, Ohio).
“This is a strong class that will really strengthen our ball club up the middle of the diamond,” said Beals. “We believe that this group meets the needs of the program and has the ability to make an immediate impact. The thing I especially like is that they are winners, coming from winning programs and are used to winning. Finally, and most importantly, this is a group of high character young men that will be great additions to the ‘Brotherhood’ of Ohio State baseball.
The tireless work on the recruiting trail requires the efforts of our entire staff including Shaun Swearingen our Academic Coach, Dean Hansen our Strength Coach, and in particular, Assistant Coaches Matt Angle and Dan DeLucia.”
Drew Bachman / LHP / Liberty Township, Ohio / Lakota East High School / Cincinnati Baseball Club
- As a sophomore, had a 2.63 earned run average and 1.64 strikeouts per inning
- Named to the 2020 Preseason Ohio All-America Team
- Beals on Bachman: “A strong armed lefty with high metrics. We are excited to work with Drew as we see a high ceiling in his player development.”
Welcome to The Brotherhood, @DBachman22! #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/xviCNLHJiJ
— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioStateBASE) November 11, 2020
Gavin Bruni / LHP/1B / Alliance, Ohio / Alliance High School / Release Baseball
- Has 141 career strikeouts in 70 innings with a 1.19 earned run average, two no-hitters and one perfect game
- Career batting average of .438 with 59 RBI, 32 extra base hits and one home run
- Two-time All-Ohio and All-Stark County
- 2019 Prep Baseball Report Ohio preseason Player of the Year
- 2019 Eastern Buckeye Conference Player of the Year
- Beals on Bruni: “We are really excited about Gavin – he is a highly ranked prospect with the ability to have an impact on the mound and with his bat.”
Welcome to The Brotherhood, @gavinbruni2! #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/IzR0drwVL7
— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioStateBASE) November 11, 2020
Jacob Gehring / RHP / Canfield, Ohio / South Range High School / Release Baseball
- Has a career earned run average of 0.98 with 191 strikeouts, a 16-2 record and one perfect game
- Helped South Range win a Division III state championship in 2018 with a 3-2 win over Coldwater in the finals
- Two-time Prep Baseball Report All-State selection
- 2019 NE8 first-team and Player of the Year
- Beals on Gehring: “Jacob is a great competitor with a strong feel for pitching and use of a really good breaking ball.”
Welcome to The Brotherhood, @jacob_gehring9! #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/hMoOGKJA2v
— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioStateBASE) November 11, 2020
Jake Johnson / 3B/RHP / Medina, Ohio / Medina High School / Release Baseball
- Hit .318 as a sophomore in 2019 with nine doubles, 31 runs scored, 21 RBI and one home run
- Two-time All Greater Cleveland Conference member and All-Media County
- 2020 Prep Baseball Report Preseason All-State
- 2020 PerfectGame Preseason All-American
- Beals on Johnson: “Another two-way potential. Jake is a strong armed athlete with power potential in his bat.”
Welcome to The Brotherhood, @jjohnson_34! #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/2u5RHFMkSH
— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioStateBASE) November 11, 2020
Trey Lipsey / CF / Southfield, Mich. / Birmingham Grove High School / Team Ohio Pro Select
- Hit .369 as a sophomore in 2019 and had a .504 on-base percentage with 23 runs scored and 22 RBI
- All-conference as a sophomore
- Beals on Lipsey: “Trey is a prototype centerfielder, lead-off guy who really came on this summer with the bat. We see his speed and bat as impact tools.”
Welcome to The Brotherhood, @LipseyTrey! #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/CTllItqMg2
— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioStateBASE) November 11, 2020
Josh McAlister / INF / Homewood, Ill. / Homewood-Flossmoor High School / Lou Collier A’s
- During the summer of 2020, hit .429 with four home runs, 29 RBI and 13 stolen bases
- Beals on McAllister: “A rangy sure-handed defender in the middle infield. Josh’s ability to defend really caught our eye as an impact tool.”
Welcome to The Brotherhood, @JoshMcAlister4_!#GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/NpTY1t38F5
— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioStateBASE) November 11, 2020
Jace Middleton / RHP / Lewis Center, Ohio / Olentangy High School / Triple Crown Royals
- Is a two-sport athlete at Olentangy High School, playing baseball and football
- 2020 Prep Baseball Report Preseason All-Ohio
- Has 27 strikeouts in 25 career innings
- Olentangy won the district championship with Middleton as a freshman in 2018
- First team All-OCC in football this past fall
- Beals on Middleton: “Jace is a really good athlete with power stuff on the mound. He is a legacy guy as his dad Matt is a Buckeye baseball alum.”
Welcome to The Brotherhood, @jacemiddleton7!#GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/UyZWZsfmDv
— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioStateBASE) November 11, 2020
Trey Pancake / C / North Lima, Ohio / South Range High School / Release Baseball
- In his last full season (2019), hit .360 with an on-base percentage of .449, 28 stolen bases, 35 runs scored and 23 RBI
- First team All-NE8, first team all-area and all-state as a sophomore
- First team All-OVAC and honorable mention all-Ohio as a freshman in 2018
- Beals on Pancake: “Trey is a strong armed plus defender behind the plate. Trey fits the mold to continue the strong catching we have enjoyed in our program.”
Welcome to The Brotherhood, @treypancake22! #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/DJjv4C7Lty
— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioStateBASE) November 11, 2020
Tyler Pettorini / INF / Wooster, Ohio / Wooster High School / IVL and Release Baseball
- As a sophomore in 2019, hit .523 with 40 runs scored, 35 RBI, 21 stolen bases, 12 doubles and four home runs
- Attended Walsh Jesuit as a freshman and hit .402 with 25 runs scored and 16 RBI
- First team All-Ohio Cardinal Conference, first team All-Region and first team All-Ohio as a sophomore, one of only two sophomores on the first team
- Named to Prep Baseball Report’s Elite 25 All-State team
- Ranked in the Top 500 in the National Perfect Games rankings and top 10 in Ohio by Prep Baseball Report.
- Two-time preseason All-American by Perfect Game
- 2020s All-Decade Team by Prep Baseball Report
- Beals on Pettorini: “Tyler is a dynamic offensive player. He possesses great foot speed and the ability to drive extra-base hits. This combination has the potential to impact our line-up.”
Welcome to The Brotherhood, @TPettorini! #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/FHFDj8aWC8
— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioStateBASE) November 11, 2020
