Troy Baseball Announces 2013 Fall Signing Class

TROY, Ala - Troy University head baseball coach Bobby Pierce begins his 12th season at the helm of the Trojans in February. In his first eleven seasons, he has coached 14 All-Americans including three players named All-American from the 2013 NCAA Tallahassee Regional team. During his tenure, 27 players have entered professional baseball including four from last season. Pierce is convinced the 2014 recruiting class announced today will continue to achieve success individually and as a team.

"Recruiting is extremely competitive in our region and everyone understands the success of any program starts on signing day each year", Pierce stated. "There are so many quality baseball programs in the southeast and players we recruit have several schools that make them an offer. We appreciate this group having the confidence and belief in our program to choose Troy. We worked extremely hard to secure such a large and talented group."

The largest signing class for the Trojans since 2009 consists of 10 players featuring five pitchers, two dual players, and three position players. The pitchers are Lucas Brown (Northwest Florida State College/Acworth, Ga.), Corey Childress (Fairhope High School/Fairhope, Ala.), Austin Crook (Faulkner State Community College/Fort Deposit, Ala.), John Michael Knighton (Central Alabama Community College/Jasper, Ala.), and Reid Long (Marianna High School/Marianna, Fla.). The two dual players are Robert Harris (Calhoun Community College/Taylorsville, Ga.) and Perez Knowles (Rabun Gap Nacoochee School/Freeport, Bahamas). Pierce concludes "this group of pitchers offers a blend of youthful arms with great potential and experienced guys with junior college success. There is balance in the class with the three left handers Crook, Long and Knowles who could start or relieve. Knighton, Childress and Brown offer starting pitcher qualities and Harris has late inning capability. "

Along with Harris and Knowles playing the field and swinging the bat, the other hitters include catcher Brody Binder (Ooltewah High School/Ooltewah, Tenn.), outfielder Logan Hill (Jeff Davis Community College/Pensacola, Flq.), and infielder Matt Sanders (Bob Jones High School/Madison, Ala.). Pierce said "each one of these players adds a quality element to our program. Robert Harris is a talented two-way player that hits the ball with authority. Logan Hill brings a speed and power combination we are excited about and Matt Sanders comes in highly regarded with the bat. Brody Binder will be an offensive force early in his career and we love the overall game of Perez Knowles."

Both Knowles and Binder have close ties to the program with older brothers who currently play for the Trojans. Ali Knowles, Perez' older brother, will begin his senior season in 2014. The Knowles brothers will not have the opportunity to play together as Trojans but T.J. Binder will play alongside his younger brother and incoming freshman Brody in 2015. Coach Pierce said "we love the idea of having T.J. and Brody play together for a few years. I've coached several brother combinations during my career but never had two on the same team." As for coaching both Ali and eventually Perez, Pierce commented "we are proud to extend our relationship with such a wonderful family. Their decision to have both sons play for our program is extremely rewarding to me as a coach."

Pierce and the Trojans will open the 2014 season at home on February 14 as they begin a four-game series with Northern Kentucky University. The 10 players introduced today will begin their playing career for Troy during the 2015 season.

2013 Baseball Fall Signees

Brody Binder 6'3 205 C R/R Ooltewah HS
Ooltewah, Tenn.
Perfect Game ranking: #2 C state of Tenn., #24 state of Tenn; Top 1000 Nationally
Career HS Stats (9th-11th): .346 24 2B   3 3B 6 HR 74 RBI

Awards/Recognition
2013 Region Quarterback of the Year    Senior year (Football)
2011-13 Chattanooga Cyclones Hitter of the year Summer Junior/Soph/Freshman
2013 All-District 1st Team      Junior year
2013 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American Junior year
2013 Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Team Junior summer
2012 All-District 1st Team      Soph year

Coach Pierce: "Brody presents a physical presence both as a catcher and as a hitter rarely seen from the high school ranks. His power potential should allow him to be a run producer early in his career. Along with his baseball success, Brody has had a fantastic career as a quarterback and his overall athletic development the last two years has been terrific. He joins his older brother TJ, who is in his second year in our program."

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Corey Childress 6'0 175 RHP Fairhope HS
Fairhope, Ala.

Perfect Game ranking: #176 P nationally, Top 500 nationally
2013 (Jr. Year): 9-2 0.91 ERA
Career: 13-5 1.78 ERA 118 IP

Awards/Recognition
2013 6A 1st Team All-State Junior year

Coach Pierce: "Corey possesses the qualities young pitchers must have to achieve success at the Division I level. He has shown above average command of the ball as his velocity and stuff continue to improve. Corey consistently throws strikes with more than one pitch and attacks each hitter, which are both essential for any college pitcher. The success he's had during his career at Fairhope High School and on the national stage during the summer bodes well for his future at Troy University."

Childress comments: "I have always dreamed of this and going as far as I can in baseball. I am very thankful and blessed that I am going to receive this chance. Coach (Bobby) Pierce is doing well with the program. I like where everything is heading," Childress said. "It is very comfortable there, it's like a family. The atmosphere up there is great and I feel right at home."

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Perez Knowles 6'0 195 LHP/OF R/L
Rabun Gap Nacoochee School
Rabun Gap, Ga. Freeport, Bahamas

Perfect Game ranking: #29 OF in Ga., #139 State of Ga., High Follow nationally
HS Career (4 Years): 12-5 6 saves 146 SO 111 IP
.304 20 2B 13 HR 65 RBI 82 BB 42 SB 4-year starter

Awards/Recognition
2014 Pre-Season Under Armour All-American Senior year
2013 School Active career home run leader
2013 School Record for most walks in a season Junior year
2012 Carolina Athletic Association All-Conference Sophomore year
2011 Carolina Athletic Association All-Conference Freshman year
2010 Bahamas National Team Member Participated in World Baseball Challenge
2010 Carolina Athletic Association All-Conference 8th grade year

Coach Pierce: "Perez has been on our radar for several years now as the younger brother of senior Ali Knowles, who has been in our program the last five years. Perez has grown and matured while developing into a solid player that has a chance to both pitch and hit at the Division I level. He's played for his native Bahamas in high level international tournaments around the world. That valuable experience will enhance his opportunities for the Trojans."

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Reid Long 5'11 165 LHP Marianna HS
Marianna, Fla.

Perfect Game ranking: #14 LHP State of Fla; #200 State of Fla.; Top 1000 Nationally
2013 (Jr. Year): 8-1 0.95 ERA 62 K 17 BB 44.1 IP; .345 4 3B 19 RBI 10 SB

Awards/Recognition
2013 World Wood Bat Association National Champions – Orlando Scorpions Junior summer

Coach Pierce: "Reid is definitely one of the best left hand pitchers both in the state of Florida and in our region. He played a significant role on the mound for his Orlando Scorpions team that won the prestigious WWBA National Championship this summer. That experience and success he has had both at Marianna High School and with the Scorpions will help him establish himself immediately in our program."

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Matt Sanders 5'9 170 2B R/R Bob Jones HS
Madison, Ala.

Perfect Game ranking: #1 2B State of Ala; #17 2B Nationally, High Follow Nationally

2013 (Jr. Year): .488 12 2B 3 3B 3 HR 56 RBI * 50 R 32 SB
*School record

Awards/Recognition
2013 6A 1st Team All-State    Junior year
2013 1st Team Huntsville All-Metro   Junior year
2013 Perfect Game East Cobb Invitational MVP Junior summer

Coach Pierce: "Matt Sanders can flat out hit. He has been the best hitter on every team he's played for throughout his high school and summer career. He reminds our coaching staff of a young Nick Masonia, a junior in his first year at Troy, who set numerous Alabama hitting records when he graduated in 2011. Matt drove in 56 runs last year at Bob Jones, a school record, while scoring 50 runs and stealing 32 bases. That is a quality production to say the least. He fits our offensive system as well as any young hitter we have recruited. We expect great things from him during his career at Troy."

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Lucas Brown 6'0 170 RHP Northwest Florida State College
Acworth, Ga. Allatoona HS 2012
Perfect Game ranking (class of 2012): Top 1000 Nationally

High School
Career wins leader: 24
Career ERA leader: 2.28
Single-season ERA leader: 1.28

High School Awards/Recognition
2012 Georgia Dugout Club All-State Team Senior year
2012 1st Team All-Region    Senior year
2012 1st Team All-County    Senior year
2011 1st Team All-Region    Junior year
2011 1st Team All-County    Junior year
2010 1st Team All-Region    Soph year
2010 1st Team All-County    Soph year

Coach Pierce: "Lucas has been a winner every step of his career as a pitcher and we expect him to continue that success going forward. He has the ability to locate three pitches for strikes, which is a great formula for winning at any level. We believe he will make an immediate impact for the Trojans in 2015."

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Austin Crook 6'3 185 LHP Faulkner State CC
Fort Deposit, Ala. Prattville HS 2012

Junior College
2013 (Fr. Year): 6-0 1.93 ERA

High School
2012 (Sr. Year): 11-0 0.48 ERA 73 IP 111 SO (6) shutouts
2011 (Jr. Year): 7-3 1.61 ERA 69.2 IP 80 SO
2010 (So. Year): 8-1 1.24 ERA 62.1 IP 54 SO
Career: 26-4

High School Awards
2012 6A 1st Team All-State      Senior year
2012 Montgomery Metro Player of the Year    Senior year
2012 Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Pitcher of Year Senior year
2011 6A 1st Team All-State      Junior year
2010 6A Honorable Mention All-State    Sophomore year

Coach Pierce: "Austin's success is a big reason we targeted him early in the recruiting process. He is undefeated in his last two seasons. He has won 17 consecutive games without a loss between his senior year at Prattville High School and his freshman season at Faulkner State CC . Very few pitchers have accomplished that type of record over any two year period. We anticipate Austin having a great sophomore year and quickly transition into our program."

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Robert Harris 6'2 200 OF/RHP L/R Calhoun State CC
Taylorsville, Ga. Woodland HS 2012
Perfect Game ranking (class of 2012): Top 500 Nationally
Junior College
2013 (Fr. Year): .333 3 2B 2 HR 30 RBI

High School Career
15-5 2.21 ERA .400 BA
2011 (Jr. Year): .489, 11 2B 3 3B 10 HR 42 RBI
*Career Records for Hits, Doubles, Home runs, RBI's
*Single-season record holder for Batting Avg.

Junior College Awards
2013 1st Team All-Conference

High School/Summer Awards/Recognition
2012 Ga. 7AAAA 1st Team All Region Pitcher-Infielder   Senior year
2012 Ga. 7AAAA Pitcher and Player of the Year    Senior year
2012 AAU 18u National Champions     Senior summer
2011 Ga. 7AAAA 1st Team All Region Pitcher-Infielder   Junior year
2011 Ga. 7AAAA Pitcher and Player of the Year    Junior year
2011 East Cobb 18u Pitcher of the Year     Junior summer
2010 Georgia 7AAAA 1st Team All Region Infielder   Sophomore year

Coach Pierce: "Robert Harris has the opportunity to impact our program in two critically important areas. He has true dual player ability as a left-handed hitter with run producer capability and a right handed pitcher with above average arm strength. He projects as a late-inning reliever with strike out ability as well as a potential middle of the order hitter. It's rare to find both qualities in one player and we are excited about his future as a Trojan."

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Logan Hill 6'3 210 OF R/R Jeff Davis CC
Pensacola, Fla. Washington HS 2011
Junior College
2013 (Fr. Year): .385 2 HR   32 RBI 16 SB
2013 (summer): .460 5 HR 29 RBI 18 SB Beach Collegiate League MVP

Junior College Awards
2013 2nd Team All-State
2013 1st Team All-Conference
2013 MVP Beach Collegiate League

High School Awards/Recognition
2011 All Area Team    Senior year

Coach Pierce: "Logan Hill is a terrific addition to our recruiting class. After a solid freshman campaign at Jeff Davis, he continued his development in a good wood bat summer league and captured MVP honors posting great offensive numbers. He offers stolen base ability with above average speed as well as having extra base ability as a hitter. Those two qualities give him a chance to be a dynamic player at the Division I level. Logan is a multi-talented player that has an unlimited future on the baseball field and we expect him to contribute immediately in our program."

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John Michael Knighton 6'2 185 RHP Central Alabama CC
Jasper, Ala. Walker HS 2012

Junior College 2013 NJCAA National Champions

2013 (Fr. Year):   10-1   1.95 ERA     78 IP    70 K   182 BB

High School
Sr. Year (2012) 8-2 0.72 (1) Perfect Game; (3) shutouts; 33 consecutive scoreless inning

Junior College Awards
2013 3rd Team All-American
2013 1st Team All-State
2013 1st Team All-Conference

High School Awards/Recognition
2012 5A Honorable Mention All-State   Senior year
2012 Area 11 Player of the Year    Senior year
2011 All-Area Team       Junior year

Coach Pierce: "We are fortunate to secure Central Alabama CC pitcher John Michael Knighton, who was the #1 starter for the 2013 NJCAA National Champions. The experience he gained during his teams terrific post-season run to the title will play a vital role not only this spring but during his eventual career at Troy. The opportunity to pitch in big games while facing quality competition at the highest level should prepare him for the Division I level. We firmly believe he will continue his success at Troy."

Troy University Athletics

Troy Baseball Announces 2013 Fall Signing Class

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