Troy University Athletics

Troy Baseball Inks Eight on Signing Day
11/13/2019 3:00:00 PM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. – Troy University head baseball coach Mark Smartt announced eight players who signed with the Trojans in this week's early signing period. Each of them will enroll in August 2020 and begin their playing careers in the 2021 baseball season.
The signing class includes five high school seniors and three junior college transfers from Alabama, Georgia and Florida – Tekoah Roby, Garrett Gainous, Seth Johnson, Beau Fletcher, Grayson Stewart, Jerry Bowman, Dominick Miller and Kyle Gamble.
The incoming class includes seven pitchers and one position player. The four high school pitchers - Roby, Gainous, Fletcher and Stewart – all offer characteristics required to have success at the college level.
"The one intangible that is required to win is competitiveness," Smartt said. "We believe these four young pitchers present the level of competitiveness that will allow them to succeed early in their careers. The ability to throw strikes with more than one pitch is also a positive in each of these young guys."
All three junior college pitchers should provide an impact quickly. Bowman, a Smiths Station High School graduate, will complete his sophomore season at Wallace Hanceville. Miller will transfer to Troy from Pensacola State while Gamble will complete his sophomore season at Polk State College before moving to Troy.
"We have had several junior college pitchers have success in our program over the years and we have high expectations these three will follow that same path," Smartt said.
Johnson, an outfielder, is the lone position player in this early signing period and should provide impact with the bat early in his career. Standing at 6-6, Johnson moves well in the outfield and has the bat speed and leverage to hit for power with his frame.
Troy opens its season February 14 with a four-game series against Northern Kentucky.
Quotable – Troy head coach Mark Smartt
"The focus on pitching in this class is obvious, but necessary with a large group of senior pitchers on our 2020 team. Losing so much experience on the mound will be a challenge to replace but this group is talented and diverse which gives us reason to be optimistic about the future.
Shane Gierke and Matt Hancock have worked extremely hard to identify players that present strong baseball ability and a solid academic background to have success at Troy. I am confident this group of players will offer a positive impact on our program am convinced this group will be solid contributors on the field, but most importantly, represent Troy University and the baseball program with distinction."
Tekoah Roby
RHP | 6'2 | 190
Pensacola, Fla. / Pine Forest HS
Garrett Gainous
RHP | 6'4 | 195
Cairo, Ga. / Cairo HS
Seth Johnson
OF | 6-6 | 200
Wetumpka, Ala. / Wetumpka HS
Beau Fletcher
RHP | 6'0 | 195
Hartselle, Ala. / Hartselle HS
Grayson Stewart
RHP | 5'11 | 180
Dothan, Ala. / Providence Christian
Jerry Dale Bowman
RHP | 6'1 | 210
Smiths Station, Ala. / Wallace Hanceville CC
Dominick Miller
LHP | 6'2 | 185
Pensacola, Fla. / Pensacola State
"Dominick first hit our radar three years ago out of high school. He has the ability to consistently throw strikes with more than one pitch and attacks each hitter, which is a great formula for winning at any level. His arm strength and competitiveness are what separates him from most pitchers his age. Pensacola State and his coach, Bryan Lewallyn, have always put his players in a great position to succeed at the next level."
Kyle Gamble
LHP | 6'1 | 175
Live Oak, Fla. / Polk State College
"Kyle has great feel with all of his pitches and can pitch on both sides of the plate. He has developed into a quality baseball player in his time at Polk. He has the opportunity to impact the program immediately. He comes from a highly successful junior college program lead by head coach Al Corbeil."
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The signing class includes five high school seniors and three junior college transfers from Alabama, Georgia and Florida – Tekoah Roby, Garrett Gainous, Seth Johnson, Beau Fletcher, Grayson Stewart, Jerry Bowman, Dominick Miller and Kyle Gamble.
The incoming class includes seven pitchers and one position player. The four high school pitchers - Roby, Gainous, Fletcher and Stewart – all offer characteristics required to have success at the college level.
"The one intangible that is required to win is competitiveness," Smartt said. "We believe these four young pitchers present the level of competitiveness that will allow them to succeed early in their careers. The ability to throw strikes with more than one pitch is also a positive in each of these young guys."
All three junior college pitchers should provide an impact quickly. Bowman, a Smiths Station High School graduate, will complete his sophomore season at Wallace Hanceville. Miller will transfer to Troy from Pensacola State while Gamble will complete his sophomore season at Polk State College before moving to Troy.
"We have had several junior college pitchers have success in our program over the years and we have high expectations these three will follow that same path," Smartt said.
Johnson, an outfielder, is the lone position player in this early signing period and should provide impact with the bat early in his career. Standing at 6-6, Johnson moves well in the outfield and has the bat speed and leverage to hit for power with his frame.
Troy opens its season February 14 with a four-game series against Northern Kentucky.
Quotable – Troy head coach Mark Smartt
"The focus on pitching in this class is obvious, but necessary with a large group of senior pitchers on our 2020 team. Losing so much experience on the mound will be a challenge to replace but this group is talented and diverse which gives us reason to be optimistic about the future.
Shane Gierke and Matt Hancock have worked extremely hard to identify players that present strong baseball ability and a solid academic background to have success at Troy. I am confident this group of players will offer a positive impact on our program am convinced this group will be solid contributors on the field, but most importantly, represent Troy University and the baseball program with distinction."
Tekoah Roby
RHP | 6'2 | 190
Pensacola, Fla. / Pine Forest HS
- 2019 Selected to the East Coast Pro Showcase
- 2019 Pensacola News Journal Player of the Year
- Perfect Game Top 50 Players in the Country
- 2019 1st Team All-State
Garrett Gainous
RHP | 6'4 | 195
Cairo, Ga. / Cairo HS
- 2019 Selected to the East Coast Pro Showcase
- 2019 Selected as one of Georgia's top 20 juniors to represent Team Georgia in Oklahoma's Sunbelt Baseball Classic
- 2019 GHSA 4A Region Player of the Year
- 2019 PG Preseason Underclassmen All American Team
OF | 6-6 | 200
Wetumpka, Ala. / Wetumpka HS
- 2019 Wetumpka High School Most Valuable Hitter
- 2019 Elmore County Player of the Year
- 2019 Montgomery All Metro Team
- 2019 North-South All-Star Game Selection
- 2019 ABCA Team Alabama Selection
RHP | 6'0 | 195
Hartselle, Ala. / Hartselle HS
- 2019 Class 5A-7A All-Area First Team
- 2019 All-Tennessee Valley Second Team
- 2019 Rawlings PG Preseason Underclassmen All American Team
- 2019 WWBA 18U National Championship All-Tournament Team
- 2018 Rawlings PG Preseason Underclassmen All American Team
- 2017 Rawlings PG Preseason Underclassmen All American Team
- 2017 WWBA 16U National Championship All-Tournament Team
RHP | 5'11 | 180
Dothan, Ala. / Providence Christian
- 3A Alabama State Championship MVP
- ALL Sports Writers 3A Player of the Year
- ALL Sports Writers 3A Pitcher of the Year
- Dothan Eagle's SUPER 12
- 3a Alabama 1st Team All-State Pitcher
- ALL Super All-State
- North/South High School All-Star Game
- Max Preps Small School 2nd Team All-American
RHP | 6'1 | 210
Smiths Station, Ala. / Wallace Hanceville CC
- 2019 1st Team All-State
LHP | 6'2 | 185
Pensacola, Fla. / Pensacola State
"Dominick first hit our radar three years ago out of high school. He has the ability to consistently throw strikes with more than one pitch and attacks each hitter, which is a great formula for winning at any level. His arm strength and competitiveness are what separates him from most pitchers his age. Pensacola State and his coach, Bryan Lewallyn, have always put his players in a great position to succeed at the next level."
Kyle Gamble
LHP | 6'1 | 175
Live Oak, Fla. / Polk State College
"Kyle has great feel with all of his pitches and can pitch on both sides of the plate. He has developed into a quality baseball player in his time at Polk. He has the opportunity to impact the program immediately. He comes from a highly successful junior college program lead by head coach Al Corbeil."
Follow Troy Baseball
Social: Twitter | Instagram
Join The Conversation: #theTROYway | #OneTROY
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