Jan. 14, 2004

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV baseball program earned national recognition for its recruiting efforts during the early signing period. Fourteen players, including four in the High School Top 100, are scheduled to join the Rebel baseball team in 2005, earning the class a No. 8 ranking by Baseball America.

The 2005 recruiting class includes six players from Nevada, five from California, two from Colorado and one from Wisconsin. Among the 14 signees are Las Vegas products Brandon Kintzler, a graduate of Palo Verde and currently at Dixie State College, Jeff Jacobsen and Mike Cruz from CCSN, and Bryce Massanari from Centennial High School. Rounding out Nevada are two Reno natives, Willie Bowman (3B, Carson HS) and Jake McGee (LHP, Edward C. Reed HS).

Joining the Nevada natives in 2005 will be fellow high schoolers Tyler Beranek (1B, Waukesha, WI./Waukesha South HS), Chad Boyd (OF, West Hills, CA./El Camino Real HS), Josh Bradbury (3B/RHP, Newport Beach, CA./Corona Del Mar HS), Luke French (1B/LHP, Littleton, CO./Heritage HS) Dylan Gaughen (OF, Simi Valley, CA./Simi Valley HS) Efren Navarro (LHP/1B, Lynwood, CA./Lynwood HS) and Daniel Schlereth (LHP/OF, Lonetree, CO./Highlands Ranch HS). Also, transferring to UNLV in the fall is Eric Brock (RHP, Laguna Niguel, CA./Saddleback JC).

"Coach Sutter and our entire staff have done an excellent job in securing what has been recognized as one of the best classes in the country by Baseball America," UNLV head coach Buddy Gouldsmith said. "I am excited that we have been able to continue our recruiting success and look forward to this class arriving on campus."

Baseball America's Top 12 Recruiting Classes

1.  Texas2.  Miami3.  North Carolina4.  Georgia Tech5.  Clemson6.  Alabama7.  Florida8.  UNLV9.  Texas Christian10. Santa Clara11. Tulane12. Virginia