LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV baseball program has signed 12 student-athletes – Gavin Amelburu, Eric Bigani, Connor Culp, Oscar Favela, Zach Hare, Austin Kryszczuk, Noah Mattera, Jacob Ortega, Austin Raleigh, Josh Rolling, Alex Sardina and Josh Sharman – who will enroll at the University and be eligible to play for the Rebels beginning in the fall of 2019, head coach Stan Stolte announced Thursday.
 
"We are sticking with the plan of making the recruitment of the best local and in-state student-athletes a priority," said Stolte. "That is our strongest chance of competing at a national level on a consistent basis. We need to identify them, develop them, and they need to play well. Coaches Kevin Higgins, Patrick Armstrong and Greg Maddux have done a great job getting that done as well as adding some very good players from Southern California that will keep this program moving towards that goal."
 
This fall's signing class is comprised of eight individuals from the Silver State; six of whom –Amelburu, Hare, Kryszczuk, Ortega, Raleigh and Sharman – hail from the Las Vegas Valley, while two –Culp and Rolling – are from the northern portion of the state in Reno. Four of the signees are from the Golden State: Bigani, Favela, Mattera and Sardina.
 
Amelburu is a 5'9" catcher who attends Green Valley High School. He has helped the Gators to a combined 49-20 record the past two seasons, which have ended with a conference title in 2017 and a third-place regional finish in 2018. He has earned first team all-conference honors twice, while being selected a First Team All-State and First Team All-Southern Nevada performer this past season. He was a Second Team All-Southern Nevada honoree in 2017.
 
"Gavin is one of the top left-handed hitters on the West Coast. He gives us some depth at the catching position. He's a good student and a leader on the field."
 
Bigani is a 6'0" catcher who will transfer to UNLV after playing his sophomore season at Cypress College (Cypress, California). As a freshman with the Chargers, he played in 34 games and hit .284 with one home run, 13 runs and 10 runs scored, as the team posted a 25-15 overall mark. He notched five multiple-hit games with a season-high three hits coming against Cabrillo (Jan. 26) and San Bernardino Valley (Feb. 3). He posted a season-best four RBI against Riverside (March 8). He graduated from Anaheim's Esperanza High School in 2017, and was a four-year letterwinner on the Aztecs baseball team that went 20-10 and won a conference championship during his junior campaign. He was the squads MVP in 2017 and was a 2016 Gold Glove Award recipient.
 
"Eric is really a well-rounded player from a great program that plays in arguably the toughest JC conference in the country. With only one returning catcher next year, we needed to address this and we feel we've got a good one in Eric that's ready to compete for that job next year."
 
Culp, a 6'1" right-handed pitcher and infielder, attends Spanish Springs High School. He is a three-year letterwinner for the Cougars. In 2018, the team notched a 17-13 overall record with a 13-9 mark in conference play. He garnered first team all-region honors as a pitcher.
 
"Connor developed late and has turned himself into a legitimate two-way guy that can contribute immediately. He is very versatile in the infield and has a good arm with a plus-breaking ball on the mound."
 
Favela, a 6'1" catcher and right-handed pitcher, attends St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California. As a sophomore, he helped the Braves to a Trinity League championship and a 22-7 overall record. Additionally, he has played for the MVP Hustle, a National Youth Baseball Championships team that has gone 60-1 overall from 2015-18 and claimed one national championship.
 
"Oscar plays in a very tough, competitive conference in the heart of Southern California. He is another two-way guy that we are counting on competing for playing time. He's a tough kid from a good program."
 
Hare and Kryszczuk attend Centennial High School, and have helped the Bulldogs to two straight Northwest League titles in 2017 and 2018, while the latter has been part of a third in 2016. Over the past two years, the duo have helped the squad to a 52-20 overall record and a 31-5 mark in league play as well as a fifth-place finish in state in 2017 and a conference runner-up showing in 2018.
 
Individually, Hare, an infielder, was a 2017 Second Team Sunset Region selection. Kryszczuk, an infielder and outfielder, has claimed First Team All-State, All-Sunset and All-Northwest League honors the past two seasons, and earned Honorable Mention All-State status as a freshman in 2016.
 
"Zach committed to us early in his career and developed into a very versatile player. He runs well and can play multiple positions. He comes from a very successful program here in town."
 
"Austin is no doubt one of the best hitters in the Valley, and he's also much better in the outfield than he gets credit for. We look forward to him adding some punch to our lineup."
 
Mattera, a 6'1" left-handed pitcher, attends Moorpark High School in Moorpark, California. He has lettered in three sports for the Musketeers with two in baseball (2017-18) and once apiece in football (2016) and basketball (2017). His 2017 baseball team was a finalist in CIF postseason play. Over the past two years, the baseball squad has won 42 games.
 
"Noah is a late bloomer that came on our radar late. He will be one of the better left-handed pitchers in So Cal next spring. He's a good athlete that also plays basketball for his high school."
 
Ortega, a 6'3" first baseman and left-handed pitcher, attends Faith Lutheran High School. He has helped the Crusaders to 41 wins over the past three seasons, with the 2016 squad making it to the conference semifinals.
 
"Jacob is one of the better left-handed pitchers in the area. He has some power and also has a chance to pitch. Jacob flew under the radar not having played on the travel ball circuit. We know we got a good one."
 
Raleigh, a 6'3" left-handed pitcher, attends Palo Verde High School. This past season, he helped the Panthers to a 31-9 overall mark and regional and state titles.
 
"Austin has shown to be a good left-handed pitcher throughout his high school career. Once he develops some consistency, he will be able to pitch at a high level. We look forward to his continual development and ability to contribute next year."
 
Rolling, a 6'2" shortstop, attends Bishop Manogue High School. He is a three-year letterwinner in both baseball and basketball for the Miners. During his junior season, he helped the baseball team to a regional championship, while the basketball team was a state runner-up. He claimed First Team All-Sierra League honors last year in both sports.
 
"Josh is the best all-around athlete in this class. He's very talented and a great team guy. We really look forward to his development once he concentrates on baseball. We feel very good about the impact he will make on our program."
 
Sardina, a 6'0" infielder, attends Foothill High School in Santa Ana, California. He has lettered three years for the Knights baseball team, which has won two straight Crestview League titles (2017-18). The 2018 squad was a CIF Division I finalist. Individually, he was selected Second Team All-Crestview League.
 
"Alex is a very good, all-around player that compete for playing time at multiple positions. We'll move him around once he gets on campus to see where he fits in best, but he's played infield throughout his career."
 
Sharman, 6'0" left-handed pitcher, attends Desert Oasis High School. He is a three-year letterwinner in both baseball and tennis for the Diamondbacks. During his junior campaign, he helped the Diamondbacks to a conference title with a perfect 18-0 record on the diamond, and made it to the state quarterfinals in doubles play. He's been a two-time All-Southwest selection: First Team nod in 2018 and Second Team in 2017. Additionally, he was First Team All-Sunset as well as Second Team All-State and USA Today as a junior. In summer ball, he helped the Las Vegas Aces to an American Legion World Series runner-up finish after the squad won the Nevada State and regional tournaments.
 
"Josh is arguably the top returning pitcher in the city on one of the top programs. He doesn't wow you with his stuff and velocity; all he does is compete and win, which we welcome into our program."