Nov 02, 2007 | Dan Thompson | 291 views
Canisius Awaits Terriers' Big Three
Canisius College baseball coach Mike McRae announced that Nathan Linseman (Ariss, Ont.), Billy Martin (Mississauga, Ont.), and Benson Merritt (Smithville, Ont.) will join the Golden Griffin baseball program for the 2009 season.
"Although we don't have a lot of seniors on our 2008 squad, this group of recruits will bridge the gap with the expected departure of 12 juniors in the next couple years," McRae said.
"We added quality, not quantity to our 2009 team. I'm excited about adding three players from a top-notch program along with three prominent local players, which is something our program has strived to do since I arrived."
McRae on Linseman:
"Nate is a very advanced and polished left-handed pitcher. He has shown good velocity for a lefty, but more importantly knows how to pitch. His competitve nature will allow him to be very successful as a Golden Griffin. We targeted Nathan early in the summer as one of the cornerstones our our class."
McRae on Martin:
"A teammate of Nate, Billy possesses similar abilities. He knows how to win. With a tireless work ethic, I am confident that Billy's best years are ahead of him. We expect his success to carry over to his college career."
McRae on Merritt:
"Benson is an interesting member of this class. He can touch the upper 80s and has a top-notch breaking ball. Once he gets some experience, Benson has a chance to be a next-level player. Like his two InterCounty Terrier teammates, he will benefit from being part of an outstanding summer program."
"We have continued to add to a very dominating pitching staff, one that I expect to make considerable noise not just in our conference, but on a national level,""I believe this group of recruits will help us continue to work towards the ultimate goal of a MAAC Championship."
Canisius finished the 2007 season with a 20-35 record and went 13-12 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, qualifying for the MAAC Championship for the second time in school history. The Golden Griffins start their season Feb. 22 against Long Island in Gastonia, N.C.