Nov. 25, 2003
Baltimore, MD -
Johns Hopkins baseball coach Bob Babb has announced a 17-man recruiting class that has enrolled at JHU this fall and will comprise the Blue Jays' class of 2007.
The class of 2007 includes 10 pitchers hoping to contribute to a pitching staff which struck out a school-record 302 batters in 324.2 innings in 2003. Brett Izzo (Northport, NY/ Northport HS) posted a 5-4 record and a 2.88 ERA during his senior season while striking out 46 batters and allowing just 30 hits in 50 innings. Ben Scott (Pittsburgh, PA/ Shady Side Academy) recorded 52 strikeouts in 52 innings in route to a 7-1 record, while Ben Raymond (Newark, DE/ The Charter School), who played in the Delware Stadium Corporation Cup and was a three-time all-conference player, struck out 80 in his senior year while going 4-5 with a 2.01 ERA. Ryan Lanpher (York, PA/ Calvert Hall College HS) earned a spot on Maryland Independent Athletic Association's first team by posting a 2.88 ERA while striking out 47 batters in 41 innings.
Two other pitchers who could also see time in the field include
Ian Christie (Endicott, NY/ Union-Endicott HS) and
Sam Scanlan (Great Neck, NY/ Great Neck North HS). Christie led Endicott to the NewYork State Class AA Championship by recording a 6-0 record and was the winning pitcher in the championship game. He allowed only 16 hits and four walks over 30 innings while posting 0.46 ERA, and as an infielder batted .273 with eight doubles and 12 RBI's. Scanlan was voted All-Nassau County by the coaches association after finishing the year with an ERA of 2.76 and 40 strikeouts in 50 innings. Additionally Scanlan batted .418 with 28 hits while also playing first base.
Other pitchers which make up the class of 2007 include left-hander Grant Smith (Ridgefield, CT/Ridgefield HS) and right-handers Brian DeLeo (Pittsburgh, PA/Upper St. Clair HS), Jon Anderson (Norman, OK/Norman HS), and Dan Lewis (Nicasio, CA/Marin Academy).
The class includes outfielders Mario Fasano (Wallingford, CT/ Loomis Chaffe HS), John Benedetto (Staten Island, NY/ Tottenville HS), and Nick Venzia (Piscataway, NJ/ Rutgers Prep). Fasano batted .483 with 19 RBI's and 13 stolen bases, while Benedetto led Tottenville to the PSAL Championship in New York City by batting .455. Venezia was a first team selection in the All State Prep B League while batting .439.
Three infielders and one catcher will also join the Blue Jays' program this fall. First baseman Todd Muse (Roswell, GA/ Mt. Paran Christian School) was an Honorable Mention All-Cobb County player this spring while batting .302, while infielder Luke Kozumbo (Baltimore, MD/ Lawrenceville HS) earned First Team All State Prep and First Team Mid-Atlantic Prep League honors. Fellow infielder Bill Gartlan (Medford Lakes, NJ/ Shawnee HS) was named second team all-conference and was an all-county selection while leading Shawnee to the New Jersey Group 4 state title, while catcher Rob Sanzillo (Katonah, NY/ Somers HS) batted .358 with 19 RBI's and was ranked the 42nd best prospect in New York by Baseball America.
The Blue Jays finished the 2003 season with a record of 34-7, won a third straight Centennial Conference title, and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in the last seven seasons.
Johns Hopkins Baseball Class of 2007
Player, Position(s), Hometown/High School
Jon Anderson, RHP, Norman, OK/ Norman HS
John Benedetto, CF, Staten Island, NY/ Tottenville HS
Ian Christie, RHP/INF, Endicott, NY/ Union-Endicott HS
Brian DeLeo, RHP, Pittsburgh, PA/Upper St. Clair HS
Mario Fasano, OF, Wallingford, CT/ Loomis Chaffee HS
Bill Gartlan, INF, Medford Lakes, NJ/ Shawnee HS
Brett Izzo, LHP, Northport, NY/ Northport HS
Luke Kozumbo, INF, Baltimore, MD/ Lawrenceville HS
Ryan Lanpher, RHP, York, PA/ Calvert Hall College HS
Dan Lewis, RHP, Nicasio, CA/ Marin Academy
Todd Muse, 1B, Roswell, GA/ Mt. Paran Christian School
Ben Raymond, RHP, Newark, DE/ The Charter School
Rob Sanzillo, C, Katonah, NY/ Somers HS
Sam Scanlan, RHP/1B, Great Neck NY/Great Neck North HS
Ben Scott, RHP, Pittsburgh, PA/ Shady Side Academy
Grant Sutter, LHP, Ridgefield CT/ Ridgfield HS
Nick Venezia, INF/OF, Piscataway, NJ/ Rutgers Prep
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