Cohen’s first recruiting class includes four pitchers

Lexington, Ky. — The Kentucky baseball team has signed 10 players to national letters of intent, head coach John Cohen announced on Thursday. The class, consisting of four pitchers and five position players, will join the Cats on the field in the fall of 2004.

Four of the signees are Kentucky natives in Steve Delabar (RHP, Elizabethtown/Central Hardin/Volunteer State C.C.), Scott Green (RHP, Louisville/Male), Collin Cowgill (OF, Lexington/Henry Clay) and Willie Mays (OF, Lexington/Bryan Station). In addition, the Cats also will add Andrew Albers (LHP, North Battleford, Saskatchewan/John Paul II Collegiate), Antone DeJesus (OF, Amherst, Ohio/Amherst Steele), Greg Dombrowski (RHP, Rome, N.Y./Rome Free Academy), Brian Hastings (Kearney, Mo./Hutchinson (Kan.) C.C.), Bill Killian (C, Stanwood, Mich./Chippewa Hills) and Ryan Wilkes (Chattanooga, Tenn./Central).

“We’re very pleased to have all these guys on board with us here at Kentucky,” Cohen said. “We feel like this is a great group to have as our first recruiting class and think that each one of them has the potential to have a great impact on the Kentucky baseball program.”

Pitchers

Green is widely considered the leading candidate for Mr. Baseball in the state of Kentucky in 2004 and Collegiate Baseball magazine ranks him as the No. 1 prospect in Kentucky. Team One Baseball website ranks Green as the No. 105 prospect in the nation. He was named all-state in Kentucky following his junior season in which he led his team to the state championship game, allowing just one earned run in the post-season.

“Scott Green, in our estimation, is the best prospect in the state of Kentucky. He’s 6-7, very athletic for his size and a very good student. We’re very pleased to welcome him to our program. He has a chance to be an immediate impact player,” Cohen said.

Delabar has twice seen his name in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, selected by the Anaheim Angels in 2002 and most recently by the San Diego Padres in 2003. Currently, he is a redshirt sophomore at Volunteer State Community College.

“Steve Delabar has a chance to pitch immediately in the Southeastern Conference because he’s very athletic and has a great arm,” Cohen said.

Albers was named the 1998 Saskatchewan Player of the Year and has twice been selected to Team Saskatchewan to play in the Midget Canada Cup. Over the last three years he has compiled a 24-1 record with 16 saves.He once struck out 19 hitters in a seven-inning game.

Dombrowski is a two-time all-county, all-league and all-central New York selection. He pitched a two- hitter in the Section III, Class AA Onondaga League Baseball Championship and won a 2-0 decision. Over the last two seasons Dombrowski has posted a 14-4 record with 133 strikeouts compared to just 23 walks.

Position Players

Killian is rated the No. 1 high school prospect in Michigan. Team One Baseball ranks him as the fourth-best high school catcher in the nation and No. 57 overall. He played for the USA Junior National Team at the World Championship in South America. Killian is a two-time all-district and all-region selection and was named all-conference and all-state as a junior.

“Bill Killian is a very good student, a good athlete and a great defensive catcher and brings a lot of offensive skills. He is a definite impact SEC-caliber player,” Cohen said.

Wilkes is a switch-hitting shortstop who ranks among the top position players in the state of Tennessee. He was named to the Best of Preps in 2002 and 2003. Wilkes is three-time all-region and a two-time all-state selection.

“Ryan Wilkes is an outstanding defensive middle infielder. He has a tremendous feel for the game and great arm strength. We feel like he’s an impact player in the Southeastern Conference,” Cohen said.

DeJesus has set school records for hits and stolen bases in a season at Amherst Steele High School. He was named first team all-county and all-conference as a sophomore and junior and was second-team all-state as a junior.

“We’ve been told by many folks that cover Ohio that he’s the best position player in Ohio. He’s very athletic, a very good hitter and defensive player,” Cohen said.

Cowgill was named all-city in Lexington last season after hitting .340 with five home runs. He was named to the junior East-West All Stars.

“Collin Cowgill is an outstanding defensive outfielder. He has great feel for the game and is a very good athlete. He has a capacity to get better because he has a tremendous work ethic,” Cohen said.

Mays hit .385 with five home runs and 25 runs batted in as a junior, earning him a spot on the 2003 all-city team.

“Willie Mays is one of the best high school hitters I’ve seen in a while. He’s going to have power and hit for average. He has great recognition skills of the breaking ball and change up. He’s a solid defensive outfielder and a great young man,” Cohen said.

Hastings is a catcher/infielder currently playing at Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kan. He hit .275 with 23 runs batted in a season ago and threw out 51 percent of would-be base stealers. Hastings hit .333 and fielded 1.000 this past summer in the Jayhawk League.

2004 Kentucky Baseball Signees