Wake Forest

Dec. 5, 2011

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest head baseball coach Tom Walter has announced the signing of nine players who will join the Demon Deacon squad for the fall of 2012.

The group features a wide array of talents with three pitchers, three infielders and three outfielders comprising the nine recruits.

Joining the Demon Deacons will be Christian Bartholomew, Jack Curtis, Luke Czajkowski, Jake Maziar, Mark McCoy, Eric Ramsey, Jimmy Redovian, Joey Rodriguez and Max Tishman.

"The 2012 group is our signature class as it marks the first recruiting class where we have been on-time in the process. In this class, we have added a good mix of front-line pitching, speed and power. Each one of these young men has tremendous work ethic and passion for baseball," said Walter. "They are the future of Wake Forest baseball. Perfect Game has had this class ranked as high as No. 26 overall. Look for us to add two players on the April signing day to complete this already impressive class."

Bartholomew is the lone right-handed pitcher in the class, while both McCoy and Tishman will provided a left-handed presence on the mound.

Before these nine players get to campus, Wake Forest will play the 2012 season and is scheduled to begin the year at New Mexico State on February 17 in Las Cruces.

Wake Forest's 2012 Baseball Recruiting Class

Christian Bartholomew
6-1/195/R-R/RHP
Dallas, Texas/Jesuit College Prep

Went 13-2 as a junior with an ERA of 3.00 ... Pitched for the Dallas Patriots and was named Dallas Patriot of the Year by the organization ... Preseason All-American for the spring of 2012 ... 2011 Perfect Game Underclass High Honorable Mention and Perfect Game Top 1000 Player.

Walter on Bartholomew...
"Christian is a great addition to the program. He hails from tremendous high school and travel ball programs that are used to winning at a national level. Our staff has followed Christian for about a year and watched him grow into a very talented pitcher. His velocity (86-89) is starting to spike and he commands excellent secondary stuff. His mound presence is outstanding and he is a strike throwing machine."

Jack Curtis
6-3/185/R-R/SS
Clermont, Fla./East Ridge HS

A four-year varsity letterman and team captain ... Was awarded the 2010 Silver Slugger Award at East Ridge High School ... Holds the school record for batting average, on-base percentage and hits in a season ... Ranks second all-time in home runs in a season ... Ranked in the top 500 players nationally by Perfect Game.

Walter on Curtis...
"Jack is an outstanding commitment for the Demon Deacons. He will be a big physical SS with the ability to hit in the middle of the order very early in his career. We look forward to having his leadership in the clubhouse from the first day he steps foot on our campus at Wake Forest."

Luke Czajkowski
6-3/200/R-R/OF
Fleming Island, Fla./Fleming Island HS

Earned the Principal Scholar Athlete of the Year at Fleming Island High School ... Ranked 225 nationally by Perfect Game, and was named a 2011 Perfect Game Underclass High Honorable Mention ... Helped Fleming Island reach the Regional Finals in 2011 for the first time in school history ... Was named to the Florida Athletic Coaches Association District 5 Team as an outfielder in both 2010 and 2011 ... Earned a varsity letter every year.

Walter on Czajkowski...
"Luke fits in perfectly with our style of play. He is a 6.6 runner with power potential. He is a five-tool player who will develop very quickly at Wake. Additionally, he and Jack (Curtis) play for the Orlando Scorpions Baseball Program run by Matt Gerber. That means both these young men come to us as winners with extremely high baseball IQs."

Jake Maziar
6-2/195/L-R/1B
Atlanta, Ga./Holy Innocents HS

Was named a Perfect Game Underclass All-American ... Ranked in the Top 500 nationally by Perfect Game ... Was named First Team All-Region and First Team All-Area as a junior ... Also was named his team's Most Valuable Offensive Player as a junior ... As a sophomore, earned Second Team All-Region, First Team All-Area and the Nails Award.

Walter on Maziar...
"Jake adds a left-handed power bat with great strike zone discipline to this class. He projects to be a first baseman but has the ability to kick behind the dish in a pinch. Our right field porch is tailor made for him, and his work ethic is off the charts."

Mark McCoy
6-3/185/L-L/LHP
Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat HS

Has been a varsity starter every year while posting a career ERA under 2.00 and a career batting average of .405 ... Was named All-Conference in each of his first three seasons ... Ranked in the Top 500 players nationally by Perfect Game ... Pitched for the New York Yankee team in the 2011 Area Codes and for the Northeast Team at the 2011 East Coast Pro ... Led Barnegat High School on the football field as well, leading the team to a conference title ... Threw for 1,770 yards and 16 touchdowns as well as rushing for another six touchdowns.

Walter on McCoy...
"Mark will step in immediately and be a front line guy. He pitches with good velocity and has a put-away slider. He is also a fierce competitor and a great athlete. He will pitch in our Top 3 from the moment he sets foot on campus."

Eric Ramsey
5-10/175/L-L/OF
Great Falls, Va./Georgetown Prep HS

Was unanimously selected to the All-Interstate Athletic Conference team ... Hit over .500 as a junior and led his team in RBIs, doubles, triples slugging percentage and hits ... Played for the Virginia National Team, which traveled to Italy to compete ... Was a Summer Rivalry Classic All-Star in 2011 and was able to play at Yankee Stadium ... Selected to the 2012 Under Armour Preseason All-America Team.

Walter on Ramsey...
"Eric is a gamer. His energy level, passion for the game and work ethic is infectious. He has the rare ability to make his teammates better even when he isn't in the game. Best of all, he approaches practices like they are games. As such, he will force those around him to elevate their play on a daily basis. He is a left-handed hitting outfielder can to spray the ball to all fields and has surprising pop. From a baseball standpoint his best tool is his hand speed."

Jimmy Redovian
6-0/175/R-R/INF
Franklin, Tenn./Battle Ground Academy

Was a three-year starter in football and a four-year starter in baseball ... Named to the 2011 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass Honorable Mention All-America team and to the 2012 Under Armour Preseason All-America team ... Selected to the 2011 Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Showcase team ... Ranked in the top 1,000 player nationally by Perfect Game.

Walter on Redovian...
"Jimmy is versatile player who fits well within our system. He is a gamer who makes others around him better. He has tremendous instincts, work ethic and savvy. He is a very good athlete and plays above his skill level because of all the intangibles. He will push for a starting job immediately and is a future team captain at Wake."

Joey Rodriguez
5-9/175/R-R/CF
Miami, Fla./Belen Jesuit HS

Was named Second Team All-Dade County in 2011 with a .422 average, 14 doubles, four triples and 30 stolen bases ... Ranked in the Top 1,000 players nationally by Perfect Game ... Led his team to two Pony World Series Championships (2004, 2006).

Walter on Rodriguez...
"Joey is a great fit for us at Wake. He is the first true leadoff hitter we've recruited. He is a 6.7 runner whose game speed plays like a 6.5 runner. He also features plus arm strength. He can beat you with his legs, his bat and his arm. Defensively he can play center field or second base. Offensively he is one of those guys you hate to coach against: he sees a ton of pitches, has great strike zone awareness, he plays the short game and is best described as a tough out."

Max Tishman
6-2/180/L-L/LHP
Wellesley, Mass./Lawrence Academy

Pitched for the New York Yankees team at the 2011 Area Codes and for the Northeast Team at the 2011 East Coast Pro games ... Was a Summer Rivalry Classic All-Star in 2010 and 2011 where he pitched at Yankee Stadium ... Named First Team All-ISL and a 2011 Tournament of Stars Pitcher ... Ranked 272 nationally by Perfect Game.

Walter on Tishman...
"Max is a high level left-handed pitcher with a fast arm and tremendous upside. His secondary stuff has improved tremendously over the past year. As he continues to mature physically, his mechanics will get more consistent. Once he can repeat his delivery under duress, the sky is the limit for this young man."