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Bobby Moranda Signs 13 to Play Baseball for the Catamounts Beginning in 2011

13 student-athletes from five different states ink NLIs with Western Carolina

Dec. 8, 2009

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina third-year head baseball coach Bobby Moranda today announced the signing of 13 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent (NLI) to join the Catamount baseball program for the 2011 season.

The 13 signees represent five different states including eight in-state products, two from Georgia and one each from South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee. Seven of those inked have experience on the mound.

"The quality of this recruiting class is a direct result of the hard work and efforts of our recruiting coordinator Alan Beck and Associate Head Coach Dave Haverstick," said Moranda. "This is the first signing class that was molded properly throughout a one and half, to two year process. Very early in the plan, we indentified our specific needs, found the prospects to fill that void, got them on campus and made offers."

He added, "The position player goal was to add several left-handed hitters, bolster the middle of the field defense and add a right/left combination behind the plate. With our young position players, we felt it necessary to sign `ready to go' high school arms and experienced junior colleges pitchers. Mission accomplished. This recruiting model was very successful and will reap huge dividends in the near future for the Catamounts."

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Aaron Attaway
Middle Infielder - 5-11, 175 lbs., R/R
Morganton, N.C. (Patton HS)

Was named the 2009 Catawba Valley Athletic conference Player of the Year after hitting .437 with eight home runs and 32 RBI as a junior ... Only struck out 12 times in 114 at bats in 2009 ... Was selected to play in the Region 7 State Games ... Played summer baseball for the Burke Legion team and with the South Charlotte Panthers during the fall ... Played on the 2004 Morganton Little League All-Star team that finished third in the United States and seventh in the world.

Coach Moranda's Comments:
"Aaron can flat out play the shortstop position. His feet, hands, range and arm are all above average at the Division I college level. His make-up and ability to handle the bat are off the charts. This is a quality young man and a quality player...winner."

Kyle Deese
Right-handed Pitcher - 6-2, 205 lbs., R-R, Red-shirt Junior
Inman, S.C. (Walters State / Clemson / Chapman HS)

Transferring to WCU from Walters State ... Played for Florence in the Coastal Plain League in the summer, where he had a 3.00 ERA and .161 opponents batting average in 36 innings pitched over 12 relief appearances and 1 start; he had one save, 35 strikeouts .. Signed with Clemson out of high school, red-shirting his freshman season ... Was a three-time all-conference selection, an all-region pick in his final two seasons and an all-state selection as a senior at Chapman High, where he was coached by Kevin Carr ... Was named to the Impact Baseball South Carolina Dream Team.

Coach Moranda's Comments:
"Kyle possesses a quality upper echelon skill set. I personally saw him pitch at 89-94 mph with an 83-mph slider. He is the junior college power arm that we were searching for in our recruiting process. Kyle is a great athlete that will help us in a variety of roles; closer, starter or wherever he ends up. He will be a major factor in the future success of this program."

Cody Jones
Outfield - 6-1, 185, L-L
Enka, N.C. (Enka HS)

Is a two-time North Carolina State Games Region 8 participant ... Has twice earned All-Northwest 4-A Conference accolades ... As a junior, hit .423 with eight doubles and 19 RBI, stealing eight bases ... Played summer and fall baseball for the Diamond Mine.

Coach Moranda's Comments:
"We had a plan to get more physical and land the best recruits available in our region. Cody fits that model at first base or at a wing outfield position. He is super physical with an easy approach to hitting from the left side of the plate. He runs extremely well for a big man and his character is off the charts as he volunteers to help others in need while participating in mission work within the southeast region."

Trey Laney
Infield / Right-handed Pitcher - 6-0, 190 lbs., R-R
Indian Trail, N.C. (Charlotte Christian School)

Helped guide Charlotte Christian to a state championship a season ago, hitting .326 with 11 doubles and four home runs, driving in 24 ... Was selected to play both in the North Carolina State Games for Region 6 as well as for North Carolina in the Battle of the Border ... Played summer baseball with the South Charlotte Panthers.

Coach Moranda's Comments:
"Trey is a two-way player from one of the top high school programs in the state of North Carolina. He has a powerful arm that has the potential to throw in the low 90s in the very near future. He can play anywhere in the infield and will be slated as a reliever on the mound. We feel he is one of those young men who will blossom at the collegiate level into a quality player for the Catamounts."

Adam Martin
Catcher - 6-3, 215 lbs., R-R
Marietta, Ga. (Harrison HS)

Hit .378 as a junior with seven doubles and three home runs with 26 RBI for Harrison HS ... Is the 40th ranked baseball recruit in the state of Georgia and ranks 446th overall in the entire nation by PGCrosschecker ... Was named to the 2008 PG Crosschecker Southeast Top Prospect team and the 2008 PG National Underclass Top Prospect Team ... Played summer baseball with the East Cobb Astros ... His father played football at Georgia Tech.

Coach Moranda's Comments
"Adam was identified very early in the recruiting process as a prime target to fill our needs both behind the plate and in the middle of our lineup. He is an extremely physical player that has a powerful, well-rounded skill set and a diligent work ethic. Adam is one of the top high school players in the entire southeast and is also an outstanding student."

Shawn McCain
Catcher / First Base / RHP - 6-0, 210 lbs., L-R
Augusta, Ga. (Greenbrier HS)

Led Greenbrier High in both RBI and batting average at .426 earning his team's offensive MVP honor ... Was named All-County and All-Conference last season ... Participated in the Georgia Dugout Club Top 100 Underclassmen showcase ... Played summer baseball for the Upstate Mavericks.

Coach Moranda's Comments:
"Shawn is a blue-collar baseball player. He is a very physical athlete who excels behind the plate, at first base and on the mound. He pitches in the upper 80-mph range right now with a closer's mentality. We love his short, powerful stroke from the left-hand side of the plate. There is no doubt in my mind that the kid is going to hit and hit with power."

Morgan McKinney
Left-handed Pitcher - 6-2, 178, L-L, Junior
Gainesville, Fla. (Santa Fe CC / Buchholz HS)

Recorded a 2-1 record with 27 strikeouts in 22 innings pitched as a freshman for Santa Fe CC, helping the squad to a Florida State Championship and a national runner-up finish at the Junior College World Series ... Finished his senior season with a 10-1 overall record with 100 K's in 52 innings pitched, garnering first team All-State plaudits.

Coach Moranda's Comments:
"Morgan is exactly what we need to solidify our left-handed pitching depth. He has experience at the highest level, pitching in the Junior College World Series last season. Morgan keeps improving daily and is coming off a great fall 2009 campaign. He has a plus curve ball and commands it anytime in any count. I am expecting Morgan to be the shut-down lefty for the Catamounts."

Jordan Smith
Right-handed Pitcher / Utility - 6-2, 182-lbs., R-R
Liberty, N.C. (Providence Grove HS)

Is the 16th-ranked baseball recruit in the state of North Carolina by PG Crosschecker, and ranks 331st in the nation by the same group ... Was selected to play in the 2009 North Carolina Battle of the Borders ... Was a member of the 2009 Oakland Athletics Area Code Baseball team in Long Beach, Calif. ... Played summer baseball with NCBA Golden Spikes ... Is the cousin of fellow Catamount signee, Macon Smith.

Coach Moranda's Comments:
"Jordan is a premier athlete that pitches at the 88-91 mph with the ability to command his fastball on both sides of the plate, as well as a plus breaking ball. He is a two-way player that has easy power from the right side and can play shortstop or center field defensively. Jordan's skill-set should land him in the top of our rotation and in the league in the very near future."

Macon Smith
Catcher / First Base / Outfield - 6-3, 185 lbs., L-R
Greensboro, N.C. (Western Guilford HS)

Has been named the Triad 3-A Conference Player of the Year in consecutive seasons both as a sophomore and junior ... Garnered the 2009 Offensive Player of the Year plaudit after hitting .467 with eight home runs and 34 RBI as a junior, earning 18 intentional walks ... In 2008, was named All-State and MVP after hitting .420 with 10 homers and 39 runs driven in ... Was selected to play with the 2009 North Carolina Battle of the Borders team ... Played summer league baseball with the NCBA Golden Spikes ... Is the cousin of fellow Catamount signee, Jordan Smith.

Coach Moranda's Comments:
"It is my opinion that Macon is the most underrated baseball talent not only in the state of North Carolina, but in the entire southeast region. At 6-3 with a 6.65-to-6.7 time in the 60-yard dash; a beautiful, simple, left-handed stroke that already shows great power, it is easy to predict that a very special future is in store for this Catamount. Macon is also a scholar athlete as he is near the top of his high school class academically."

Dykota Spiess
Outfield - 6-1, 190 lbs., L-R
Morganton, N.C. (Patton HS)

Hit .414 with over 30 RBI's and an on-base percentage of .514 last season as a junior ... Ranks 15th in the state of North Carolina among baseball recruits and is No. 414 in the nation according to PG Crosschecker ... Was a part of the 2004 Morganton Little League All-Star team that finished third in the United States and seventh in the world ... Played summer league baseball with the Burke Legion team and played for the Dirtbags in the fall.

Coach Moranda's Comments:
"Dykota started the ball rolling in the right direction for the 2010 signing class for he is so well respected by his peers across the state of North Carolina. Dykota is very athletic, has light tower loft power from the left-hand side of the plate and has a track record as a proven winner."

Dakotah Thomas
Right-handed Pitcher - 6-1, 210 lbs., R-R
Ellenboro, N.C. (East Rutherford HS)

As a junior, finished 9-4 on the hill with one save, fanning 74 in 68 innings pitched for head coach Bobby Dale Reynolds ... Garnered both All-conference and All-county accolades a season ago ... Was a North Carolina State Games Region 8 participant ... Was used as the closer during the summer and fall for the Midland Redskins / Kansas City Royals scout team.

Coach Moranda's Comments:
"We are so fortunate to sign Dakotah. We have seen him pitch at the 87-to-89 mph range with low 90s consistently coming soon. His body type and strength are out of the Joba Chamberlin (pitcher for the New York Yankees) mold. He is a fierce competitor who loves to play the game of baseball. I am honored to get a player from legendary coach, Bobby Dale, and we are expecting big things immediately from Dakotah here at Western."

Phillip Treadway
Shortstop / Centerfield - 5-11, 167, R-R
Fletcher, N.C. (A.C. Reynolds HS)

Is a two-time All-Northwest 4-A Conference selection ... Hit .324 with four doubles, two home runs and 16 RBI a season ago ... Has stolen 23 bases in two seasons at Reynolds where he has also set the school single-season triples (5) record as a sophomore ... Is a two-time North Carolina State Game Region 8 participant ... Played summer baseball with the Asheville Legion team.

Coach Moranda's Comments:
"The word `athlete' and Phillip are synonymous. His ability to run, throw, field, hit and hit with power should land him at the top of our lineup very soon. We love the way his motor and energy are always at the optimal levels. Phillip can really play the game; with his great aptitude and work ethic for baseball, I see him as our future catalyst of many Catamount victories."

Michael White
Right-handed Pitcher - 6-6, 180 lbs., R-R, Junior
Knoxville, Tenn. (Walters State CC / Anderson County HS)

Went 3-1 with a 4.74 earned run average in 24.2 innings pitched last season at Walters State CC, limiting opposing hitters to a .260 batting average ... Struck out 35 batters against just eight walks... Was drafted out of high school by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 33rd round.

Coach Moranda's Comments:
"Michael has that projectable frame that pro scouts dream about. We saw him at 86-to-90 mph with good arm-side run, a plus 12-6 breaking ball and easy, loose arm action. I feel his stuff will jump to an even higher level by the time he arrives on our campus. His mechanical movements are so sound and effortless that I feel his stuff will compete for a spot in the starting rotation immediately."