TUCSON, Ariz. – University of Arizona baseball coach Andy Lopez announced on Thursday that six student-athletes have signed national letters of intent for the 2013-14 academic year.
The Wildcats, who captured the school’s fourth national championship in June, carried their momentum over to the recruiting trail to sign Willie Calhoun, Bobby Dalbec, Evan Hebert, Michael Hoard, Kenneth Meimerstorf and Billy Roth.
“This is a very talented group of players that we are thrilled to have join our program,” Lopez said. “They represent everything we want from players in our program – both on and off the field. I know they are all excited about their futures here to keep our program competing for championships in Omaha.”
Calhoun is an infielder from Benecia High School in Benecia, Calif. As a junior, Calhoun was named Co-Most Valuable Player of the Solano County Athletic Conference. He his .450 with 25 runs batted in to go with 13 doubles, four doubles and four home runs. He was named to the 2012 All-Area Code Team.
Dalbec is an infielder and right-handed pitcher from Legend High School in Parker, Colo. As a junior, Dalbec was an honorable mention 5A All-State honoree for the state runners-up. He hit .444 with five home runs and 21 runs batted in.
Hebert is a left-handed pitcher who will pitch at Loreauville High School in Loreauville, La., this season after two seasons at Catholic High School in nearby New Iberia. He was named an All-District pitcher last spring.
Hoard is a first baseman and corner outfielder from Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, Ariz. As a junior, Hoard was named the Southern Arizona Player of the Year and a first team Louisville Slugger All-American. He hit .420 with 49 runs batted in, along with 17 doubles, five triples and eight home runs.
Meimerstorf is an outfielder that helped Bishop Gorman High School from Las Vegas, Nev., to a 40-3 record in 2012 that captured a 4A State Championship and the No. 1 high school ranking by USA Today. Meimerstorf batted .405 with 47 RBI, nine doubles, three triples and nine home runs. He hails from the same high school that former Wildcat Joey Rickard and current members Johnny Field and Stephen Manthei starred at in previous seasons.
Roth is a right-handed pitcher and outfielder from Vista High School in Vista, Calif., where he was named his league’s player of the year in June. As a junior, Roth hit .410 and scored 25 runs, and he turned in an impressive 9-1 record with a 0.92 earned run average on the mound. He tossed five complete games and registered two shutouts.
“This class solidifies a bright future for our program,” Lopez said. “The support from fans in the community and our administration has been tremendous. We are very fortunate to have a beautiful facility like Hi Corbett Field, which was instrumental in our recruiting efforts for this class and future classes.”
Arizona welcomed in a 17-player freshman class in August set to compete for the 2013 season. The class was rated No. 25 nationally by Baseball America and No. 21 by Collegiate Baseball.
