University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Freshman Class Ranked Among Nation's Best
October 19, 2004 | Baseball
Oct. 19, 2004
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - After hauling in the nation's No. 1 recruiting class a year ago, the North Carolina baseball team has once again assembled one of the country's top crops of freshmen this season according to a pair of national publications. This year's group of Tar Heel rookies is rated No. 11 by Baseball America and No. 18 by Collegiate Baseball.
Twelfth-year assistant coach Chad Holbrook serves as Carolina's recruiting coordinator.
The 13-man class features a pair of Major League Baseball draftees in first baseman/left-handed pitcher Matt Spencer, who was chosen by the Boston Red Sox in the 24th round, and right-hander pitcher Andy Gale, who was selected by the Montreal Expos in the 43rd round. Spencer is from Morristown, Tenn., while Gale hails from Durham, N.H.
Other out-of-state recruits include righty Andrew Carignan (Norwich, Conn.), catcher/outfielder Matt Iannetta (Providence, R.I.) and right-handed pitcher Luke Putkonen (Marietta, Ga.).
The Tar Heels added a slew of North Carolina talent including righty Mike Facchinei (Arden), infielder Chad Flack (Forest City), third baseman Reid Fronk (Charlotte), shortstop Josh Horton (Hillsborough), catcher/first baseman Benji Johnson (Pittsboro), infielder Kyle Shelton (Charlotte), righty Tyler Trice (Cherryville) and outfielder/right-hander Seth Williams (Hendersonville).
UNC's class was the second-highest rated among ACC schools in Baseball America's Dandy Dozen behind Georgia Tech (fifth) and ahead of Clemson (12th). The Tar Heels were third among conference schools in the Collegiate Baseball rankings behind newcomer Miami (seventh) and Clemson (12th).
Last year's class which featured All-Atlantic Coast Conference pitchers Daniel Bard and Andrew Miller was ranked No. 1 by both Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball.
Texas came up with the top class in the country according to Baseball America, while Collegiate Baseball cited LSU as having the top class.
