University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Joe Bray
Diamond Heels Welcome 19 Newcomers Into The Program
September 12, 2022 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – University of North Carolina head baseball coach Scott Forbes formally revealed North Carolina's 19-man signing class on Monday as the Diamond Heels continue into their second week of fall practice.
The group is comprised of one graduate transfer, one division one transfer, three junior college transfers and 14 freshmen. Six newcomers hail from the Tar Heel state with an additional half-dozen players hailing from the southeastern United States.
"We are thrilled to welcome these young men to UNC," Forbes said. "They are a talented group and will be great additions to our baseball family not only as baseball players but also as young men."
Kevin Eaise, unanimously selected as the 2022 Ivy League Pitcher of the Year, joins the Diamond Heels from Penn for his graduate season. Former Vanderbilt southpaw Nelson Berkwich along with junior college All-America right-handed pitcher Jake Knapp (Walters State), Ben Peterson (Florida Southwestern State), and Matt Poston (Florence-Darlington Tech) arrive looking to bolster the pitching staff.
The freshman class is highlighted by three state Player of the Year recipients: Matthew Matthijs (North Carolina), Kyle Percival (South Carolina) and Will Simmons (South Dakota) along with the addition of Collegiate Baseball All-America second-team selection Austin Hawke and two-time Rowan County (N.C.) Player of the Year Cam Padgett.
The newcomers and the veteran Diamond Heels began fall practice on Sept. 1 and are engaged in a six-week, full squad practice through Oct. 14. The Tar Heels will play multiple intrasquad games while also hosting Walters State (Sept. 16) and Duke (Oct. 14) at Boshamer Stadium.
Carolina will hold its annual best two-of-three Fall World Series Oct. 3-4 with game three scheduled for Oct. 6, if necessary.
DIAMOND HEELS BASEBALL NEWCOMERS
LHP Nelson Berkwich, Junior, Boca Raton, Fla. (Vanderbilt)
OF Bryce Blaser, Freshman, Newport Beach, Calif. (Newport Harbor HS)
RHP Michael Colonna, Freshman, Weddington, N.C. (Weddington HS)
LHP Caleb Crain, Freshman, Forest City, N.C. (East Rutherford HS)
RHP Kevin Eaise, Graduate, Monroeville, N.J. (Penn)
OF Carter French, Freshman, Tampa, Fla. (Tampa Jesuit HS)
INF Austin Hawke, Freshman, Oak Island, N.C. (Reagan HS)
RHP Connor Hegan, Freshman, Neptune Beach, Fla. (Providence HS)
UTY Jesse Jaconski, Freshman, Plymouth Meeting, Pa. (Plymouth Whitemarsh HS)
RHP Jake Knapp, Junior, Greensboro, N.C. (Walters State)
OF John Long, Freshman, St. Simons Island, Ga. (Glynn Academy)
RHP Matthew Matthijs, Freshman, Greenville, N.C. (D.H. Conley HS)
RHP Cameron Padgett, Salisbury, N.C. (East Rowan HS)
LHP Kyle Percival, Lancaster, S.C. (Andrew Jackson HS)
RHP Ben Peterson, Apex, N.C. (Florida Southwestern State)
RHP Matt Poston, Junior, Hampton, S.C. (Florence-Darlington Tech)
OF Jackson Rusiecki, Freshman, Marion, Conn. (Southington HS)
RHP Will Simmons, Freshman, Sioux Falls, S.D. (Harrisburg HS)
INF Jackson Van De Brake, Freshman, Yakima, Wash. (West Valley HS)
The group is comprised of one graduate transfer, one division one transfer, three junior college transfers and 14 freshmen. Six newcomers hail from the Tar Heel state with an additional half-dozen players hailing from the southeastern United States.
"We are thrilled to welcome these young men to UNC," Forbes said. "They are a talented group and will be great additions to our baseball family not only as baseball players but also as young men."
Kevin Eaise, unanimously selected as the 2022 Ivy League Pitcher of the Year, joins the Diamond Heels from Penn for his graduate season. Former Vanderbilt southpaw Nelson Berkwich along with junior college All-America right-handed pitcher Jake Knapp (Walters State), Ben Peterson (Florida Southwestern State), and Matt Poston (Florence-Darlington Tech) arrive looking to bolster the pitching staff.
The freshman class is highlighted by three state Player of the Year recipients: Matthew Matthijs (North Carolina), Kyle Percival (South Carolina) and Will Simmons (South Dakota) along with the addition of Collegiate Baseball All-America second-team selection Austin Hawke and two-time Rowan County (N.C.) Player of the Year Cam Padgett.
The newcomers and the veteran Diamond Heels began fall practice on Sept. 1 and are engaged in a six-week, full squad practice through Oct. 14. The Tar Heels will play multiple intrasquad games while also hosting Walters State (Sept. 16) and Duke (Oct. 14) at Boshamer Stadium.
Carolina will hold its annual best two-of-three Fall World Series Oct. 3-4 with game three scheduled for Oct. 6, if necessary.
DIAMOND HEELS BASEBALL NEWCOMERS
LHP Nelson Berkwich, Junior, Boca Raton, Fla. (Vanderbilt)
OF Bryce Blaser, Freshman, Newport Beach, Calif. (Newport Harbor HS)
RHP Michael Colonna, Freshman, Weddington, N.C. (Weddington HS)
LHP Caleb Crain, Freshman, Forest City, N.C. (East Rutherford HS)
RHP Kevin Eaise, Graduate, Monroeville, N.J. (Penn)
OF Carter French, Freshman, Tampa, Fla. (Tampa Jesuit HS)
INF Austin Hawke, Freshman, Oak Island, N.C. (Reagan HS)
RHP Connor Hegan, Freshman, Neptune Beach, Fla. (Providence HS)
UTY Jesse Jaconski, Freshman, Plymouth Meeting, Pa. (Plymouth Whitemarsh HS)
RHP Jake Knapp, Junior, Greensboro, N.C. (Walters State)
OF John Long, Freshman, St. Simons Island, Ga. (Glynn Academy)
RHP Matthew Matthijs, Freshman, Greenville, N.C. (D.H. Conley HS)
RHP Cameron Padgett, Salisbury, N.C. (East Rowan HS)
LHP Kyle Percival, Lancaster, S.C. (Andrew Jackson HS)
RHP Ben Peterson, Apex, N.C. (Florida Southwestern State)
RHP Matt Poston, Junior, Hampton, S.C. (Florence-Darlington Tech)
OF Jackson Rusiecki, Freshman, Marion, Conn. (Southington HS)
RHP Will Simmons, Freshman, Sioux Falls, S.D. (Harrisburg HS)
INF Jackson Van De Brake, Freshman, Yakima, Wash. (West Valley HS)
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