Diamond Heels Welcome 24 Newcomers To The Program

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Ahead of its exhibition game against Walters State Friday, UNC head coach Scott Forbes announced the list of 24 newcomers that have joined the program for the 2023-24 season.

The class includes 14 high school student-athletes, six NCAA Division I transfers, three junior college transfers and one NCAA Division III transfer. Fourteen of the newcomers are pitchers and 10 are position players.

The Division I transfers include Longwood infielder Eliot Dix, Quinnipiac outfielder Anthony Donofrio, New Jersey Tech pitcher Ryan Fischer, Georgia infielder Parks Harber, Elon catcher Parker Haskin and Elon pitcher Shea Sprague.

Infielder Alex Madera joins the program from Division III Arcadia (Pa.), while outfielder Ryker Galaska (Pitt Community) along with pitchers Aidan Haugh (Fayetteville Tech) and Luke Osteen (Catawba Valley) are each junior college transfers.

Eight of the 14 prep student-athletes are North Carolina natives, including NCBCA 4A Player of the Year Luke Stevenson (Wake Forest HS/Wake Forest), NCBCA 2A Pitcher of the Year Folger Boaz (East Surry HS/Pilot Mountain) and all-state pitchers Hugh Collins (J.H. Rose HS/Clayton), Ryan Hench (Orange HS/Hillsborough), Jacob Kirby (Ardrey Kell HS/Waxhaw) and Harrison Lewis (West Forsyth HS/Winston-Salem). Infielders Gavin Gallaher (Pro5 Academy/Apex) and Tyler Parks (Southwestern Randolph HS/Asheboro) and pitcher Mason Yokum (Pro5 Academy/Holly Springs) are also North Carolinians.

Prep pitchers Francesco Capocci (Denmark HS/Cumming, Ga.), Jason DeCaro (St. Anthony's/Northport, N.Y.), Boston Flannery (Brunswick HS/New City, N.Y.), and Olin Johnson (McCallie School/Bellingham, Wash.) each received a multitude of accolades their performances on the mound including all-state, all-region, all-conference and all-county honors.

Outfielder Kaleb Cost (Sandy Creek/Fayetteville, Ga.) is a two-sport athlete and is currently playing defensive back for the Tar Heels' football team.

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