5/11/2004
WAHINGTON, D.C. ? Georgetown Baseball Coach Pete Wilk announced today the signing of four student-athletes in the April signing period. The four athletes are Matt Harrigan, an outfielder from Syracuse, NY; Matt Maranges, a middle infielder from Miami, FL; Matt Bouchard, an infielder from Providence, RI; and Brian Sullivan, a RHP from Maitland, FL. The four will join November signees John Ellis, a RHP from Rochester, NH; Mike Gaggioli, a LHP from Mission Viejo, CA; and Dan Kennedy, a RHP from West Orange, NJ; to round out the Hoya class to begin play in 2005.
?Obviously we are excited to have such an athletic class coming in next year,? Wilk said. ?We addressed the immediate need for pitching in the early signing period and that afforded us the luxury of focusing on position players in the spring. We feel like we got the best athletes available and look for all seven to do big things here at the hilltop.? Although the focus in the late signing period was on position players, Coach Wilk was able to secure yet another talented arm in Sullivan. ?Getting Brian to sign was definitely the final piece of the puzzle.?
Ellis (6?6, 200, R/R) is a power right-hander with a power breaking ball out of Spaulding High School in Rochester, NH. Wilk is especially eager to see Ellis here next year, ?John is easily the most projectable pitcher in this class. His frame and athleticism hold the sky as the limit for him. He will be a pleasure to watch mature in his time here.?
Gaggioli (6?1, 170, L/L) is a finesse lefty who is anchoring the staff at California state power Santa Margarita in Mission Viejo, CA. Wilk recognizes his production in such a tough league, ?Mike has gone up against some pretty tough line-ups this year and has proven he can pitch. With three pitches he can throw for strikes, he should be able to compete here immediately. The role he fills will be determined by him in the fall.?
Kennedy (6?2, 190, R/R) is a two-way player from Regis High School in New York. Coach Wilk believes the need for depth on the mound will allow him the quickest path to playing time, but he will also compete to find a spot on the field., ?Dan impressed us with his pure athleticism. He showed tremendous arm strength, great speed, and raw power at the plate. I expect him to contribute to this program in some way as a freshman.?
Bouchard (5?11, 165, R/R) is an infielder from one of the top high school programs in the Northeast, Bishop Hendricken in East Greenwich, RI. ?Matt is intriguing because defensively, he can play anywhere in the infield or outfield, and he has the offensive talent to make himself a place somewhere early in his career here,? Wilk said.
Harrigan (6?2, 175, L/R) is an accomplished left-handed hitter from Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, NY. He is also the brother of student assistant coach Pat Harrigan. ?Matt will bring a left-handed bat to the program that will allow us to do different things with the line-up. With a little size and power, he could end up in the middle of the order before his career ends here,? Wilk said.
Maranges (5?11, 175, R/R) is a smooth fielding infielder with terrific baseball instincts hailing from Belen Jesuit in Miami, FL. Wilk on Maranges, ?Matt?s defensive ability along with his steady bat could create movement in an already solid middle infield. His addition gives us depth at the most important defensive spot on the field.?
Sullivan (6?1, 200 R/R) is a hard-throwing righty out of Lake Highland Prep in Winter Park, FL. Wilk had this to say about Sullivan, ?Signing Brian was imperative to this class. While our pitching has been a strength for us this year, Brian is capable, along with the other three, to push for innings as soon as he arrives on campus.?
