Temple University Athletics
Temple Baseball Adds Five To Recruiting Class
8.6.08 | Baseball
Aug. 6, 2008
PHILADELPHIA - Temple head baseball coach Rob Valli is pleased to announce the addition of five student-athletes for the 2009 season. INF/P Foster Dunigan, catcher Matt Elko, INF Tony Jusino, RHP Tyler Horst, and LHP Drew Shaw will make their debut for the Cherry and White in 2009.
"We are excited about the potential of every one of the players in this recruiting class," Valli said. "Each player will have a specific role to play early in his career at Temple."
Dunigan (6-0, 170) is an UnderArmour Preseason All-American infielder from Langley High School. A two-time all-region and all-district selection, Dunigan batted .451 with nine doubles and 26 RBI as a junior to earn honorable mention all-state honors. A Great Falls, VA product, he was limited to only six games as a senior due to injury and batted .357 over that span. Foster also expects to see time on the mound as a situational pitcher out of the bullpen.
"Foster is a talented athlete who will be a primary infielder with the potential to help out of the bullpen," Valli said. "Unfortunately, he had to endure a tough injury in his senior season. We think Foster's best baseball is ahead of him."
Elko (5-9, 180) is a three-time all-conference, all-county, and all-area selection out of Parsippany Hills High School. He batted .444 with three home runs and 12 RBI as a senior after a .451, 13 double, 27 RBI campaign as a junior. The Parsippany, NJ native finished his career second on the all-time hit list at Parsippany Hills with 125.
"I have worked with Matt in camps for a few years," Valli said. "He is a hard-nosed baseball player who will be an asset to our program."
Jusino (5-10, 180) was a two-time honorable mention all-conference selection at second base for Grossmont CC (CA). He batted .342 with seven doubles and 17 RBI in 27 games as a sophomore and .351 with six doubles and 36 RBI in 43 games as a freshman. He batted .322 last summer for the Maryland Redbirds in the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate League, earning a starting nod in the league's annual all-star game and all-league honors.
"Like most of the junior college players we have brought to Temple, we expect Tony to impact the A-10 right away," Valli said. "He is a smooth-fielding middle infielder who can hit in the early part of our lineup."
Horst (6-2, 195) is a two-time all-league pick out of Garden Spot High School. He posted three wins as a senior with a 2.21 ERA and struck out 55 batters in 47.1 innings. The Denver, PA native also went 5-2 with a 1.63 ERA for New Holland American Legion.
"Tyler has the potential to be a front-line pitcher on our staff," Valli said. "He is a multi-sport athlete who comes to us with a great arm and lots of potential."
Shaw (6-2, 215) is a second team all-state selection from Paul VI Catholic High School. The Fairfax, VA native was 6-0 to help his team win the VISAA State Championship and WCAC regular season championship. The team also reached as high as third in the national rankings in late April and ended the season ranked #12 nationally by Perfect Game with a 27-3 record. The team MVP, Shaw holds the school record for wins (17) and ERA (1.29) and is second all-time in starts (23) and strikeouts (126).
"Drew is a very polished competitor from a great high school program who knows how to win," Valli said. "We think he can pitch quality innings early in his career."
The quintet join three student-athletes who committed during the fall signing period--catcher Taylor Juran, OF Jabair Khan and LHP Dan Moller.
Juran (6-0, 225) was a WPIAL All-Star as a senior after batting .371 with two home runs and 13 RBI after leading Shaler to a 14-7 record. Juran led Shaler in RBI as a junior and is a three-year starter behind the plate. His brother, Ryan, will be a senior pitcher at Atlantic 10 rival Duquesne in 2009.
Khan (5-9, 190) earned all-Southeastern Pennsylvania honors by the Philadelphia Inquirer after batting .419 with 19 stolen bases and 20 RBI as a senior. He was also an all-league and all-area selection and was selected as Henderson's Co-Most Outstanding Male Athlete. Kahn batted .405 with seven home runs, 25 RBI and 21 steals as a junior to pick up all-Southeastern PA, all-league and all-area citations.
Moller (6-3, 180) is a left-handed pitcher that went 7-0 with a 1.26 ERA to earn second team all-area honors from the Morning Call. He struck out 64 batters in 39 innings to lead Parkland to a 21-1 record as a senior. Moller is also a two-time Carpenter Cup selection, striking out 22 batters in 12 innings as a senior (1-0, 0.75 ERA).
