Baseball Completes 2004 Recruiting Class
07/21/2003 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
July 21, 2003
By Jeff Honza
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University head baseball coach Dan Callahan announced today that Jason Chavez, Ryan Davis and Grant Gerrard have signed national letters of intent to become Salukis this fall. The three signees complete SIU's recruiting class for the 2004 season.
A native of Cape Girardeau, Mo., Chavez (6'5" 190, Pitcher) comes to SIU from Mineral Area College. Before MAC, he attended Cape Central High School where he was a first-team all-conference, all-district and all-state pick. In addition, he is spending this summer playing for the Cape Capahas.
Davis (6'2", 215) hails from Tacoma, Wash., and joins the Dawgs from the College of Southern Idaho where he went 9-4 with a 2.66 ERA last season. In 15 appearances, he made 11 starts and struck out 50 batters in 67.2 innings. Davis also ranked regionally in three categories, including strikeouts looking (3rd, 18 Ks), wins (T1st, 9 Ws) and runners picked off (3rd, 4 POs).
Prior to his junior college stint, Davis was a three-time all-area and two-time all-conference pitcher/third baseman at Lakes High School. He also garnered all-state and Baseball Factory Second-Team All-American honors as a senior. Additionally, he marks SIU's second signee from the College of Southern Idaho in the last two years. Two-time, first-team all-MVC pick Toby Barnett transferred from the College of Southern Idaho in 2002.
Lastly, Gerrard (6'4", 205) was a two-sport athlete at Douglas County High School where he played both basketball and baseball. A native of Castle Rock, Colo., he has the ability to play outfield, first base or pitcher for the Salukis.
Chavez, Davis and Gerrard join catcher Rush Olson (McLean, Ill.) and outfielder Kevin Koski (Schaumburg, Ill.) who committed to SIU earlier this year. Olson signed with the Salukis in November, while Koski signed in May.