Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech baseball staff has announced the addition of three junior college transfers who will join the Hokies for the 2009 season. All three come to Blacksburg from California and each has two years of eligibility remaining. Head coach Pete Hughes and his staff will welcome Steve Domecus, a catcher/outfielder from Moorpark College; Mike Kaminski, an outfielder from Cuesta College; and Ben Rowen, a right-handed pitcher out of Los Angeles Harbor College.
Domecus is a 6-foot-3, 215-pounder who was selected in the 38th round by the Chicago White Sox in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft this past June. He can catch or play outfield, and he spent last season at Moorpark College in Moorpark, Calif. In 39 games played for Coach Mario Porto, the right-hander hit .370 with 10 home runs and 42 runs driven in. Prior to playing for Moorpark, Domecus spent one season at UC Santa Barbara, where he went 8-for-37 with three homers. A native of Novato, Calif., he played his high school ball at Marin Catholic, where he batted .394 as a senior and also earned all-state honors as defensive end in football.
Kaminski comes to Tech after twice making the All-Western State Conference Team for Coach Bob Miller at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, Calif. The 5-10 right-hander batted .351 with nine homers and 20 stolen bases as a freshman in 2007 before hitting .325 with six dingers and 40 RBIs last season. Kaminski hails from Ventura, Calif., and played four seasons at second base and outfield for Coach Raul Camcho at St. Bonaventure High School, where he was a three-time First-Team All-Tri-Valley League honoree.
Rowen arrives in Blacksburg after playing two seasons for Coach Marco Alvillar at Los Angeles Harbor College in Wilmington, Calif. As a sophomore in 2008, the 6-4 right-hander was named Team MVP and selected to the All-South Coast Conference First Team. In 40.1 innings pitched, he went 6-0 with five saves and a 1.34 ERA, while striking out 40 batters and walking just four. A native of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., Rowen played his high school ball at Palos Verdes High School.
Domecus, Kaminski and Rowen join five freshmen, who signed with Tech last fall, to complete the 2009 recruiting class. Those freshmen include pitcher Luke Erickson of St. Christopher's School in Richmond, Va., outfielder/pitcher Clark Labitan of Mira Mesa High School in San Diego, Calif., pitcher/infielder Mathew Price of The Walker School in Marietta, Ga., utility player Andrew Rash of Westside High School in Anderson, S.C., and shortstop/pitcher Ronnie Shaban of Cosby High School in Moseley, Va.