BLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech baseball program will officially start its 2020 fall season with individual workouts next Monday at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park while team practice opens on September 10.
The breakdown of the newest members includes five transfers and 16 freshmen. They came from all parts of the country, representing nine different states with the largest coming from Virginia (9), followed by North Carolina and Pennsylvania with three each. There is one player each from Colorado, Hawaii, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Pitching makes up more than half of the newcomers with 11 joining the program, seven righties and four southpaws, while there are four infielders, four outfielders and two catchers.
Repeating a style from last year, Tech revealed its newest class by those positions this week, one a day. The right-handed pitchers were announced on Monday, followed by the infielders, the catchers and the left-handed pitchers. Concluding the week are the outfielders.
Below, please find information on each of our newest players, listed alphabetically (by position), followed by their hometown then bio information provided by them. Clicking on a player's name will take you to their full bio on the website.
THE OUTFIELDERS
Jack Hurley
Boalsburg, Pennsylvania
High School: Earned varsity letters all four seasons while playing for coach Jeremy Dinsmore at State College ... In 2018, earned a spot on the All-Mid Penn Second Team as an outfielder ... Also played for the school's basketball team as a small forward for coach Brian Scholly.
Dusty Mercer
Matthews, North Carolina
High School: Earned varsity letters all four years while playing for coach Travis Poole at Weddington ... Played the outfield and also pitched for the Warriors ... Named a second team all-conference player as a sophomore after going 3-1 with 20 strikeouts and 1.11 ERA ... Hit .278 that season, while leading the team with 25 hits and 18 runs scored ... Added seven RBI, four doubles and seven stolen bases to his totals ... Was a first team all-conference in 2019, after batting .345 with 30 hits, including nine doubles, two triples and two home runs, 25 runs, 14 RBI and six stolen bases ... On the mound, went 2-0 with two saves and struck out 25 batters ... Also played football for the Warriors under coach Andy Capone ... Helped the team to back-to-back N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A state championships playing both quarterback and wide receiver and was an all-conference first team player as a senior..
Jon Rivard
Spotsylvania, Virginia
High School: Earned varsity letters all four years while playing for coach Travis Payne at Spotsylvania ... As a sophomore, named second team all-conference and played for 17U NTIS USA baseball (Team Capital) ... As a junior, earned first team all-conference, second team all-region, and was an honorable mention aII-area ... As a senior, was a first team all-conference pitcher and outfielder and a first team all-region, all-area and all-state performer ... Helped the Knights to the Virginia 3A State Semifinals in 2017 and a State Championship title in 2018.
Parker Stallard
Salem, Virginia
High School: Earned varsity letters all four years playing for coach Andy Hayes and Wes McMillion at Salem … Helped lead the Spartans to its first ever VHSL Class 4 state title in 2018, a 2-1 walk-off victory over Jamestown ... Scored the game-winning run from second on a two-out single ... Named an all-state outfielder as a junior after batting almost .500 for the season.
THE LEFT-HANDED PITCHERS
Shane Connolly
Huntersville, North Carolina
2020 (at The Citadel): Started all four games appeared in, tied for the most on the team, and recorded three quality starts … Finished with a 3.29 ERA in 27.1 innings pitched, struck out 27 batters, walked 12 and posted a 3-1 record … Picked up wins against Coppin State (Feb. 14), Yale (Feb. 21) and St. Peter's (Feb. 28) ... Threw at least 6.0 innings in each start, 7.0 in three and a season-high 7.1 against the Peacocks, and struck out at least seven three times, including a season-best eight against the Eagles and Bulldogs … Held opponents to a .189 batting average.
2019 (at The Citadel): Started all 14 games appeared in, second most on the team, and recorded seven quality starts … Finished with a 4.66 ERA in 77.1 innings pitched, struck out 38 batters, walked 23 and posted a 3-7 record with two complete game shutouts, the only two for the team that season … Picked up wins in shutouts against Delaware State (Feb. 16) and VMI (March 23), while also beating North Alabama (March 2) ... After the VMI shutout, was the first Division I pitcher to throw two complete-game shutouts on the season ... Threw at least 5.0 innings in nine starts, and struck out a season-high four, four times.
2018 (at The Citadel): Appeared in nine games overall with one start, at Winthrop (March 7) ... Had an 18.41 ERA in 7.1 innings pitched, struck out seven batters, walked seven and posted a 0-1 record ... Threw at least 1.0 innings in six relief appearances, did not allow in a run in a pair - versus La Salle (Feb. 25) and UNCG (May 11) and struck out a season-high two in both of those games
Ethan Firoved
Virginia Beach, Virginia
High School: Earned varsity letters all four years playing for coach Scott Stubbe at First Colonial … Was named to the All-6A first team VHSL all-state team and a first team all-tidewater team member as a pitcher after junior season ... Selected as the 2019 Class 6 Region A Co-Player of the Year ... Also, earned a pair of letters playing shooting guard for the Patriots basketball team under coach Jim Domanski.
Jonah Hurney
Kamuela, Hawaii
2020 (at Southwestern Oregon CC): In shortened season, started all three games he appeared in ... Had a 3-0 record and a 2.37 ERA in 19 innings pitched ... Struck out 27 and walked nine.
2019 (at Southwestern Oregon CC): Started nine games for the Lakers ... Posted a 3-3 record with a 5.30 ERA ... Struck out 74 batters in 54.1 innings pitched for a 11.71 strikeouts per nine average ... Named to the Southern Region Second Team pitcher.
High School: Was a three-sport athlete at Hawaii Preparatory Academy in cross country, basketball and baseball ... Was named to the HHSAA all-tournament team as a utility player in 2017, when Ka Makani upset No. 2 Waianae behind his complete game in the first round ... Also named the school's 2018 Athlete of the Year.
Grant Umberger
Chester Springs, Pennsylvania
High School: Earned three varsity letters playing for coach Peter Susi at Downingtown East ... Was a three-year varsity starter and was the team's captain as a senior ... In 2018, was 4-1 with a 1.33 ERA, striking out 42 batters in 31.2 innings pitched ... Also lettered three years on the Cougars' basketball team for coach John Goodman and captained the team as a senior.
THE CATCHERS
Gehrig Ebel
Ooltewah, Tennessee
High School: Earned five varsity letters playing for coach Mike Kinney at Baylor … Helped the Red Raiders to back-to-back TSSSA Division II-AA state titles as a sophomore and junior ... The team combined for a 51-12 record in 2018 and 2019 as Baylor was tabbed one of the top 100 high school athletic teams in the nation by MaxPreps ... Batted .361 as a junior ... Was a two-time all-state player and a two-time Best of Preps player ... Also earned a varsity letter for the Red Raiders' basketball and bowling teams.
Dayne Leonard
Spring Green, Wisconsin
2020 (at Des Moines Area CC): Played in 14 games at catcher for the Bears during the shortened season ... Had four hits in 32 at bats, three of which went for doubles ... Scored three runs and had eight RBI ... Also drew four walks and stole one base ... Best games included a 2-for-4 game with two RBI at Butler-KS (Feb. 21) and a four RBI game on Feb. 29 at Northern Oklahoma College-Enid.
High School: Earned three varsity letters playing for coach Bob Wickman at River Valley High School ... As a junior, was as a first team all-conference performer and an honorable mention all-area cather ... As a sophomore, was honorable mention all-conference ... Also letters three years for the Blackhawks' hockey team, earning first team all-conference honors as a senior.
THE INFIELDERS
Brayden Merrick
Wirtz, Virginia
High School: Earned a pair of varsity letters playing for coach Barry Shelton at Franklin County … Named a second team all-district shortstop after junior season, in which he batted .310 with 18 hits, 13 walks, and nine extra base hits ... Also competed on the school's golf team, winning four matches as a freshman and five as a sophomore on the junior varsity squad.
TJ Rumfield
Temple, Texas
2020 (at Texes Tech): Started four of the nine games played for the Red Raiders – three at first and one as the designated hitter … During the season, had two multi-hit games, including a season-best four hits versus Northern Colorado (Feb. 15), and two multi-run scoring games, with a season-high three in that Bears game ... Had a season-best three-game hitting and reached base streak … For the year, had a .417 batting average with 10 hits, including three doubles for 13 total bases and a .542 slugging percentage … Scored six runs and knocked in three RBI … Added three walks for a .481 on-base percentage … Registered one game-winning RBI, a pinch-hit, walk-off double in the 11th inning against Rice (March 8) ... In all, had three pinch hits in five opportunities, including his first collegiate hit versus Houston (Feb. 15) and versus UNLV (March 3) ... Played a flawless first with 24 putouts in 24 chances.
2019 (at Texes Tech): Redshirted the season.
High School: Earned varsity letters all four seasons while playing for coach Toby Rumfield at Temple ... Ranked as the No. 3 third baseman in the State of Texas by Perfect Game … An All-State selection for his final three years … 2018 THSBCA All-State First Team and TSWA All-State Third Team as a senior … Hit .457 with nine doubles, three home runs, a triple, 32 RBI and 18 runs as a senior … 2017 THSBCA All-State Second Team and TSWA All-State Honorable Mention … Batted .456 with nine doubles, two home runs and 24 RBI as a junior … 2016 THSBCA All-State Second Team and TSWA All-State Third Team … Hit .468 with eight doubles and 22 RBI as a sophomore … Also named Offensive MVP for District 18-5A his sophomore and junior years … A first team All-District selection and District 17-5A Newcomer of the Year as a freshman … Selected to the All-Tournament Team at the 2017 Connie Mack World Series and was the Joseph R. Cooper Individual Batting Champ … Played with the Texas Rangers' squad in the Area Code Games in Long Beach, California … A two-sport star that was Temple's starting quarterback his senior year and went 8-3 overall with a 6-2 district mark.
Tanner Schobel
Williamsburg, Virginia
High School: Earned varsity letters five times while playing for coach Ian Heisel at Walsingham Academy ... Was a four-time team captain, while helping the Trojans to a pair of state championships ... Was a four-time all-state player, a three-time first team All-TCIS and a two-time VISAA DII player of the year ... Excelled both at the plate and on the mound, as he set the single-season school records in hits, runs and at-bats as well as career marks in hits, triples and runs ... As a pitcher, holds the single-season school record for ERA, strikeouts and WHIP.
Sam Tackett
Lexington, Kentucky
High School: Earned varsity letters all four years playing for coach Chris Langston at Lafayette … During career, was a two-time all-region first team honoree and a two-time all-city first team member ... Also earned Perfect Game Preseason All-American honors three times ... Named to the Prep Baseball Report Kentucky 2020 Dream Team ... Helped the Generals to a pair of district titles.
THE RIGHT-HANDED PITCHERS
Graham Firoved
Virginia Beach, Virginia
2020 (at Northwest Florida State): Appeared in three games during the shortened season … Had a 10.38 ERA in 4.1 innings pitched, struck out nine batters, walked three and posted a 0-1 record ... Threw at least 1.0 innings and struck out at least two in each game, including a season-high four in 2.0 innings versus Motlow State.
2019 (at Radford): Appeared in 16 games, with one start … Had a 3.18 ERA in 22.2 innings pitched, struck out 27 batters, walked 13 and posted a 1-0 record with one save ... In nine relief appearances, tossed at least 1.0 innings and did not allow an earned run … Had nine multi-K outings, including a season-high seven in 2.2 innings at Gardner-Webb (April 27) as he struck out the side in the seventh and eighth ... Made lone start against Harvard (March 9), tossing a season-high 3.0 innings ... Won his only game against UAB (March 1) and earned a save versus Wake Forest (May 14).
High School: Earned varsity letters all four years playing for coach Scott Stubbe at First Colonial … Helped the Patriots to the 6A Regional Championship in 2018 and a conference title in 2014 and 2015 ... A two-time preseason All-American and two-time Most Valuable Pitcher of the region ... Recorded a 1.23 ERA, fanned 100 batters and allowed a .175 batting average against for First Colonial ... Also played basketball for the Patriots.
Griffin Green
Chelmsford, Massachusetts
High School: Earned three varsity letters playing for coach Michael O'Keefe at Chelmsford High School … Ranked as the No. 15 player in the region's 2020 senior class by Prep Baseball Report ... Was a senior captain and helped the Lions advance to the Division 1 North semifinals in 2019 ... Was named a league all-star as a junior ... Also was on the golf team, earning three varsity letters ... Was a three-time league all-star and a senior captain ... Graduated from Chelmsford before spending the 2019-20 school year as a postgraduate student at Phillips Andover.
Jenner Kehe
Golden, Colorado
High School: Earned three varsity letters playing for coach Derrick Peterson at Lakewood … Was a first-team all-conference pitcher and an all-state honorable mention for the Tigers ... Was a PBR Top3-ranked player in Colorado ... Earned Lakewood's Don Osse Athletic Award.
Brady Kirtner
Christiansburg, Virginia
High School: Earned three varsity letters playing for coach Dale Nelson at Christiansburg … As a junior in 2019, posted an 8-1 record with a 1.56 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 58 innings ... Added a 1.08 WHIP and opponents batted just .152 against him ... Earned All-Timesland, all-district and all-region pitcher of the year honors for those efforts ... Attended the WWBA Perfect Game showcase in Jupiter, Florida in fall 2019 ... Was a second team all-conference pitcher as a sophomore.
Kyle McKernan
Waxhaw, North Carolina
High School: Earned three varsity letters playing for coach Trey Putman at Marvin Ridge ... Named the Southern Carolina Conference Pitcher of the Year and a first team all-conference member ... Also earned all-state first team honors and was the Greater Charlotte Pitcher of the Year ... In 2019, selected as the UCHSBaesball.com's CY Young Winner after leading Union County in wins (10-1) along with striking out 85 hitters to go along with a 1.61 ERA ... Helped the Mavericks to a 26-8 record before falling in the 3A state title series ... Also played one season for the Mavericks basketball team.
Jackson Ritchey
Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
High School: Earned varsity letters for three seasons at Huntingdon Area under coach Butch Woodward … Was a shortstop and pitched for the Bearcats as they won two district titles, one league title and advanced to the state semifinals in 2018 ... Best game was a seven-inning, one-hitter with two walks and 15 strikeouts ... Also lettered four years for the basketball team and the golf program ... Scored over 1,100 points in career as a forward on the hardwood, including a career-high 35-point effort ... Helped the team to three district and three league titles and was earned two first team all-league honors.
Christian Worley
Alton, Virginia
High School: Earned three varsity letters while playing for coach Kenneth Day at Halifax ... Was a pitcher and shortstop for the Comets ... Helped Halifax to the Class 5 state semifinals in 2019 ... On March 20 of that year, threw a no-hitter against Dan River, striking out 16 and walking just two batters ... Also helped the Comets advanced to the 2018 Class 5 state quarterfinals, while posting two wins on the mound with a 1.16 ERA ... Also earned a pair of varsity letters while swimming for coach Shawn Torian.