Baseball: Van Zant Signs Seven For 2007
June 16, 2006 09:23 AM | General
June 16, 2006
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| Greg Van Zant |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia University baseball head coach Greg Van Zant announced the signing of seven recruits for the 2007 baseball season on Friday, June 16.
“With our team losing so many starters from this past season, this gives our freshmen an opportunity to compete for playing time right away,” head coach Greg Van Zant says. “We are very excited to add these seven players to our squad.”
The signees are Vince Belnome (INF, Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville Sr.), Grant Buckner (3B-LF, Elkview, W.Va./Herbert Hoover), Colin Durborow (INF, Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland), Mark Dvoroznak (OF, Westlake, Ohio/St. Edward), Chris Enourato (RHP-INF, Bridgeport, W.Va./Bridgeport), Kreg Savoie (LHP, Roanoke, Va./Potomac State JC), and Tyler Scruggs (C, Pittsburgh, Pa./South Park).
Belnome (6-1, 200) becomes a Mountaineer after building a reputation as one of the best hitters in Pennsylavnia’s Class 4A. He was a two-time first team all-Ches-Mont conference selection and helped Coatesville Senior High to a perfect 2006 regular season record of 19-0, batting .556 with 12 doubles, nine home runs and 16 stolen bases. Belnome was named Area MVP, Keystone Games MVP, and bats left-handed while throwing right-handed.
“Vince is an infielder who has good hands and a strong arm,” Van Zant says. “He primarily has played at shortstop but he can also play second and third. He’s a terrific left-handed hitter that will have a chance to play early in his career.”
West Virginia native Buckner (6-2, 200) was named the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year after leading Herbert Hoover High to a 30-4 record and a regional final appearance. Buckner, who was coached by his father Kevin Buckner at Herbert Hoover, hit .438 with seven home runs, 39 RBI and 44 runs scored. Buckner finished his decorated high school career with 24 home runs and 132 RBI.
“Grant is a very talented hitter who has a lot of upside because of his power,” Van Zant says. “He played infield and pitched at Herbert Hoover, but we will likely have him play third base and left field in the fall.”
Durborow (6-0, 170) comes to WVU from a heralded high school program at Pine-Richland High. The Rams have captured three consecutive WPIAL AAA Championships for the first time in WPIAL history. Durborow had the game-winning hit in the 2005 championship and hit .535 with nine doubles, five home runs and 21 RBI for the Rams in 2006. Durborow was a Keystone Games participant and also strung together a 17-game hit streak as a senior.
“Colin is a very polished middle infielder with excellent hands who is one of the best in all of Pennsylvania,” Van Zant says. “We have a shortage of middle infielders right now so we are very happy that he decided to be a Mountaineer.”
Van Zant was able to land one of Ohio’s top outfielders by signing the speedy Dvoroznak (6-2, 187) of St. Edward High. Dvoroznak hit .460 with six doubles, three home runs, and 26 RBI as a captain for St. Edward this season. He also used his speed to steal 24 bases this season and over 50 bases in his high school career. Dvoroznak is a two-time team MVP, while being named to the 2005 Plain Dealer “Best of the Best” and Mizuno all-state in 2006.
“Mark is a big, strong athlete who can run a 6.6 in the 60-yard dash so he can play any position in the outfield,” Van Zant says. “We feel he can be an exceptional hitter because of his short, quick swing and he can develop into a power threat because of his size."
Enourato (6-0, 195) was a key catalyst in helping Bridgeport advance all the way to the state’s regional finals. The hard-throwing right-hander posted a 5-2 record with 69 strikeouts in 46 innings pitched. He also hit .500 with four home runs and 28 RBI at the plate for the Indians.
“Chris can potentially play two ways for us,” Van Zant says. “He might make an ideal third baseman because of his hands and strong arm, but we have also seen him touch 90 mph on the mound. So we are going to try to use him in as many ways as possible.”
Potomac State JC transfer Savoie (6-4, 170) will be able to come in and use his experience to help the pitching staff right away. Savoie, a left-handed pitcher, helped PSC advance to the JUCO World Series while playing for former WVU assistant coach Doug Little. He was the winning pitcher against Butler CC in game two of the World Series. He pitched 77.2 innings with 88 strikeouts and six complete games while going 8-3 on the year. Savoie is a former first team all-region and all-state selection out of Cave Spring High in Virginia.
“Kreg was one of the two main pitchers at Potomac State this year,” Van Zant says. “We are elated to have him and think he can compete for a starting job next year. His fastball touches 88 mph and he has a good breaking ball so he’s got a chance to pitch a lot of innings for us.”
Pennsylvania’s 2005 Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Player of the Year Scruggs (6-1, 225) may be able to come in and immediately help fill the void left by St. Louis Cardinals draftee David Carpenter. He batted .524 with eight home runs and 35 RBI in just 63 at-bats. Scruggs is a three-time all-section pick who also was a standout running back and linebacker on South Park High’s football team where he was the Class AA and Pennsylvania AP Player of the Year. He set 37 school records and was named first team all-state as he rushed for over 4,000 career yards. Scruggs is the grandson of former Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher Jim Rooker.
“We have been fortunate to sign some outstanding catchers over the years and Tyler Scruggs is another one,” Van Zant says. “He can hit for power and he’s going to come in and compete for that starting catching job as a freshman.”
