WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State University head baseball coach
Todd Butler announced the addition of nine players to the Shockers' 2019 recruiting class Tuesday, Nov. 20.
The nine individuals include Cade Clemons, a utility player from Lee's Summit, Mo.; Connor Oliver, a left-handed pitcher from Oak Forest, Ill.; Austin Roccaforte, an infielder from Tomball, Texas; Blake Marsh, a first baseman from Coppell, Texas; Brandon Troxler, a first baseman/right-handed pitcher from Rockwall, Texas; Beau Leonards, a left-handed pitcher from Plano, Texas; Colin Burgess, a catcher from Lexington, Ky.; James Dunlap, a third baseman from Tulsa, Okla.; and Aaron Bechtel, a right-handed pitcher from Valley Center, Kan.
Cade Clemons | 6-2 | 185 | R/R | UTL
Lee's Summit, Mo. | Lee's Summit West
Prep Baseball Report: State – 14; Position (2B) – 1
High School: Is a two-year letterwinner and starter for head coach Jay Meyer at Lee's Summit West High School…Ranked 14th overall and first at second base in the state of Missouri, according to Prep Baseball Report…First team all-conference honoree as a junior…Hit .329 with 26 hits, nine doubles, three triples, four homers and 17 walks while posting a .434 on-base and .671 slugging percentage…Also compiled a 1.105 OPS and a .955 fielding percentage as a junior…Selected for the Midwest Scouting Association Select 50 Showcase in August, 2018…Also played football and was a first team all-conference and all-district wide receiver as a junior…Was a first all-conference punter and second team all-conference wide receiver as a senior…Named first team all-district as a senior…
Personal: Son of Brad and Valerie Clemons…His brother, Brenner Clemons, is currently a wide receiver at Pittsburg State University…Plans to major in business at Wichita State.
Connor Oliver | 6-4 | 180 | L/L | LHP
Oak Forest, Ill. | Oak Forest
Prep Baseball Report: State – 52; Position (LHP) – 6
High School: Is a four-year letterwinner, three-year starter and two-year team captain for head coach Ron Czarnecki at Oak Forest High School…Ranked 52nd overall and sixth at his position in the state of Illinois, according to Prep Baseball Report…Named first team all-conference as a junior…In his sophomore season in 2017, he helped lead his team to a 24-13 record and regional championship, in addition to being sectional runner-up…His team finished regional runner-up in 2018
…Posted a 2.10 ERA and 3-0 record with 72 strikeouts and a 1.4 WHIP in 36 innings in 2018…Also played basketball and football…
Personal: Son of Thomas and Regina Oliver…Plans to major in criminal justice or biology at WSU.
Austin Roccaforte | 5-7 | 150 | R/R | INF
Tomball, Texas | Tomball Memorial
Perfect Game: Overall – Top 500; State – 147; Position (INF): 26
Prep Baseball Report: State – 100; Position (INF) – 20
High School: Is a four-year letterwinner and starter, and two-year team captain for head coach Monte Huggins at Tomball Memorial High School…Ranked 100th overall and 20th at his position in the state of Texas, according to Prep Baseball Report…Second team all-district honoree as a sophomore and junior…All-district honorable mention as a freshman…Selected to play for Team Texas…Posted a .320 batting average as a junior…Three-time Baseball Factory Preseason All-American…Also played football as a junior…
Personal: Son of Shane Hewlett and Niki Roccaforte…Plans to major in business at Wichita State.
Blake Marsh | 6-2 | 215 | L/L | 1B
Coppell, Texas | Trinity Christian Academy
Perfect Game: Overall – Top 500; State – 141; Position (1B) – 1
Prep Baseball Report: State – 189; Position – 29
High School: Four-year letterwinner and starter for head coach Don English at Trinity Christian Academy…Also named a team captain for 2019…Ranked 141st overall and first at his position in the state of Texas by Perfect Game…First team all-state honoree as a sophomore and junior…Academic All-State as a junior…All-district first team selection as a sophomore and junior, and a second team all-district recipient as a freshman…Freshman Newcomer of the Year…Hit .402 with a .542 on-base percentage, six homers, 34 RBIs and a .742 slugging percentage in 2018…For his career, has a .387 batting average and .512 on-base percentage with 12 round trippers, 124 RBIs and a .723 slugging percentage…His team won the district title his sophomore season…
Personal: Son of Kevin and Deahn Marsh…His father, Kevin, was a defensive end for the Baylor football team…Plans to major in aerospace engineering at Wichita State.
Brandon Troxler | 6-2 | 215 | L/R | 1B/RHP
Rockwall, Texas | Rockwall
Perfect Game: Overall – Top 500; State – 172; Position – 18
Prep Baseball Report: State – 243; Position – 33
High School: Three-year letterwinner and two-year starter for head coach Barry Rose at Rockwall High School…2019 team captain…Ranked 172nd overall and 18th at his position in the state of Texas, according to Perfect Game…First team all-district honoree as a junior…Hit .353 with a .500 on-base and .510 slugging percentage to go along with a 1.010 OPS as a junior…In his career, has a .349 batting average, .461 on-base percentage, .508 slugging percentage and .931 OPS…Three-time National Champion: AABC, Perfect Game and USA Baseball…Played for head coach Tommy Hernandez and the Dallas Tigers for eight years…
Personal: Son of Todd and Debbie Troxler…Plans to major in criminal justice at WSU.
Beau Leonards | 6-3 | 190 | L/L | LHP
Plano, Texas | Plano Senior
Perfect Game: Overall – Top 500; State – 166; Position (LHP) – 29
High School: Two-year letterwinner for head coach Rick Robertson at Plano Senior High School…Also started as a junior…Selected as a team captain as a senior…Ranked 166th overall and 29th at his position in the state of Texas by Perfect Game…Honorable mention all-conference as a junior…
Personal: Son of David and Kimberly Leonards…His cousin, Ryan Leonards, played for the University of Louisiana and the Chicago White Sox organization…Plans to major in sports management.
Colin Burgess | 5-9 | 180 | R/R | C
Lexington, Ky. | Tates Creek
Perfect Game: Overall – Top 500; State – 5; Position (C) – 3
High School: Is a three-year letterwinner and starter for head coach Larty Poynter at Tates Creek High School…Was a team captain as a junior…Ranked fifth overall and third at his position in the state of Kentucky by Perfect Game…Named second team all-state…Hit .366 with three home runs and a 1.038 OPS as a junior…In his career, has a .351 average with nine homers and a 1.021 OPS…Also played golf…
Personal: Son of Van and Christina Burgess…His father, Van, played professional hockey for eight years and his mother, Christina, played softball at Marshall and UNCC.
James Dunlap | 6-1 | 188 | R/R | 3B
Tulsa, Okla. | Bishop Kelly
Perfect Game: Overall – Top 500; State – 23; Position (3B) – 2
Prep Baseball Report: State – 24; Position (3B) – 2
High School: Is a four-year letterwinner and starter for head coach Jeff Scardino at Bishop Kelly High School…Ranked 23rd overall and second at his position in the state of Oklahoma by Perfect Game…First team all-district and all-metro honoree in 2018…Second team all-district selection in 2016 and 2017…Hit .481 with 48 hits, one homer, 34 RBIs, 42 runs, 20 walks and 12 stolen bases…In his career, has a .385 average with 55 RBIs…His team was the 2018 5A state champions and the 2016 5A runner-up…
Personal: Son of David and Milly Dunlap…Plans to major in sports management at Wichita State.
Aaron Bechtel | 5-11 | 188 | R/R | RHP
Valley Center, Kan. | Coffeyville CC
At Coffeyville CC: Plays for head coach Jake Martin at Coffeyville Community College…Compiled 60 strikeouts as a freshman at Coffeyville…
High School: Was a three-year letterwinner and starter for head coach Jeff Topping at Wichita Heights High School…Named first team all-city as a sophomore, junior and senior…All-state honorable mention as a junior and senior…His finished as regional champions his freshman, junior and senior years…Also played football…
Personal: Son of Brad and Dawna Bechtel…Plans to pursue a business major at Wichita State.
