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Seton Hill Griffins Announce 2016 Early Signing Class

December 17, 2015

By Greg Williams
PA/WV Director of Scouting

The Seton Hill Griffins and head coach Marc Marizzaldi have announced the signing of ten players to National Letters of Intent, including six standouts from Pennsylvania. The Griffins went 43-13 in 2015, including a 22-6 mark in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Seton Hill will look to return to the NCAA Division II World Series this spring after last making an appearance in 2014.

2016 PA EARLY COMMITS

Adam Bankovich, C, Dubois Area HS
PBR Rank: #70 in PA Class of 2016 rankings 
PBR Notes: 2014 PBR Mid-Atlantic Border Battle (July 8, 2014) Bankovich is a physical 5-foot-10, 195-pound junior that showcased sound receiving and blocking skills. He displayed a quick transition on pop times of 2.01-2.07 on throws of 74 mph from the crouch. Bankovich is a right-handed hitter that starts from a square stance with a bit of a squat. He demonstrated good balance and a short swing path allowing him to stay inside the baseball during a solid round of batting practice. Bankovich wore out the middle of the field with a bat exit velocity of 87 mph. The athletic backstop also ran a 7.50 60-yard dash.

Brian Dabney, LHP, Montour HS
PBR Notes: Lefty went 3-2 with a 1.89 ERA as a junior. Worked 33.1 innings, second most on the Montour staff, striking out 27 while walking just 10 batters. Dabney has a projectable 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame and demonstrated the ability to pitch in big games with a complete game shutout in postseason action. Also went six innings in a 2-0 loss to Knoch, the eventual AAA state champs, in a WPIAL playoff game.

Bayley Jamanis, RHP/3B, Lancaster Catholic
PBR Rank: #96 in PA Class of 2016 rankings
PBR Notes: 2015 PA Top Prospect Games (6/16/15) 6-foot, 180-pound right-handed hitter. Started from a slightly open stance and strode to square. Simple approach, eyes stayed level. Swing has some length and front hip leaves early at times. Showcased 85-mph exit velocity during workout (arm strength was down considerably due to recent arm ailment). Very solid defender. Good feet and hands, gains ground on throws, completes slow roller well. Despite his velo being a couple ticks down from previous outings, Jamanis showed the same rhythmic delivery and feel for his three-pitch mix as usual. He has a slight hesitation and reaches a few extra inches with his stride foot when it initially appears it is going to land, which could create timing issues for the hitter. He throws strikes with his fastball and changeup, both of which are fairly straight, as well as his curveball, which has 11/5 action.

Austin Braendel, C, Cathedral Prep
PBR Rank: #51 in PA Class of 2016 rankings
PBR Notes: 2015 PBR Mid-Atlantic Border Battle (7/21/15) 5-foot-10, 185-pound right-handed hitter. Started from slightly open stance and strode to square. Consistently put the barrel on the baseball in BP and showed some pullside pop. Stays tight and in balanced stance on inside pitches. Ran a 7.15 60-yard dash and in-game 4.72 home-to-1B time on a turn. Showcased 91-mph exit velocity and 78-mph arm strength from the crouch. Defensively, he blocked well and kept his body quiet when receiving with a soft glove hand. Throws have carry and are accurate. Posted workout pop times of 1.97-2.09 and an in-game pop of 2.08 that was right on the bag.

REMAINDER OF THE CLASS

Craig Lewis, OF, Howland HS (OH) 
PBR Rank: #84 in OH Class of 2016 rankings

Carl Turner, OF, Gahanna Lincoln HS (OH)
PBR Rank: #193 in OH Class of 2016 rankings 

Kenny Wells, RHP, Cloverleaf HS (OH) 
PBR Rank: #130 in OH Class of 2016 rankings

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