University of Delaware Athletics
Six Standouts Sign National Letters of Intent to Join University of Delaware Baseball Squad in 2013
12/6/2012 9:27:00 PM | Baseball
File Photo Courtesy of University of Delaware Baseball
NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware baseball head coach Jim Sherman has announced the signing of six high school standouts that will join the Blue Hen Program in the fall of 2013.
High School standouts Jeremy Ake, Aaron Briggs, John Geffre Kevin Milley, Diaz Nardo and Doug Trimble have each signed NCAA National Letters of Intent and will join the Blue and Gold next season.
Ake, a native of Flemington, N.J. (Hunterdon Central High School), finished his junior campaign with a .400 batting average with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs and 29 RBI. During his third season at Hunterdon, Ake was named 1st-Team All-State, Area, County and Conference while being named Hunterdon Central Player of the Year. The infielder/outfielder was also named New Jersey Player and Athlete of the Week in addition to earning ESPN North East Regional Player of the Week accolades.
“Jeremy comes from a great baseball background and we are very excited to have him,” Sherman said. “He is extremely athletic and has a lot of power at the plate. We expect him to fit right in with our offensive philosophy and have a great career here.”
Briggs, a native of Camden, Del. (Caesar Rodney High School), is a three-sport star playing football and basketball in addition to baseball for the Riders. The infielder/outfielder is a three-time, all-conference selection in addition to garnering all-state honorable mention status in 2012 when he hit .300 with 11 stolen bases and 22 runs scored. A member of the National Honor Society, Briggs was a Delaware Scholar Athlete Award winner and played summer baseball for the Delaware Warriors and head coach Rob Niggebrugge.
“When you think of athlete, you think of Aaron Briggs,” Sherman remarked. “Aaron has shown that he can handle multiple positions and play them at a very high level. It is going to be very exciting to watch him play and we expect him to continue that level of success here with us.”
Geffre, a native of Newtown Square, Pa. (Penncrest High School), is a three-year starter for head coach Steve Silva for the Lions. During his junior season, he posted a 4-1 record with a 1.70 earned-run average and 29 strikeouts with a Central League Honorable Mention and WWBA All-Tournament Team selection. Geffee participated in the Carpenter Cup for Delaware County in addition to playing summer and fall baseball at the All-Star Baseball Academy under coach Mike Manning.
“John is your prototypical big bodied power arm,” said Sherman. “John has a fastball that he can run up into the low 90's and very good secondary stuff to go along with it. We feel that he has a very bright future here at Delaware and think he can contribute to the team's success sooner rather than later.”
Milley, a native of Mount Laurel, N.J. (Lenape High School), tallied a 5-2 record with 56 strikeouts and a .195 opponents batting average in 10 starts en route to 2nd-Team All County and Conference laurels. A Carpenter Cup Champion, Milley also played fall baseball at the All-Star Baseball Academy under coach mike Manning.
“One of the biggest things we like about Kevin is his competitiveness on the mound. You are not going to find another player more competitive than he is and Kevin has tremendous stuff to go along with the moxie,” Sherman said. “We are very excited to see how his career progresses.”
Nardo, a native of Harbeson, Del. (Cape Henlopen High School) and four-year varsity ballplayer was a 1st-Team All-Conference, 2nd-Team All-Sate, team Most Valuable Player and Delaware ESPNHS Gatorade Player of the Year candidate after he hit .458 with 6 doubles, 2 triples and 3 home runs. During his sophomore season in 2011, the shortstop collected a .404 batting average in addition to 7 doubles, 2 triples and 6 home runs. He is a three-time Carpenter Cup participant and played for the Tri-State Arsenal National Team out of Vorhees, N.J.
“Delaware has always been known as a power hitting, offensive minded program. Diaz will be the next in line to follow that tradition,” Sherman said. “He is a big bodied, very physical player who can drive the ball to all fields. We think he has the potential to be extremely successful here at Delaware.”
Trimble, a native of Bryn Mawr, Pa., is a three-time Shouvlin/Crockett Scholar Athlete and three-sport athlete (soccer, squash and baseball) at The Episcopal Academy. A 1st-Team, All-Inter AC League and All-Main Line selection, the baseball team captain finished his junior season with a .351 bating average and .543 slugging percentage while leading the team in hits, average, doubles, home runs and RBI. He a was an All-Delaware County Honorable Mention and Carpenter Cup All-Independent selection along with being a two-time Eddie Collins Bat Award winner for most hits on the team and Class of 1914 Gold Baseball Award winner for the team's highest batting average. Trimble played his summer baseball for the All-Star Baseball Academy and coach Mike Manning.
“Doug is another player who we consider to be extremely athletic. We have kept close tabs on Doug for quite a while now and he has only gotten better and better every time we see him,” said Sherman. “The sky is the limit for Doug and we think he has a great chance to reach it.”
The Blue Hens open their 2013 schedule on the road, traveling to the Cary, N.C. to play in the Wright State University Tournament for a four-game, three-day set beginning on Friday, Feb. 15. Delaware's home slate starts on Friday, March 1 as the Hens welcome Monmouth for a three-game tilt at Bob Hannah Stadium.
