• ROSTER
• |
• SCHEDULE
• |
• STATS
• |
• NEWS
• |
• ARCHIVES
• |
• PHOTOS

Nov. 12, 2008

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville baseball head coach Dan McDonnell announced the signing of outfielder Jarred Clarkson (Shelbyville, Ky.), shortstop Kyle Grieshaber (Chesterfield, Mo.) and right-handed pitcher Matthew Koch (Cherokee, Iowa) to National Letters-of-Intent on Wednesday during the first day of the November signing period.

The trio is the first group of signees in the Cards' 2009 recruiting class with the remaining signees to be announced later this week. All three of Wednesday's signees, as well as the rest of the Cards' 2009 recruiting class, will be on campus next fall and eligible to compete in the spring of 2010.

"This is a complete recruiting class with balance across the board," McDonnell said. "Coach Lemonis and Coach Williams did an outstanding job in assembling a group that has speed, power, skill and experience. We have three guys ranked No. 1 in their state respectively, two top 100 players and two potential junior college All-Americans."

Check www.UofLSports.com for daily updates on the 2009 Louisville baseball recruiting class.

Jarred Clarkson, OF
Shelbyville, Ky. (Shelby County HS)
Clarkson, a 6-1, 180-pound outfielder, is the top rated player in the state of Kentucky. A talented athlete who excels as a defensive centerfielder, Clarkson is coached by Bart Roettger at Shelby County High School and competes for coach Jim Wiley in American Legion ball. Clarkson was a member of Shelby County's state runner-up team in 2007 after hitting .336 with 10 doubles and 18 RBI, while scoring 21 runs as a sophomore. He missed most of junior season due to injury, but is ready for a strong senior year. He also participated in the prestigious World Wood Bat Association Fall Championship in 2008.

Kyle Grieshaber, SS
Chesterfield, Mo. (Marquette HS)
Grieshaber, a 6-0, 185-pound shortstop, is a talented athlete from Marquette High School in Missouri, where he is coached by John Meyer. He also plays for the Rawlings Prospects traveling team, coached by Jerry Daniels. Grieshaber is a two-time All-State selection in Missouri, including a first team honoree as a junior after hitting .500. He was Second Team All-State as a sophomore with a .464 average with 28 RBI, 27 runs scored and 20 doubles. He is a two-time All-Metro and All-Conference selection and is already Marquette's career record holder in doubles with 26.

Matthew Koch, RHP
Cherokee, Iowa (Cherokee Washington HS)
Koch (pronounced Cook), a 6-3, 185-pound right-handed pitcher, is the top rated player in Iowa and 89th in the nation by Baseball America. Koch, who is coached by his father Scott Koch at Cherokee Washington High School, participated in the Perfect Game 2008 National Showcase in June at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn., where his fastball easily sat in the 88-91 mph range. As a junior, he was 5-1 with a 2.08 ERA and 67 strikeouts while also hitting .413 with five home runs and 11 doubles to earn First Team All-State honors as a shortstop. As a sophomore, he was 5-0 with a 1.12 ERA to lead Cherokee Washington to the 2007 Iowa State Championship. He is a two-time All-State, All-District and All-Conference selection. An excellent athlete, Koch is also an All-District selection in football (linebacker) and a two-time state finalist in the high jump.