Fort Hays State baseball coach Steve Johnson announced the signing of 11 players for the 2013 season. Seven are transfers and four are true freshmen. Transfers include Clayton Garland, Michael Edlefson, Jordan Miller, Garrett Blair, Horace “Ryan” Johnson, Nathan Briar, and Robert VanCour. Freshmen include Ryan Norton, Josh Norris, and Brady Abrahams, along with early signing Nick Hammeke.
Garland is a junior transfer from Barton (Kan.) Community College. As a sophomore in 2012, Garland earned All-KJCCC West Division First Team and All-Region 6 Second Team honors in the outfield. He led the team in hitting with a .363 batting average, runs (61), hits (78), triples (9), slugging percentage (.581), and stolen bases (17), and was second in doubles (14), home runs (5), and RBI (57), while starting all 59 games. As a freshman in 2011, he hit .333 with five doubles, 15 runs scored, and 13 RBI. Garland is a native of Cheyenne, Wyo.
Edlefson is also a junior transfer from Barton (Kan.) Community College that has the ability to pitch and play outfield. As a sophomore in 2012, he posted a 2-0 record on the mound with a team-leading 2.86 ERA in 20 appearances, all out of the bullpen. He led the team in saves with three, while striking out 15 batters, and held opponents to a .228 batting average. As a hitter, he played and started 39 contests, hitting .295 with 41 hits, 27 runs scored, nine doubles, three triples, 21 RBI and six stolen bases. He sat out the 2011 season, but as a freshman in 2010, hit .297 with five doubles and nine RBI. Edlefson is a native of Bloomington, Minn.
Miller is a junior transfer from Neosho County (Kan.) Community College. As a sophomore in 2012, Miller earned All-KJCCC East Division Second Team honors in the outfield. He hit .354 with 63 hits, 53 runs scored, seven doubles, 20 RBI, and 19 stolen bases, helping his team to the Region 6 Championship and an appearance in the NJCAA World Series. As a freshman in 2011, he played at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, where he hit .231 with nine RBI, one home run, 11 runs scored, and six stolen bases. Miller is a native of Spring Hill, Kan. and the son of former Fort Hays State quarterback Jeff Miller.
Blair is a junior transfer from McCook (Neb.) Community College. As a sophomore in 2012, Blair was an All-Region 9 Second Team selection at shortstop. He batted .320 with 57 hits, 42 runs scored, nine doubles, three triples, five home runs, and 25 RBI. As a pitcher, he pitched 20 innings in his five appearances with a 4.05 ERA and 28 strikeouts. Blair is a native of Las Vegas, Nev.
Johnson is a junior transfer from Seminole State (Okla.) College. As a sophomore in 2012, Johnson hit .258 with four doubles, one triple, five home runs, 15 runs scored and 21 RBI. As a freshman in 2011, he hit .264 with 13 doubles, one triple, four home runs, 23 runs scored and 31 RBI. Johnson is a native of Raymore, Mo.
Briar is a junior transfer from Butler (Kan.) Community College. As a sophomore in 2012, Briar led Butler pitching in appearances with 25, all out of the bullpen. He posted a 4.74 ERA with three wins and three saves in 43.2 innings of work. He struck out 34 batters. As a freshman in 2011, he made 22 appearances and won two games with a 4.96 ERA, striking out 21 in 32.2 innings of work. Briar is a native of Newton, Kan.
VanCour is a senior transfer from New Mexico State University. He made two appearances as a junior in 2012 for NMHU. Prior to that, he played two years at Barton (Kan.) Community College. As a sophomore in 2011, he posted a record of 4-1, starting in six of his seven appearances with a 5.01 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 32.1 innings pitched. As a freshman in 2010, he made 22 appearances, including two starts, with a 2-1 record, four saves, and a 5.11 ERA. That year he had 38 strikeouts in 37 innings pitched. VanCour is a native of San Antonio, Texas.
Norton comes to Fort Hays State from Monarch High School in Colorado. He is projected to play second base or outfield. He hit .352 as a senior with an on-base percentage of .514 and 19 RBI. Norton is from Louisville, Colo.
Norris is a pitching product of Lee’s Summit High School in his hometown of Lee’s Summit, Mo.
Abrahams is transferring from Baker University has not played in any games since his senior year of high school in 2010. He competed at Silver Lake High School in his hometown of Silver Lake, Kan., where he earned Class 4A All-State First Team honors as a pitcher.
Hammeke signed with Fort Hays State in the fall of the 2011-12 school year. He was a Kansas Class 3A All-State First Team selection at pitcher as a senior in 2012 and earned all-league first team honors all four years at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School. The Hays, Kan., product is projected as both a shortstop and pitcher at FHSU.
– FHSU Sports Information –