KU Baseball Inks 10 to National Letters of Intent

Nov. 29, 2005

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

University of Kansas head baseball coach Ritch Price announced the signing of 10 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. The 10 players will join the KU baseball program for the 2006-07 academic year.

“This recruiting class is a testimony to the improvement not only in our facilities and program but in our perception across America as a program on the rise,” stated Price.

Of the ten players, five will come from the high school ranks across the country and five from junior colleges. The six pitchers on the list include: Brett Bochy (Poway HS, Poway, Calif.), Aaron Breit (Garden City Community College), Andrés Esquibel (Palomar Junior College), Hiarali Garcia (Eastern Oklahoma State College), Thomas Marcin (Edison HS, Huntington Beach, Calif.) and Walter Marciel Jr. (Iolani HS, Kailua, Hawaii).

Of the four position players, two are from Lawrence, Kan.: Brian Heere (Lawrence High) and Robby Price (Free State). Joining those two will be a pair of catchers in Joe Servais (Garden City Community College) and Joe Southers (Phoenix College).

“With us losing four of our top five pitchers and the impact players on our current roster, it is a crucial class for us,” said Price. “I think these guys all have the ability to step in and make an immediate contribution to keep our program headed in the same directions as we try to become a top 25 program.”

Below is the complete list of KU’s signees and comments from coach Price.

Pos. Ht. Wt. B-T Hometown (Current School)Brett BochyP/3B6-1185R-RPoway, Calif. (Poway HS)Aaron BreitRHP6-3180R-RHays, Kan. (Garden City Community College)Andrés EsquibelRHP6-2215R-RSan Marcos, Calif. (Palomar Junior College)Hiarali GarciaRHP6-0200R-RWindsor, Ontario (Eastern Oklahoma State College)Brian HeereOF5-11165R-RLawrence, Kan. (Lawrence HS)Walter Marciel Jr.LHP5-11205S-LKailua, Hawaii (Iolani HS)Thomas MarcinRHP6-4195R-RHuntington Beach, Calif. (Edison HS)Robby PriceSS5-11173L-RLawrence, Kan. (Free State HS)Joe ServaisC5-11180R-ROmaha, Neb. (Garden City Community College)Joe SouthersC6-2190R-RBoise, Idaho (Phoenix College)

Brett Bochy
RHP/3B – 6-1 – 185 – R-R
Poway, Calif. (Poway)
-Son of former major leaguer and current San Diego Padres manager Bruce Bochy
-Brother Greg played for Ritch Price at Cal Poly and later professionally.
-Member of Poway High School team, one of the best baseball programs in California.
-Poway finished the 2005 season 28-6 and 34th in the Baseball America national high school poll.

“Brett Bochy comes from a baseball family and continues to develop into an outstanding player. He plays for one of the best high school programs in the state of California. We expect him to be an outstanding Division I pitcher.”

Aaron Breit
RHP – 6-3 – 180 – R-R
Hays, Kan. (Garden City Community College)
-Plays for Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kan.
-Went 11-1 with a 2.50 ERA and 77 strikeouts last season for the Broncbusters.
-Named Jayhawk West Freshman of the Year, All-Conference First Team and All-Region 6 First Team .
-Drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 12th round of the 2005 MLB Draft.

“Aaron Breit is rated the best junior college pitcher in the Jayhawk Conference and maybe in the country. He is a tremendous sign for our program.”

Andrés Esquibel
RHP – 6-2 – 215 – R-R
San Marcos, Calif. (Palomar Junior College)
-Will play the 2006 season at Palomar Junior College after transferring from San Diego State.
-Will pitch for the Chatham A’s of the Cape Cod League this summer.
-Compiled a 2-5 record with two saves in 18 appearances for the San Diego State Aztecs in 2005.
-Set team career marks in strikeouts and innings pitched at Vista High under head coach Rick LePire. .
-Was All-Palomar League First Team as a junior and senior.

“Andrés Esquibel comes from Palomar Junior College where Sean Richardson was from and Dylan Parzyk came from. He pitched a significant amount of innings at San Diego State as a freshman. We expect him to be a weekend starter for us.”

Harali Garcia
RHP – 6-0 – 200 – R-R
Windsor, Ontario (Eastern Oklahoma State College)
-Will be a sophomore at Eastern Oklahoma State College during the 2006 season for coach Aric Thomas a former assistant at the University of Oklahoma.
-Compiled six wins in 14 starts for the Mountaineers.
-Struck out 72 batters in 78.1 innings of work last season.
-Played last summer for the Calgary Dawgs of the Western Major Baseball League.
-Went 7-1 in eight starts with two complete games for the Dawgs and struck out 59 batters in 58.2 innings.

“Harali Garcia is rated as one of the top junior college pitchers in the state of Oklahoma. He has the ability to either be a starter or a closer for us next year.”

Brian Heere
OF – 5-11 – 165 – L-R
Lawrence, Kan. (Lawrence High)
-Hit .394 in 2005 for the Lawrence Lions under head coach Brad Stoll.
-A member of the Kansas American Legion State Championship team Lawrence Raiders.
-Named All-Sunflower League Second Team as a junior.
-Four year letterwinner in football and baseball.
-Honor roll member every year in high school

“Brian Heere led the Lawrence American Legion team to the Kansas state championshipin 2005. He also quarterbacked his high school team to the football state playoffs this fall. He is a very good athlete that swings the bat and runs well. He plays really hard.”

Walter Marciel Jr.
LHP – 5-11 – 205 – S/L
Kailua, Hawaii (Iolani HS)
-Top prospect in the state of Hawaii.
-Named Interscholastic League of Honolulu First Team.
-Preps at Iolani High where he also plays basketball.

“Walter Marciel Jr. is rated the No. 1 high school pitcher in the state of Hawaii. He is a left-hander with a power arm. He throws both his change up and breaking ball for a strike. He is going to be an impact player at the Division I level.”

Thomas Marcin
RHP – 6-4 – 195 – R-R
Huntington Beach, Calif. (Edison High)
-Was all-league in baseball, basketball and football as a junior at Edison High
-Has earned a total of nine varsity letters.
-Led his school to league championships in football and basketball.

“Thomas Marcin is a three-sport star at one of the top high schools in Southern California. He has the potential to not only be an outstanding Division I player but the potential to be an outstanding professional player as he continues to develop.”

Robby Price
SS – 5-11 – 173 – L-R
Lawrence, Kan. (Free State)
-Hit .485 as a junior and is a career .466 hitter under head coach Mike Hill at Free State.
-Helped lead the Firebirds to three consecutive Sunflower League titles.
-All-Sunflower League First Team as a freshman, sophomore and junior.
-Was named First Team All-State as a junior.
-Won the 2004 USABF World Series Tournament with the Firestone Rangers.
-Brothers Ritchie and Ryne currently play for the Jayhawks.

“Robby Price is the best player in the state of Kansas. We are thrilled he decided to come here. He had a chance to go to Stanford or any place in the country but we are really excited he is going to follow in the footsteps of his two older brothers.”

Joe Servais
C – 5-11 – 180 – R-R
Omaha, Neb. (Garden City Community College)
-Plays for Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kan.
-Hit .346 with nine home runs and 33 RBI while stealing 15 bases in 17 attempts.
-Named All-Conference First Team and All-Region 6 First Team catcher.
-Selected in the 40th round by the Colorado Rockies in the 2005 MLB draft.
-Father, Ed Servais, is the head baseball coach at Creighton University.
-Related to former MLB catcher Scott Servais.

“Joe Servais is a hard-nosed player who plays the game the right way. Coach Sabath thinks he is one of the two best position players in the Jayhawk Conference.”

Joe Southers
C – 6-2 – 190 – R-R
Boise, Idaho (Phoenix College)
-Hit .385 with three home runs, six triples and 12 doubles for the Phoenix Blazers of the Pacific Southwest Baseball league this past summer.
-Hit .297 in 31 games for Phoenix College in 2005.
-Elected to play in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference sophomore all-star game.
-Prepped at Eagle High in Boise, Idaho and was named All-Conference First Team at catcher .

“Joe Southers is a very talented young man. He is very athletic and can really swing the bat and has some pop.”