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The IUP Crimson Hawks and head coach Anthony Rebyanski have announced the signing of nine players to National Letters of Intent. The group includes seven Pennsylvania products as well as one player each from Ohio and Ontario, Canada.  The Crimson Hawks went 22-25 in 2017, including an 18-10 mark in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, good for second place in the western division and a trip to the conference tournament. Rebyanski is in his second year guiding IUP following a stint as playing for the Crimson Hawks and acting as an assistant coach from 2007-2013.

 

2018 EARLY COMMITS

Markus Cestra, IF/OF, Plum HS
PBR Rank: #210 in PA Class of 2018 
PBR Notes: 5-foot-10, 165-pounder has shown the ability to play multiple defensive positions. The athletic defender could potentially see action at third base, middle infield and/or in the outfield during the course of his college career. Cestra will look to build on a breakout junior season this spring. The future Hawk was among the top offensive performers in the lineup hitting .418 for the season.

Nick DiAndreth, OF, Hempfield Area HS
PBR Rank: #194 in PA Class of 2018
PBR Notes: 5-foot-8, 170-pound two-sport athlete just finished his senior season of football catching 33 passes and scored eight touchdowns. DiAndreth has shown advanced foot speed with the arm strength to man any of the three spots in the outfield. Likely a top of the order right-handed hitter, DiAndreth had a solid junior season. He led the Hempfield offense in 2017 with 23 hits and 22 runs scored while hitting at a .338 clip.

Trajan Jones, RHP, Indiana Area HS
PBR Rank: #64 in PA Class of 2018 rankings
PBR Notes: Three sport athlete with a very projectable frame. 6-foot-2, 235-pound right-handed pitcher has the potential to throw meaningful conference innings early in his career. Currently sits in the mid-80s while running his fastball up to 87 mph. Jones went 3-3 with a 1.98 ERA as a junior for his high school team which won just two games in which he was not the pitcher of record. His 42 plus innings of work more than doubled the next closest pitcher on the staff. Jones allowed just 24 hits as a junior while striking out 54.

Tyler Mulhollen, LHP, Somerset Area HS
PBR Rank: #162 in PA Class of 2018 rankings
PBR Notes: 6-foot, 170-pound left-handed pitcher went 2-0 with a 4.20 ERA as a junior. He allowed 27 hits in 16.2 innings of work while recording 19 strikeouts. Mullhollen sits in the low 80s from a high 3/4 arm slot with a deliberate motion. He has also shown command of a curveball and changeup mix in the low 70s. Mulhollen has worked out of the bullpen as well as a starter to this point in his high school career, for a staff that graduated just one pitcher from its 2017 roster. 

Sevin Schoeneweis, RHP, Moon Area HS 
PBR Rank: #86 in PA Class of 2018 rankings
PBR Notes: 2016 PBR Future Games (8.2.16) - 6-foot, 175-pound righty sat 83-85 while touching 87 mph from a high 3/4 arm slot. Worked three scoreless innings over two games. Fastball showed late life with arm side fade. Tight slider at 73-75 is a quality secondary offering out of the same arm slot. Also flashed a slow curveball with 11/5 rotation at 62 mph. Solid frame with balanced, repeatable delivery.

Alex Thornberry, SS/OF, Sycamore HS (OH)
PBR Rank: #188 in OH Class of 2018 rankings
PBR Notes: (5/31/17) - A right-handed hitter that starts in a tall, athletic setup. Swing is fluid with well timed movements. Path is level with some natural loft. A strong kid with well-above average bat speed. Ball gets off his bat well, especially to his pull side. An aggressive hitter that swings with the intent to do damage. In the infield he uses fluid, mechanically sound footwork. Glove skills are above average at this stage. Does a nice job of playing low. Overall an above average defender.

Austin Vigliotti, SS/OF, Pittsburgh Central Catholic HS
PBR Rank: #206 in PA Class of 2018 rankings
PBR Notes: 5-foot-11, 190-pound right-handed hitter has shown the ability to play multiple infield positions as well as the outfield. His feet work well defensively and Vigliotti plays through the baseball routinely with a quick release. He has shown an ability to make throws from multiple arm angles and more than enough arm strength to have success on the left side of the infield. The right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance and initiates his hands from a high-elbow load. Vigliotti shows an ability to create backspin and the potential for future power.

Drew Weglarz, OF, Huntingdon Area HS
PBR Rank: #183 in PA Class of 2018 rankings
PBR Notes: 5-foot-11, 185-pound outfielder has is a two-sport athlete. Weglarz has rushed for a 6.1 yards per carry average and six touchdowns this fall and is second on the team with 71 total tackles. Physical outfielder with some present power in his right-handed swing. Played primarily left field as a junior and batted seventh for a very talented Huntingdon team which reached the state semifinals. Potential to develop into a middle of the order, run producer at the next level.

Jayson Wilbur, LHP, Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary (Ontario)
PBR Rank: #57 in Ontario Class of 2016 rankings
PBR Notes: (1.23.16) A 6-foot, 175-pound left-hander with room to add size and strength. Strike thrower with all three pitches, has deception to delivery and hid ball well. Fastball showed some life with more in the tank at 82 mph. Quick tempo and is online with delivery. Worked from 3/4 arm slot. Fastball had some run when down in the zone. Curveball sat between 68-70 mph with proper rotation and downward action, had feel and threw for strikes. Changeup was 71-72 mph and was able to keep arm action and slot. Strike thrower who shows idea of how to pitch, more in the tank, senior who would be a quality pitcher at the next level. Committed to IUP out of Lackawanna JC.