Radford's baseball program has secured seven additional newcomers to its roster for the 2013 season, including six freshmen and a junior college transfer.

“The spring is an important time to watch players develop and these players are no different than the guys we signed early,” head coach Joe Raccuia said.  “All of these players are guys that we think can make an impact on the program and go well with the group that we signed in the fall.”

With 13 total newcomers, including early signees, the 2013 group is the largest recruiting class in the Raccuia era (2007-present).

“Last year we lost a huge class of the some great players, and a junior in Eddie Butler (Chesapeake, Va./Greenbrier Christian), and we had to fill the roster quickly with some good athletes,” Raccuia said.  “This group has the potential to not only take the place of the players we had, but surpass what they did.”

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Nygeal Andrews – Lynchburg, Va. / E.C. Glass - INF/P – R/R – 6-1, 190

Coached by Kevin Brown at E.C. Glass … Seminole District Player of the Year, Lynchburg News and Advance Player of the Year and Region III co-Player of the Year as a senior… School's single-season record holder in home runs (8), RBIs (31), hits, average (.528) and on-base percentage … Starred on the mound as well, posting a 7-3 record with a 1.88 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 2012 for the Hilltoppers … Played for American Legion Lynchburg Post 16 team coached by Chris Glaize … 2012 American Legion State MVP

Kyle Fairbanks – Fairfax Station, Va. / South County - 1B – R/L – 6-0, 190

Coached by Mark Luther at South County … Three-year varsity starter … Hit .556 with six homers, 35 RBIs and a 1.016 slugging percentage as a senior on the way to Patriot District Player of the Year honors … First Team Washington Post All-Met, All-State and All-Northern Region 1B … In 2011, played for a Stallions team that went 28-1 and advanced to the VHSL Group AAA finals … Played for Prospects Stars team coached by Rob Riley

Alexander Lee  – Kent, Wash. / Kentwood (Skagit Valley College) - Junior – 3B – R/R – 6-3, 210

2012 Statistics: Played in 34 games at third base and made 10 starts on the mound … Hit .236 with a home run and a team-high 18 RBIs … Had a .336 on-base percentage – struck out only 10 times in 110 at-bats … Worked a team-high 76 1/3 innings, posting a 2-5 record and a 4.13 ERA

At Skagit Valley: Finalist for school's 2012 Male Athlete of the Year award … NWAACC Gold Glove award (Pitcher) … Second Team NWAACC All-Star … NWAACC All-Academic selection

High School: Coached by Jon Aarstad at Kentwood … Twice named Team MVP (2009, 10) … South Puget Sound League (SPSL) MVP as a senior … All-state infielder and pitcher

Mitchell MacKeith – Falls Church, Va. / George C. Marshall - LHP – L/L – 5-9, 175

Coached by Joe McDonald at Marshall … Four-year varsity player and team MVP in 2011 and 2012 … Team leader in innings, strikeouts and ERA as a senior … Earned First Team All-Liberty District in 2011 and '12 … First Team All-Northern Region as a senior and Honorable Mention All-Met selection … Gold-medal winner for North Team at 2011 Coventry Commonwealth Games … Played for NVTBL Stars coached by Carson Carroll

Ryan Meisinger – Dunkirk, Md. / Northern - RHP/INF – R/R - 6-4, 215

Coached by Bobby Gibbons at Northern … Struck out 67 batters in 50 innings as a senior and posted a 1.15 ERA … Team MVP in 2011 and 2012 … Twice named First Team All-Southern Maryland Conference … Named a Brooks Robinson Maryland All-State All-Star … Played for Maryland Monarchs team coached by Tom Keating

Oliver Powers – Newtown, Conn. / Salisbury Prep - RHP/INF – R/R – 6-4, 210

Coached by John Toffey at Salisbury Prep … Started every varsity game for four seasons for the Crimson Knights … Posted a .465 career batting average … Three-sport athlete (baseball, basketball, football) at Salisbury … Earned school's Joseph A. Sartori Award for Sportsmanship and Cooperation by varsity coaches, Matthew B. Corkery Metal Senior Varsity Athlete Award … Twice named First Team All-Western New England Prep League … Perfect Game Second Team All-Northeast Region … Played for Connecticut Bombers team coached by Bob Turcio

Tyler Swarmer – Leechburg, Pa. / Leechburg Area - LHP – R/L – 6-0, 188

Coached by Bob Oberdorf at Leechburg Area … Went 5-0 with a 1.67 ERA as a junior in 2011 with 62 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings … Named to the WPIAL All-Star Team in 2012 and earned all-section honors in 2011 and '12 … American Legion All-State selection in 2010 … Played for Mark Heisel's Mid Atlantic Canes in 2011 and for Allegheny Pirates team coached by Fred Albert from 2010-11

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The recent additions to the 2013 roster join a group of seven early signees - SS Chris Coia, C Nykolai Ellis, OF Shane Johnsonbaugh, C Jordan Taylor , RHP Daniel Bridgeman, RHP Dylan Nelson and LHP Michael Boyle.

Radford returns 19 players from a season ago – in total, 24 players on the roster are either freshmen or sophomores.  The group has already begun its preparations for the upcoming season - individual skill work began on August 29 in anticipation of the official start of Fall practice, which is Sept. 18.

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