Baseball and Gymnastics sign recruits for 2003 campaigns

Pitt head baseball coach Joe Jordano has signed seven recruits to national letters of intent… Pitt head baseball coach Joe Jordano has signed seven recruits to national letters of intent for the 2003 baseball season.

The seven recruits breakdown to three pitchers, one outfielder, two infielders and a catcher.

Brian Bircher, a left-handed pitcher, is one of three transfers from Louisburg College in North Carolina. As Bircher helped his team to a 47-10 record, he held opposing batters to a .159 bating average.

Two right handers, Derek Blyzwick and Nick Evangelista, will also join the Panthers. Evangelista also played ball with Louisburg, where he posted a 3.81 ERA and a 5-3 record last season. Blyzwick is a local talent, from Moon Area High School. Blyzwick had a 2.00 ERA for the Tigers, who won their first Pennsylvania State Title in baseball.

He was also named all-conference and chosen as one of the Fabulous 22 in Western Pennsylvania as a quarterback.

The third transfer from Louisburg is infielder Mike Scanzano, who batted .288 last season. Another infielder, Tom Cashman, played last season at Erie Community College, where he batted .425.

Rounding out the signees is catcher Alex Rybczak and outfielder Ben Copeland, who led Bradford high school to an 18-3 record, a school best.

The Panthers open up the season with a doubleheader at Maryland-Eastern Shore.