NEW ORLEANS – Head Coach
Blake Dean and his staff brought in a class of junior college signees for the 2024 season that earned high marks as they were recently ranked the 13
th-best Junior College class in the nation by The JBB, a junior college publication.
There are 15 newcomers who hail directly from the JUCO ranks. Several played on top 30 teams in the NJCAA. 11 of the 15 JUCO transfers are pitchers.
Christopher Olivier was an NJCAA All-American on a 47-13 Delgado squad last season. He went 11-2 on the mound with 85 strikeouts in 73 innings pitched. In his penultimate start of the season, Olivier went nine innings and struck out 12 batters against Baton Rouge CC.
Grant Edwards (East Central),
Cortez Dennis (Pearl River) and
Alexander Saunier (LSU-Eunice) all played on teams that finished in the top 15 in the final NJCAA Division II poll.
Edwards pitched on an East Central team that made their first ever appearance in the JUCO World Series. He went 5-0 with three saves and 62 strikeouts in 47 innings pitched.
That East Central team beat LSU-Eunice to get to the World Series. Saunier, who was a team captain, hit .333 with seven home runs, 11 doubles and 48 RBI for the season. He was also on the NJCAA All-Academic Team.
Dennis finished with 62 strikeouts to 16 walks in 58 innings and earned All-Conference Honorable Mention. He had an 8-0 record in 14 appearances (11 starts) for Pearl River CC.
The Privateers also got
Bryce Calloway who was a two-way player at Central Alabama. On the mound, Calloway hit .354 with 11 doubles in 50 games. He also pitched in 14 games and started 10 while he accrued 80 strikeouts in 62 innings.
Diego Villescas, a shortstop from Hill College, joins the Privateers after a season in which he hit 10 home runs and stole 25 bases while hitting at a .315 clip while earning a JUCO All-Star nod. His squad narrowly missed a spot in the NJCAA Regionals.
Kyrin Tyson-Long comes in from Shelton State after he went 5-2 with 47 strikeouts in 41.2 innings last season. Long was a three-sport athlete and earned accolades in each sport (Baseball-Player of the Year, Basketball-All-Tournament, Football-Defensive Player of the Year).
Cade Mitchell also had a strong strikeout rate on the mound at Chattahoochee Valley. He struck out 55 batters in 44 innings and carried a 3.89 ERA. Mitchell was also a Region Pitcher of the Year at Eastside HS in Georgia.
Kai Hori hit north of .300 at the College of San Mateo last season while earning Second Team All-Conference honors.
Sean Sparling hit .352 with 11 home runs at Daytona State and was First Team All-Conference as a freshman.
Rounding out the class with last season's numbers are the following:
Jayden Lopez (LHP) East Georgia CC 7-3, 64 strikeouts in 60 innings
Dalton Hurst (INF) Southern Union .360 BA, 44 runs, 17 stolen bases
Skylar Jones (RHP) Chattahoochee Valley 13 strikeouts in 8.2 innings
Kace Matthews (RHP) Jones CC 39 strikeouts in 32.2 innings
Brooks Byers (RHP) Wallace-Dothan 28 strikeouts in 24 innings
The Privateers are amid their fall season. The 2024 schedule will be released soon.
WE ARE YOUR KREWE
For 54 seasons, Privateer student-athletes have had the unique experience of wearing New Orleans across their chests. Like the city itself, our sports teams have been fueled by resiliency, grit, and the unquenchable desire to win. Our city also houses the nation's biggest celebration each year. And much like a Mardi Gras parade krewe, we are tethered to our community through pride, tradition, a culture of acceptance, and finally our commitment to show that New Orleans is a world-class city to live, learn, play and work. We invite you to become more involved with the only University that truly represents New Orleans all day, every day. Join #NOLAsTeam, We Are Your Krewe!
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