 The University of Southern Indiana baseball team released its national letter of intent signees for the 2021 season Monday. The Screaming Eagles welcome the nine-member class for the fall of 2020.
“I’m really excited about this great group of young men that will be joining our program. They are a great fit and will have a positive impact,” said USI Baseball Head Coach Tracy Archuleta. “I look forward to getting them on campus next fall and believe this group has a bright future in continuing the tradition of USI Baseball.”
Welcome Aboard
Cecil Archbold (Homewood, Illinois): snagged four varsity letters playing baseball and basketball at Homewood Flossmoor High School…was named All-Southwest Suburban Conference honorable mention in the outfield for his junior season.
Nicholas Belcher (Owensboro, Kentucky): posted a 1.78 ERA with 59 strikeouts last spring for Owensboro High School…has collected a district title in baseball along with six varsity letters thus far for the Red Devils between baseball and football.
Brigham Booe (Centerpoint, Indiana): the right-handed utility player comes to USI from Olney Central College where he’s spent the last two seasons…graduated from Northview High School where he was a member of the Knights’ 2016 state title squad…
Preston Cottrell (Garfield, Kentucky): has tallied a 2.25 career ERA between eighth grade and his junior season…compiled 96 strikeouts as a junior ranking in the top 25 of all Kentucky high school baseball…has pushed Breckenridge County High School to a pair of district championships and a state semifinal run…was named all-region in 2019 and all-district the past two seasons.
Brayden DeMier (Bloomington, Indiana): right-handed pitcher…currently in senior year at Bloomington High School South…has collected three varsity letters between baseball and football.
Braxton French (Owensboro, Kentucky): joins high school teammate Nicholas Belcher in continuing his baseball career at USI…has been a three-time all-state selection for the Red Devils with his senior season still to come…has been named Under Armour Pre-Season All-American.
Joshua Ham (Martinsville, Indiana): enters his senior year as a first baseman following a sectional title for Martinsville High School in 2019…has 10 varsity letters divided between baseball, football and basketball…twice named all-Mid-State Conference first team and led all of Indiana Class 4A Baseball in home runs in 2019.
Gavin McLarty (Buckner, Kentucky): corner infielder…has collected six varsity letters thus far at Oldham County High School…pushed the Colonels to the Kentucky state Final Four in his sophomore season.
Freylin Minyety (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic): graduated from Joy Christian High School in Glendale, Arizona before moving on to play baseball at Wabash Valley College…hit .369 with 14 doubles and 43 RBI in almost 200 at-bats last season while manning shortstop for the Warriors last season.
The nine signees join a Screaming Eagles squad that went 30-21 (21-12 GLVC) in 2019 before bowing out of the conference tournament in three games.
USI Baseball opens the 2020 GLVC schedule at the University of Illinois Springfield March 7, with the conference home-opener slated for March 14 against Drury University.
