DULUTH, Minn. – St. Scholastica Head Baseball Coach Corey Kemp announced today that 18 recruits plan on joining the Saints for the upcoming 2010 season, the largest recruiting class in the program's history.

The recruiting class is composed of 16 freshmen and two transfers, including three players garnering all-state honors this past season.

"This is the largest recruiting class we've ever brought in, which has us very excited for our fall season," Kemp said. "It is exciting not just because of the sheer numbers, but because of how talented these players are, how hard they work on and off the field, and what incredible young men they already are."

CSS wrapped up the 2009 season with a 36-7 mark, earning a fifth-consecutive trip to the NCAA National Tournament and garnering a 13th-straight Upper Midwest Athletic Conference championship.

"We graduated some incredibly important seniors last season, especially on the mound, so our newcomers will be expected to contribute right away," Kemp said. "But with our annual Saints Fall League starting in September, we are confident that we can take these talented players and develop them even more before our spring season."

Transfers Scott Greening and Kyle Peterschick, both from Mesabi Community College, will be expected to make an impact immediately. Greening, a junior outfielder, led Mesabi with 43 hits and 39 RBI while posting a .406 batting average. Peterschick, a left-handed pitcher, posted a team-high 39 strikeouts for the Norse in just 32 innings of work.

The incoming freshmen are loaded with state-tournament participants, all-state performers and a great deal of top local talent.

Chris Anderson and Kyle Jensen were both named to the Lions All-Star series for the state's top seniors. Anderson, a third baseman from Hopkins, helped lead the Royals to both the high school and legion state tournaments this season. The power hitter also garnered national attention when he hit for the cycle in home runs over a four-at-bat, two-game span. Jensen, a right-handed pitcher and infielder, also led Forest Lake to a fourth-place finish at the Minnesota state tournament. Jensen capped off his high school career throwing seven innings of dominant no-hit baseball in the third-place contest at the state tournament before being foiled by Centennial 2-1 in extra innings. He earned All-Metro honors from the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Fellow Forest Lake hurler Michael Swenson also joins Jensen in the Saints' recruiting class. Swenson, a righty control artist, picked up a win in the state tournament and was also an all-conference selection. Brian Gosz, a pitcher from DeLaSalle, also dominated at the AA Minnesota state tournament for the Islanders. Gosz, a lefty, worked a shutout in DeLaSalle's opening state tournament contest and earned All-Tournament honors for his performance. Totino-Grace's Jordan O'Neill rounds out the all-state awards as the infielder earned his second-consecutive all-conference nod and was named to the Minnesota State High School Baseball Coaches Association (MSHSBCA) All-State team.

Additional all-conference performers in the Saints' recruiting class are Mark Harber, Matt Hanse, Kyle Flagstad, David Vogelgesang, Jon Koch, Joel Wuorio, Jake Snyder, Tom Jezierski and Tyler Olin.

Harber, a lefty pitcher and first baseman, from Austin earned all-Big 8 honors the last two seasons for the Packers. Hanse, who has been in the starting lineup for Simley High School since eighth grade, again garnered all-conference honors for his work on the mound and at shortstop. Flagstad, who has been in the starting lineup for Hinckley-Finlayson for four seasons, again garnered all-conference honors for the Jaguars.

Vogelgesang led Hastings both as the team's ace pitcher and top hitting outfielder, including posting a no-hitter midway through the high school season against White Bear Lake. Koch, a hard-throwing righty, earned all-Classic Suburban Conference honors for Mahtomedi. Koch is joined on the Saints by fellow Zephyr Brian Houdek, regarded as one of the top all-around shortstops in the state.

Wuorio, Snyder, Jezierski and Olin are all local products. Wuorio, a righty from Two Harbors, led the Agates to a record-breaking season from his position on the mound and was named to the Duluth News Tribune's All-Area team. Snyder, a pitcher/first baseman, and Jezierski, a pitcher/utility player joined Wuorio on the Duluth News Tribune's All-Area Team. Snyder, from Duluth Central, and Jezierski, a Cloquet product, were also named to the Twin Ports All-Area All-Star game. Olin, a pitcher/third baseman from Duluth East, was also a member of the Duluth Area team for the local all-star series. The class is rounded out by right-handed pitcher Jake Nystrom, Fargo North High School's top pitcher.

"Each one of these players has a chance to see considerable playing time right out of the blocks," Kemp said. "They each bring something different to our team, but collectively they very well may be the most talented class we've ever brought into Saints baseball."