Maryland Baseball Program Signs Five for 2004
12/15/2003 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
Dec. 15, 2003
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Maryland head baseball coach Terry Rupp recently announced five players who signed National Letters of Intent to join the Terrapins in the fall of 2004.
Brett Cecil and Joe Palumbo of DeMatha Catholic High School join Maryland prep products Chad Durakis of St. Paul's High School and Gerry Spessard of Smithsburg as new Terrapins. Infielder Jason Von Behren was the lone junior-college signee in Maryland's fall class.
"We're proud to have student-athletes of such high quality commit to become part of the Maryland program," said Rupp, who is in his fourth season in College Park. "Gregg Kilby, our recruiting coordinator, did another outstanding job attracting both local products, as well as a high profile junior-college player, and the prospects are exciting for their future with our program."
Maryland begins its 2004 season at a tournament in Rock Hill, S.C., on February 13.
Thumbnail sketches of the Terps' 2004 baseball signing class follow:
Brett Cecil * LHP * 6-3 / 225 * Dunkirk, Md. * DeMatha Catholic HS
Earned first team All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference honors as a junior... Was 6-0 with 1.90 ERA for the Stags in 2003... Posted 61 strikeouts in 36 innings... DeMatha has won two straight WCAC titles... Most Valuable Pitcher of the 2003 Maryland American Legion State Tournament for Greenbelt... Went 10-1 with 0.53 ERA for Greenbelt legion squad, fanning 87 in 56 innings... Greenbelt finished second in state in 2003 after winning state title in 2002... Member of 2004 Maryland preseason All-State team... Threw no-hitter this fall for Mid-Atlantic Rookies fall showcase squad.
Chad Durakis * C * 6-0 / 195 * Cockeysville, Md. * St. Paul's HS
First team All-Metro selection as junior... First team All-Baltimore City / County... Also earned first-team All-MIAA honors... Hit .410 with four home runs, eight doubles, 26 RBIs as a junior for St. Paul's... Team is two-time MIAA "A" Conference champions... MVP of 2003 USABF World Series in San Diego... Member of 2004 preseason All-State team... Played in fall for the Maryland Oriolanders... Parents are both Maryland graduates.
Joe Palumbo * SS / 2B * 6-0 / 170 * Bowie, Md. * DeMatha Catholic HS
Honorable mention All-Met selection by The Washington Post as a junior... Also earned first team All-Prince Georges County and All-WCAC honors as a shortstop for the Stags, who won the league in 2003... DeMatha won WCAC championship in 2002, while Palumbo started at second base... Hit .360 with 20 RBIs and 20 steals in 2003 with on-base percentage of .429... Started at shortstop for Greenbelt American Legion team in 2003, hitting .356 with 36 runs, 21 RBIs and 16 steals, posting OBP of .460... Greenbelt was state runners-up last summer after winning the Maryland State Championship in 2002... Selected to 2004 Maryland preseason All-State squad... Played for Mid-Atlantic Rookies fall squad, same fall club that produced current Terps Justin Maxwell and Will Frazier... Member of DeMatha's Career Principal's List after posting 3.8 cumulative grade-point average... Two older brothers are also Division I baseball players, Jon at LaSalle and Jeff at George Mason.
Gerry Spessard * OF * 6-3 / 190 * Smithsburg, Md. * Smithsburg HS
Second team All-Area pick by Hagerstown Herald-Mail as a sophomore outfielder... Led Monocacy Valley Athletic League in hitting at .492 and doubles with 12 in 2002... Placed among league leaders in hits (27), RBIs (24) and runs (18)... First team All-Washington County and All-MVAL... Missed most of junior season at high school with broken foot... Hit over .400 and had on-base percentage of .650 for Funkstown American Legion squad... Played in fall for Mid-Maryland Select-Red Sox, seeing time in outfield, at first base and third base... Played four years of soccer for Leopards and two years of basketball.
Jason Von Behren * IF * 6-4 / 205 * Sherrard, Ill. * Navarro (Texas) JC / Sherrard HS
Hit .310 as a freshman at Navarro Junior College... Team finished second in Region 14, only one win away from the JuCo World Series... Hit .340 with five home runs in 15 fall-season games... Expected to start at third base for Navarro this spring... Three-time all-conference and all-area selection as high-school player in Illinois... Current Terrapin Kevin Hart also transferred to College Park from Navarro.
