George Washington University Athletics
Baseball Lands Six Recruits During Early Signing Period
2/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 9, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC - The George Washington baseball program announced Thursday the signings of six recruits to national letters-of-intent during the early signing period who will begin attending the University this fall.
Recruited and signed by head coach Steve Mrowka and assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Jim Mason, the class includes four local athletes from Virginia and Maryland along with one player from New Hampshire and New York.
Joining the Colonials for the 2006-07 academic year is catcher Will Cooper (McLean, VA/Gonzaga College HS), right-handed pitcher Arllen Cruz (Flushing, NY/Benjamin Cardozo HS), infielder Curtis Eward (Oak Hill, VA/Oakton HS), right-handed pitcher Ryan LaPointe (Somersworth, NH/Phillips Exeter Academy), left-handed pitcher Bobby Lucas (Baltimore, MD/Calvert Hall College High School) and right-handed pitcher Scott Swinson (Ellicott City, MD/Centennial HS).
2007 Freshmen Class Profile
Will Cooper - Catcher
HT: 5-foot-11
WT: 185 lbs.
Hometown: McLean, VA
High School: Gonzaga College
Batted .360 with 16 RBI in 22 games in his junior year of high school in 2005, earning All-WCAC Second Team honors...Batted .320 and named All-WCAC Honorable Mention in 2004...High school coach is Joe Schourek (father of former major leaguer Pete).
Arllen Cruz - RHP
HT: 6-foot-4
WT: 200 lbs.
Hometown: Flushing, NY
High School: Benjamin Cardozo
Earned a 9.5 (one of the highest in the nation) from Perfect Game USA rating service...Named All-NYC his junior year of high school after going 5-1, posting a 1.27 ERA, striking out 39 and yielding just 15 hits in 33 innings... As a sophomore, went 4-0 with one save, striking out 42 in 25 innings and recorded a 2.50 ERA... Competed for the Youth Service League (coached by Mel Zitter) this past summer and fall, going 13-3 with a 1.89 ERA, striking out 132 and yielding 61 hits in 109 innings.
Curtis Eward - INF
HT: 6-foot-2
WT: 210 lbs.
Hometown: Oak Hill, VA
High School: Oak Hill
Expected to contributed immediately for GW...Named all-district after batting .360, hitting four home runs with 23 RBI, and posting a .748 slugging percentage as a high school junior in 2005...Also plays varsity football where he helped lead Oakton to its first-ever Division VI state championship...High school baseball coach is GW alumnus Scott Rowland.
Ryan LaPointe - RHP
HT: 5-foot-10
WT: 185 lbs.
Hometown: Somersworth, NH
High School: Phillips Exeter Academy
Considered by many as one of the top three high school pitchers in New England...Already throws in the high 80's to low 90's (mph)...Named Central New England Prep School First Team in 2003, 2004 and 2005...Three time New Hampshire American Legion All-Star...Went 5-1 with a 1.46 ERA, struck out 56 in 37 innings and batted .473 as a high school junior in 2005...Also plays high school football and recorded several games this past season where he gained 300 or more all-purpose yards.
Bobby Lucas - LHP
HT: 6-foot-4
WT: 225 lbs.
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
High School: Calvert Hall College
Helped lead his high school to a 31-1 team record as its number one starter last season...The team won the MIAA Championship and was ranked in the national top 10 by USA Today...Throws in the high 80's mph...Will join former high school teammates Gavin Swanson and Tim Sexton on the Colonials' squad...Pitched for the Maryland Oriolanders (coached by Baltimore Orioles scout Dean Albany), the areas premier showcase team...High school coach is Lou Eckerl.
Scott Swinson - RHP
HT: 6-foot-2
WT: 175 lbs.
Hometown: Ellicott City, MD
High School: Centennial
Considered the premier pitcher in Howard County (MD)...Expected to be an immediate impact player for GW... Throws in the high 80's mph...As a junior in 2005, went 4-3 with a 1.75 ERA and recorded 56 strikeouts in 48 innings, batting .354 with three home runs and 15 RBI...Went 13-0 for the Maryland Monarch's (coached by Bernie Walter) during the summer `05, posting a 0.71 ERA and struck out 66 in 59 innings...Helped lead his high school team to the 2004 Maryland 3A state championship with a 3-0 record and a 0.87 ERA, batting .330 with 17 runs and 10 stolen bases...High School team represented the state of Maryland in the Sun Belt Classic in Norman, Oklahoma...High school coach is Dennis Ahearn.
-GW-
