November 18, 1996
Cal Baseball Inks Six Players to Letters of Intent
Berkeley -- The University of California baseball team has signed six high school athletes to letters of intent during the early signing period, it was announced by head coach Bob Milano.
Left-handed pitcher/first baseman Jason Dennis, infielder Xavier Nady, catcher Mike Tonis, catcher/infielder Clint Hoover, switch-hitting infielder David Sark and right-handed pitcher Ryan Atkinson have signed a letter of intent to play for the Bears next season.
Dennis, a 6-1, 180 pounder from De La Salle High School in Concord, CA, chose Cal over Miami, Tennessee and Pepperdine. He should help the Bears right away next season, both at the plate and on the mound. Dennis can hit for both power and average and as a pitcher throws a fastball, change up and has an excellent curveball. He was named the Bay Valley Conference Player of the Year last spring, leading De La Salle to the North Coast Section Championship. Dennis was also one of the nation's top 80 high school players who was invited to compete in the Team One Showcase, last June 21-23 in Cincinnati, OH.
Nady is a 6-1, 180 pounder from Salinas High School in Salinas, CA. He is a strong hitting infielder who will be battling for a starting spot at either second or third base at Cal next season. Nady also played point guard on his high school basketball team and competed in the Team One Showcase last summer in Cincinnati as well. He considered Arizona State, Arizona and Pepperdine before selecting Cal.
Tonis is a 6-3, 180 pound catcher from Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove, CA. He is an excellent receiver with a strong arm and is considered by the Cal coaching staff to be one of the top three defensive catchers in the country for his age group. Tonis also competed in the Team One Showcase last summer with Dennis and Nady. Tonis had considered Fresno State and Stanford before signing with the Bears.
Hoover is a 6-2, 180 pounder from Campolindo High School in Moraga, CA. According to the Cal coaches, Hoover is probably the most versitle of the Bear recruits as he can either play the infield or catch. Hoover competed for the San Francisco Giants in the Area Code Games last summer. He considered Nevada and Saint Mary's before selecting Cal.
Sark is a 6-2, 190 pounder from Chatsworth High School in Chatsworth, CA. He is a swith-hitting first baseman/third baseman who can also catch. Sark has impressed the Cal coaches with his ability to hit with both power and average. He competed in the Area Code Games last August for the Cincinnati Reds. He was recruited by UCLA, Pepperdine and Cal State Northridge.
Atkinson is a 6-6, 190 pound right-hander from Bellermine College Prep in San Jose, CA. The Cal coaches feel he could step in and help immediatly next season with a good fastball, slider, split-finger fastball and change-up. He selected Cal over Arizona State, Fresno State and Long Beach State.
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/Last School
Ryan Atkinson RHP 6-6 190 San Jose, CA/Bellarmine College Prep
Jason Dennis LHP/1B 6-1 180 Concord, CA/De La Salle High School
Clint Hoover C/INF 6-2 180 Moraga, CA/Campolindo High School
Xavier Nady 3B/2B 6-1 180 Salinas, CA/Salinas High School
David Sark 1B/3B 6-2 190 Chatsworth, CA/Chatsworth High School
Mike Tonis C 6-3 180 Elk Grove, CA/Elk Grove High School
