As reported by Baseball America, Marisnick was given a $1 million signing bonus by the Toronto Blue Jays for being drafted in the third round. He’s an outfielder from Riverside, California.

Look back tomorrow for coach George Horton’s reaction, as I will be sitting down to talk with him about the signings of the rest of the recruits and former player Caleb Tommasini and his future.

Sokol and Bevill will both transfer to junior colleges to continue to play.

Here’s the link to Smith’s article where he talked to Horton about the moves:

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindducksbeat/2009/08/uo_baseball_bennett_whitmore_c.html

I talked to both Stavert and Gagnier this morning and both are excited, but are waiting to decide whether or not to leave the UO. Gagnier is 70-30 on staying and will wait until an offer comes, and Stavert will wait until they make him an offer as well. They have until August 17, according to Stavert.

I’m waiting on a reply back from head coach George Horton, and once I talk to him look for more on the ODE website at dailyemerald.com

According to baseball SID Andria Wenzel, three of the Duck’s recruiting class have also been drafted.  Tyler Matzek was drafted in the first round, Jake Marisnick in the third, and Braxton Lane in the seventh.

Here’s the scouting reports from goducks.com:

2009-10 University of Oregon Baseball Signed Recruits (as of June 8, 2009)

J.J. Altobelli • SS • R/R • 6-1 • 190 • Newport Beach,Calif./Woodbridge HS
Scouting Report: Led Woodbridge HS and finished fourth in the Sea View League with a .455 (40-for-88) batting average in 2009…also finished fifth in the SVL with a .659 slugging percentage and fourth with nine stolen bases…scored 29 runs with 17 RBIs, nine doubles, three triples and one home run…as a junior in 2008, led Woodbridge and the SVL batting .456…named first-team all-Sea View League and second-team all-county by OCVarsity.com…in 2008 had 41 hits, 26 runs scored, 13 RBIs, four home runs, a .515 on-base percentage and .722 slugging percentage.

Tim Berry • LHP • L/L • 6-1 • 150 • San Marcos, Calif./San Marcos HS
Scouting Report: Named to the all-Valley League second team as a junior in 2008…made 12 starts for San Marcos HS, pitching 58.0 innings and maintaining a 2.78 ERA…held opponents to a .205 average…led the San Diego area averaging 11.34 strikeouts per game (94 total).

Dylan Brown • LHP • L/L • 6-3 • 165 • Bonney Lake, Wash./Bonney Lake HS
Scouting Report: As a junior in 2008 was named to the 3A all-state team and second team all-South Puget Sound League (SPSL) 3A.

Brian Buckham • LHP • L/L • 5-11 • 185 • Bellevue, Wash./Bellevue Community College
Scouting Report: As a sophomore at Bellevue in 2009, pitched 53 and 2/3 innings with a 3.35 ERA and a 5-4 record, striking out 45…in the NWAACC Baseball Tournament, pitched nine innings of two-run baseball, while striking out nine, helping Bellevue to a 5-2, 14-inning victory over top-ranked Mt. Hood…the Bulldogs went on to win the NWAACC championship…as a freshman was 3-1 with 56 strikeouts in 55 innings pitched with a 2.43 ERA.

Brett Hambright • C • R/R • 6-1 • 200 • Corona, Calif./Riverside Community College
Scouting Report: In 2009 played in 43 games, making 41 starts for Riverside Community College…hit .313 (56-for-179) with 38 runs scored, 24 RBIs, 11 doubles, one triple and one home run…played in 11 games during 2008 for UC Riverside…was a three-time all-league performer at Corona Temescal Canyon HS…was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 34th round (1,040th overall selection) in the 2007 MLB First-Year Player Draft.

Christian Jones • LHP • L/L • 6-2 • 175 • Danville, Calif./Monte Vista HS
Scouting Report: His senior season helped Monte Vista HS to a 17-8 record…on the mound led the Mustangs with a 7-1 record in nine starts with a 0.64 ERA…struck out 98 while walking just 14…..named to the all-East Bay third team in 2008 as a junior.

Dylan Jones • OF • L/R • 6-0 • 165 • Valencia, Calif./Valencia HS
Scouting Report: A two-time (2008 & 2009) first team all-Foothill League selection…as a senior in 2009 helped Valencia to a 19-8 over record and a Foothill League title with a 12-3 conference record…hit .400 with 33 runs scored, 27 RBIs, seven doubles, four home runs, four triples, and a .633 slugging percentage…as a junior in 2008 led Valencia HS in batting average (.466), on-base percentage (.537), hits (41), doubles (10) and stolen bases (22).

Braxton Lane • OF • 5-10 • 195 • Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek HS
Scouting Report: A two-sport start at Sandy Creek HS, will also play football at Oregon…a switch-hitting outfielder with tremendous speed…Braxton’s father, Carl, played football at Oregon State (1985-86)…his uncle, MacArthur Lane, played for the Green Bay Packers in the early 1970s.
*Lane’s NLI was signed with the Oregon football program

Jack Marder • SS • 5-11 • 165 • Calabasas, Calif./Newbury Park HS
Scouting Report: Has played on the varsity team at Newbury Park HS since his freshman year and is the program’s all-time hits leader…in 2009 hit .427, leading the Panthers and ranking fourth in the Marmonte League…also led the league with six home runs and 24 stolen bases…finished his senior season with a .775 slugging percentage, a .527 on-base percentage, 37 runs scored, 21 RBIs, seven doubles and three triples…as a junior led the Marmonte League in batting average (.516) and on-base percentage (.602)…totalled 47 hits, 29 runs scored, 13 RBIs, 14 doubles, two triples and 15 stolen bases.

Jake Marisnick • R/R • OF • 6-4 • 200 • Riverside, Calif./Riverside Poly Tech HS
Scouting Report: Baseball America ranks Marisnick as the 71st overall draft pick for the 2009 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft…hit .415 his senior season with 29 RBIs, nine doubles, one triple, five home runs, 22 stolen bases, a .514 on-base percentage and a .732 slugging percentage…a starting center fielder, Marisnick was also a two-sport athlete as an all-county and all-CIF Southern Section wide receiver in football as a junior…in 2008 on the diamond, led the Ivy League in three categories; batting average (.495), slugging percentage (.882) and on-base percentage (.535)…finished the year with 46 hits, 28 runs scored, 22 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, nine doubles, six triples and five home runs…named to the 2008 Jesse Flores Memorial Scout All-Star game.

Tyler Matzek • LHP • L/L • 6-3 • 215 • Mission Viejo, Calif./Capistrano Valley HS
Scouting Report: Baseball America ranks Matzek as the No. 8 overall draft pick for the 2009 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft…arguably the top high school pitcher in the country…hit a solo home run to lead Capistrano Valley HS in a 1-0 victory over Edison HS in the CIF-Southern Section Division I championship game…led Capistrano Valley HS to a 26-6 record in 2009 and a 12-3 mark in the South Coast League…in 14 starts, Matzek sported a 13-1 record with a 1.16 ERA…struck out 106 while tossing five complete games and four shutouts in 86 and 2/3 innings.

Andrew Mendenhall • OF • 6-3 • 180 • Kennewick, Wash./Southridge HS
Scouting Report: Starting center fielder for Southridge HS in 2009, leading the Suns to a 19-6 record…in 2008 was a first-team all-area outfielder at Southridge HS…hit a team-leading .444 with 10 doubles, six triples, 23 RBIs, 29 runs scored and seven stolen bases…a two-sport athlete, Mendenhall quarterbacked the Suns (10-0) to the state playoffs last fall.

Kellen Moen • RHP • R/R • 6-2 • 165 • Redondo Beach, Calif./El Camino College
Scouting Report: Was named the South Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2009 after finishing his sophomore campaign with a 5-2 record and an 1.69 ERA in 64 innings pitched…tossed four complete games and struck out 54…as a freshman was named to the all-SCC first team after sporting an 8-2 record with a 2.74 ERA…dealt 106 strikeouts in 88 and 2/3 innings.

Steven Packard • OF • L/L • 6-1 • 185 • San Marcos, Calif./ Mission Hills HS
Scouting Report: Has played on the varsity team at Mission Hills since his sophomore season…was named second team all-CIF and the Valley League Player of the Year in 2008 after leading the Valley League in batting average (.473), RBIs (37), doubles (12), triples (6) and slugging percentage (.802)…also added 29 runs scored, two home runs and a .529 on-base percentage.

Marcus Piazzisi • OF • 5-11 • 180 • Placentia, Calif./Santa Ana College
Scouting Report: Named to the 2009 Southern California All-America team after helping lead Santa Ana College to the state playoffs with a 34-11 overall record and a 17-7 mark in the Orange Empire Conference…hit .370 (71-for-192) on the year in 47 starts with a team-leading 67 runs scored and 18 doubles…also added 49 RBIs, 10 home runs and four triples…finished 2009 with a .661 slugging percentage, a .470 on-base percentage and nine stolen bases…was also named to the Orange Empire Conference first team…in the state playoffs, hit .375.

Closer Drew Gagnier in for Oregon. Up 3-1. This is the first time since Stanford that he’s been able to come in with a lead in the ninth inning.

Gagnier is making things interesting in the top of the ninth. He strikes out the first two batters, then goes 1-2 on the third batter before walking him and the next batter. Two outs and runners on first and second. Top of the order now.

And there it goes. Murray RBI single to score Gallego. Then Uribe walked to load the bases. 3-2 UO with two outs…and Gagnier gets Dunlap to strike out on a check swing. Game over. Ducks win 3-2. 

EIGHTH INNING

Big at bat in the top of the eighth inning. With runners on first and third and one out, two-time Pac-10 Player of the Week Cody Decker, steps up. Decker has 15 home runs on the year, tied for second in the league. Stavert strikes him out on three pitches, then strikes out Haerther to end the inning 2-1 UO.

Then in the bottom of the inning, the Ducks tacked on another run on Gerrit. Tommasini led off by getting hit in the arm, then moved to third when Raulinaitis bunted and Gerrit threw high to first base. Serna then flew out to shallow right field, and Tommasini risked it and scored from third. 3-1 UO.

SEVENTH INNING

UCLA gets a run back after Cohen doubles with one out. He scores on a double by Niko Gallego. 2-1 Oregon

Ducks go down in order.

SIXTH INNING

After Stavert shuts down the Bruins in the top of the inning, the Ducks scored again, on a bizarre sequence. Caleb Tommasini lead off with a single to center field, then moved to second on a sacrifice from Raulinaitis. Serna then bunted, and beat out the throw from Gerrit, so there was first and third with one out. Then Gerrit almost balked, and caught Serna off of first. He was caught in a run down, however, the second baseman threw the ball away and Serna was safe at first and Tommasini scored from third. 2-0 Ducks.

FIFTH INNING

Bruins go down in order, and so do the Ducks. Besides the little hiccup in the fourth, Stavert and Gerrit are still going strong. Gerrit’s last pitch of the inning was clocked at 98 mph. Still 1-0 Ducks.

FOURTH INNING

Big inning in the fourth. Bruins get runners on first and third with two outs, but Stavert gets Cohen to fly out to end the threat.

Then in the bottom of the inning Curtis Raulinaitis doubles, then moves to third on a fly ball to left field by KC Serna. Raulinaitis scores on an error by the second baseman. 1-0 Ducks.

THIRD INNING

Bruins and Ducks again go down in order in the third. Stavert and Gerrit are cruising to this point.

SECOND INNING

Both teams got a hit in the second .Casey Haerther led off with a double, but after Gabe Cohen walked, Stavert gets a double play to end the inning.

Paul Eshelman led off the Ducks half of the inning with a single to right, and was moved to second with a bunt. After a ground out from Mitch Karraker moved him to third, Darrell Hunter flew out to right field to end the inning.

INNING ONE

Ducks and Bruins go down in order in the first. UCLA pitcher Gerrit Cole clocked at 98-97 mph on the majority of his pitches in the first inning. This looks like an old fashioned pitching duel.

Game one from PK Park in Eugene, Oregon. In a change dating back to last weekend, freshman Erik Stavert is starting instead of Tyler Anderson. Anderson got off his starts on Friday after he pitched against UC Irvine last week on Monday, and head coach George Horton wanted to change the look after how well Stavert has pitched lately.

Washington was able to bring in two runs in the top of the ninth to seal the game for the Huskies. Erickson pitched the entire game for UW, he is now 2-4 on the year. The series will finish up tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.  

It’s been all pitching and defense so far this afternoon. Both teams have yet to score a run as they enter the bottom of the seventh inning, while both starters are still looking good. 

The score is still 0-0 at the start of the sixth inning. Both starters have given up three hits, while each has had strong defensive play behind them. Freshman KC Serna has led the Ducks with two singles on the day.

Oregon pitcher Erik Stavert has recorded four strikeouts in the first three innings of play in game two of the Ducks three-game series with the Washington Huskies. Stavert has given up three hits and no runs thus far. 

Washington pitcher Jason Erickson has been able to keep the Oregon bats in check as well, giving up only two hits and zero runs.

Thronton recorded the most impressive inning for an Oregon pitcher on the day, recording two strikeouts and a ground ball out to end the inning. Oregon was unable to get anything going in the bottom of the ninth and Washington takes the first game of this three-game series. The Ducks will be back in action tomorrow at 1 p.m. at PK Park.

INNING EIGHT

Thornton settled down nicely in the top of the eighth, recording two quick outs before giving up a base hit to center field off the bat of pinch hitter Kevin Komstadius. Thornton ended the inning without giving up a run. 

Freshman Darrell Hunter came reached second base after Washington left fielder dropped the ball as he tried to backhand the line drive. Hunter, a Thurston High School graduate, was stranded on third to end the inning.

INNING SEVEN

Oregon was able to rally against UW reliever Tyler Cheney in the bottom of the seventh inning. Tommasini hit an RBI single into left field, scoring Hogan from second base. Cheney settled down after that, ending the inning with a comfortable nine-run lead.

INNING SIX

Whitmore ran into more trouble in the top of the sixth, as he gave up a three-run home run to Washington’s designated hitter Jake Rife. The ball sailed into the bullpen well over the right field fence with a heavy tail wind behind it. The Huskies tallied another run on an RBI double by Cherry to extend their lead to 11-1.

Oregon catcher Mitch Karraker led of the bottom of the sixth with a line drive single, but Washington first baseman Troy Scott ended the inning with a 3-6 double play. 

INNING FIVE

Whitmore put forth hsi best inning of work so far, retiring the Huskies in three straight batters.

Hart led off the bottom of the fifth with an opposite field triple, and scored as senior Caleb Tommasini hit a ball sharply to the third baseman who bobbled the ball, forcing him to throw over to first allowing Hart to score. West settled down after that and finished out the inning with a six-run lead intact.

INNING FOUR

The Washington Huskies continued to execute at the plate throughout the top of the fourth inning as Huskie center fielder Caleb Brown hit a one out RBI ground-rule-double. Washington recorded two runs on two hits before Duck right fielder Jett Hart made a great play deep in the right centerfield gap to finish the inning. 

West began to loss control of the strike zone during the early going of the bottom of the fourth, giving up his first two walks of the day with one out. Yet again, the Huskies turned another inning-ending double play. The Huskies are on top 7-0 at the start of the fifth inning.

INNING THREE

Feudell recorded an early strikeout to begin the top of the third before tagging Conley in the helmet the next at-bat. Head coach George Horton brought in junior relief pitcher Bennett Whitmore who was able to finish out the inning unscathed. 

Serna knocked a base hit through the middle of the Huskie infield to try and spark a two-out rally, but Oregon was unable to advance him. Washington still leads 5-0 at the end of the third.

INNING TWO

The Huskies continued their aggressive play throughout the top of the second, notching one run on two hits before shortstop freshman KC Serna and junior second baseman Josh Hogan turned a double play up the middle to finish the first half of the inning. 

Duck first baseman Andrew Schmidt recorded Oregon’s first hit of the day in the bottom of the second, and advanced to third on freshman Danny Pulfer’s single through the right side of the Huskie infield. West then walked Hogan to load the bases for Oregon, but Washington turned a 6-4-3 double play to conclude the second.

INNING ONE

Keudell got off to a bit of a shaky start, hitting the Huskies leadoff batter in the foot who advanced shortly thereafter on a passed ball. After a walk to the huskies number three batter, cleanup man Kyle Conley teed off on his Pac-10 leading 15th home run of the season over the left center field wall. Huskie first baseman Troy Scott followed up with a towering home run of his own to give Washington a 4-0 lead in the top of the first.

Ducks first baseman Curtis Raulinaitis reached on an error by Wasington second baseman Doug Cherry, but was not able to advance as the Huskies retired the next two Oregon batters. 

The Oregon baseball team is looking for a strong performance on the mound from freshman right-hander Alex Keudell as they take on the Washington Huskies here at PK Park. Keudell enters the game with a 4.21 era in his nine appearances and will be looking to pick up his first win of the season.

Freshman Aaron West will be on the bump for the Huskies. West has started three games on the year and his 1-0 in his 22.1 innings of play. Washington is 15-22 on the year with a 4-8 record in Pac-10 play, while Oregon enters the game at 13-25 overall, 3-9 in Pac-10.