University of Connecticut Athletics
Baseball Signs Four to Letters of Intent
12/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
STORRS, Conn. (Dec. 15) - University of Connecticut head baseball coach Jim Penders has signed four student-athletes to Letters of Intent for the 2005-06 school year as announced by the UConn baseball staff on Wednesday, Dec. 15. Two of the signees are from the state of Florida, marking the first scholarship signees from the Sunshine State in the history of UConn baseball. The class includes Dale Brannon of St. Petersburg, Fla., Matt Burnett of Endicott, N.Y., Gene Pavitt of Solebury, Pa., and Erik Turgeon of Palm Harbor, Fla.
"This is a class that addresses specific needs that we have in our program, and we feel these student-athletes are a complement to this year's freshman class and to the team overall," Penders said. "It is exciting to get our first Florida recruits, and to get two of their caliber to come to UConn is a real coup. [Associate head coach] Dave Turgeon did an excellent job coordinating our recruiting effort this year. He and [assistant coach] Chris Podeszwa helped our staff evaluate more players than we ever have, and we tailored our approach and really zeroed in on the people that we want to be around as we build our program to return to the top of the BIG EAST."
Brannon is a 6-0, 160-pound infielder out of St. Petersburg High School who bats and throws right. "Dale is our type of baseball player," Penders said. "A gritty competitor with a good feel for the game, he is an instinctive competitor. He runs the bases well, has soft hands and the ability to consistently put the ball into play."
Burnett, from Union Endicott High School, is a 6-3, 180-pound outfielder. He bats left and throws right. "Matt came to our junior day last spring and got our attention at camp this summer. Chris also followed him in the Empire State games in July. He is a steady outfielder with really good size. He is a good line drive hitter with power-hitting potential."
Pavitt, from the Hun School, can play first base and the outfield. At 6-2, 205 pounds, he bats and throws left. "Gene has big power potential. He has a middle of the lineup-type bat and moves well for a big player. He also has excellent arm strength. We believe he'll fight for significant playing time as a freshman."
Turgeon is a 6-0, 165-pound athlete out of Dunedin High School who can play infield and pitch. He bats and throws right and is the nephew of UConn associate head coach Dave Turgeon. "Erik is a great two-way player who came to our summer camps and did an outstanding job in becoming a national recruit. He comes from one of the top high school programs in the nation. He has a live arm and a feel to pitch; he throws a fastball in the low 90s and has the makings of a good breaking ball. He also has good defensive hands and excellent upside at the plate. His father and two of his uncles played professionally; the baseball genes are there."
