Dec. 15, 2007

PHILADELPHIA - Head Coach Mike Lake has announced the newest additions to the La Salle University Baseball team, who will join the team for the 2008-09 season, which is a class of seven players from five different states.

Charles Bartlett is a 5-10, 170-pound infield/outfielder from Rockville, MD. At Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, he is a three-year captain, who led his team in batting average twice, including a .468 average as a sophomore, helping the team to the 2006 WCAC Championship. Last season, he batted .404 and was named to Second Team All-WCAC as a middle infielder. Bartlett also runs on the track team, winning gold in the 4x200 relay during the winter season.

Brian Conrad is a right-handed pitcher out of Harleysville, PA, who was named a second team all-league pitcher and first team as a designated hitter at Souderton Area High School. He was also selected to pitch for the Carpenter Cup, helping the American Continental to the Championship game. Over the summer, Conrad pitched for Baseballu, led by Pittsburgh Pirate scout John Wells. The team played in the Perfect Game Underclass Championships in Marietta, GA - a team needed to win back-to-back shutout games to qualify, which Conrad was able to do.

Jeff Flax is a 5-10, switch-hitting middle infielder from St. John's College High School in Washington, DC. During his junior season, Flax garnered Second Team All-Conference honors after registering a .385 batting average, with 14 stolen bases. He is a two-year varsity starter and will be the captain of the squad during his senior season. Flax is also a member of the National Honors Society and holds a 3.85 GPA.

Jon Gyles is a 6-0, 175-pound infielder and pitcher from Doylestown, PA. As a junior at Central Bucks West High School, Gyles was named SOL Continental Conference Second Team as a shortstop after hitting .375 with 20 RBI and led the team in doubles. He was also an honorable mention conference selection as a pitcher. He played in the Carpenter Cup and hit .500 while playing shortstop. His legion numbers include a .480 batting average and four home runs - including the game-winner in the All-Star Game.

Tony Negrin is a 5-8, 165-pound outfielder from New Rochelle, NY. During his junior year at Regis High School, he led the team to the Catholic City Championship game and was nominated for the CHSAA junior showcase. Negrin was named a hot prospect by the Mid-Atlantic Prospects Organization and was the MVP of the Hutch River Wood Bat League. The lead-off hitter will be the captain of both the baseball and basketball teams during his senior year. He also carries a 3.72 GPA and has finished the last two academic years with second honors.

Jim Tarabocchia is an outfielder from Marlton, NJ. In two years of playing varsity baseball at Camden Catholic High School, he has pounded out 81 hits, which includes nine home runs. As a sophomore, he had 27 RBI, and 22 stolen bases, with a .420 batting average. As a junior, he increased that to .531, with 11 doubles and six home runs, while leading the team to the NJ Non-Public A South quarterfinals and was an All-Conference selection.

Lake has also signed Craig Miller, a 5-10, 175-pound right-handed pitcher out of Alexandria, VA, who played at St. John's College High School and is a teammate of Flax. He went 1-0, pitching in nine games as a junior. In his 11.2 innings pitched, he struck out 11 batters and had a 3.86 ERA.

The Explorers will open up the 2008 season with four games at Elon in North Carolina. The first game is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 22 starting at 4 PM.