SAN FRANCISCO – A graduate transfer with Division I experience, two players from the JC ranks, and five prep players makes up the remainder of the University of San Francisco baseball team's 2020 signing class. All in all, the final group is comprised of four pitchers and four position players as the Dons prepare for the spring.
"We are very excited about the wonderful recruiting class," said head coach Nino Giarratano. "Troy Nakamura, our Recruiting Coordinator, and Mat Keplinger have done an outstanding job building a top-tier class. We went out and found the right student-athletes to fit USF. We are also very excited about the balance of players in the pitching staff, and outstanding position players we have brought to campus. We're excited to get back to work on building a WCC Champion!"
Ryan Buckley | Chino, Calif. | Ruben S. Ayala HS/Chaffey College
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Height: 6-3
Weight: 205
B/T: R/R
A two-time letter winner for head coach Chris Vogt at Ayala, Buckley blossomed in his two years at Chaffey College. The lengthy right hander made 21 appearances for the Panthers in two shortened seasons, making 11 starts going 6-1 with a pair of saves. In 76.1 innings pitched, he finished his JC career with a 4.48 ERA and boasts a K/9 ratio of 5.9. In a shortened 2020 campaign, he went 2-0 with a 3.16 ERA in 31.1 innings pitched. Off the diamond, Buckley is a tremendous student, earning Academic All-State honors with a 3.73 GPA.
What They're Saying…
USF Associate Head Coach Troy Nakamura
"We are thrilled to add Ryan to the pitching staff and the family on the Hilltop. Ryan is joining us from Chaffey College under the guidance of Head Coach Mike Cordero. His work ethic and growth mindset have accelerated his development considerably and will give him a chance to compete immediately with a very bright future ahead of him. The way the classes on the pitching staff stack up with so many seniors and freshman, Ryan will be a power arm that will stabilize the staff with 3 years of eligibility remaining."
Ryan Davis | Danville, Calif. | San Ramon Valley HS/Georgetown
Position: Outfielder
Height: 5-11
Weight: 175
B/T: L/R
A graduate transfer from Georgetown, Davis played in 158 games in four seasons for the Hoyas, starting 151. The .255 hitter tallied 151 hits including 34 doubles, five triples, and seven home runs. The speedy outfielder finished with 37 stolen bases, including a career-high 18 as a sophomore. In 2020, he had five stolen bases in 17 games played. The Bay Area native was a four-year starter and two-year captain at San Ramon Valley High School, where he earned a first team all-league honors and helped lead San Ramon Valley to the North Coast Section (NCS) quarterfinals in both his junior and senior seasons.
What They're Saying…
USF Head Coach Nino Giarratano
"We're very excited to welcome Ryan Davis to the Dons Family Ryan will be a great graduate transfer for the program. He has the ability to play in the infield and outfield, steal bases, and add some left handed power to the lineup. More impressive than his tools, his experience, discipline and work ethic will add to the leadership core of the team."
Chase Minor | Merced, Calif. | El Capitan HS
Position: Infielder/Pitcher
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190
B/T: R/R
A two-way player, Minor will appear in the infield and on the mound for the Dons. The native of Merced was a multi-sport athlete for the Gauchos, playing baseball and water polo. A four-time letter winner on the diamond, he finished his junior campaign earning first team all-league honors. That season he hit .326 with a home run and 18 runs driven in, and on the mound he struck out 52 in 50.1 innings with a 3.03 ERA. Entering his senior season, he was named to Perfect Game's California Region Pre-Season Team.
What They're Saying…
USF Assistant Coach Mat Keplinger
"Chase brings a passion to the program that is unparalleled He was a four-year varsity starter at El Capitan High School in Merced, CA and a member of NorCal Baseball. Chase is an athletic infielder who also has an extremely high ceiling on the mound. I am looking forward to seeing Chase's growth as a pitcher because the sky is the limit for him. Not only is Chase a talented baseball player, but he is the type of leader, teammate, and person that will thrive here on the Hilltop."
Kade Morihara | Honolulu, Hawaii | Punahou HS
Position: Infielder/Outfielder
Height: 5-11
Weight: 185
B/T: L/R
A three-time letter winner for head coach Keenan Sue and the Buff N' Blue, Morihara displays pop from the left side of the plate and an impressive ability to get on base, boasting a .548 on base percentage in his last two full seasons. In 93 at bats he tallied 32 hits, including nine extra base hits, while tallying 19 walks against just one strike out. He helped guide his team to a Hawaii State Championship in 2019. While playing Legion ball in the summer of 2018, Morihara hit .545 in 66 at bats, scoring 22 runs. Of his 36 hits that summer, 13 were doubles, three were triples, and five were home runs. He also drew 20 walks for an astounding .651 on base percentage.
What They're Saying…
USF Associate Head Coach Troy Nakamura
"Kade will be joining us from Punahou High School in Honolulu, Hawaii, and will join former high school teammate Matt McConnell. Punahou has had a long tradition of producing high level student-athletes and Kade follows in that tradition. He will provide versatility and depth in both the infield and in the outfield. Offensively, Kade is a physical presence at the plate with the ability to drive the ball through either gap. He's humble, hardworking and fits Dons culture in every way."
Lane Oliphant | Reno, Nev. | Reno HS
Position: Catcher
Height: 5-11
Weight: 180
B/T: R/R
A highly regarded catcher from Nevada, Oliphant entered this season highlighted by many publications. A multi-sport athlete, he was a four-time letter winner for the Huskies in baseball and a two-time letter winner for football. He became the first freshman to make the Reno HS varsity baseball squad in 30 years, earning the first of three all-region honors over his career. In 2019, his last full season, he was selected to play on the Nevada All-Star team as the starting catcher while batting cleanup. In a COVID shortened 2020 campaign he was off to a blazing start – through seven games he had 12 RBI while batting .522.
What They're Saying…
USF Head Coach Nino Giarratano
"Lane Oliphant will bring a great deal to the USF program. Lane's discipline, leadership, ability to catch, and handle the pitching staff will make an immediate impact to go along with being a fierce competitor in the box. We are very excited to continue the Oliphant name with USF. Tess Oliphant, our former Director of Baseball Operations and USF Sports Management Graduate, is Lane's cousin. Tess is now with the SF Giants as the Manager of Community Relations. Lane comes to USF from a wonderful program at Reno High School, and has played for one of the greatest high school coaches in the country Pete Savage. Lane will be an immediate contributor in many ways."
Connor Skertich | Agora Hills, Calif. | Notre Dame HS
Position: Pitcher
Height: 5-10
Weight: 170
B/T: L/L
The Southern California lefty played baseball all four years for head coach Tom Dill and the Knights. The 2019 all-league honoree helped guide his team to back-to-back league championships in 2018 and 19. In four seasons, he went 13-6 with five saves. He was off to a tremendous start in 2020, going 3-0 with a 1.65 ERA, with 12 strike outs in 17 innings pitched. His junior season he went 5-1 with a 3.36 ERA. Skertich also excelled in the classroom, earning all-academic honors three-straight years.
What They're Saying…
USF Assistant Coach Mat Keplinger
"Connor is a fierce competitor that pitches with a huge chip on his shoulder. He is a winner and has pitched in big games his entire prep career with nationally ranked Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, Calif. and the Garciaparra Baseball Group. Connor has advanced feel for four pitches, but his toughness and competitive spirit are what will immediately impact the Don's pitching staff next season. We are thrilled to have him on the Hilltop."
Christian Stapleton | Pebble Beach, Calif. | Carmel HS / College of San Mateo
Position: Infielder
Height: 6-3
Weight: 225
B/T: L/R
A highly decorated multi-sport athlete from Carmel High School, Stapleton earned all-state honors in both football and baseball. In his senior season, a year in which he claimed All-American honors, he hit .623 with 10 home runs. Stapleton spent the past two seasons playing for the College of San Mateo, helping the Bulldogs win the 2019 Coast Conference Championship in his freshman campaign, when he hit seven home runs. Off the field he was named to the Deans' List three semesters.
What They're Saying…
USF Associate Head Coach Troy Nakamura
"Christian will undoubtedly be an offensive force in this conference for the next three years. He adds tremendous power to all fields from the left side of the plate and has worked extremely hard to get all aspects of his game ready to contribute from day 1 on the Hilltop. The Dons have had a long history of success with players from California JC powerhouse College of San Mateo and Christian's impact will be no different."
Matthew "Matty" Vicencio | Lafayette, Calif. | Acalanes HS / Los Modanos College
Position: Pitcher
Height: 6-4
Weight: 210
B/T: L/L
After spending his prep career as a Don at Acalanes HS, the Lafayette, Calif., native will finish his collegiate career as a Don on the Hilltop. The JC transfer spent his freshman season at Santa Barbara City College and his sophomore season at Los Modanos College. At LMC he posted a 3.48 ERA in 20.2 innings pitched with 14 strike outs, helping his team win a Bay Valley Conference Championship. As a prep, he was an all-league pitcher his senior season after posting a 1.93 ERA with 32 strike outs in 43.1 innings pitched.
What They're Saying…
USF Associate Head Coach Troy Nakamura
"Left handed pitcher Matty Vicencio will follow in the footsteps of Los Medanos College alumni
Jason Kreske and Jon Allen on the Hilltop this fall. Head Coach Anthony D'Albora, formerly on the Dons coaching staff, has done a wonderful job preparing Matty for the transition to our culture and pitching staff. Matty is a work horse with an extremely high ceiling and an attack mentality. We are thrilled to call him a Don."
