Air Force Baseball Announces Incoming Class of 2012
11/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 13, 2008
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Fourteen freshmen comprise Air Force baseball's rookie class of 2009, announced today by head coach Mike Hutcheon. The class of 2012 features four all-state selections and three players that played their high school ball in Colorado.
The 14 freshmen comprise the second-biggest recruiting class in Hutcheon's sixth year under the helm for the Falcons. Fifteen freshmen made up the 2011 class.
"The class of 2012 have met all of our expectations on and off the field," Hutcheon said. "Not only do we feel confident in their abilities as athletes, but the staff is thoroughly impressed with their progress as cadets in the everyday academy life. This is a talented group of young men that will continue to grow and contribute in many different ways as this program evolves."
Right-hander Evan Abrecht (Farmington, Ark.), infielder Jon Escamilla (San Antonio, Texas), catcher Kyle Henke (Farmington, N.M.) and right-hander Mike Kazakoff (Omaha, Neb. - played at Heritage HS in Littleton, Colo.) were all-state selections. Henke was a three-time all-state selection while Escamilla was all-state in both baseball and football.
The class features features two multi-sport athleties in Escamilla and lefter-hander Andrew Golz. Escamilla is currently a wide receiver on the Air Force football team and Golz is a forward on the Air Force men's soccer team.
Another player with solid credentials is catcher/outfielder Jack Lupo (Indianapolis, Ind.), who was the Indianapolis Star Player of the Year. In addition to Kazakoff, right-hander Shayne Hulce (Fountain) and infielder Blair Roberts (Parker) played prep baseball in Colorado.
Infielder Jake Byorth (Dublin, Ohio), lefter-hander Michael Ceci (Marietta, Ga.), infielder Adam Hill (Charlotte, N.C.), outfielder Blair Kessler (Boerne, Texas), Aaron Kurcz (Las Vegas, Nev.) and left-hander Andrew Loyd (Smith, Ark.) round out the class of 2012.
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | B/T | Home Town (High School) |
| Evan Abrecht | RHP | 6-4 | 190 | R/R | Farmington, Ark. (Farmington) |
| Jake Byorth | IF | 6-0 | 180 | S/R | Dublin, Ohio (St. Charles Prep) |
| Michael Ceci | LHP | 6-4 | 195 | R/L | Marietta, Ga. (Harrison) |
| Jon Escamilla | IF | 6-0 | 185 | R/R | San Antonio, Texas (John Marshall) |
| Andrew Golz | LHP | 6-1 | 205 | L/L | River Forest, Ill. (Oak Park) |
| Kyle Henke | C | 6-0 | 190 | R/R | Farmington, N.M. (Piedra Vista) |
| Adam Hill | IF | 5-10 | 170 | S/R | Charlotte, N.C. (Charlotte Christian School) |
| Shayne Hulce | RHP | 6-1 | 165 | R/R | Fountain, Colo. (Fountain-Fort Carson) |
| Mike Kazakoff | RHP | 6-0 | 175 | R/R | Omaha, Neb. (Heritage (Littleton, Colo.)) |
| Blair Kessler | OF | 6-0 | 185 | R/R | Boerne, Texas (Boerne) |
| Aaron Kurcz | RHP/OF | 5-11 | 155 | L/R | Las Vegas, Nev. (Durango) |
| Andrew Loyd | LHP | 6-1 | 175 | R/L | Smith, Ark. (Van Buren) |
| Jack Lupo | C/OF | 6-1 | 170 | R/R | Indianapolis, Ind. (Cathedral) |
| Blair Roberts | IF | 5-10 | 175 | R/R | Parker, Colo. (Chaparral) |
Evan Abrecht - RHP - 6-4, 190 - Farmington, Ark./Farmington HS: Lettered four years in baseball and three in basketball...two-time all-state selection...three-time all-conference...all-region MVP...two-time all-state tournament...played in the Arkansas All-Star Game for the West team...all-state and all-state tourney in basketball...two-time all-conference in basketball... Arkansas All-Star game selection in hoops...National Honor Society member...high school baseball coach was Jay Harper...played summer ball for the Basic Block Braves, coached by Chris Mileham.
Jake Byorth - IF - 6-0, 180 - Dublin, Ohio/St. Charles Prep: Lettered three years in baseball and football and two years in basketball...all-league and all-district...team captain in baseball and basketball...high school baseball coach was Ray Benjamin...played summer ball for the Columbus Vipers, coached by Dave Weaver.
Michael Ceci - LHP - 6-4, 195 - Marietta, Ga./Harrison HS: Lettered four years in baseball...had a 1.07 earned run average as a senior and 1.16 career ERA...did not walk a batter in 19 innings as a senior...helped lead Harrison to the Region 5AAAAA Championship and a berth in the state playoffs...National Honor Society member...in the Beta and Spanish Club...high school baseball coach was Mark Elkins...played summer ball for the Atlanta Blue Jays, coached by Anthony Dye.
Jon Escamilla - IF - 6-0, 185 - San Antonio, Texas/John Marshall HS: Lettered three years in baseball and football...all-state, all-district and all-area third baseman...all-state, all-district and all-area in football...high school baseball coach was Todd Hammack ... currently a wide receiver on the Air Force football team.
Andrew Golz - LHP - 6-1, 205 - River Foerst, Ill. (Oak Park HS): Lettered three years in baseball and four years in socer...three-time first-team all-conference selection in soccer...two-time team captain...second-team all-state pick as a senior...owns school record for most career goals with 50...also two-time first-team all-conference pick in baseball...valedictorian of his high school class... high school soccer coach was Paul Wright...currently a forward on the Air Force men's soccer team.
Kyle Henke - C - 6-0, 190 - Farmington, N.M. (Piedra Vista HS): Lettered four years in baseball and three in football...three-time all-state selection in baseball...three-time all-conference selection in baseball...set school records in batting average (.520), RBIs (38) and tied school record with nine home runs as a senior...batted .414 as a junior and .404 as a sophomore...three-time all-district in football...all-state and district linebacker of the year as a senior...averaged 13.8 tackles per game as a senior...National Honor Society member...high school baseball coach was Richard Laughlin...played summer ball for the Albuquerque Heat, coached by Greg Trammel.
Adam Hill - IF - 5-10, 170 - Charlotte, N.C. (Charlotte Christian School): Lettered four years in baseball...two-time first-team all-conference selection...led Charlotte Christian to three state championships...high school baseball coach was Greg Simmons...played summer ball for the On Deck O's, coached by Jason Hill.
Shayne Hulce - RHP - 6-1, 165 - Fountain, Colo. (Fountain-Fort Carson): Lettered four years in baseball and one year in basketball...three-time all-conference selection...conference player of the year as a senior...played in the Colorado All-50 Game, features the state's top 50 prep players...honorable mention all-state as a sophomore...batted .509 with 32 RBIs in 19 games as a senior...drove in eight runs in his last game as a senior...went 8-0 and struck out 53 batters in 44 innings pitched on the mound as a senior...high school coach was Matt Buzckowski...played summer ball for the Colorado Jets, coached by Bernie Moncallo.
Mike Kazakoff - RHP - 6-0, 175 - Omaha, Neb. (Heritage HS - Littleton, Colo.): Lettered three years in baseball and one year in football...all-conference...Colorado Class 5A All-State...high school baseball coach was Scott Horman...played summer ball for the Colorado Khaos, coached by Jason Livernois...played for the Colorado Rockies Select Scout team as a junior...on the silver honor roll all four years.
Blair Kessler - OF - 6-0, 185 - Boerne, Texas (Boerne HS): Lettered three years in baseball...hit four homers and had a .528 slugging percentage as a senior...led Boerne to a Class 4A Region IV District 27 League title...high school baseball coach was Chuck Foster...played summer ball for the San Antonio Rebels, coached by Scott Cales.
Aaron Kurcz - RHP/OF - 5-11, 155 - Las Vegas, Nev. (Durango HS): Lettered four years in baseball and two years in soccer and cross country...all-conference pitcher and outfielder as a senior...high school baseball coach was Sam Knapp...played summer ball for Post 76, coached by Tom Appleyard.
Andrew Loyd - LHP - 6-1, 175 - Smith, Ark. (Van Buren HS): Lettered three years in baseball and one in cross country...Class 7A all-conference as a senior...was 6-2 on the mound as a senior and 4-2 as a junior...National Honor Society member...graduated Mu Alpha Theta...high school baseball coach was father, David Loyd.
Jack Lupo - C/OF - 6-1, 170 - Indianapolis, Ind. (Cathedral HS): Lettered three years in baseball and two in football...all-north and all-city...Indianapolis Star City Player of the Year...batted .384 as a senior and led Cathedral to 27-4 record and regional title...led team to Class 4A state title as a junior...first-team all-state, all-city and academic all-state in football...National Honor Society member...high school baseball coach was Rich Andriole...played summer ball for the U.S. Athletics, coached by Rob Barker.
Blair Roberts - IF - 5-10, 175 - Parker, Colo. (Chaparral): Lettered two years in baseball...two-time All-Continental League selection... helped lead Chaparral to District 7 title as a senior... two-time First-Team Academic All-Colorado...captain of the Chaparral Fellowship of Christian Athletes...high school baseball coach was Stave Eaton...played summer ball for the Colorado Khaos, coached by Scott Horman and Jason Livernois...also played for the Colorado Rockies Scout Team in the fall coached by David Bond and Brett Williamson
