ELON, N.C. – The Elon University baseball team announced that five players recently signed to play for the Phoenix in 2017. Joining the team next year will be outfielder Zach Evers (Arlington, Tenn. / Arlington HS / Jackson State CC), right-handed pitcher George Kirby (Rye, N.Y. / Rye HS), left-handed pitcher Dean McCarthy (White Plains, N.Y. / Harrison HS), infielder Joe Satterfield (Greenville, S.C. / J.L. Mann HS) and right-handed pitcher Andrew Tovsky (Alexandria, Va. / TC Williams HS).
“We are very excited about this class,” said Phoenix head coach Mike Kennedy. “We targeted specific needs as well as players we felt both fit where we want to go with our program and that can come in and immediately compete at a high level.”
Evers, who is 5’11” and 185 pounds, spent his freshman season at Jackson State Community College where he hit .307 and led the team with 14 doubles and 13 stolen bases. He scored 53 runs, hit nine home runs and drove in 36 while posting a .426 on-base percentage in 2015. Evers played his prep ball for coach Chris Ring at Arlington High, earning all-region honors and helping the team to a 2012 state title. As a member of the Memphis Tigers team, Evers was named to the Perfect Game all-tournament team in the summer of 2012. Zach is the son of Jason and Jennifer Evers.
Kennedy on Evers: “Zach blends a combination of speed and power that we feel fits nicely into our offensive style. He is an above average defender in the outfield and brings toughness along with a championship pedigree to our program. We believe he can hit anywhere from leadoff to fourth in our line up.”
Kirby, who is 6’4″ and 195 pounds, collected all-section, all-state and all-metro team honors following his junior season for coach Mike Bruno’s Rye squad. Perfect Game ranks him as the number two right-handed pitcher in the state of New York. The team won a 2015 league crown and was a sectional finalist. The previous season, Kirby helped the team to a section title and a New York state finals appearance. Kirby was a 2014 academic honor roll honoree. George is the son of former SUNY Delhi pitcher George and Linda Kirby.
Kennedy on Kirby: “We are excited to have an arm the quality of George’s stepping into our program. He is a tremendous talent who will make an immediate impact in our program. George is a top-of-the-rotation arm who will be a difference-maker for our program.”
McCarthy, who is 6’0″ and 180 pounds, was a 2015 all-state, all-tournament and all-league pick for coach Marco DiRuocco’s Harrison program. According to Perfect Game, McCarthy is the 14th-rated left-handed pitcher in the state of New York. He was also a 2015 honorable mention all-section honoree. During his junior season, McCarthy struck out 49 hitters in 39 innings and posted a 1.25 ERA. That year, the team advanced to the second round of the section playoffs. The four-year starter has served as a team captain twice. McCarthy participated in the 2015 Perfect Game WWBA National Tournament with Team Citius, placing third out of the 336 teams participating. Dean is the son of former University of Rhode Island baseball player Gregory and Jennifer McCarthy.
Kennedy on McCarthy: “Dean fits an immediate need as a left-handed pitcher and will compete for innings right away. He has an above average breaking ball and is a great competitor. We look forward to his arrival on campus.”
Satterfield, who is 6’1″ and 185 pounds, hit .356 with 28 RBI and 26 runs scored during his junior season for coach Brian Simpson’s J.L. Mann program. He is rated as the number two third baseman in the state of South Carolina by Perfect Game. Following his junior campaign Satterfield was named his team’s MVP and alsoc picked up all-region team accolades. He hit .550 and led the team in RBI, runs scored, slugging percentage and on-base percentage in the 2015 postseason, helping his team to a region title and state runner-up finish. Last year, Satterfield picked up Diamond Prospects all-tournament and golden glove honors. He was named to the 2015 Palmetto Games team. As a member of the Upstate Mavericks Scout Team, Satterfield hit .340 with 14 RBI and 16 runs scored in 2015 and earned all-tournament accolades at teh 17U Perfect Game East Cobb Invitational and the WWBA World Championship. The previous year he hit .438 with 24 RBI and 30 runs scored as he picked up all-tournament honors at the Perfect Game East Cobb Invitational, the Perfect GAme WWBA East Memorial Day Classic and the 16U Perfect Game East Cobb Invitational. His play helped the team to a championship at the 2014 Perfect Game East Cobb Elite Underclass, a third-place showing at the 2014 Perfect Game WWBA East Cobb Memorial Day Classic and a fifth-place finish at the 2014 Perfect Game East Cobb Invitational. The 2014 Upstate Mavericks Scout Team ranked 14th nationally by Perfect Game. Joe is the son of Joe and Kristina Satterfield.
Kennedy on Satterfield: “We are excited about the advanced skill level Joe brings both offensively and defensively. He has hit at every level and plays a very good third base. We expect he will do the same here and compete right away in an Elon uniform.”
Tovsky, who is 6’5″ and 230 pounds, earned first-team all-conference honors and honorable mention all-region honors following the 2015 season. Perfect Game rates him as the number 12 right-handed pitcher in the state of Virginia. In 2014, Tovsky’s performance helped him earn second-team all-league accolades while playing for coach Chris Metz’s TC Williams squad. The team advanced to the 2015 region quarterfinals. Andrew is the son of Robert Tovsky and Kelly Signs. His brother Aaron plays baseball at Davidson College.
Kennedy on Tovsky: “Andrew is a big right-hander who brings a ton of upside. He has a souind delivery and creates a very good down angle. There is no reason Andrew shouldn’t compete for innings right away.”