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SIGNING CLASS Josh Ake INF | R/R | 5-11 | 185 Readington, N.J. (Howard College)   Keach Ballard UTL | L/R | 6-0 | 172 Durant, Okla. (Murray State College)   Niko Buentello INF | L/R | 6-3 | 210 Lewisville, Texas (Lewisville HS)   Jake Elliott RHP | R/R | | 6-7 | 200 Coppell, Texas (Coppell HS)   Alec Hansen RHP | R/R | 6-7 | 210 Loveland, Colo. (Loveland HS)   Bryant Hodge RHP | R/R | 5-9 | 185 Moore, Okla. (Christian Heritage Academy)   Chris Kohler LHP | L/L | 6-3 | 205 Alta Loma, Calif. (Los Osos HS)   Trey Michalczewski INF | S\R | 6-3 | 200 Jenks, Okla. (Jenks HS)   Sheldon Neuse INF/RHP | R/R | 6-0 | 185 Fort Worth, Texas (Fossil Ridge HS)   Jacob Nottingham C | R/R | 6-3 | 210 Redlands, Calif. (Redlands HS)   Octavio Rodriguez LHP | L/L | 6-4 | 192 El Paso, Texas (Franklin HS)   Caleb Simpson RHP | R/R | 6-4 | 210 Norman, Okla. (Seminole State)   Kyle Stephens RHP | R/R | 6-4 | 200 Edmond, Okla. (Edmond HS)

NORMAN, Okla. - University of Oklahoma head baseball coach Sunny Golloway announced the addition of 13 student-athletes in the early signing period as part of the 2014 incoming class on Wednesday.

"I'm really excited about this signing class and the balance that it brings to our program," said Golloway. "Our coaching staff has done an outstanding job of filling our future needs. Although we understand that some of these young men will have an opportunity to sign a Major League Baseball contract, we feel we have projected well to keep our program in a strong position and have extremely talented student-athletes representing the University of Oklahoma for years to come."

The Sooners welcome 10 high school players for the '14 campaign, including three hailing from the state of Oklahoma. Right-handed pitcher Bryant Hodge (Moore, Okla./Christian Heritage Academy), infielder Trey Michalczewski (Jenks, Okla./Jenks HS) and right-handed pitcher Kyle Stephens (Edmond, Okla./Edmond HS) will represent the Sooner State by sporting the Crimson & Cream.

OU's out-of-state high school recruits include infielder Niko Buentello (Lewisville, Texas/Lewisville HS), right-handed pitcher Jake Elliott (Coppell, Texas/Coppell HS), right-handed pitcher Alec Hansen (Loveland, Colo./Loveland HS), left-handed pitcher Chris Kohler (Alta Loma, Calif./Los Osos HS), infielder/right-handed pitcher Sheldon Neuse (Fort Worth, Texas/Fossil Ridge HS), catcher Jacob Nottingham (Redlands, Calif./Redlands HS) and left-handed pitcher Octavio Rodriguez (El Paso, Texas/Franklin HS).

Oklahoma also added three junior college standouts for the 2014 season, including infielder Josh Ake (Readington, N.J./Hunterdon Central Regional HS/North Carolina/Howard College), utility player Keach Ballard (Durant, Okla./Silo HS/Murray State College) and right-handed pitcher Caleb Simpson (Norman, Okla./Norman North HS/Seminole State).

"We're very excited about the strength of our incoming recruiting class," said recruiting coordinator Jack Giese. "There's no question that all of these young men have a chance to come in and have an immediate impact on our program. Not only will they have an impact on the field, but their high character and work ethic will ensure that they contribute to the University of Oklahoma in the classroom and in our community as well."

View brief bios on each of the signees below (listed in alphabetical order).

Class Breakdown

 Photo Gallery
High school: 10 | Junior College: 3
By State: Oklahoma-5, Texas-4, California-2, Colorado-1, New Jersey-1 
By Position: Pitcher-7, Infield-3, Catcher-1, Utility-1, Two-way-1

Josh Ake

INF | R/R | 5-11 | 185 
Readington, N.J. (Hunterdon Central Regional HS/North Carolina/Howard College)

• Selected by the New York Mets in the 29th round of the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
• Four-year letterwinner who helped guide Hunterdon Central Regional High School to back-to-back state championships in 2008 and '09 under head coach Mike Raymond.
• Son of Linda and Jim Ake.

Keach Ballard

UTL | L/R | 6-0 |172 
Durant, Okla. (Silo HS/Murray State College)

• Letterwinner under head coach Zach Crabtree at Murray State College.
• Hit .370 with seven home runs and 31 RBIs and earned all-conference and all-region honors in 2012.
• Helped lead Silo High School to three straight state championships under head coach Billy Jack Bowen.
• Earned honorable mention all-state honors in 2010 in addition to three straight all-district selections.
• Hit .455 with 14 homers for his prep career. 
• Placed 10th at the state golf championship in 2007.
• Son of Keach and Marlia Ballard. Father played baseball at Arkansas. 

Niko Buentello

INF | L/R | 6-3 | 210
Lewisville, Texas (Lewisville HS) 

• Named 2012 Denton County MVP by Vype Magazine at Lewisville High School under head coach Mike Campbell.
• Three-time all-district selection. 
• .387 hitter who holds school record with 20 career home runs. 
• Played travel ball for the D-BAT Mustangs Carpenter, helping the squad qualify for the Connie Mack World Series.
• Also plays basketball.
• Son of Adolfo and Julie Buentello. Lists mother, who is battling breast cancer, as inspiration.

Jake Elliott

RHP | R/R | 6-7 | 200
Coppell, Texas (Coppell HS)

• Earned co-pitcher of the year and first team all-district honors in 2012 at Coppell High School under head coach Kendall Clark. 
• Posted six pitching victories and two saves with a 1.51 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 92 strikeouts against just 25 walks in 2012.
• Also played for the D-BAT Mustangs Dow-17 under head coach Pat Leach, going 4-1 with a 1.47 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 48 strikeouts against only 12 walks.
• Son of Jamie and Kathy Elliott.

Alec Hansen

RHP | R/R | 6-7 | 210
Loveland, Colo. (Loveland HS)

• Lettered under head coach Jake Marshall.
• Competed in the Area Code Games-Cincinnati Reds.
• Also plays basketball and football.
• Son of Nick and Debbie Hansen.
• Enjoys snowmobiling in his free time.

Bryant Hodge

RHP | R/R | 5-9 | 185 
Moore, Okla. (Christian Heritage Academy)

• Named Amateur Baseball Report's National Player of the Year in both 2010 and '11 at Christian Heritage Academy under head coach Clint Littlejim
• Also named United States Specialty Sports Association First Team All-American in 2009 and '10 and was named to the national team in '10, '11 and '12.
• Also competes in basketball and football.
• Son of Lewis and Willeen Hodge.
• Has made mission trips to Mexico.

Chris Kohler

LHP | L/L | 6-3 | 205
Alta Loma, Calif. (Los Osos HS)

• Earned Under Armour All-America honors at Los Osos High School under head coach Chris Romero.
• Competed in the Under Armour All-America Game in Chicago as well as the Area Code Games-Milwaukee Brewers.
• Three-time all-conference honoree and all-state honorable mention in 2010.
• Did not play high school baseball as a sophomore or junior due to transferring. Played in a spring league run by Amateur Baseball Development instead. 
• Son of Richard and Michelle Kohler. 

Trey Michalczewski

INF | S/R | 6-3 | 200 
Jenks, Okla. (Jenks HS)

• Three-year letterwinner who earned All-Frontier Conference honors at Jenks High School under head coach Dennis Keeley.
• Helped lead Jenks to back-to-back conference and regional titles in 2011 and '12.
• Also competed for D-BAT Mustangs Dallas, Team USA Tournament of the Stars, Area Code Games-Chicago White Sox, Midwest Select and Perfect Game National.
• Also earned three letters in football.
• Honor roll student.
• Son of Kenny and Pam Michalczewski.

Sheldon Neuse

INF/RHP | R/R | 6-0 | 185 
Fort Worth, Texas (Fossil Ridge HS)

• Three-year letterwinner who earned district's newcomer of the year honors as a freshman and defensive player of the year honors as a sophomore at Fossil Ridge High School under head coach Doug Dulany.
• Also competed in the Perfect Game All-American Game and Area Code Games and was on the Junior Olympic Team that won gold in Mexico.
• Also played football.
• Son of Shane and Laura Neuse.

Jacob Nottingham

C | R/R | 6-3 | 210 
Redlands, Calif. (Redlands HS)

• Three-year letterwinner who earned first team all-state, all-county and all-league honors in 2011 at Redlands High School under head coach Estevan Valencia.
• As a sophomore in 2011, hit .442 with a .531 on-base percentage and .772 slugging percentage to go along with five home runs and 47 RBIs - the most runs driven in by any catcher in the state of California that season.
• Earned Perfect Game Preseason All-America and Rawlings All-Prospect Team distinction.
• Also earned three letters in football.
• Son of Greg and Blanca Nottingham. 

Octavio Rodriguez

LHP | L/L | 6-4 | 192 
El Paso, Texas (Franklin HS)

• Owns over 100 career strikeouts and a 1.98 ERA at Franklin High School under head coach Andy Powers.
• Earned High Honorable Mention All-America honors from Perfect Game in both 2011 and `12.
• Named Oakley All-American and El Paso All-District in 2012 after garnering New Balance All-American accolades in 2011.
• Also competed for the D-BAT Mustangs Dallas.
• Spent majority of life playing in Mexico, where he pitched a shutout in the championship game of the country's most prestigious tournament in Merida, Yucatan.
• Son of Merced and Dora Rodriguez.

Caleb Simpson

RHP | R/R | 6-4 | 210
Norman, Okla. (Norman North HS/Seminole State)

• Letterwinner at Seminole State under head coach Lloyd Simmons.
• Four-year letterwinner who twice earned all-state and all-conference honors at Norman North High School under head coach Brian Aylor.
• Son of Bill and Sheila Simpson. 

Kyle Stephens

RHP | R/R | 6-4 | 200
Edmond, Okla. (Edmond HS) 

• Three-year letterwinner who earned first team all-city honors and helped lead Edmond High School to a state crown in 2012 under head coach Carl King.
• Son of Jeff and Denise Stephens.