June 10, 2008

Contact: Greg Murphy

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Jimmy Cowhy (Kalamazoo, Mich) and Ryan Franks (Portage, Mich.), standouts for the last two seasons at Kalamazoo Community College, have signed national letters of intent to join the Cleveland State baseball program beginning in the fall of 2008.

In addition, high school standouts Matt Joseph (Toldeo, Ohio), Thomas Kazimer (Garfield Heights, Ohio) and Kevin Lesjak (Westlake, Ohio) are all slated to join the program in the fall.

"All five student-athletes fit well into our system and style of play," head coach Kevin Kocks said. "When you add these five players to the four we signed in the fall, it gives us a solid foundation for the future of the program at Cleveland State.

"Jimmy, Thomas and Kevin are three solid left-handers that will add to our already deep and talented pitching staff. Ryan can really swing the bat and has the potential to be a middle of the order guy, while Matt adds youth and versatility to our lineup."

A 5-foot-10 southpaw, Cowhy finished the 2008 season with a 3.60 earned run average and 28 strikeouts in 30 innings.

Franks, a 6-foot-3, 230 pound first baseman/outfielder, earned NJCAA All-Region XII honors after hitting .416 with 19 doubles, four homeruns and 46 RBI this spring.

Joseph earned all-league honors at Southview, while Kazimer, a 6-foot-4 lefty, posted a 2-4 record for Garfield Heights this spring in helping lead the Bulldogs to the district tournament.

Lesjak, who was named the Cuyahoga River Baseball Conference Pitcher of the Year, helped St. Edward High to the Ohio Division I State Championship by going 8-0 with 47 strikeouts. In a victory over top-ranked Lakota West in the state semifinals, Lesjak earned the win by working five innings, giving up three runs with six strikeouts.

CSU finished the 2008 season with a 22-31 and a fourth place finish in the Horizon League at 10-13.