Dec. 21, 2007

Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham Head Baseball Coach Nick Restaino announced the addition of nine student-athletes to play baseball at Fordham University, starting with the 2009 season. The nine student athletes are catcher Eddy Villalta (Coral Gables, Fla./Coral Gables Sr.), pitcher Daniel Munday (Rockaway Park, N.Y./Xavier), pitcher Liam Ohlmann (Wallingford, Conn./Choate Rosemary Hall/Manchester CC), pitcher/infielder Jordan Grangard (Jupiter, Fla./Jupiter), infielder Brian Kownacki (Woodbridge, Conn./Amity Regional), infielder Ryan Maghini (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand), infielder Nick Martinez (Miami, Fla./Belen Jesuit Prep), outfielder Stephen McSherry (Red Bank, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy), and outfielder Willie Maione (Mendham, N.J./Seton Hall Prep).

"We are very excited about adding this group of young men to the Fordham baseball family," said Restaino. "Each individual comes from strong family roots, a solid educational background, and are all outstanding baseball players. This is a great class. We addressed our needs and have a very balanced recruiting class. Coach Reyes and the entire staff deserve a lot of credit for identifying quality student athletes that fit the Fordham profile on and off the field."

Villalta, a 5-10 catcher, is a four year varsity baseball player at Coral Gables Senior High School in Florida, and has served as team captain. He was named to the Under Armour High School Preseason All-American honors prior to his senior season. As a junior, he earned All-Dade County honors at catcher. In the classroom, Villalta is a multiple time member of the honor roll.

"Eddy is an energetic field leader, who controls the game from behind the dish," said Restaino.

Munday, a 5-11 pitcher, is a two-year varsity baseball player at Xavier High School in New York City. He was used primarily as a reliever as a junior, pitching 12 innings, but should be one of the starting pitchers for Xavier as a senior. In the classroom, Munday is a multiple time member of the honor roll.

"Daniel is loose with arm strength, throws three pitches for strikes, and has all the makings to be a quality pitcher," said Restaino

Ohlmann, a 6-0 pitcher, will be a junior college transfer from Manchester Community College in Connecticut. Last season for Manchester, he posted a 3.71 ERA and struck out 54 batters in 46 innings of work. In summer ball, he played for the Stamford Robins of the ACBL and received the Jeff Gallagher Award for Team Sportsmanship. Prior to Manchester, he was a four-year pitcher/first baseman at Choate Rosemary Hall, where he was team captain and a two-time All-Founders League selection. Ohlmann is very active off the field as he was honored by the Connecticut Community Colleges Board of Trustees for excellent work in the 2007 Connecticut General Assembly, while also earning Dean's List honors at Manchester.

"Liam is a power arm, who will only get better because he is a smart pitcher on the mound," said Restaino.

Grangard, a 6-4 pitcher/infielder, is a varsity baseball player at Jupiter High School in Florida, which was a ranked team in 2007. He earned All-Conference honors at third base in 2007, and was listed as a top high school player for the class of 2008 by PG Cross Checker. A member of the National Honor Society, Grangard has received Journalism awards from the Sun-Sentinel and the Palm Beach Post, and has served as sports editor and editor-in-chief of the school newspaper.

"Jordan has the tools to be a two-way guy for us. He can play third base, and on the mound he has a plus fastball and an excellent change-up," said Restaino.

Kownacki, a 5-10 infielder, is a three-year varsity baseball player at Amity Regional High School in Connecticut. He set school single season records for batting average (.500), hits (40), and doubles (12) at Amity. He earned CHSCA All-State honors and was named All-Area and All-State by the New Haven Register. An All-Star selection by The Connecticut Post, he helped Amity to two Southern Connecticut Conference Championships and served as team captain. Besides his play on the diamond, Kownacki is also an All-State, All-Area, and All-Star selection for hockey. Academically, he has earned the Class I and II awards, as well as the Social Studies Achievement Award from Amity.

"Brian is a great athlete, and we think he is an even better all around baseball player, who has tremendous skills in the infield," said Restaino.

Maghini, a 5-11 infielder, is a three-year varsity baseball player at Daniel Hand High School in Connecticut. Like Kownacki, he was also named to the CHSCA All-State team after hitting .494 with an on-base percentage of .500 and a slugging percentage of .722. He was also selected to the All-Hammonasett team, and earn team MVP and Hitter awards. In the classroom, Maghini is an honor student.

"Ryan has great hands, a great arm, and is a highly skilled infielder with power potential at the plate," said Restaino.

Martinez, a 6-0 infielder, is a two-year letterwinner for baseball at Belen Jesuit Prep in Florida. He hit .375 as a junior at one of the top private high school programs in South Florida, and is currently serving as team captain. The highly recruited prospect (St. John's, Georgetown, Maryland) played some travel ball along side fellow recruit, Eddy Villalta, and in the classroom, he is a Beta Club member.

"Nick has many tools, which includes a great glove with exceptional arm strength, and has a nose for the ball," said Restaino.

McSherry, a 5-11 outfielder, is a three-year varsity baseball player at Christian Brothers Academy in New Jersey. The left-handed batter was an American Legion All-Star as a senior, and played for Baseball U, one of the top sumer AAU programs in New Jersey. Away from the diamond, he is a member of the National and Spanish Honor Societies, and the National Society of High School Scholars.

"Stephen hits. He brings a lefty bat with a power stroke and has played a high level of baseball to date," said Restaino.

Maione, a 6-0 outfielder, is a two-year member of the varsity baseball team at Seton Hall Prep in New Jersey. He was a part of last year's 2007 National Championship team, as well as back-to-back Parochial A State Championships. In 2006, he received both the Most Valuable Hitter and Hustler awards.

"Willie swings the bat, runs the bases well, and has a head for the game," said Restaino.

Founded in 1841, Fordham is New York City's Jesuit University. With 22 men's and women's varsity sports teams, the Fordham Rams are members of the NCAA Division I and compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, indoor and outdoor track, women's rowing, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis and volleyball and in the Patriot League (NCAA I-AA) for football.