SAN ANTONIO – UTSA baseball announced seven new members to its signing class as part of the early signing period, as released by head coach Jason Marshall on Tuesday.
"I am proud of the work that Coach (Jim) Blair and (Jake) Carlson have put in to this recruiting class and the seven young men that we've added to the program," Marshall said. "Each of these players bring a wide range of successes and careers that have set them apart at this point. I look forward to watching them flourish at the next level and seeing this program compete for championships for years to come."
The Roadrunner signing class features five junior college transfers and two high school seniors. The class makeup also includes two catchers, a pair of pitchers, one infielder, and outfielder and one utility player.
Clayton Hill
Pitcher | R/R | 5-10 | 180 | Nacogdoches, Texas | Hudson HS | Angelina JC
• Will play 2018 campaign at Angelina JC
• Named second-team Region XIV All-Conference as redshirt freshman
• 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA, 21 strikeouts and 10 walks allowed in 16 relief appearances and 31.0 innings as a redshirt freshman
• One-year letter winner at Hudson HS
• Helped team to third round of playoffs
• Son of Smith and Margot Hill
• Two brothers, Brigham and Smitty, and two sisters, Annie and Lauren
Gavin Machado
Catcher | R/R | 6-2 | 190 | Houston, Texas | Clear Brook HS
• Set to graduate from Clear Brook HS following 2018 season
• Three-year letter winner
• Twice helped team to playoffs
• Batted .450 with seven doubles, two triples and 28 RBIs as a junior
• Earned Distinguished Achievement for his academic prowess
• Son of Rafael and Aglaee Garcia
• Two brothers, Ray and Raydin, and one sister, Mya
Griffin Paxton
Infielder | L/R | 6-2 | 200 | West, Texas | West HS | McLennan CC
• Will play 2018 season at McLennan CC
• Batted .298 with six doubles, two triples, four home runs and 34 RBI as a freshman in 2017
• 2017 conference champions and NJCAA Championship qualifier
• Second-Team Academic All-American as freshman
• Four-year letter winner at West HS
• Two-time 3A State Champions
• Two-time first-team All-State Tournament Team
• Two-time first-team All-State
• 2016 State All-Star selection
• Two-time first-team all-district
• Son of Ken and Tina Paxton
• Two brothers, Mason and Easton
Trent Sholders
Pitcher | L/R | Angleton, Texas | Angleton HS | Alvin CC
• Will play 2018 season at Alvin CC
• Appeared in 13 games, including 1 start on the mound as a freshman
• 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 24.0 innings of work
• Averaged 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings in first year
• Three-year letter winner at Angleton HS
• Won 13 games on the mound in prep career, while hurling 124.2 innings
• Logged 10-2 record with three saves and 1.58 ERA, while striking out 73 batters as a senior
• 2016 District 24-5A Most Outstanding Pitcher
• Also earned 5A All-Houston Area MVP and first-team All-Brazoria County honors as a senior
• Named 5A THSBCA All-State All-Star and HABCA All-Star
• Tabbed second-team All-District 24-5A and honorable-mention All-Brazoria Country as a junior
• Selected as 2014 District 23-4A Newcomer of the Year
• Son of Charles and Lana Sholders
Shane Sirdashney
Outfielder | R/R | 6-1 | 175 | The Woodlands, Texas | The Woodlands HS
• Will graduate from The Woodlands HS following the 2018 season
• Three-year letter winner at The Woodlands HS
• All-Greater Houston First Team as a junior
• First-team all-district as a junior
• Helped team to Class 6A Region 2 State Quarterfinals in 2017
• Batted .330 with two home runs and 18 RBIs as a junior
• Academic All-District selection
• Son of Noel and Heather Sirdashney
• Father, Noel, pitched at Monmouth
• Two sisters, Skylar and Sidney, and one brother, Shepherd
Bryan Sturges
Utility | R/R | 5-10 | 205 | Katy, Texas | Seven Lakes HS | TCU | Howard JC
• Will play 2018 campaign at Howard JC
• Redshirted 2017 season at TCU
• Four-year letter winner at Seven Lakes HS
• 2016 Rawlings/Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American
• Second-team all-region
• Two-time first-team all-district
• Honorable mention all-district as sophomore
• Second-team All-Greater Houston as junior
• All-State honorable mention as junior
• Son of Arthur and Jill Sturges
• Two sisters, Artisha and Arianna, and one brother, Brock
Nick Thornquist
Catcher | R/R | 5-8 | 180 | Missouri City, Texas | Flower Mound HS | McLennan CC
• Will play 2018 season at McLennan CC
• Hit .367 with six doubles, one triple, four homers and 16 RBI at McLennan CC in 2017
• 2017 conference champions and NJCAA National Championship qualifier
• Academic All-State NJCAA as a freshman
• Three-year letter winner at Flower Mound HS
• 2016 second-team All-State
• Two-time first-team all-district
• 2014 6A State Champions
• Three-time district champions
• Son of Geno and Laura Thornquist
• One sister, Ava
More from head coach Jason Marshall
On the status of the program at UTSA…
"At UTSA, we have just scratched the surface on what we can be. The sky is the limit here and I think every head coach knows what the growth of our university, the city of San Antonio and our affiliation with Conference USA affords us. It allows us to dream at the highest levels of your sport. 928 Miles (the distance from this locale to Omaha) is not a pipe dream – it's a real dream that can happen right here on the 1604 Loop in San Antonio, Texas. And… it's exciting to me that the present and future Roadrunner Baseball players that have said "yes" to this opportunity realize this potential. There are many steps in the process and patience is virtue in watching an athletic department or athletic team grow. But, we have a lot to sell at UTSA and we are proud to represent our fans and former players each year and look forward to seeing this program reach it's potential."
On the current recruiting class…
"One of the enduring qualities that has kept coming up in this recruiting class was the quality of the kids and the families that I got a chance to sit down with and share our vision at UTSA. Great programs are no doubt built on really-good baseball talent but good people as well. And, fortunately I've had a chance to see most of this early signing class play and compete and I'm excited about these guys because I think they are going to win all over this campus. Coach Blair has been one of the best evaluators in our state for a long time and Coach Carlson has brought a non-stop work ethic on the field and on the recruiting trail. That's a great combination that I feel is going to result in some great teams soon."
On playing in Conference USA…
"One of the big challenges at UTSA is the challenge that Conference USA presents – we play in a great baseball conference. Outside of Rice and Louisiana Tech, we probably don't overlap except on rare occasion with many other teams in C-USA on the recruiting trail mainly because baseball recruiting is mostly regional and also the fact we live in a baseball rich state. But, it never fails that our C-USA brethren are recruiting very well and putting good teams on the field each year. When you think that out of the last 12 years, C-USA has been at least 5th in RPI out of 33 D1 conferences, it speaks to the quality of the league and just what your up against on the week by week basis in the spring."
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