Baseball Inks Six to National Letter-of-Intents for 2008 Season

12/6/06 -- Long Island University baseball coach Don Maines announced today that the Blackbirds have signed six players to National Letters-of-Intent. Couri Benz (Park Ridge, Ill.), Eric Hinkle (Ocean Township, N.J.), Matthew Joiner (Hamilton, N.J.), Michael Kaminski (Somerville, N.J.), Sam Sciamarelli (Brick, N.J.) and Brian Wabick (Palos Park, Ill.) will all join the Long Island roster for the 2008 season.

Benz is a powerful right-handed pitcher from Oakton Community College in Oakton, Ill. The Raiders were ranked as high as fourth in the National Junior College Division II poll in 2006 under head coach Bill Fratto. Benz struck out 54 hitters in 44.2 innings, finishing 19th in the country. He worked closely with Oakton pitching coach Larry Lewis, who was a 1981 draft pick of the New York Yankees.

Benz was a two-time all-state selection at Lane Tech High School in Illinois where he played for Jeff Szukala. He was also named the Chicago Public School Player of the Year and an Illinois High School Baseball Coaches’ Association selection. Benz also played football in high school, earning all-state honors as a quarterback. He led Illinois in touchdown passes as a senior with 18, totaling 41 for his career while being named the Old Spice Red Zone Player of the Year in 2005. Benz will major in liberal arts.

Hinkle, a left-handed outfielder who could also see time on the mound, is a run-producing middle-of-the-order hitter. He was a New Jersey Second Team All-State honoree in 2006 while playing for Del Pra at Ocean Township High School. Hinkle has also garnered All-Jersey Shore and All-Monmouth County honors. He played his summer ball for the Teaneck Titans, who were coached by Leon Matthews. Hinkle, who will be a journalism major, also played for the Baseball Warehouse and head coach Keith Connolly.

Joiner is a powerful left-handed hitter who will split time between first base and the outfield. He was a three-year starter for head coach Bill Langdon at Nottingham (N.J.) High School. Joiner was a two-time First Team All-Colonial Valley Conference selection by the Trentonian Times. He hit .480 as a sophomore with five home runs and a team-leading 35 runs batted in. Joiner has also spent time playing for the 2005 and 2006 Carpenter Cup team, as well as the North Trenton American Legion team, coached by Roger Moore.

Kaminski, an athletic and versatile infielder, will look to make an immediate defensive impact for Long Island. A three-year starter at Somerville (N.J.) High School, Kaminski was twice named Defensive Player of the Year. He is a two-time First Team All-Skyland Conference Selection and was also named to the All-Somerset County Second Team twice. As a freshman, Kaminski earned Rookie of the Year and Third-Team All-Somerset County honors. He has also spent time playing for the Super 17 for coaches Jack Cust and Keith Dilgard, as well as the New Jersey DiamondJacks and the Tri-State Arsenal. Kaminski is a three-year Honor Award recipient. He earned the prestigious Bateman Award for community service and good citizenship. He intends to pursue a business degree at LIU.

Sciamarelli is a speedy, solid defensive center fielder. He was an All-Monmouth County selection in 2006 while playing for head coach Ray Ellis at Point Pleasant Beach (N.J.) High School. In addition, he played summer and fall ball for former LIU player Bob Parks and his Baseball Parks of America team and was an all-star selection in Monique Koehler's Jersey Shore Summer/Fall Leagues. Sciamarelli has been a member of the honor roll for three years. He will major in business and plans to be a member of the University Honors program upon his arrival at Long Island.

Like Benz, Wabick is a hard-throwing right-hander who will play at Oakton. Wabick, who figures to play a role in the Blackbirds’ rotation, will play his sophomore season at Oakton before coming to Long Island. He played his freshman season for head coach Todd Post at Kankakee (Ill.) Community College, finishing tied for fourth in the nation in saves with 10. Wabick pitched 28 innings, recording 30 strikeouts while allowing only one walk. He played his high school ball at Alonzo Stagg (Ill.) High School, where he was an all-city and all-state selection. Wabick will major in business.