Rolando Gautier is a left handed pitcher/outfielder from Pennsauken, New Jersey. Gautier has four pitches: 4-seam fastball, 2-seam fastball, change-up, and curveball. Rolando has nice velocity on both his fastballs, reaching 90 miles per hour with his four-seam and mid-80’s with his two-seam. His two-seam fastball has excellent movement. When his fastball is working, Gautier’s change-up is one of his most effective pitches due in part to his excellent mechanics. His weakest pitch is his curveball, which he will have to improve if he wants to throw it at the college level.

In addition to being a force on the mound, Gautier is also a good position player. As might be expected from a lefty that throws 90, he has great arm strength from the outfield. He also possesses above average speed. At the plate, Gautier hit .500 last season and can go opposite field when necessary. Last season he was named to the South Jersey second team.

Pennsauken Head Coach Pete Nardello on Rolando Gautier:
What does Rolando need to work on most?
“He needs to most work on his mental game. He needs to improve as a team player and leader. He needs to work on controlling emotions during game, especially while on the mound and an error is committed.”

What his biggest strengths?
“Rolando’s greatest strength is his physical ability to play the game of baseball. He can hit for average and power. His fastball is dominant among high school players and his mechanics are great.”

Describe Rolando’s work ethic
“Rolando works very hard to improve himself. He does his best working out on his own. However, this year, he has been a great leader during pre-season conditioning workouts.”

Do you think he can contribute immediately as a freshman?
“Yes. He has incredible arm strength from the outfield, possesses above average speed, batted .500 last year as a junior in one of the toughest conferences in South Jersey and continues to improve as a hitter for both average and power, and pitches left-handed with a fastball near 90 mph. He is an outstanding baseball player”

Do you think he will spend more time as a pitcher or position player?
“Unless he can add more velocity to his fastball and develop his curveball/slider, he will undoubtedly be more effective as an outfielder. He is a tremendous outfielder and his bat is too valuable to neglect.”

Notes from Official Austin Peay State University Athletics Release
Career Notes: Under head coach Pete Nardello, was a left-handed pitcher and played outfield… at the plate, batted .500 with 11 doubles and three home runs… on the mound was 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA… second team All-South Jersey selection… first-team all-conference… selected to play on 2009 East Coast Professional Showcase… was one of three incoming APSU players (Chris Gili and P.J. Torres the others) who played with the South Florida Bandits.

Coach McClure’s Comments: “Rolando has very good control and great mound presence, things we look for in high school pitchers. He also has a great upside because of the looseness of his arm and his body type. I believe he has the chance to play a major role on both our pitching staff and as a position player as a true freshman. He is a very mature young man who I believe can handle both the physical and mental adjustments necessary to be successful immediately at the Division I level, and I have no doubt that the tools are in place to do so.”

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A.J. Walkenhorst
6′1″, 195 lbs.
Right Handed Pitcher
Fort Zumwalt South High School
St. Peters, Missouri

A.J. Walkenhorst is a right handed pitcher from St. Peters, Missouri. Walkenhorst’s fastball tops out in the high 80’s, but should approach 90 miles per hour by the end of spring workouts.. His best off speed pitch is a cutter that is especially tough on right handed batters. He has great command of all his pitches.

The two things Walkenhorst needs to work on are increasing the velocity on his fastball and getting stronger. He has already shown dedication to getting stronger, gaining 16 pounds between his sophomore and junior seasons. Walkenhorst heads into his senior season after an 8-2 junior campaign. He struck out 68 batters and finished with a 1.41 ERA.

St. Louis Pirates’ Video of A.J. Walkenhorst



Ft. Zumwalt South Head Coach Keith DeShurley on A.J. Walkenhorst:
Describe A.J.’s work ethic.
“AJ will get the most out of his talent. He will work hard everyday to get better. He realizes his focus on pitching can’t just be on the mound on gameday. The 4 days in between are important too. He definitely has the work ethic to succeed at the next level.”

Do you think A.J. can contribute immediately as a freshman?
“I have no doubt AJ can be an immediate contributor in some role. He’s got the mental game and depending how quickly he can adapt to college hitters might determine how big his role is right away.”

How familiar are you with the Austin Peay program and Coach McClure? What is your opinion of the program?
“Everything I have heard about the program is positive. Coach McClure’s record speaks for itself. He has made some positive connections in the St. Louis area. With everything AJ has shared with me about Austin Peay, I have confidence he is in great hands.”

Perfectgame.com on A.J. Walkenhorst
Perfectgame.com evaluated A.J. at two separate events in 2009. Here are their evaluations:

2009 National Showcase

AJ Walkenhorst is a 2010 RHP with a 6′0”, 180 lb. frame from St. Peters, MO who attends Ft. Zumwalt South HS. Medium athletic build with some strength. Slow paced delivery with pause at top, some effort in release, high 2-piece arm action. Mid 80’s FB, topped at 87 mph in the Metrodome, has some deception. Varies spin/shape on breaking ball, higher velo slider type break is sharper and later. Competes hard.

2009 Pitcher/Catcher Indoor Showcase

AJ Walkenhorst is a 2010 RHP/OF with a 6′0”, 182 lb. frame from St. Peters, MO who attends Ft. Zumwalt South HS. Medium build, good present strength. Slow paced delivery, accelerates to the plate, quick compact arm action, 3/4’s release, good life on mid 80’s FB when down in zone, topped at 86 mph. CB sharp with hard spin, good pitch, threw a couple of hammers. Pounds lower part of K zone, works quickly, workable change still developing. Polished pitcher with good stuff.

At these two events, Perfectgame.com rated Walkenhorst at 8.5 and 9, respectively. To give an idea of what this means, Perfectgame.com’s Rating Scale is shown below.

Perfectgame.com Rating Scale
10 — Potential very high draft pick, Top DI in the nation prospect
9 — Potential top 10 round pick, Top DI prospect
8 — Potential mid round pick, definite DI prospect

Notes from Official Austin Peay State University Athletics Release
Career Notes: Under head coach Keith DeShurley, compiled an 8-2 record and 1.41 ERA as a junior… in 69.2 innings pitched, struck out 68 batters and walked just 19… tossed shutout in district championship game… threw complete game, allowed one unearned run and struck out seven in state semifinal contest as team won Class 4 MSHSAA Championship… was a second-team All St. Louis Metro selection and a third-team all-state selection… was a one of two incoming players (Jordan Hankins the other) to play on St. Louis Pirates summer travel team run by former Govs standout Rick Strickland.

Coach McClure’s Comments: “I have seen A.J. pitch a lot and he has the ability to make a major difference in our starting rotation right away as a freshman. He is a competitor who comes right at you with everything he has and refuses to lose any battle. A.J. already understands what it takes to be successful on the mound.”"

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Matt “Mr. Clutch” Wollenzin (see video below) is one of two catchers signed by Austin Peay State University during the early signing period. Wollenzin, while throwing right-handed, bats left-handed. He hit over .559 last season on his way to being an Honorable Mention to the Denver Post Class 5A team. He was named the Jefferson County League MVP and was named as a league first team performer. He was also earned the Big Stick award at the 2009 Westminster Baseball Fever Classic.

Mr. Clutch earned his nickname in last season’s epic Colorado Class 5A District 4 championship game. Wollenzin hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. In the top of the 14th inning, Green Mountain fell behind by three runs and the game was suspended until morning due to darkness. The next morning, Wollenzin blasted a walk-off grand slam that sent his team to the state playoffs.

News Report of Matt’s Performance in the Colorado Class 5A District 4 Champsionship game

Green Mountain Head Coach Brad Madden on Matt Wollenzin:
What are Matt’s biggest strengths? What does he need to work on most?
“He is one of the best pure hitters I have seen in high school. He can hit for power and average. I think making the adjustment to college pitching will be a challenge but he will over come that very quickly.”

Describe his work ethic.
“Matt is a hard worker both on the field and off. He wants to do what ever it takes to be the best player possible.”

Do you think Matt can contribute immediately as a freshman?
“At the plate he could help this year so I expect him to be a immediate contributor in some way.”

Does he play any other sports?
“He has chosen to play only baseball but could have been a great football and basketball player if he would have went that direction.”

How familiar are you with the Austin Peay program and Coach McClure? What is your opinion of the program?
“I think Austin Peay is a program on the rise in a very competitive league and if they continue to get players of Matt’s caliber they will be on the rise quickly.”

ESPNRISE.com’s Andrew Knepper on Matt’s Performance at the Cincinnati Reds Area Code Tryouts
“A well-built catcher out of Green Mountain High School displayed raw power and good times behind the dish.”

Notes from Official Austin Peay State University Athletics Release
Career Notes: Under head coach Brad Madden, hit .559 with 10 home runs and 46 RBI in 20 games as a junior… was Jefferson County League “Most Valuable Player” and all-conference selection… selected to All-Colorado Class 5A honorable mention squad… hit walk-off grand slam in 14th inning of district championship game to advance Green Mountain to state tournament, also had a two-run home run in seventh inning of same game… was selected and played in 2009 Area Code Games.

Coach McClure’s Comments: “After seeing Matt play and having followed the progress of his junior season we feel Matt has the opportunity to come in and hit in the middle of the lineup and contribute heavily as a freshman. Matt – like P.J, our other catching signee – can really swing the bat and also hits for power. I feel confident about the situation we will have behind the plate with these two young men the next few years.”

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Zach Toney
6′3″, 215 lbs.
Left Handed Pitcher
Jones County Junior College
Ellisville, Mississippi

Zach Toney is a left handed pitcher from D’Iberville, Mississippi by way of Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Mississippi. He has four pitches: fastball, curveball, straight change up, and a split finger fastball. Toney has good velocity on his fastball for a lefty, topping out at about 90 miles per hour. His best pitches are his fastball, which he commands well on both sides of the plate, and his change up. Toney has improved his curveball recently, but will need to continue to work on it to get it where it needs to be.

Jones County Head Coach Christian Ostrander on Zach Toney:
“He is a fierce competitor who wants the baseball. He is a big strong physical kid that is durable. His work ethic is off the charts. He is mature and driven about his pitching and getting better. He is a model for everyone else.”

What is Zach’s ceiling? Do you think he has what it takes to be a pro?
“Zach has a lot more out there for him. His potential is pretty good. I can see a big difference in just one year in his development and know that will only continue at APSU and those coaches. I think he has a great shot at pro ball. Upper 80’s low 90’s lefties are a valuable commodity. Top that off with Zach as a person and you have a chance for something special.”

How familiar are you with the Austin Peay program and Coach McClure? What is your opinion of the program?
“I coached at Arkansas State University from 2002-2006 and am familiar with the program and Coach McClure because we recruited against them on a few kids while I was there. I know it is a regional contender year in and out, and for D 1 baseball that’s what you shoot for. I think they do a great job up there and it was a place I felt Zach would do well in.”

Notes from Official Austin Peay State University Athletics Release
Career Notes: Under head coach Christian Ostrander, led the Bobcats with a 10-1 record and 2.67 ERA… made 19 appearances, including 13 starts, throwing 77.2 innings… threw four complete games and also recorded a save… allowed just 72 hits, struck out a team-best 85 batters… was a first-team All- Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges selection and led team to school-best 33-16 mark… prepped at D’Iberville High School.

Coach McClure’s Comments: “Zach is a gamer. He wants the ball when the game is on the line. We feel Zach is going to play a big part in the future success of this program. He’s a blue-collar kid that has worked for everything he has achieved. Toney will command a fastball that will sit in the upper 80’s and will touch a lot of low 90s, a sharp two-plane slider that has gotten better every time out this fall, and a change-up that he can throw in any count.”

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