SAN DIEGO - Point Loma head baseball coach Joe Schaefer announced the addition of 15 newcomers to the Sea Lions' 2016 roster. The class includes two outfielders, four catchers, four infielders and five pitchers. 

Here is a look at each member of the 2016 PLNU baseball recruiting class:

Nate Bennett, 5'11", 195 lbs., RHP, Las Vegas, Nev./College of Southern Nevada
Bennett comes to Point Loma after a great run at College of Southern Nevada.  This past spring as a sophomore, Bennett went 6-1 with a 2.37 ERA in 19 appearances, helping lead the Coyotes to a 46-18 record.  He tossed 49 innings, striking out 48 while walking only six. He also held opponents to a .229 batting average. The Coyotes advanced to the district finals after winning the Scenic West Athletic Conference.  As a freshman, Bennett went 0-1 with a 3.71 ERA in 11 appearances. He logged 17 innings, striking out 17 and walked six. He was also a standout pitcher at Liberty HS in Las Vegas earning All-Sunrise Region honors as a senior.
Coach Schaefer says, "Nate is a big, strong kid with a ton of ability.  He has big game experience as both a starter and reliever.  He has excellent command of an upper 80s fastball as well as quality secondary pitches. Nate should come in and be one of the better pitchers on our conference."

Wyatt Champlin, 6'3", 180 lbs., OF, L/L, Hanford, Calif./College of Sequoias
Champlin comes to Point Loma via College of Sequoias in Visalia, Calif.  Wyatt had a tremendous freshman campaign helping the Giants to an appearance in the state championship game (2014).  That year he hit .329 with six doubles and 18 RBI. Champlin also had a stellar high school career at Hanford High School where, as a three-year starter, he hit .340 with 15 doubles, five triples and two home runs.  He also threw in 25 stolen bases and 56 RBI.
Coach Schaefer says, "Wyatt is a big, athletic left handed hitter who can play all 3 outfield spots.  He has power to all fields and has a very good approach. Wyatt will give us another solid left handed hitter in our outfield, and provide us with some speed as well."

Cole Coscino, 6'0", 185 lbs., C, R/R, Laguna Beach, Calif./Laguna Beach HS
Coscino comes to Point Loma from Laguna Beach High School.  As a senior, Coscino hit .349 with a double and 12 RBI. His finished his high school career with a .340 batting average. 
Coach Schaefer says, "Cole is a very good catcher with some offensive ability.  He is a strong kid who will continue to develop and become a very good player here at Point Loma."

Harley Glines, 6'0", 190 lbs., C, L/R, Yosemite, Calif./Fresno City College
Harley comes to Point Loma from Fresno City College. He appeared in 26 games last year for the Rams, helping them reach the state's Final Four. Glines saw most of his time at catcher and designated hitter as a sophomore for FCC. In high school, Glines hit .397 with five doubles. He also threw out 75% of attempted base runners on his way to being named all-league.  Harley's older brother Jackson was a recent draft pick of the Chicago White Sox (10th round) out of the University of Michigan.
Coach Schaefer says, "Harley is a work horse.  He is a great catcher and a great baseball mind.  He is a strong kid with a solid left handed swing that should play very well here at Point Loma."

Mike Gordner, 5'11", 190 lbs., C, L/R, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada/Scottsdale CC       
Gordner comes to Point Loma after helping lead the Artichokes to an NJCAA World Series appearance and a 33-27 overall record.  Last season, he hit .314 with 15 doubles, two triples and two home runs. Mike drove in 31 runs and scored 29 times. He was named second team All-ACCAC. As a freshman, Gordner hit .313 with five doubles, a triple and a home run.
Coach Schaefer says, "Mike is a strong and physical catcher.  He is a proven hitter at the college level and does a very good job defensively.  He knows how to win, and will be a big part of our lineup next spring."

Henry Gonzales, 5'10", 180 lbs., C, R/R, San Diego, Calif./San Diego Mesa College
Gonzales comes to Point Loma from nearby San Diego Mesa College.  He hit .333 in limited action last year for the Olympians. Gonzales also prepped locally at Saint Augustine High School.
Coach Schaefer says, "Henry has very good defensive abilities behind the plate.  With some offensive development he has the potential to be a good player here at Point Loma."

Kyle Gracey, 6'4", 180 lbs., OF, R/R, Double Oak, Texas/Marcus HS
Gracey comes to Point Loma from Marcus High School in Marcus, Texas.  Gracey hit .363 as a seniors and also slugged .545. He also threw in six stolen bases to help lead Marcus High School to a 21-9 record and a Bi-District Championship.
Coach Schaefer says, "Kyle is a big, strong, fast outfielder with a ton of potential.  He is still developing, and as he continues to polish his skills he is going to become a very good player."

Brandon Johnson, 5'10", 195 lbs., OF/P, L/L, Blythe, Calif./Palo Verde HS
Johnson come to Point Loma after an amazing high school career at Palo Verde HS.  As a senior, Johnson hit .590 with 10 doubles, two triples and three home runs.  He also had 20 RBI, 16 runs scored and 17 stolen bases. On the mound, Johnson went 3-2 with a 1.88 ERA. He tossed 26 innings, striking out 41 and only allowing 12 hits.  As a junior, Brandon hit .514 with nine doubles and four triples. That season on the mound, he tossed 63 innings with 79 strikeouts and a 2.65 ERA. Johnson was an all-conference player all four years at Palo Verde.
Coach Schaefer says, "Brandon is a very strong and athletic player.  He is an excellent pitcher who can get outs immediately at the college level. He is a good hitter who will continue to develop and get better.  He has a very bright future here at Point Loma."

Colby Kaneshiro, 5'11", 185 lbs., INF, R/R, Newhall, Calif./Hart HS
Kaneshiro comes to Point Loma from Hart High School in Newhall, Calif.  As a senior at Hart, Kaneshiro helped the Indians to a 20-9 record and a conference championship.  He hit .372 with three doubles and 17 RBI. He also stole eight bases and scored 12 runs. Kaneshiro helped lead Hart to an appearance in the CIF South Section DI Championship game this spring.  As a junior, Kaneshiro hit .373 with two doubles and a home run. Kaneshiro was an all-conference player both years for the Indians.
Coach Schaefer says, "Colby is a hitter. He is strong and has a great approach. He is athletic and plays a great 3B.  We are looking forward to seeing Colby develop over the next few years."

Harrison Ramey   5'10" 170 lbs.    INF     R/R      Lake Oswego, Ore./College of Southern Idaho
Ramey comes to Point Loma after two solid seasons at College of Southern Idaho.  Last spring, Harrison helped the Golden Eagles to a 31-24 record.  He hit .287 with eighth doubles and 34 RBI, along with 23 runs scored.  He was named second team All-Scenic West Athletic Conference.  
Coach Schaefer says, "Harrison is a very good defensive infielder who can play all three infield spots well. He has a lot of experience in a good JC conference, and should battle it out for one of our middle infield spots.  He can hit at this level and knows how to win."

Hayden Rodgers, 6'3", 225 lbs., RHP, Scripps Ranch, Calif./Scripps Ranch HS
Rodgers comes to Point Loma from Scripps Ranch High school where as a senior he helped the Falcons to a 16-15 record.  He went 5-0 on the mound with a 3.09 ERA in 54 innings pitched. Rodgers struck out 52 batters and held opponents to a .233 average.  As a junior, Hayden logged a 2.13 ERA in 62 innings pitched.
Coach Schaefer says, "Hayden is a big, strong, and durable pitcher.  He has a tremendous curveball to go with a mid-80's fastball.  He knows how to compete and should have a bright future here at Point Loma."

Derek Slate, 6'0", 180 lbs., INF, L/R, Merced, Calif./Los Medanos College
Slate comes to Point Loma after a great sophomore season at Los Medanos College.  Last spring, Slate hit .348 with nine doubles, 22 RBI, and 14 stolen bases. He also scored 18 runs while being named to the Bay Valley All-Conference Team.  Derek was a three-year varsity starter at Merced High School where he twice earned all-league honors after hitting .380 as a sophomore and .300 as a senior.
Coach Schaefer says, "Derek is a very versatile player that can play anywhere on the field.  He has great abilities as a middle infielder.  He is also a very good left handed hitter with some speed who fits our offense well.  He has had success at the college level and we look forward to him being a threat near the top of our lineup."

Travis Takata, 6'0", 175 lbs., INF, L/R, Athens, Texas/Athens HS
Takata comes to Point Loma from Athens High School in Athens, Texas. Takata had an excellent senior season hitting .420 with 10 doubles, three triples, and two home runs along with 31 RBI. Takata was named the Henderson County Player of the Year, as well as District 13-4A MVP, First Team Academic All-State, and First Team All-State 4A.
Coach Schaefer says, "Travis is a polished hitter with very good defensive actions.  He can play anywhere in the infield, and he can hit good pitching. He has a great approach and has leadership qualities.  He is going to become a big part of our program."

John Thomas, 6'2", 185 lbs., RHP, Las Vegas, NV/Allen Hancock College
Thomas comes to Point Loma via Allen Hancock College in Santa Maria, Calif. Last spring for the Bulldogs, Thomas made 12 appearances with two starts.  He tossed 33 innings on the year with a 3.82 ERA and 18 strike outs.  As a freshman, Thomas recorded a 1.69 ERA in six appearances for the Bulldogs.
Coach Schaefer says, "John is a solid reliever with a different look.  He can get big outs with his deception and arm angle and should be a key part of our bullpen."

Sam Thornton, 6'2", 170 lbs., RHP, Indianapolis, IN/Bishop Chatard HS
Thornton comes to Point Loma after a redshirt year at Cedarville University. Thornton prepped at Bishop Chatard HS in Indiana where he was a 3 year varsity starter as a pitcher and shortstop.  As a senior, Sam was selected to the Indiana State All-Star game, and also spent three seasons playing for the USA Kings summer team.
Coach Schaefer says, "Sam is a tall, lanky pitcher who is going to continue to develop as he grows into his frame and gets stronger. He has good command of three pitches, and as his velocity improves he should be a quality pitcher at this level."

The Sea Lions got back on the baseball field last week for workouts. Their Fall includes practices, conditioning, weights and the Green & Gold World Series. The PLNU baseball season officially opens on Feb. 5 at Chico State.