LSUS Baseball Adds Trio of Local Talent

Two former Byrd Yellow Jackets and a state champion from Evangel will join Al Cantwell's club in 2014. Last season the Pilots finished with an NAIA national ranking.

Mark Cantrell of the LSU-Shreveport Sports Information Department released the following report.

PILOTS ADD TRIO OF LOCAL TALENT TO 2014-15 ROSTER

 SHREVEPORT, La. – LSU Shreveport Pilots baseball program has added three local players to next year’s roster as Head Coach Al Cantwell announced the signing of Alex Montero and Dylan Knotek, two of his former players from C. E. Byrd High School as well as Scotty Harvill, a former Evangel Eagle. Harvill and Montero will both be competing in their junior season while Knotek joins the Pilots as a true-freshman.

“This addition to the local talent coming to LSU Shreveport is very exciting as we try to build a resume not only among players in our area but the entire Shreveport-Bossier Community,” said Coach Cantwell. “We like to think we can match up against any school in our state and be very competitive. Moving forward the local talent of the Shreveport-Bossier area won’t be leaving without LSUS putting forth 100% of their efforts to give these local kids something to be proud of and a reason to stay home.”

Harvill transfers from the Northern Oklahoma College-Enid Jets where he was their first guy out of the bullpen, more times than not, ranking 30^th in the nation with 19 relief appearances. “It means a lot to me to be back home playing for the premier college team,” commented Harvill. “I’m excited to continue my baseball career here and can’t wait to get to work.” As the Jets workhorse, 17 of his appearances consisted of two or more innings of work and in eight outs he went more than four innings with his longest outing of the year came against Murray St. on May 2 of 7.1 innings of work.

This past season for the Jets, Harvill logged 67.1 innings in just 19 appearances posting a 3-2 record with a 4.95 earned run average with 58 strikeouts and only a dozen walks.

The former Evangel Eagle is a 4.0 Pre Med major and looks forward to getting to work in the classroom and on the field at LSUS. He was named the State Championship Game Most Valuable Player in 2013 as he tossed a one-hitter leading Evangel to a 2-0 victory over University High of Baton Rouge. The only hit he allowed in that game was an infield single.

“We are excited to have a guy with the character and makeup of Scotty Harvill,”added Coach Cantwell. “It is extra special to have a player representing Coach Hulett and Evangel. He brings a different look on the mound for us and will be an exciting edition to our bullpen.”

Montero will transfer to the NAIA power from Cisco College where he comes off a pair of good seasons with the Wranglers earning all-conference honors compiling a top 50 batting average in the country at .399 while hitting one long ball and driving in 47 runs and scoring 26 runs. He recorded an OPS (on base percentage + slugging percentage) of 1.021 while earning a total of 28 free bases with 17 walks and 11 HBPs.

“By playing at Byrd I learned how to be a responsible in and out of the field,” remembered Montero. “Also, I gained most of my strength from there. At Cisco College I learned that consistency of hard work and effort will take you to the top. Now me becoming a LSUS pilot, I hope that by combining the Byrd and Cisco experience I will become a solid mature player.”

“Alex is a Division I caliber/professional prospect that can be a difference maker for us in the middle of our lineup,” added Coach Cantwell. “The combination of Montero with the other hitters in our lineup will complement each other in a very explosive way. On a personal level it is always a great feeling when you have a player return back to the program. He is a special talent on the field and a very special young man off the field.”

Montero brings a GPA of 3.0 while one day aspiring to become a strength and conditioning coach at a baseball academy to help players get drafted to the Major Leagues.

It will be a little while before Knotek will see time on the mound as he will redshirt the 2015 season as he recovers from surgery. This right handed pitcher played three seasons for Coach Cantwell at Byrd and is excited to be reunited with his former high school skipper, “It’s an honor to be back with Coach Cantwell,” said Knotek. “I’m really excited to get started with the Pilots.” He has a 3.0 GPA with plans on majoring in Biology at LSUS as he plans to one day be a dentist.

Knotek’s best season at Byrd was the 2012 campaign as he logged 34 innings surrendering 31 hits with 21 strikeouts and only 17 walks supported by a perfect 5-0 record and a 2.88 ERA in 10 appearances.

“It was bitter sweet leaving Byrd and not having a chance to see fourth year players like Dylan finish his high school career,” remembered Coach Cantwell. “We are very excited to mark our third Byrd alumni to be on our roster. We are looking to see him progress on the mound to reach and exceed where he was in the 2012 season at Byrd prior to his injury.”

LSUS now has a total of 11 players from the surrounding area including five of the eight signees this summer.