2023 Incoming Class

Reese Mooney -  Mooney Came on Flames Nation's radar from Football first.  He was originally committed to Vanderbilt to play QB but wanted to give both sports a shot.  Depending on the publication, he's currently the top rated recruit in the football class with a .87 ranking on 247 sports He had over 30 football scholarship offers in Football.  Mooney is a SS/3B and won 1st team all district,  Mooney hit .342 with a .470 OBP including 9 doubles 3 triples, a homer and was 13-14 in Stolen Bases (our future QB can run a bit).  Mooney was rated the number 2 overall 3rd basemen in the state of Louisiana.  At one time, Mooney had committed to Houston to play baseball before it became clear he could play both sports at the D1 level.  

Brian Mclellin - The Flames recently picked up a commitment from Mclellin who was the starting SS at JUCO San Joaquin Delta where he hit ,358 with 3 homers and 35 RBI's to go along with 11 stolen bases.  Mclellin originally signed with Cal out of high school and made 12 starts in the 21 season at Cal.  This is a huge area of need for the Flames with Lazzaro, Wheatley & Mcneal all exhausting their eligibility or entering the transfer portal.  

Benjamin Blair - Blair was named 1st team Seminole District as a pitcher and was the Seminole District Pitcher of the year.  He sports a 10-0 record with a .51 ERA in 54 IP with 93 K's to just 26 BB's.  He's limited the opposition to .110 BA and has topped out at 94 MPH.  Blair looks to have the stuff to have a shot to be a starter for the Flames.  

Terry Kaler -Kaler was 1st team all SPC.  He's thrown 42 Innings this year with a 2.50 ERA and 79 K's to just 19 BB"s.  Kaler had a great offensive season as well but is expected to be pitch for the Flames.  

Maddex Labuda - Labuda is a 6'3 205 LB RHP from Boiling Springs, PA.  Labuda topped out at 93 MPH earlier in the Summer.  Labuda was also a part of the USA Prime National Program.  Maddex made first team all star for the Mid Penn Colonial Division.  He had a 1.48 ERA in 43 2/3 IP with 76 K's.  He was tied for #1 in the state in strike outs per inning at 1.8.  Labuda also won the Cy Young award for his high school which highlights the best pitcher.  

Jarrett Crabtree - Crabtree is an outfielder from Sanford NC where he attended Grace Christian.  He's hitting .451 with a homer and 18 RBI's.  He's a LH hitting outfielder that throws right handed and appears to have decent speed and an above average throwing arm.  

Brandon Clarke - Sounds like Clarke will spend another year in JUCO.  He was injured most of the Spring which has limited him to just over 5 innings. 

Bryce Dolby - Dolby was a highly touted RHP from the 2022 HS class out of Ashburn, VA.  He was ranked 10th in the state by Perfect Game and was a hard commit to Ole Miss.  It's not clear why the 6'5 205 LB right hander didn't end up at Ole Miss but I've been able to confirm from multiple sources that Dolby is at Liberty.  

Caleb Lingenfelter - Lingenfelter is a RHP from Roanoke College that had a really good season for the Maroons in 2022.  He unfortunately had an arm injury and is rehabbing but still plans to enroll with Liberty.  He could be a redshirt candidate depending on how long his recovery takes.  It's not known the exact injury suffered.  

Spencer Williams - is a JUCO LHP from Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville that pitched locally at Jefferson Forest.  Williams started out at Gardner Webb before heading to PHCC.  He features a 3 pitch mix that sits 88-90 and tops out at 91 mph.  He should be able to contribute immediately coming in from the JUCO ranks.  Liberty has done well from PH in the past with the likes of Trey Lambert among others.  Williams has thrown 20 IP this Spring at PH and has a 5.25 ERA.  He's averaging over 11 K/9 Innings.  

Josh Swink - Swink is a 6'1 160 LB LHP from Newton NC that throws in the Mid to upper 80's.  Swink is a crafty lefty that has excellent control and works both sides of the plate and excels at missing barrels.  Swink has a 1.70 ERA in just over 45 IP.  He has 72 K's to just 22 BB's.  

Jack Mcmullan - Mcmullan is a a 6'2 195 pound catcher from Miller School just outside of Charlottesville which is coached by former MLB fireballer Billy Wagner.  He also played on the Canes Scout U17 Team.  PBR had him at a 2.00-2.11 pop time.   Miller School has been a nice pipeline for the Flames over the year.  If your a college baseball fan the last name should sound familiar as Jack is the son of longtime UVA associate head coach Kevin Mcmullan who is beginning his 19th year with Brian O'Connor at UVA.  No stats available.  

Tanner Marsh - Marsh has had a huge senior season where he hit .570 with 8 HR's & 28 RBI's and a  .610 OBP.  Marsh is a middle infielder and moves into a potential position of need if he can translate quickly.  Liberty battled many of the top programs in NC to get a commitment from Marsh.  

Summer Additions - Both Juco & Portal 

Garret Mclaughlin - RHP from Weatherford College.  He sat 88-90 and also features a slider and changeup.  The slider has big sweeping break on it.  He had a 5.72 ERA in 50 1/3 IP but went 6 and 1 with 50 strikeouts.  He made 8 starts and had 1 save.  Weatherford is often one of the top 25 Juco's in the nation so he's certainly faced high level JUCO competition.  

Aidan Sweat - Sweat is a huge addition as he transfers in from North Florida where he hit .320 with 4 homers and 31 RBI's in the 23 season.  He was 4th on the club in total bases with 98 and had a .424 slug % and also stole 16/18 bases successfully.  He was 3rd team all ASUN this past year and was 2nd team all conference in 2022 when he hit .329 with 3 homers and 38 RBI's with 8 stolen bases.  He gives the Flames a proven hitter and also fills a spot that the Flames have struggled to find consistency at in second base post Will Wagner.  

Ben Roberts - Roberts is a USC Upstate transfer RHP with 2 years of eligibility left that's originally from Ontario.  He went 8 Innings and had a 9.72 ERA in 7 appearances that featured 8 strikeouts.  Another big kid at 6'4 that the Flames will try to get going under Coach Robinson's tutelage. He averaged 92 MPH on the Fastball and topped out at 96.  

Brandon Dahlman- Dahlman is a RHP transferring in from Queens from the ASUN.  He had a 9.78 ERA in 22 appearances spanning 23 Innings.  He did manage to go 4-1 and topped out at 94 MPH.  He's from Greenbrier Christian Academy down in the Chesapeake.  The Flames will look to harness his stuff heading into 24.  

Cale Bolton - Bolton is a 6'6 RHP with 2 years of eligibility left that is transferring in from Brunswick Community College.  He went 4 and 2 in 10 appearances including 5 starts.  He featured a 3.00 ERA with 33 strikeouts and a 1.30 WHIP.  

Noah Rabon - Rabon hit .287 with 0 homers and 17 RBI's and a .348 OBP in the 23 season for USC Upstate.  He also swiped 16 of 19 bases successfully.  Rabon was a 1st team all Big South player in the 2022 season as he hit .307 with 8 home runs and 56 RBI's.  Rabon can play some infield and OF and will very likely find his way in the lineup at various positions.  If he can find his way back to 2022 form the Flames will have another all conference performer in Rabon.  

Easton Amundson - Amundson is a big 6'3 corner infield transfer that's most likely to land at 1B from Lower Columbia College.  He had a monster sophomore campaign that saw him hit .314 with 10 homers and 52 RBI's from the LH side of the plate.  He has won player of the week honors once at Wenatchee in Summer League where has he has hit .261 with 7 homers and 26 RBI's.  Amundson was a 1st team all NWAC performer this past season and was recruited by Coach Cannon on his West Coast swing.