Lions Bring On Nine Newcomers
7/1/2021 3:00:00 PM | Baseball
Columbia has reloaded for the 2022 season with a talented recruiting class.
NEW YORK – Columbia baseball head coach Brett Boretti has added nine new student-athletes to the program for the 2022 season. The Lions' class of 2025 comes from five different states (California, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Texas and includes one from Canada (British Columbia).
"We are really excited about the Columbia baseball class of 2025," Boretti stated. "Although it was a very challenging year to recruit, I think we put together a tremendous group of young men that are going to continue to raise the bar for our program."
Miles Blackwell
C • 5-10 • 215 • R/R
Los Angeles, Calif. • Junipero Serra
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2021 graduate of Junipero Serra High School in Los Angeles … Named 2021 Perfect Game High Honorable All-American and California All-Region … Competed at USA Baseball Dream Series development camp.
PERSONAL: Born Dec. 5, 2002 … Son of Janet and William Allen Blackwell III … Has two siblings, Cassidy and Skya … Sister, Cassidy, played two years of softball at Hampton before transferring to the University of Bridgeport … Uncle, Michael Peacock, graduated with a master's degree in mechanical engineering in 1992 … Attended same high school as current New York Met Dominic Smith … Enrolled at Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Kyle Corso
INF • 6-3 • 195 • R/R
Wayne, N.J. • Wayne Valley
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2021 graduate of Wayne Valley High School in New Jersey … Team captain in 2021 … Named to New Jersey Baseball Coaches Association Senior All-Star team … Hit .383 with 20 RBI and 20 runs scored in 2021 … Second team all-conference and all-region selection … Earned Passaic County Championship in 2019 … Named NJ.com All-Group 3 in 2019 … Hit .280 with a .457 on-base percentage during sophomore season.
PERSONAL: Born January 23, 2003 … Son of Melissa and Kevin Corso … Has one older sister, Meghan, who runs on the track & field team at Davidson … Father, Kevin, played baseball at Castleton University … Enrolled at Columbia College.
Jagger Edwards
LHP • 6-1 • 185 • L/L
San Antonio, Texas • Reagan
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2021 graduate of Reagan High School in San Antonio … Four-year member of varsity squad … Won 2021 district championship … Team was ranked No. 1 in State by Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association in 2020 prior to season being canceled due to COVID-19 … Also competed with South Texas Sliders in travel ball, earning all-tournament selections at the 16U state tournament, west championships and WWBA Atlanta.
PERSONAL: Born September 12, 2002 … Son of Janeene and Shane Edwards … Has one sibling, Cash … Enrolled at Columbia College.
Anton Lazits
INF • 5-11 • 180 • R/R
Pittsfield, Mass. • Taconic
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2021 graduate of Taconic High School in Pittsfield, Massachusetts … Belted eight homers as senior and set school's career home run record … Won Western Mass. Division 3 Championship in 2021 … Earned Western Mass. Championship and state title in 2019 and reached the finals of each tournament in 2018 … Hit .388 with 1.247 OPS, five homers and 34 RBI as sophomore … Team captain in 2021 … Named MassLive Baseball Super 7 for Western Mass. as junior and MassLive Baseball First Team (All-Western Mass.).
PERSONAL: Born February 10, 2003 … Son of Stacey and Kurt Lazits … Has two siblings, Aubrey and Adam … Enrolled at Columbia College.
Andy Leon
SS/RHP • 6-1 • 190 • R/R
Sugar Land, Texas • Strake Jesuit Prep
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2021 graduate of Strake Jesuit College Prep in Houston, Texas … Earned Region 3 Most Valuable Player honors as senior … Team reached state semifinals … Named a Perfect Game Preseason All-American in 2021 … Picked up WWBA All-Tournament Team honors in 2020 … Was Perfect Game Underclassmen Preseason Underclassmen All-American in 2020 …
PERSONAL: Born June 5, 2003 … Son of Julie and Carlos Leon … Has two siblings, Nicolas and Lucas … Father, Carlos played football for University of Houston from 1987-91 where he earned GTE All-Academic and All-Conference honors in the Southwest Conference … Descendent of Perucho Figueredo, who wrote the Cuban National Anthem … Enrolled at Columbia College.
Griffin Palfrey
INF • 5-11 • 195 • R/R
Vancouver, B.C. • West Vancouver Secondary School
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2021 graduate of West Vancouver Secondary School in Canada … Led team to provincial titles in 2017 and 2018 and placed third at nationals in 2018 … Earned Art Wright Tournament Championship where he scored game-winning run on a steal of home in the semifinals and then pitched a complete-game in the finals … Named Provincial Final MVP and named to All-Star team sophomore year … Ranked as top shortstop in British Columbia's graduating class … Hit .280 with 27 RBI in 2019 … Also played hockey and competed against top prospect Connor Bedard.
PERSONAL: Born February 22, 2003 … Son of Karle and Jon Palfrey … Has one sibling, Grayden … Enrolled at Columbia College.
Will Parkinson
LHP • 6-3 • 210 • R/L
Tampa, Fla. • Berkeley Prep
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2021 graduate of Berkeley Prep in Tampa, Florida … Helped squad reach win district championship and reach 3A Regional title game … Two-time Perfect Game Preseason Florida Region Honorable Mention … Named 813Preps Player of the Week (Feb. 28, 2020) … Posted 3-0 record with 0.35 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 20 innings of work in COVID shortened junior season … Recorded 0.75 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 18.2 innings of work as sophomore.
PERSONAL: Born May 11, 2003 … Son of Heather Brock Parkinson and Ed Parkinson … Has one sister, Hannah … Father, Ed, played soccer and lacrosse at Washington and Lee … Founded Ks for Canines, a project that raised over $4,000 for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay … Attended same high school as NFL wide receiver Nelson Algohor … Enrolled at Columbia College.
Skye Selinsky
U • 6-1 • 200 • R/R
Aliso Viejo, Calif. • Mater Dei
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2021 graduate of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California … All-Trinity League first team honors as senior … Recorded a .290 batting average during sophomore year … Belted a pair of homers in varsity debut in 2019 … Competed against fellow Columbia teammates Derek Yoo and EJ Kreutzmann.
PERSONAL: Born August 15, 2002 … Son of Lauren and Steven Selinsky … High school teammate of fellow Lion AJ Valle … Enrolled at Columbia College.
AJ Valle
RHP/3B • 6-0 • 185 • R/R
Huntington Beach, Calif. • Mater Dei
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2021 graduate of Mater Dei Catholic High School in Santa Ana … Won league championships as freshman and sophomore … Earned freshman pitcher of the year honors … Pitched to a 1.06 ERA as junior.
PERSONAL: Born December 23, 2002 … Son of Aimee and Alex Valle … Has two siblings, Adam and Amanda … Mother, Aimee, played four years of college basketball at Long Beach State … High school teammate of fellow Lion Skye Selinsky … Enrolled at Columbia College.
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