PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State baseball signed 11 student-athletes to a National Letter of Intent to join Washington State next fall, head coach Marty Lees announced Wednesday.
 
The Cougars signed outfielder/right-handed pitcher Brody Barnum (Vancouver, Wash./Skyview HS), infielder Mason De La Cruz (Auburn, Wash./Thomas Jefferson HS), infielder Anthony Felix (Tucson, Ariz./Pima CC), right-handed pitcher Avery Jones (Gig Harbor, Wash./Gig Harbor HS), outfielder Collin Montez (Marysville, Wash./Marysville Getchell HS), left-handed pitcher Conner Nantkes (Aurora, Colo./Cherokee Trail HS), left-handed pitcher Michael Newstrom (Puyallup, Wash./Puyallup HS), left-handed pitcher Dylan Orlando (Las Vegas, Nev./Palo Verde HS), right-handed pitcher Hayden Rosenkrantz (West Jordan, Utah/Cottonwood HS), outfielder Isaiah Smith (Battle Ground, Wash./Battle Ground HS) and infielder Jack Smith (Mercer Island, Wash./Mercer Island HS).
 
"I would first like to thank our whole staff for their hard work over the past few months. Associate Head Coach, Dan Spencer and Assistant Coach Jim Horner have done a fantastic job in identifying our needs and building on the great 2016 class of players," Lees said. "This is a great day for Washington State Baseball! We believe we found a very good mix of players who are winners.  We can see tremendous upside in all of them and believe there is real potential to be great. This group of players will fit well with the current players in our program and is a good mix and balance in all pitchers and position players. In our second year as a staff we want to continue to lay the foundation of Washington State Baseball and the style of baseball we want to play. This group is not only good from the standpoint of skill, but more important in that they bring energy, passion, toughness and grit."
 

	Barnum (6-3, 215) is an outfielder/right-handed pitcher out of Skyview High School in Vancouver, Wash. and is a three-year letterwinner for coach Seth Johnson. Barnum is a two-time All-Greater Saint Helen's League first-team selection as a utility player and was also selected to play for the Royals Area Code Team in 2016 with fellow Cougar signees Mason De La Cruz, Michael Newstrom and Isaiah Smith. Barnum also earned first-team All-League punter honors and second-team All-League accolades as a quarterback. His dad, Bruce is the head football coach at Portland State University.   Coach Lees on Barnum… "Brody is a big strong kid who will have a chance to pitch and play outfield for us! He shows a strong arm in the outfield and on the mound. He also shows the power as a hitter that we are excited very about!"
	De La Cruz (6-0, 170) is an infielder out of Thomas Jefferson High School in Washington and is a three-year letterwinner for coach Joe Townsend. The Auburn, Wash. native earned All-North Puget Sound League honors and first team All-City as a junior after hitting .400 with four doubles, seven stolen bases and 23 runs scored while committing just two errors in the field. He was selected to play for the Kansas City Royals Area Code team in 2016 with Cougar signees with Brody Barnum, Michael Newstrom and Isaiah Smith.  De La Cruz is also a four-year letterwinner playing quarterback for TJHS, earning All-NPSL first team honors as quarterback and defensive back as a junior. His dad, Nick, played baseball at Oregon State in the early 1990's and was later drafted by the Cleveland Indians and his uncle, Shane was a wide receiver at WSU in the early 1990's with Drew Bledsoe.   Coach Lees on De La Cruz… "Mason was our first commitment in the 2017 class. I believe Mason could be the best infielder in the Northwest for this class. He shows the ability to be a high level Pac-12 middle infielder. Mason is a tremendous athlete who will add the quality depth to our infield we are looking for.  He has the potential to play early in his career here at Washington State."
	Felix (5-10, 185) will be a sophomore at Pima Community College in Pima, Ariz. for coach Jason Hisey. The Tucson, Ariz. native was named a Division II Gold Glove nominee at second base with a fielding percentage of .979 with 94 putouts and 89 assists. He hit at a .390 clip with 13 doubles, two homers and 35 RBI while playing with current Cougar infielder Ryan Ramsower.   Coach Lees on Felix… "Anthony is our only junior college recruit. He is a high level, polished, second baseman and will provide a middle of the order bat that we want. He is tough, plays hard, and is a winner!"
	Jones (6-6, 205) is a right-handed pitcher out of Gig Harbor High School in Washington and is a three-year letterwinner for coach Peter Jansen. The Gig Harbor, Wash. native helped GHHS to an 18-8 overall record including a 10-2 mark in the South Sound Conference as a junior, earning second-team All-Narrows League honors. As a sophomore, helped his club to a 21-7 overall record. Jones also played summer ball for Narrows Baseball Club for coach Jon Fuller.   Coach Lees on Jones… "Avery is a big right-handed arm that we project to do big things for us.  Avery's best days are ahead of him and we can't wait for him to be in a Cougar uniform!"
	Montez (6-2, 200) is an outfielder out of Marysville Getchell High School in Washington and is a three-year letterwinner at MGHS for coach Max Whitt. As a junior, Montez hit a team-best .404 with two home runs, five doubles, 14 runs scored and 12 RBI. Montez in and all-around athlete, rushing for a state-best 2,016 yards as a sophomore before earning first-team All-WesCo honors as a running back last season.   Coach Lees on Montez… "Collin is a big, strong, fast, left-handed hitting outfielder who shows great power potential and can play all three outfield positions. He is the type of kid that we want to represent this baseball program."
	Nantkes (6-2, 180) is a left-handed pitcher out of Cherokee Trial High School in Aurora, Colo. and is a three-year letterwinner for coach Alan Dyer. Nantkes is a two-time first-team All-Centennial League selection as a sophomore and junior, earning first-team All-State honors last season after posting a 1.62 ERA with 51 strikeouts win 56.1 innings pitched. Nantkes helped CTHS to a 5A state title after firing a two-hitter in the championship game. Nantkes dad, Kurt was a 32nd round draft pick by the Oakland Athletics out of high school and he later played quarterback at UNLV (2001-04).   Coach Lees on Nantkes… "We think Conner is a high-end left-handed pitcher who has also been a very successful high school hitter. We love his potential on the mound and believe he can have an immediate role on this team."
	Newstrom (5-9, 205) is a left-handed pitcher out of Puyallup High School in Washington and is a two-year letterwinner for coach Marc Weise. Newstrom is a two-time All-South Puget Sound League selection, earning All-State first-team honors as junior last season after posting a 1.20 ERA in nine appearances, going 2-2 and striking out 54 in 35 innings of work while allowing just 14 hits. Last summer, he was selected to play for the Kansas City Royals Area Code team with fellow Cougar signees Brody Barnum, Mason De La Cruz and Isaiah Smith.     Coach Lees on Newstrom… "Michael is in our opinion, is the best left-handed pitcher in the Northwest! He comes from a perineal power in Puyallup High School for coached by Marc Weise and pitched very well in the Area Code games this past summer.  We believe he can, and will be a starter in our program."
	Orlando (6-1, 185) is a left-handed pitcher out of Palo Verde High School in Las Vegas and is a three-year letterwinner for coach Joe Hallead. Orlando posted a 3.36 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 22 innings pitched as junior last season and owns a high school career record of 11-4 with 133 strikeouts in 98 innings in three varsity seasons. Orlando was also selected as a Perfect Game All-American the last two years and played travel ball for CBA Marucci, the third-ranked travel team in the country in 2016, coached by Jon Paino.   Coach Lees on Orlando… "Dylan is a left-handed pitcher who we believe can have an immediate role here at Washington State! He has a wipe out breaking ball and is a strike thrower."
	Rosenkrantz (6-3, 175) is a right-handed pitcher out of Cottonwood High School in Utah and was a three-year letterwinner for coach Jason Crawford at Centennial High School in Las Vegas. Last year as a junior at Centennial HS, Rosenkrantz earned second-team All-State as a utility player and was a first-team All-Southern Nevada pitcher after going 7-2 with a 3.13 ERA with 71 strikeouts in 69.1 innings pitched. He also recorded a batting average of .402 with six doubles, five triples and 22 RBI in 122 at-bats. Last summer he was selected to play for the Cincinnati Reds Area Code team. He will attend Cottonwood High School in West Jordon, Utah this season.   Coach Lees on Rosenkrantz… "Hayden is right-handed arm that we believe can be a future starter here at Washington State!  He has the ability to throw three pitches for strikes and is a very good competitor! He will be in good hands at Cottonwood High School this spring."
	Isaiah Smith (6-2, 200) is an outfielder out of Battle Ground High School in Washington and is a three-year letterwinner for coach Billy Hays. Smith is a three-time All-Greater St. Helens League selection, earning All-State second team honors as a sophomore and All-State first team accolades as a junior. The Battle Ground, Wash. native was also selected to the Baseball America National All-Area Code Team played for the Kansas City Royals Area Code team with fellow Cougar signees Brody Barnum, Mason De La Cruz and Michael Newstrom last summer.  Smith's uncle, Stu Singleton was a former second-round pick by the Chicago White Sox.   Coach Lees on Smith… "Isaiah is another very good athlete that we believe can play immediately. He is a big body that can run and shows the ability to have future power. He played as good as anybody in the Area Code games this past summer and I think he can play all three outfield positions for the Cougs."
	Jack Smith (6-3, 180) is an infielder out of Mercer Island High School in Washington and will be a three-year letterwinner for coach Dominic Woody. Smith enters his senior season a two-time All-KingCo honorable mention selection as sophomore and junior, helping MIHS to a 3A state title as sophomore and a 20-5 KingCo League title as a junior after hitting .302 with four doubles, 14 RBI and 18 runs scored. This fall, played in the Perfect Game WWBA World Championships in Florida and was selected to the All-Tournament Team after hitting .571 with seven RBI.   Coach Lees on Smith… "Jack has continued to get better every time we see him. He is a good infielder and hitter right now but believe there is more in the tank. Jack plays shortstop for his high school, has a strong arm and I believe he will project to be a third baseman here."