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Nov. 14, 2012

PULLMAN, Wash. - Eight student-athletes have each signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at Washington State University beginning next fall, Cougar Head Coach Donnie Marbut announced, Wednesday. Seven of the eight are natives of the state of Washington.

The signees include shortstop Luke Stratman (Denver) as well as in-state additions Layne Bruner (Aberdeen), a left-handed pitcher, outfielder Cameron Frost (Olympia), first baseman Cole Johnson (Buckley), infielder/outfielder Wesley Leow (Anacortes), infielder Aaron Stroosma (Mount Vernon), left-handed pitcher Austin Strother (Bellevue) and catcher Stefan Van Horn (Puyallup).

"The state of Washington has some of the finest high school players, coaches and summer teams in the country, so it is our focus, especially in our last two recruiting classes," Marbut said. "Nobody values the state like we do and I don't see that changing. It's easier to build a team when you have recruits that are familiar with one another. When we do leave the state, it's for high impact recruits like the one we have this year and the players that are on our current roster."

Marbut added, "This class has balance, but it also covers our needs. Left-handed pitchers were a must and the two that we signed are outstanding. We needed some speed, which we found and we needed some right and left-handed hitting, and we found that. Our catching situation is no different. Our last four catching recruits have been part-time catchers in high school, but we feel when they commit to catching exclusively, they will be outstanding. Stefan Van Horn fits that to a tee."

A four-sport athlete at D'Evelyn High School, Stratman was recruited by Dallas Baptist, Gonzaga and South Carolina. He has been an all-conference performer in baseball, basketball and football and an all-state academic honoree in baseball, basketball, football and golf. Twice, he has been named Jefferson County 4A MVP on the hardwood. Last season on the diamond, he batted .391 with 37 runs and 15 stolen bases.

Frost competes at Olympia High School where he has been a two-time All-Narrows League selection, including a first team honoree in 2012. Recruited by Arizona State and Washington, he played on the 2012 Seattle Mariners Pro Cup Team and scout team. A member of the Perfect Game All-World Series Hitting Team in Peoria, Ariz., he participated in the 2012 WWBA World Championship for the Team Northwest Diamondbacks.

Johnson set the White River High School record for batting average (.515) as a sophomore and led the state with 92 strikeouts on the mound as a junior. A three-time all-league selection in baseball, he is a member of the school honor roll and was recruited by Oregon and Santa Clara.

Leow is an Under Armour Preseason All-American after leading Anacortes High School in home runs and RBI last season. Recruited by Gonzaga, Oregon State and Washington, he led his summer league team in hits, batting average, doubles, home runs and RBI. He is an all-league second team selection on the field and a three-time all-league academic honoree.

Stroosma will attend Bellevue College in 2013 after playing his prep ball at Sedro-Wooley High School. He has been named All-Northwest Conference First Team in baseball, basketball and football and is a two-time Washington State Baseball Coaches Association Second Team honoree. Recruited by Gonzaga, he was the 2012 Skagit Valley Herald Athlete of the Year and a member of the 2011 Seattle Mariners Scout Team.

A three-sport athlete in baseball, basketball and golf, Strother posted a 0.86 ERA last season and was named the Interlake High School Golden Spikes Award winner. A two-time All-KingCo 3A Fist Team selection in baseball, he was recruited by Oregon, Oregon State and Washington. Twice, he has led his team to the state playoffs. In 2012, he played for Taylor Baseball in the Seattle Premier League, the Seattle Mariners Scout Team and the Kansas City Royals Area Code Team.

Van Horn plays baseball, basketball and football at Rogers High School. Twice, he has been selected to the South Puget Sound League South 4A Second Team in baseball while earning first team honors as a quarterback and second team accolades as a defensive back on the gridiron. Recruited by Oregon State, he played for Taylor Baseball in the Seattle Premier League and the Kansas City Royals Area Code Team in 2012.