Hempstead, NY - Hofstra University Baseball Coach John Russo announced the signing of eight student-athletes to National Letters of Intent during the recent signing period. Joining the Pride in September 2020 will be Steve Harrington, Steven Kaenzig, Danny Kelleher, Tristan Nemjo, Michael O'Hanlon, Matt Pelcher, Will Scarola, and Taiyo Ueda. 
 
"We are very excited about this recruiting class," said Coach Russo. "Coach Wessinger and Coach Nation did a great job addressing our needs, both at the plate and on the mound. The 2020 class positions us well for a strong future. This group also brings a high level of character to our program and will be strong representatives of our University and team on and off the field."

 

Steve Harrington	UT	6-0	190	Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson
Steven Kaenzig	RHP	6-0	170	Hammonton, NJ/Cedar Creek
Danny Kelleher	RHP	6-4	210	Rockville Centre, NY/South Side
Tristan Nemjo	UT	6-4	200	Troy, NY/Tamarac
Michael O'Hanlon	RHP	6-1	185	Glendale, NY/Xaverian
Matt Pelcher	C	5-10	167	Merrick, NY/IMG Academy (FL)
Will Scarola	OF	6-1	190	Glen Head, NY/North Shore
Taiyo Ueda	IF	5-10	165	Tokyo, Japan/American School in Japan

 
Steve Harrington
Utility, 6-0, 190
Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson
High School Coach: Dave Kennedy
 
High School: Attends Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark, New Jersey…Entering his third varsity season…Named to the 2018 and 2019 first team all-conference and All-Union County…Recorded 29 hits and 21 RBIs in 2018 and 33 hits and 31 RBIs in 2019…Named a Rawlings Pre-Season Underclass All-America Honorable Mention in 2019…Named to the 2019 Perfect Game Top 500 Ranking for the Class of 2020…Was team Most Valuable Player in 2019…Honor student…Personal: Son of Michele and Kyle Harrington…Has one brother…Father played collegiate baseball at Monmouth University…Aspires to work in major league baseball in analytics and scouting…Took part in a home run derby to raise money for a family friend with cancer and was able to raise $8,000…Intends to major in business at Hofstra.

Coach Russo on Steve Harrington: "Steve is a very intriguing bat for us in this class. He has an innate ability to find the barrel and drive the ball to the gaps. Throughout the recruiting process we grew more and more excited about him due to his eagerness to learn and improve."
 
Steven Kaenzig
Right Handed Pitcher, 6-0, 170
Hammonton, NJ/Cedar Creek
High School Coach: Ryan Flannery

High School:Attends Cedar Creek High School in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey…Is entering his fourth season of varsity baseball…Named Cedar Creek Most Valuable Pitcher and Team Most Valuable Player as a sophomore after compiling a 2-2 record, with 27 strikeouts and a 1.35 ERA in 31 innings pitched…Was 2-1 with a 0.55 ERA as a junior in 26 innings of work…Earned Underclassmen Coaches Award as a freshman and the Code of Conduct Award as a junior…Personal: Son of Linda and Steve Kaenzig…Has two brothers and one sister…Sister, Brooke, was on the rowing team at Saint Joseph's, and brother, Charles, played baseball at Widener…Plans to major in psychology at Hofstra. 

Coach Russo on Steven Kaenzig: "Steven is a young man who has completely reinvented himself as a pitcher. He has worked tirelessly to increase his velocity to pair with his great pitch ability and bulldog mentality. Steven has a chance to help us as a freshman."
 
Danny Kelleher
Right Handed Pitcher, 6-4, 210
Rockville Centre, NY/South Side
High School Coach: Tom Smith

High School:Attends South Side High School in Rockville Centre, New York…Has played baseball and soccer…Earned all-league accolades as a junior in baseball…All-Nassau County selection in soccer as a junior after posting 11 shutouts in goal…Honorable mention all-county pick in soccer as a sophomore…Recorded 71 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched as a junior…Earned South Side's Cy Young Award as a junior…Personal: Son of Kristin and Dennis Kelleher…Has two sisters and one brother…Sister, Grace, plays lacrosse at Bloomsburg University…Donates his time as a coach in a challenger baseball league for children with special needs…Traveled to Barcelona with his soccer team to compete in an international tournament…Plans to major in business at Hofstra.

Coach Russo on Danny Kelleher: "Danny is a two-sport athlete that possesses one of the highest ceilings in the class. He is on the young side for his class and has bright days ahead of him. A soccer goalkeeper during the fall, Danny is a true game changer, both on the pitch and on the diamond."
 
Tristan Nemjo
Utility, 6-4, 200
Troy, NY/Tamarac
High School Coach: Kevin Onorato

High School:Attends Tamarac High School in Troy, New York…Has played baseball, football, soccer, basketball, and golf…Two-time All-Wasaren League selection at third base…Named to the ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Team in 2019…Albany Time Union Small School All-Star selection in 2019…Tamarac Most Valuable Player in 2019…Earned first team all-conference in football this past season at quarterback and punter…Was also Tamarac's Offensive Player of the Year…Batted .588 with a school record 11 home runs as a junior…Led New York State with 11 home runs…Personal: Son of Hilke Kayser and John Nemjo…Has one brother…Father played baseball at Florida Southern from 1977 to 1979…Won his middle school's eighth grade spelling bee…Aspires to play professional baseball.

Coach Russo on Tristan Nemjo: "Tristan is a two-way player that has the potential to display an electric arm and bat. He led New York State in home runs last season and is just tapping into his power on the mound. Tristan should fit in nicely and add a presence on both sides of the ball for us."
 
Michael O'Hanlon 
Right Handed Pitcher, 6-1, 195
Glendale, NY/Xaverian
High School Coach: Frank Del George 
 
High School: Attends Xaverian High School in Brooklyn, New York…Has played baseball for three years and participated in track and field for two years…Member of the 2018 CHSAA Varsity "AA" Intersectional Baseball Championship team…Named 2019 Reliever of the Year, leading the CHSAA in saves and ranking sixth in ERA…Personal: Son of Michele and Brian O'Hanlon…Has one sister and two brothers…Aspires to become a professional baseball player or own his own business.

Coach Russo on Michael O'Hanlon: "Michael is the type of recruit that coaches strive for. He possesses great toughness and comes right at you with his heavy fastball and hard slider. Off the field he is more mature than many his age, which should allow him to hit the ground running once he arrives on campus."
 
Matt Pelcher
Catcher, 5-10, 167
Merrick, NY/IMG Academy
High School Coach: Joe Jordano
 
High School: Is currently in his second year at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida…Previously attended Sanford H. Calhoun High School (NY)…Played three years of baseball at Calhoun and was the first player to make varsity as an eighth grader in Calhoun history…Batted .386 with a .400 on-base percentage in 17 games on the IMG National Black team before suffering a season-ending injury…Started every game while at Calhoun…Calhoun's Rookie of the Year in 2016…Batted .368 with 22 runs and 16 walks as a freshman…Batted .412 with 29 runs, 23 walks, and 15 stolen bases as a sophomore and earned All-Nassau County honors…Personal: Son of Robin Sepe and Rich Pelcher…Has one sister…Father played collegiate baseball at St. John's University…Uncle, Frank, was a professional bodybuilder…Aspires to own his own business…Intends to major in entrepreneurship at Hofstra.

Coach Russo on Matt Pelcher: "Matt is someone that has been committed to us for a while and we knew that we had a good one at a young age. He is very solid defensively and athletic behind the plate, with great contact ability up at bat. We are excited for what his versatility can allow him to do for our program."
 
Will Scarola
Outfield, 6-1, 190
Glen Head, NY/North Shore
High School Coach: Steve Lineman

High School:Attends North Shore High School in Glen Head, New York…Has been a member of the baseball, football, and basketball teams…Has ben an All-Nassau County selection in baseball and football, and an all-conference pick in football and basketball…Batted .411 as a junior with four home runs, 21 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases…Hit .400 as a sophomore with two home runs, 17 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases…Recorded 900 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions in 2019 as a slot back/cornerback on the football team…Averaged 9.5 points per game as a junior on the basketball team…Honor student…Personal:Son of Alyssa and Paul Scarola…Has one sister and one brother…Uncle, Tom Cassese, played football for the Denver Broncos in the AFL…Uncle, Bob Ricca, was the head coach of the St. John's University football team for 29 years…Plans to major in criminology at Hofstra.

Coach Russo on Will Scarola: "Will is another multi-sport athlete that uses his athleticism as a weapon in the outfield and on the base paths. Will is a fierce competitor that has a contagious energy about him and we could not be happier to have him as part of this great class."
 
Taiyo Ueda
Infield, 5-10, 165
Tokyo, Japan/American School In Japan 
High School Coach: Greg Garrison/Aaron Rogers

High School:Attends the American School In Japan…Has been a three-year varsity starter in baseball…Also runs cross country…Earned first team all-area, all-region and all-state accolades in 2019…Batted .561 with eight home runs, 34 runs, and 40 RBIs…Was a member of Japan's U12 and U15 National Teams, winning a bronze and silver medal, respectively, at the 2013 and 2016 Baseball World Cup…Member of the 2019 D1 Far East Baseball Tournament gold medal winning team…Named Best Hitter at the 2019 D1 Far East Baseball Tournament…Personal:Son of Tamaki and Koji Ueda…Has two siblings…Father ran track and field at Sophia University from 1992 to 1996…Born in Brazil…Aspires to play professional baseball…Plans to major in business at Hofstra. 

Coach Russo on Taiyo Ueda: "Taiyo was a late addition to the class and one we are happy we were able to lock down. Taiyo plays his high school ball in Japan, where his discipline and approach to the game show in his style of play. Look for Taiyo to make an impact for us in the middle of the diamond."