COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State baseball coach Bob Todd announced the addition of six new student-athletes to the baseball program today. New to the team are: outfielder Joe Ciamacco (Hilliard, Ohio and Hilliard Davidson H.S.), infielder Ryan Cypret (Powell, Ohio and Olentangy Liberty H.S.), infielder Brad Hallberg (Barron, Wisc. and Barron H.S.), first baseman Zack Nowland (Delaware, Ohio and Rutherford B. Hayes H.S.), pitcher Ross Oltorik (Cincinnati and Archbishop Moeller) and outfielder Michael Stephens (Fullerton College and Victor Valley H.S., Calif.).
“We liked the potential that we saw in these players when we were recruiting them and our thoughts haven’t changed now that they are on campus going through some drills,” Todd, who is entering his 22nd season as Ohio State head coach, said.
Five of the six are currently practicing with the team. One player – Oltorik – is a first-year member of the Ohio State football team. He won’t practice with the baseball Buckeyes until the start of spring drills Feb. 1.
Fall practice will continue through Oct. 18. The best-of-five Scarlet and Gray World Series will start Monday, Oct. 13.
The 2008 Ohio State Baseball Recruits:
Joe Ciamacco
Outfield
Freshman
L-R, 5-11, 180
Hilliard, Ohio
Hilliard Davidson
A second-team all Central District and honorable mention all-Ohio Capital Conference (OCC) Buckeye Division in 2008 ... Honorable mention all-state in 2007 and 2008 as selected by the Ohio High School Coaches Association ... second-team OCC as a sophomore in 2006 ... Hit .395 with seven doubles, two triples, 30 runs, and 21 RBI with 33 stolen bases...team’s leading base stealer in 2006, 2007, 2008 and team leading run producer in 2006 and 2007... helped Davidson win 2006 Division I Ohio state football championship with a key 50-yard kickoff return and an interception in final three minutes of regulation...Davidson won title, 36-35, in double overtime to cap 15-0 season...the son of Kathy and Vince Ciamacco.
Ryan Cypret
Infielder
Freshman
R-R, 5-10, 165
Powell, Ohio
Olentangy Liberty H.S.
A four year varsity infielder and three year varsity football quarterback ... first-team all District in 2007 and two-time all-Ohio Capital Conference (OCC) Buckeye Division in both football and baseball... in three years had 83 hits, 56 runs and 48 RBI... hit .433 with 25 RBI as a senior and .414 with 25 RBI as a junior ... missed all of senior season after undergoing Tommy John surgery... an all-state and Division II district Player of the Year after passing for 1,558 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushing for 588 yards and five touchdowns as a senior ... the son of Greg and Sue Cypret.
Brad Hallberg
Infielder
Freshman
R-R, 5-10, 180
Barron, Wis.
Barron H.S.
Four year varsity infielder ... first-team all-Heart of the North Conference in 2008 ... leading hitter and pitcher during conference championships ... hit .556 with 35 hits, 10 doubles, two triples, four home runs, and no strikeouts in 2008 ... third-team Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association all-state pick in 2008 ... second-team all-state in 2006 and was only sophomore selected to all-state first or second team ... member of WBCA Wisconsin all-star team and chosen to team Wisconsin for Midwest Baseball Classic ... a four-year varsity athlete in baseball and basketball, three-year competitor in soccer, and played one year of football ... son of Monti and Julie Hallberg.
Zack Nowland
Infielder
Freshman
R-R, 6-1, 200
Delaware, Ohio
Delaware Hayes H.S.
Four year varsity first baseman... Named Div. I first-team Mizuno all-Ohio in 2007 and 2008... named first-team all-Ohio Capital Conference (OCC) Buckeye Division in 2006, 2007, and 2008... Member of Team Ohio for the Sunbelt Classic... Hit .420 with 10 doubles, four triples, four homeruns, and 29 RBI as s senior ... team was 2007 Central District champion ... Valedictorian of his senior class ... son of Jason Nowland and Sandee Lee.
Ross Oltorik
RHP/Outfielder
Freshman
R-R, 6-1, 200
Cincinnati, Ohio
Archbishop Moeller
No. 3 rated senior in Ohio by The Buckeye Scout ... four-year varsity pitcher and designated hitter ... named an all-Greater Catholic League (GCL) outfielder in 2008 ... hit .369 with 13 extra base hits, 22 runs scored and 26 RBI ... also was 6-1 with a 2.38 ERA on the mound with 54 strikeouts in 35.1 innings ... pitched two complete games for a Moeller team that was 25-6 and finished seventh in the final 2008 Ohio state poll and made the Division I state tournament ... named first-team all-GCL as a junior after batting .385 with 22 RBI, ... 2-2 with a 1.79 ERA as a junior ... hit .453 as a sophomore and was 5-0 with a 2.75 ERA ... named honorable mention all-GCL in 2006 ... a member of the 2008 Ohio State football team (quarterback) ... son of Shelley and Dennis Oltorik.
Michael Stephens
Outfielder
Junior
R-R, 6-1, 205
Victorville, Calif.
Fullerton College
Junior College transfer from Fullerton (Calif.) College...2008 all-American... Hit .426 with 72 hits, 46 RBI, five homeruns, and 17 doubles as a sophomore in 2008 ... named first-team all-Orange Empire Conference in 2008 ... hit .289 with 25 RBI and eight stolen bases as a freshman at Fullerton ... four-year starter in high school for the Victor Valley Jack Rabbits.... 2005 and 2006 all-area and member of the Dodger Elite Team in 2005... Desert Sky League Champions in 2003, 2005, and 2006 ... son of Mark and Lisa Stephens.
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