Gazette-Times reporter

Oregon State loaded up on position players in its fall recruiting class, as only two of the nine players to sign letters of intent are pitchers. That helps the Beavers balance their roster somewhat, as last year's class was heavy on pitching.

"This recruiting class is just like the last couple we have had," OSU coach Pat Casey said Thursday in analyzing players who are projected to join the program for the 2010 season. "They are the best student-athletes we went out and found. They bring in the qualities we are looking for, not only on the field, but off it as well."

The Beavers signed pitchers Jeff Ames of Vancouver, Wash., and Tony Bryant of Kennewick, Wash.; catchers Parker Berberet of Yorba Linda, Calif., and Andrew Susac of Roseville, Calif.; infielder/pitcher Matt Boyd of Mercer Island, Wash.; infielders Ryan Barnes of West Linn, Danny Hayes of Roseville, Calif. and Tyler Smith of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and outfielder J.J. Turbin of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Berebet is a sophomore at Cypress College in Cypress, Calif. The others are high school seniors.

All come highly-regarded but the 6-foot-7, 215-pound Bryant, a right-hander from Kennewick High, might be special.

"We think Tony is as good a guy that we've ever recruited out of high school, as far as pitching goes," Casey said. "He wants to get better and has a passion to pitch in the College World Series. He could be a starter as a freshman; that's the kind of body he has."

Bryant was one of several top prospects the Beavers signed from Washington. He was rated as the No. 7 recruit in that state by BaseballNorthwest.com. First baseman/pitcher Matt Boyd of Eastside Catholic High in Mercer Island was rated No. 8 and right-handed pitcher Jeff Ames of Skyview High in Vancouver was rated No. 2.

Ames was ranked No. 4, Boyd No. 5 by the recruiting website pgcrosschecker.com.

BaseballNorthwest.com also ranked outfielder J.J. Turbin, a multi-sport athlete from Coeur d' Alene High in Idaho as the No. 3 player in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Turbin plays quarterback on the school's football team.

Susac and Hayes are teammates at Jesuit High in Roseville. Susac is ranked No. 9 in California and 30th nationally by pgcrosschecker; Hayes is ranked 44th in California. Susac is expected to play for the Corvallis Knights of the West Coast League in 2009, like OSU junior outfielder Logan Lotti did last summer after transferring from junior college.

"Andrew could be one of the best defensive catchers in the country, if not the best," Casey said. "He has a tremendous arm and a huge upside. If we had to go out and pick a catcher from around the country, this is the guy we'd get. He's going to be a leader."

Barnes played at West Linn, the same high school that produced former OSU stars Andrew Checkets and Cole Gillespie. He's considered the best in-state player by pgcrosschecker.com.

Casey said Hayes reminds him of Gillespie, who is the No. 3 prospect in the Milwaukee minor-league system who will most likely play at Triple-A in 2009 in his third season as a professional.

"He's playing shortstop right now," as Gillespie did in high school, "but will probably be a corner guy, Casey said. "(Hayes) has an opportunity to be one of the better players who comes here.

"He reminds me a lot of Cole: A great athlete who is physically going to develop, has the opportunity to play more than one position and has a knack to hit."

The Beavers expect to sign several more players during the fall period. For more comments on the signees, see osubeavers.com.