Nov. 19, 2009

Contact: Greg Murphy

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Frank Dufour, Paul Durbak, and Bryce Smetana join junior college transfer Randon Henika as early signees with the Cleveland State baseball program.

Head coach Kevin Kocks made the announcement on Thursday (Nov. 19) afternoon.

"Overall, this is a very solid recruiting class, which coupled with last year's strong class, continues building the foundation for this program to compete for a Horizon League Championship and NCAA regional berth in the very near future," Kocks said. "These are quality young men and players who will immediately fit in and positively impact our program."

Dufour, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound third baseman from Twinsburg H.S, is expected to compete for a corner infield or corner outfield spot, while Durbak, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound right handed pitcher from Rootstown H.S., brings a live arm to the program. He has been clocked as fast as 89-91 on the radar gun.

Smetana, is a 6-foot-3, 210-pound dual role athlete from Berkshire H.S. who hit .450 with five home runs and 30 runs batted in as a junior, and will compete for time in the infield and outfield for the Vikings.

Henika, a 6-foot, 180-pound shortstop from Jackson C.C. (MI), was drafted in the 47th round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft by the Cleveland Indians in June. He attended Kansas State as a freshman before transferring to Jackson C.C. Henika, who hit .341 with six doubles, one triple, five home runs, 30 RBI and 18 steals as a senior, retains three years of eligibility for the Vikings and is expected to immediately compete for the starting shortstop position.

The CSU baseball team is slated to begin the 2010 season on Feb. 19, 2010 at UNC-Greensboro.