UNCG baseball inks eight recruits during early signing period

GREENSBORO, NC – UNC Greensboro head baseball coach Mike Gaski announced Monday the signing of Matt Bjorkstrom, Jared Cozart, Robert Gilliam, Joel Johnson, Shane Moye, Corey Overholtzer, Alex Shelton and Chris Vinyard as part of the National Letter of Intent program’s early signing period.

Bjorkstrom, a product of Butler High School in Charlotte, is expected to hit in the two hole while solidifying a spot in the Bulldogs’ starting rotation.  Prior to his stint at Butler High School, he was an all conference performer at Oak Ridge Military Academy where he posted a .489 batting average.  Over the summer, Bjorkstrom played for the Charlotte Express 18U team under head coach Gary Robinson. 

A native of Owings Mills, MD, Cozart was a four-year captain and an MVP during his high school career.  As a freshman, Cozat hit .702.  He also played for the Oriolelanders and Maryland Monarchs before signing to play at UNCG.

Gilliam, a pitcher from Chapel Hill, was an all-league performer his junior year at Santa Teresa High School in San Jose, CA.  While pitching for the Saints, Gilliam posted a 1.30 earned run average in 60 innings of mound duty. 

Johnson, a transfer from Tacoma Community College, finished second in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) in home runs en route to earning all-league accolades.  As a senior at Columbia River High School in Vancouver, WA, Johnson helped guide his team to a state second place finish highlighted with a .569 batting average.  Johnson was also twice selected as league MVP and as a two-time first team all-state performer.

A product of Pensacola Catholic High School in Pensacola, FL, Moye was a second team all-state selection in 2004 after recording a .400 batting average and a .985 fielding percentage his senior year.  Following high school, Moye played at Alabama Southern and was a second team all-conference selection with a .360 batting mark.  He also represented his latest community college in the Florida Junior College All Star Game.

An outfielder from Crofton, MD, Overholtzer enters his senior season ranked #338 in Baseball America’s Top 400 National Class of 2006.  Last season, Overholtzer was the only junior named to the American Baseball Coaches Association all-region team (Region 2).  He was also selected as a first team all-county performer while also being named to Team Maryland.  Collegiate Baseball Magazine also named Overholtzer as one of the Outstanding Players to Follow in Maryland.    

Shelton, a native of Madison, NC, has been a varsity performer since his sophomore season and made all-conference the last two seasons.  As a junior, Shelton was named team captain and was selected to the North State 2A all-tournament team.  Entering his senior season, Impact Baseball rated him as the top unsigned senior at their showcase at Wofford College. 

Vinyard, a first baseman from Meza, AZ arrives at UNCG by way of Chandler-Gilbert Community College under head coach Doyle Wilson.  While competing at Mesa Mountain View High School, Vinyard was a first team all-region selection during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons and a region MVP his junior and senior year.  Vinyard was also an honorable mention all-state performer as a sophomore and senior and was a first team all-state selection as a junior. 

The UNCG baseball teams kicks off its 2006 campaign when the Spartans travel to Athens, GA to take on SEC foe Georgia in a three game series Feb. 17-19. 

- UNCG -