University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia Announces Six More Baseball Signees
June 09, 2003 | Baseball
June 9, 2003
ATHENS -- University of Georgia baseball coach David Perno announced Monday six student-athletes signed a national letter-of-intent during the spring period to play baseball for the Bulldogs.
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | B-T | Hometown (School) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Billick | C | 6-2 | 205 | R-R | Atlanta, Ga. (Dunwoody HS) |
| Jake Crane | C/1B | 6-3 | 215 | R-R | Savannah, Mo. (Savannah HS) |
| Bobby Felmy | OF | 5-10 | 185 | L-L | Sunbury, Penn. (Ga. Perimeter JC) |
| Mike Horr | INF/P | 6-2 | 180 | R-R | DeLand, Fla. (DeLand HS) |
| Adam McDaniel | 3B/P | 6-1 | 195 | R-R | Powder Springs, Ga. (McEachern HS) |
| Jonathan Wyatt | CF | 5-10 | 180 | L-R | Kennesaw, Ga. (Harrison HS) |
Here is a brief look at each signee:
Joe Billick concluded his prep career as a member of the Dunwoody Wildcats and coach Tom Bass. A first-team All-County selection, he threw out 15 of 25 would-be base stealers. On the mound, he went 3-4 with a 1.95 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 41.1 innings. He was named MVP of the DeKalb County North-South All-Star Classic including starting and winning game one with eight strikeouts in three innings pitched. He had limited opportunities to swing the bat but managed a .652 slugging percentage.
He batted .419 with four home runs and 32 RBI while going 5-3 with a 2.81 ERA on the mound with 60 strikeouts and only six walks in 56 innings pitched as a junior. He earned MVP honors and was named first team All-County by the Atlanta Journal. Joe is the son of Ken and Nancy Billick.
"When my high school coach asked me where I would want to play college baseball, my first choice was the University of Georgia," said Billick. "Words cannot express how excited I am to continue my baseball career with the Bulldogs.
"He has had a great career at Dunwoody, and we know he is a hard worker with a lot of talent," said Perno. "Joe gives us another very good defensive catcher in the program, and we're excited he has decided to become a Bulldog."
Jake Crane closed out his prep career for the Savannah (Mo.) Savages and coach Erich Bodenhausen. A three-time All-Conference selection at Savannah and 2003 Honorable Mention preseason All-America pick by the Baseball Factory, he batted .359 with six home runs, an .872 slugging percentage and a .600 on-base percentage this past season. He earned the team's Outstanding Offensive Player of the Year award as well as the "Gold Glove" award. Also, he threw out 13 out of 22 would-be base stealers.
As a junior, he led the team in nearly every offensive category including batting .472 with 10 doubles and 24 RBI plus threw out 55 percent of would-be base stealers (16-of-29). He did not make an error in 120 total chances. Crane was named the team MVP and "Gold Glove" award winner.
Jake, the son of David and Tammy Crane, excelled in two sports including earning three letters in football. He said he is excited about his future as a Bulldog.
"I hope to contribute to winning an SEC Championship on the way to a trip to Omaha for the College World Series," said Crane.
"Jake is a young senior at 17 with a tremendous upside," said Perno. "He has an excellent frame with a strong body. He will provide depth at catcher and expect him to hit a lot of home runs in his Bulldog career."
Outfielder Bobby Felmy (pronounced FELL-me) played his first collegiate season as a member of the Georgia Perimeter College Jaguars and coach David Stephenson. A Second Team NJCAA All-American, he was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 38th round of the 2003 first-year player draft.
Felmy, also an All-District and All-Region selection, was one of the leading hitters in the Georgia Junior College Association this past year. He batted a team-best .412 with 10 home runs, 17 doubles, two triples, 58 RBI and went 12-for-14 in stolen base attempts. He had a perfect fielding percentage and recorded seven assists from the outfield. GPC advanced to the semifinals of the state playoffs, going 36-14 overall including 18-6 in the GJCCA. A native of Sunbury, Penn., he is a graduate of Shikellamy High School. He was a four-year starter for the Braves and three-time All-East All-Star and winner of the All-East Sportsmanship Award. Bobby is the son of Robert and Tammy Felmy.
"Bobby will join us a sophomore and look for him to be a leadoff type hitter," said Perno. "We've wanted to get Bobby into the program last season but we had a lot of outfielders so he went to GPC for a year."
Mike Horr (pronounced OR) wrapped up his prep career for the DeLand Bulldogs and coach Ric Sperling. A three-time scholar athlete, he went 5-5 with a 1.42 ERA as a senior and batted .310 with 12 doubles, four triples and a home run. A first team All-Conference and All-Area selection, he struck out 66 and opponents hit just .217 off him in his first season as a pitcher. The Bulldogs finished 13-12. He earned the Outstanding Pitcher Award and was named MVP at the Apopka Rotary Tournament.
As a junior, he batted .278 with a team-leading 25 hits and 15 RBI. Mike is the son of David Horr and Chris and Mary Ellen Hodges.
"I'm looking forward to playing for Georgia and it's an honor to be playing in the SEC," said Horr.
"Mike has a good opportunity to be a two-way player for us," said Perno. He participated in our Top Dog Camp and showcased skills as an infielder and a pitcher. We're excited to have him join our program."
Adam McDaniel spent his prep career as a member of the McEachern Indians and coach David Joiner. A three-sport standout and Honor student, Adam batted .424 with seven home runs and 18 RBI. Recently, he was named to the Atlanta Braves .400 Club All-Star team. He was a three-year starter for the Indians who captured 5-AAAAA region titles in 2001 and 2002 and advanced to the "Elite Eight" of the state playoffs in 2001. As a junior, he batted .375 with a team-leading four home runs and 36 RBI and was named second team All-County. Also, he twice earned the team's scholastic award. A National Honor Society member, he has earned a Georgia Certificate of Merit distinction. Adam is the son of Jeff and Robin McDaniel.
"It's an honor to have the opportunity to play for UGA and my goal is to contribute to the winning tradition at the University of Georgia," said McDaniel.
"Adam is an outstanding prospect with leadership qualities and a nice fit with our program," said Perno. "He is a dual player as a power hitter and power relief pitcher."
Jonathan Wyatt concluded his prep career as a member of the Harrison Hoyas and coach Mark Elkins. As a senior, he batted .409 with 10 doubles, one home run and 22 RBI to go with a .580 on-base percentage in 28 games. He struck out just seven times in 88 at bats and recorded eight stolen bases. As a junior, he batted .319 with 10 doubles, five triples and 19 RBI plus had 16 stolen bases. Jonathan is the son of David and Melva Wyatt.
"Jonathan is one of the highest rated position players in the state who is a great athlete and runner," said Perno. "He is one of the top left-handed hitters and will make an impact."
Georgia signed 11 student-athletes during the early period in February. Five members of the 2003 Bulldog recruiting class were selected in Major League Baseball's first-year player draft last week.
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