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Jan. 11, 2001
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – University of Virginia head baseball coach Dennis Womack has announced the signings of six student-athletes to a national letter of intent to attend Virginia and play baseball for the Cavaliers. The student-athletes will enroll at UVa for the 2001-2002 academic year. The six individuals are: Jordan Ghrist (Reston, Va./Herndon), Ty Grisham (North Garden, Va./St. Anne’s Belfield), Adam Laird (Bellaire, Texas/Bellaire), Miguel Luina (Herndon, Va./South Lakes), Mark Reynolds (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) and Gabriel Spooner (Carmichael, Calif./Rio Americano H.S./Sacramento City Junior College).
Ghrist, a 6-3 outfielder, is a four-time letterwinner at Herndon H.S. He is a two-time All-Concorde District selection and was named a 2000 preseason All-Northern Virginia selection. Ghrist was named the 2000 National Amateur Baseball Federation Regional MVP while playing for the Barnstormers. He made the 2000-01 Athletic Honor roll and is coached by Al McCullock at Herndon.
Grisham, a 5-10 outfielder, is a three-time letterwinner at St. Anne’s Belfield for coach Alan Swanson. He was named First Team All-Prep League and First Team All-Central Virginia (outfielder) by the Charlottesville Daily Progress. Grisham was also a four-time letterwinner in football where he gathered All-Conference honors in 1999 and 2000 and was a 1999 All-State selection.
Laird, a 6-2 pitcher, is only the eighth player in Bellaire H.S. history to become a four-year letterman. He is currently coached by Rocky Manuel and has a high school pitching record of 21-2 through his junior season. Laird was a key contributor to guiding Bellaire to its record breaking seventh State Championships in 1999 after batting .467 and recording a 9-0 record as a pitcher with a 0.85 ERA. The USA Today crowned Bellaire as the 1999 National Champions. In 2000, Laird batted .486 with 40 RBI in 79 at bats and was 11-2 as a pitcher with a 1.57 ERA with 87 strikeouts through 67 innings. Five of his seven complete games were shutouts. Laird is a two-time All-Greater Houston and All-District selection. He was recently selected to the preseason All-Greater Houston Team for 2001. As a junior, Laird was one of 25 players state-wide to be selected to the Texas All-State 5A Team and was one of 20 players selected to the All-Greater Houston team as a sophomore. Collegiate Baseball recognized him as one of Texas’ top players in 1999 and 2000.
Luina, a 6-1 infielder, is a four-time letterwinner at South Lakes H.S. for head coach Galvin Morris. He was a First Team All-District selection as a utility player, a Second Team All-District choice as a designated hitter and an honorable mention All-District selection as a shortstop. Luina also lettered twice in football at South Lakes where he played safety and place kicker.
Reynolds, a 6-1 infielder, is a four-time letterwinner at First Colonial H.S. He was a First Team All-District and a Second Team All-Region selection. Reynolds played in the Commonwealth Games of Virginia his sophomore and junior seasons and was a member of the Gold Medal team his senior year. He participated in both the Top Gun Showcase (Las Vegas, Nevada), and the Team One East Coast Showcase (Clemson, S.C.). Reynolds was also named to the AAU All-Tournament team and was invited to participate in the Perfect Game World Showcase. He lettered four time in basketball and golf at First Colonial.
Spooner, a 6-1 pitcher, played for coach Martin Whitley at Rio Americano H.S. from 1996-1999 where he was a four-time team MVP. He was twice named an All-League (Sierra Valley Conference) selection and was named the most valuable pitcher in the league in 1999. Spooner was a two-time scholar athlete and his ERA led the section during his senior season as a pitcher. He also played football (1995-1998) and basketball (1995-1996) at Rio Americano. Spooner is currently enrolled at Sacramento City Junior College.
Virginia compiled a record of 26-31-1 during the 2000 season. The Cavaliers will open their 2001 season with a three-game series against the Naval Academy on February, 17-18.
University of Virginia Baseball Signees
Name Hometown/High School PositionJordan Ghrist Reston, Va./Herndon OFJohn (Ty) Grisham North Garden, Va./St. Anne's Belfield OFAdam Laird Bellaire, Texas/Bellaire P/DHMiguel Luina Herndon, Va./South Lakes INFMark Reynolds Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial INFGabriel Spooner Carmichael, Calif./Rio Americano H.S./ P Sacramento City Junior College