CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel head baseball coach announced the signing of seven cadet-athletes who will enroll next fall and begin playing for the Bulldogs in the spring of 2023.
 
The signees include Yates Bland, Phillips Daniels, Calder Garris, Will Holmes, Matthew Lively, Aryan Patel and CJ Van Slooten.
 
"Today is a great day for our program and The Citadel," said Skole. "This is an amazing group of young men who check all the boxes and embody all the characteristics of what we want in young people that attend The Citadel. From a baseball standpoint, this is a super talented group who have the potential to make a huge impact on our success as a program.
 
"Our coaching staff (Blake Cooper, Zach Lucas and Tag Montague) did a tremendous job of evaluating and assessing this class. They left no stone unturned and worked tirelessly to get this done. I commend all these young men for choosing the road less traveled. They have made a wonderful decision and have made a tremendous investment in their future. We are proud to welcome them to The Citadel Family."
 
Yates Bland, RHP, 6-7, 220, Chapin, South Carolina (Chapin)
Plays for head coach Scott McLeod at Chapin High School…ranked as the No. 12 right-handed pitcher in the state by Prep Baseball Report…also lettered in football, earning all-region honors as a junior…member of the National Honor Society…father, Chuck, played baseball at Furman…comes from a long line of Citadel graduates…great, great uncle, Martin Luther Merchant Jr, was the Regimental Commander in 1935…grandfather, William Judson Thomason played baseball for the Bulldogs…uncles, Kenneth and Jeffrey, were members of the Summerall Guard…cousin, Martin Luther Marchant III is a 1981 graduate…also plays for Upstate Mavs travel organization.
 
Phillips Daniels, C, 6-0, 195, Columbia, South Carolina (AC Flora)
Plays for head coach Andy Hallett at AC Flora High School…voted team MVP after hitting .427 with five home runs, 15 doubles and 43 RBIs…helped team capture the state championship as a junior…hit over .400 as a freshman, earning team Gold Glove Award …selected as the Rookie of the Year after hitting over .300 while in the eighth grade…ranked as the No. 3 catcher in the state by Diamond Prospects, and No. 26 overall player in the state by Prep Baseball Report…also lettered two years in football, helping team to state championship…member of the National Honor Society…two-time All-Region Academic list…also plays for Upstate Mavs travel organization.
 
Calder Garris, C/RHP, 6-1, 210, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (Wando)
Plays for head coach for Dirk Thomas at Wando High School…named a 2021 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass Honorable Mention All-American…earned second-team all-region honors as a junior…also lettered in football…also plays for Upstate Mavs travel organization.
 
William Holmes, RHP/INF, 6-2, 175, Spartanburg, South Carolina (Spartanburg)
Plays for head coach Wes Brown at Spartanburg High School…hit over .300 as the starting shortstop…was also in the starting rotation…started every game before sophomore season was cut short due to COVID-19…ranked as the No. 5 shortstop in the state by Diamond Prospects…also lettered in football…member of the National Honor Society and Beta Club…sister, McLean, is a freshman on the College of Charleston Equestrian team…also plays for Canes travel organization.
 
Matthew Lively, OF, 6-2, 185, Chapin, South Carolina (Chapin)
Plays for head coach Scott McLeod at Chapin High School…hit .313 as a junior…ranked as the No. 3 outfielder in the state by Diamond Prospects…member of the Honor Roll…also plays for Canes travel organization.
 
Aryan Patel, INF/RHP, 6-0, 170, Hanahan, South Carolina (Hanahan)
Plays for head coach Brian Mitchell at Hanahan High school…selected to the Diamond Prospects Fall All-Star Team…earned All-Region 8-3A honors after hitting .350 with 20 RBIS and 28 runs scored as a junior…named to the Post and Courier All-Lowcountry Team…tabbed the HHS offensive player of the year…Diamond Prospects All-Academic Team selection…received the HHS Baseball Leadership Award as a freshman and sophomore…ranked No. 3 in graduating class…member of the National Honor Society and Beta Club…also plays for Team Elite travel organization.
 
CJ Van Slooten, RHP, 6-5, 210, Charleston, South Carolina (Ashley Ridge)
Plays for head coach BJ Bellush at Ashley Ridge High School…earned All-Region 8 5A honors after posting a 1.93 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 42 innings…selected to the 5A All-Diamond Prospect Team…went 2-0 with a 1.70 ERA in a COVID shortened sophomore season…struck out 12 in 12 innings…also hit .600…father, Chad, played baseball at The Citadel from 1992-94…also plays for Canes travel organization.
 
For more information on The Citadel baseball, follow @CitadelBaseball or visit CitadelSports.com.

Membership in The Citadel Brigadier Foundation is open to alumni and friends of The Citadel who are interested in supporting Bulldog athletics. By joining, you provide annual charitable contributions that fund scholarships for cadet-student-athletes.  Supporters interested in joining TCBF or for more information, please click HERE.