Longwood University Head Baseball Coach Ryan Mau announced the signing of seven recruits to their national letters of intent Nov. 23 following the early signing period.

The class, Mau’s third group of early signees, is highlighted by three players from the Virginia and Washington, D.C., area, including the top player from Washington, D.C. — Maceo Campbell. Right-handed pitchers Tommy Green, of Virginia Beach, and Tyler Knapp, of Newport News, are the two commonwealth players added to Mau’s roster.

Overall, the seven-player class represents five states and Washington, D.C., with five pitchers and two position players, and four players ranked inside the top-200 in their respective states.

“We are really excited about the athletic ability of our incoming class,” Mau said of the signees. “These players will help us pursue a Big South Championship, and they will also be great representations of our program and our university. (Assistant Coach Chad) Oxendine and (Assistant Coach Daniel) Wood have done a tremendous job in evaluating, recruiting and bringing this talent to Longwood.”

Daniel Brandon | LHP | Kenova, W.Va. | Spring Valley High School (Coach Jim Hensley)

Brandon is a 6-foot-2-inch, 185-pound high school senior who has pitched well in his career at Spring Valley High School in Huntington, W.Va. As a junior, Brandon finished with a 3-0 record and 2.14 earned run average (ERA) in six starts, notching 47 strikeouts in 29.2 innings pitched. Brandon tossed a no-hitter against Huntington High School in April. The lefty hit a batter in the sixth inning, and then picked him off first base. He also struck out 17 of 21 batters faced in the no-no.

“Daniel is a late bloomer, a lefty who sits in the mid-80s with his fastball and has the ability to run it up harder when needed,” Mau said. “He is a fierce competitor who should push for significant playing time as a freshman.”

Brandon joins Longwood, which will feature just four left-handed pitchers in 2017. He plays his travel ball with the Huntington Hounds, coached by Stan Herenkohl.

Maceo Campbell | RHP | Washington, D.C. | Bishop McNamara High School (Coach Anthony Sosnoskie)

Campbell, a 6-foot-1-inch, 220-pound right-hander, is ranked as the top player in the Washington, D.C., area and is regarded as a top-500 player in the country, as ranked by Perfect Game. A 2016 Perfect Game All-American Honorable Mention, he is also considered the top pitcher in his area and has hauled in a number of awards in his high school career. He was named as a Maryland Crabfest All-American all three years and a two-time Perfect Game all-tournament team selection in tournaments in Arizona as a pitcher and hitter.

“Maceo was a little bit of a sleeper that we stumbled upon late,” Mau said. “He is extremely physical and his fastball ranges in the upper 80s with a touch of low 90s. He looks to push for a spot in the starting rotation as soon as he steps on campus.”

Campbell will join Longwood in 2018 after the Lancers trot out a pitching staff in 2017 that has 15 players, four of which are seniors. Campbell plays travel ball with the Crabfest All-Americans under Gus Kapalanges.

Jack Schnell | OF | Suffern, N.Y. | Suffern Senior High School (Coach Ron Gamma)

Schnell is a 5-foot-11-inch, 180-pound left-handed hitting outfielder, the lone outfielder in Mau’s seven-player class. Schnell has drawn high rankings from Perfect Game, tabbed as the No. 32 player in the state of New York, the fifth-best player in his class in the outfield. A top-1000 player nationally according to Perfect Game, Schnell has garnered all-league, first team all-county and first-team all-section honors in high school. As a junior, he hit .430 with an on-base percentage of .603. Schnell is a three-time all-tournament selection in Perfect Game’s WWBA National Championship events.

Longwood’s 2017 team will feature eight outfielders with two — Eric Crain and Jawan McAllister — who will sit out the year to comply with NCAA transfer rules. Of those eight outfielders, four hit left-handed. Schnell plays travel ball with Wladyka Baseball, coached by Jim Wladyka.

Tommy Green | RHP | Virginia Beach | First Colonial High School (Coach Scott Stubbe)

Green, a native of Virginia Beach, is a 6-foot-3-inch, 190-pound right-handed pitcher who has seen a lot of success in high school. Green finished 2016 with a 1.68 ERA and 5-2 record, posting 19 strikeouts and limiting opposing batters to a .180 batting average. Green, an all-conference selection as both a pitcher and a first baseman, hit .397 in his junior season with 18 RBIs and one home run.

“Tommy is a very competitive right-hander and will look to pitch out of our bullpen in late-game situations,” Mau said. “His lower arm slot gives him a ton of movement on his fastball and will provide us the look out of our bullpen that we needed.”

Green is considered a top-1000 player in the nation, according to Perfect Game. Green is ranked the No. 50 player overall in Virginia, No. 20 among pitchers. The righty has received similar billing from Prep Baseball Report, slotted as the No. 61 player in the state, No. 26 among pitchers. Green plays travel ball with the CBA Rays under head coach Don Celata.

Todd Moxey | RHP | Emmaus, Pa. | Emmaus High School (Coach Mike Mihalik)

Moxey is a 6-foot-1-inch, 165-pound right-hander from the Lehigh Valley in eastern Pennsylvania. Moxey received team MVP honors at Emmaus High School, EPC First-Team All-Star and all-area honors following a season in which he posted a 3.31 ERA and 3-3 record, also hitting .372 at the plate.

“Todd is a mid-to-upper-80s right-hander who has a feel for all three of his pitches,” Mau said. “He has really just started putting it all together, and we believe his upside is immense. He projects to push for a spot in the starting rotation upon arrival.”

Moxey joins fellow Keystone State natives Sammy Miller, of Shrewsbury, Pa., Jawan McAllister, of Philadelphia, Pa., Mac McCafferty, of Stevens, Pa., and Jon Peterson, of Lancaster, Pa. Moxey is the No. 175-ranked player in the state of Pennsylvania, according to Prep Baseball Report, and is the 61st-ranked pitcher in the state. Moxey plays travel ball with Banko Baseball and Lower Macungie Legion, coached by John Schreiner.

Kaleb Ford | IF | Fairfield, Ohio | Fairfield High School (Coach Tony Schulz)

Ford, a 6-foot-2-inch, 190-pound infielder, is the lone infielder among the seven signees. A native of the Buckeye state, Ford won the best hitter award at Fairfield High School after hitting .412 with 26 RBIs and a .463 on-base percentage. A first team all-conference selection, Ford was also named honorable mention all-city.

“Kaleb is a very athletic infielder with above average defensive tools,” Mau said. “He possesses plus-hands and a strong arm to go along with his great defensive instincts. He projects to compete immediately for a position on the left side of the infield.”

Ford plays travel ball with the Team First Baseball Club under coaches Lenny and Tony Weber.

Tyler Knapp | RHP | Newport News | Menchville High School (Coach Phil Forbes)

Knapp is a 6-foot-4-inch, 215-pound right-handed pitcher from Newport News, who finished his junior season with a 1.63 ERA and a 6-1 record. At the plate, Knapp hit .374 with 24 RBIs, landing him Group 5A All-State second team honors as a utility player.

“Tyler is a very physical right-handed pitcher with a fastball that ranges mid-to-upper 80s,” Mau said. “His slider is a plus-pitch, and with that, he projects as a big-time reliever late in games.”
Knapp plays travel ball for Longwood alum Brian Kersey on the Hampton Roads Canes.