Slippery Rock University head baseball coach Jeff Messer has announced the signings of four student athletes. The signing class incudes OF Jimmy Divosevic, IF Carson Kessler, IF Ty Zimmerman and RHP Preston Falascino. These four prospects join 1B/3B Kyle Vozar from Lakeland CC and OF Adam Urbania from Cuyahoga CC. Vozar and Urbania were teammates as freshman at Ashland University before making the move to JUCO baseball in 2012.

Jimmy Divosevic, OF, North Allegheny HS
Divosevic is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound OF with an abundance of talent. He has an 88mph arm from the outfield and developing power at the plate. Divosevic batted .375 with 17 RBIs, four triples and two home runs in 2012. The left-handed hitter is ranked No. 66 in the Class of 2013.

Preston Falascino, RHP, Our Lady of Sacred Heart HS
Falascino is a 5-foot-11, 205-pound RHP who sits 85-87 with a 72mph curveball. He went 9-2 with a 2.40 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 2012. Falascino is ranked No. 91 in the Class of 2013.

Carson Kessler, 3B/2B, Seneca Valley HS
Kessler is a 6-foot-1, 195-pound 3B/2B with the athleticism to be able to play multiple positions. He had an excellent summer with Seneca Valley compiling a .305 average with two home runs nine doubles and 19 RBI. Kessler is ranked No. 123 in the Class of 2013.

Ty Zimmerman, SS, Punxsutawney HS
Zimmerman is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound SS/2B who impressed at the Western PA Top Prospect Showcase in August. The right-handed hitter was the top middle infield prospect at the event. He exhibited advanced defensive skills and a strong arm (80mph). He ran a 7.35 60-yard dash and had a bat exit speed velo of 79mph. He produced consistent line drives to all fields while showing gap power during his round of batting practice. Zimmerman is ranked No. 135 in the Class of 2013.

Slippery Rock will take the field for the 28th consecutive year with Jeff Messer at the helm. Messer took over The Rock program in the fall of 1985 and has been steering the ship ever since. He has been elected as the fourth vice president of the American Baseball Coaches Association and will assume the role of president of the association in January of 2017.

Messer has compiled an 839-499-2 (.627) career record as The Rock's head coach. He is the active leader and ranks second all-time among Pennsylvania collegiate baseball coaches in career victories.
Messer-coached Rock teams have claimed 15 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division titles, two PSAC tournament championships, two PSAC runner-up finishes, four regional championships and two regional runner-up honors.

Prep Baseball Report spent some time discussing this year's class with Coach Messer.

Prep Baseball Report:  How does your 2013 recruiting class compare to recent classes in regards to the number of players who have signed during the early signing period?

Messer: The six athletes that committed early to SRU were the largest group of early signees ever.  We're extremely excited to have filled our recruiting needs during the early signing period.

Prep Baseball Report:  What do you feel is the strength of this recruiting class and were you able to address the needs you feel you will have going into 2013-2014?

Messer: We filled all immediate needs for the 2013 class with the exception of forecasting for potential 2013 draftees.

Prep Baseball Report:  Do you have any advice to underclassmen that are just beginning the process of looking at schools and trying to gage a potential college coaching staff’s interest?

Messer: Most schools both academically and athletically are making quicker decisions on student-athletes. Recruits need to start looking at potential schools early in their junior year.

Prep Baseball Report:  Seton Hill and Pitt-Johnstown will make the move to the PSAC in 2013-2014. How will this affect the way you recruit if at all?

Messer: Nothing will change, we're already recruiting against two other private schools with significant scholarship dollars in our conference.

Prep Baseball Report:  PBR Pennsylvania arrived on the scene in late April of 2012. How have you been able to utilize the information that Prep Baseball Report offers to your advantage?

Messer: Prep Baseball Report is already and will continue to be a valuable resource to aid in the overall recruiting process.