July 11, 2002
Los Angeles, CA (July 11, 2002) -- The Loyola Marymount University baseball team, who had two freshman earn Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American in 2002 and 12 since 1985, will have the opportunity to add to its growing list of freshman All-Americans with a strong 2002-03 recruiting class. The Lions earned commitments from five freshman and one junior college transfer, all of whom come from California.
Joining the Lions in the fall of 2002 will be James Cooper (Santa Monica High School), Steve Kahn (Servite High School), Kyle Mura (Mission Viejo High School), Erik Reyes (California High School), Jeff Stevens (Campolindo High School) and Matt White (Ohlone Junior College). All six players earned top honors in their respective league or conference, giving Head Coach Frank Cruz yet another top recruiting class.
A local product from Santa Monica, Calif., James Cooper was a stand-out outfielder as he earned MVP honors of the Bay League. With a .430 batting average, Cooper earned first-team All-CIF Division I honors. He finished the season with seven doubles, four triples, seven home runs and 40 RBIs.
As one of three pitchers signed by the Lions, right-handed pitcher Steve Kahn was one of the top recruits in California. Drafted in the eighth round of the Major League draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, Kahn finished with a 7-3 record and a 2.20 ERA. Still planning to attend LMU, Kahn had 97 strikeouts as senior at Servite High School. He was a first-team All-CIF Division IV and All-Serra League selection. In addition to his pitching, Kahn hit .417 at the plate, adding two home runs and 28 RBI.
Infielder Kyle Mura from Mission Viejo hit .370 as a senior, earning 11 home runs and 38 RBIs to set the school record in 2002. He was voted the team's MVP and the MVP of the South Coast League. In anchoring Mission Viejo's middle infield, Mura was a first-team All-CIF Division II selection.
Another right-handed pitcher for the Lions will be Erik Reyes of California High School. As a senior he finished a perfect 11-0 with 104 strikeouts. He was voted the Del Rio League Player of the Year, while also earning All-Area and first-team All-CIF Division II honors.
The third right-hander for the Lions is Campolindo High School's Jeff Stevens. Another two way star, Stevens, who was voted his team's MVP, was 9-4 with a 1.24 ERA on the mound while hitting .400 with five home runs at the plate in his senior season. He was named DFAL Pitcher of the Year and earned first-team All-Contra Costa League honors.
The final commitment by the Lions is their only junior college transfer, Matt White. The outfielder from Ohlone College in Fremont, Calif., hit .366 in his final season at Ohlone. He added six home runs, 39 RBI and seven stolen bases to earn first-team All-Coast Conference honors.
-GO LIONS-
