Stitt pencils in six for 2000 baseball team

Tucson native Chris Duncan, who happens to be the younger brother of freshman right fielder Shelley Duncan, signed a national letter of intent along with five other ballplayers to come to Arizona to play baseball in the 1999-2000 academic year.

"Chris is one of the top players in the state and one of the finest players in the country," said Head Coach Jerry Stitt. "He's a big left-handed hitter with tremendous power."

As for Shelley and Chris Duncan being brothers, Stitt said, "Brothers are kind of a different issue. Chris is a lot quieter than Shelley, who always has a big smile on his face."

Shelley Duncan was quite happy to learn his younger brother would be a Wildcat alongside him for the next three years.

"I was super excited having my brother come play with me here and be a Wildcat, too," he said. "He's going to bring some leadership, some enthusiasm, some fun to the team. He's a real great guy."

Also signing were All-Arizona high school infielder Matt Abram, plus left-handed pitcher Nathan Duarte, infielder-outfielder Trevor Mote, catcher Ken Riley and former Wildcat Kenny Corley's brother, right-handed pitcher Klent Corley.

All six signees hail from Arizona, with Abram from Scottsdale, Duarte out of Superior, Mote from Prescott, Riley from Sparks, Corley from Phoenix and Duncan a first baseman out of Canyon del Oro High School.

"The kids are good players," Stitt said. "We wanted to get the best in Arizona and we have."

Stitt compared this recruiting class to his first recruiting class in 1996.

"This is a small but really good recruiting class," Stitt said. "The quality is similar to the group two years ago that included (shortstop) Keoni DeRenne and (third baseman) Erik Torres."

Abram was named to the USA Today and Arizona Republic All-Arizona teams last year and Duncan garnered a spot on the Tucson Citizen's all-star team and the Arizona Daily Star's 5A All-Southern Arizona team.

"Matt, he's probably the best pure hitter I've seen in a long time," Stitt said. "He can also play second or third and is a good athlete."

Both Mote and Duarte will have a year of college baseball under their belt before they suit up for the Wildcats next year as Mote plays for Yavapai Community College and Duarte for Central Arizona Junior College.

As for the Duncan brothers, Shelley is hoping a nickname he and Chris earned in high school will stick with them through college.

"In high school we were known as the 'bash brothers,'" he said.

Shelley Duncan and the current Wildcats will officially begin their season Jan. 22 as they host St. Mary's at 3 p.m. at Frank Sancet Field.

Dan Rosen can be reached via e-mail at Dan.Rosen@wildcat.arizona.edu.