MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University baseball coach Randy Mazey has announced the addition of seven student-athletes joining the program for the 2023 season.
The group features five transfers as well as two freshmen to round out the 2022 signing class. Joining the Highlanders are Keegan Allen (Rogers, Arkansas), Bryce Amos (Shadyside, Ohio), Nick Barone (Montoursville, Pennsylvania), Caleb McNeely (Versailles, Kentucky), Grant Siegel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida), Blaine Traxel (Bur California) and Landon Wallace (Roseville, California).
Keegan Allen | RHP | Rogers, Ark | Oklahoma
Allen arrives at WVU after one season at Oklahoma, where he appeared in nine games on the mound for the National Runner-Up Sooners. He finished with a 9.00 ERA in seven innings of work, striking out eight with five walks. Before that, Allen was ranked as the No. 2 prospect and No. 1 right-hander in Arkansas, as well as the No. 84 in the country by Perfect Game. He was named to multiple all-state teams at Bentonville High and posted a 1.74 ERA and .408 batting average as a senior. Allen has three seasons of eligibility remaining and is majoring in health informatics and information management.
Bryce Amos | RHP | Shadyside, Ohio | Shadyside HS
Amos attended Shadyside High, where he played for coach Shawn Selmon. He threw three straight no-hitters at one point during his freshman campaign while helping the Tigers to a sectional championship. Amos was an all-district selection in 2022 as well as captain of the All-The Times Leader squad. He also played in the OVAC All-Star Game for Team Ohio. Overall, he was rated as the No. 1 prospect. 29 overall in Ohio, as well as the No. 9 with the right hand from Perfect Game. Away from the diamond, Amos also played basketball at Shadyside. He plans to major in sports management.
Nick Barone | 1B | Montoursville, Pa. | Loyalsock Township HS
Barone played at Loyalsock Township High for coach Zac Martin. an all-Dielli newspaper A first-team selection, he led his team to a district championship and a state tournament as a junior. Overall, he hit .313 with three home runs, six doubles, two triples, 25 RBIs and 22 stolen bases that season. A four-year starter for the Lancers, he hit nearly .500 as a freshman. According to Perfect Game, Barone is the No. 1 prospect. 34 overall out of Pennsylvania, as well as the No. 1 first baseman. Additionally, Prep Baseball Report PA ranked him as the top 10 corner in the class of 2022. Barone plans to major in finance at WVU.
Caleb McNeely | INF | Versailles, Ky. | Walters State CC
McNeely arrives in Morgantown after playing at Walters State Community College from 2019-22. Last season, he hit .390 with 25 home runs and 78 RBI in 67 games, earning TCCAA Player of the Year honors. He also scored 96 runs and stole 23 bases, helping the Senators to a 60-7 record and an appearance in the 2022 NJCAA Baseball World Series. The NJCAA All-American also hit .364 in 2021, and .368 in 2020, while totaling 49 homers and 180 RBI in three seasons. Before that, he attended Woodford County High. McNeely has two seasons of eligibility remaining and is enrolled in integrated studies.
Grant Siegel | RHP | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | Tulane
Siegel joins the program after one season at Tulane, where he went 7-1 with a 3.02 ERA for the Green Wave. He appeared in 14 games, including nine starts, and struck out 53 batters with just 13 walks in 59.2 innings of work. He appeared on the American Athletic Conference Honor Roll twice and was named to the All-AAC Second Team at the end of the campaign. Siegel attended University School, where he was a four-year letterman, owned a 1.40 career ERA and played in the FACA All-State and HSBN All-Star Games. Siegel has three years of eligibility remaining and is majoring in health and wellness.
Blaine Traxel | RHP | Burbank, California | Cal State Northridge
Traxel becomes a walk-on after four seasons at Cal State Northridge. Last spring, he finished 7-4 with a 3.00 ERA in 105 innings, earning All-Big West honors. Overall, he tallied 86 strikeouts with 23 walks in 19 appearances, including 14 starts. Traxel has pitched 270.1 career innings and holds a career 15-9 mark with a 3.43 ERA. He also has seven career saves, including three in 2021, where he finished 5-1 with a 3.79 ERA during another all-conference campaign. He leaves the Matadors ranked in the program’s top 10 in hits (214) and games pitched (75). Before that, he was an all-league performer at Bishop Alemany High. Traxel graduated with a bachelor’s degree from CSUN and is enrolled in WVU’s athletic training master’s program. He has one qualifying season left.
Landon Wallace | And | Roseville, California | Nevada
Wallace arrives at WVU after two seasons at Nevada. In 2022, he hit .313 with five home runs, eight doubles, one triple and 34 RBIs in 50 games for the Wolfpack. From April 9 to May 13, Wallace hit safely in 16 of 18 contests. He also co-led the Mountain West Conference with 16 field goals. As a freshman in 2021, Wallace hit .363 with a homer and 18 RBIs in 28 games. In high school, Wallace became the all-time record holder in career batting average at Roseville High (.463). He also won the 2019 WWBA National Perfect Game Championship at the club level. Wallace has two seasons of eligibility remaining and is majoring in general business.
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