Baseball | September 19, 2018

LOS ANGELES – USC Baseball Head Coach Dan Hubbs released the Trojans' incoming class of recruits this week, a group of 14 newcomers that was recently ranked the 14th best recruiting class in the nation by Baseball America.
 
All but one of the Trojans' recruits are true freshmen (one junior college transfer) and the class includes an even mix of seven positions players and seven pitchers. According to the Perfect Game rankings, USC has added two of the Top 5 pitchers in the state of California, the top outfielder in the state and 11th-ranked outfielder nationally, a Top 20 nationally-ranked shortstop, two of the top 10 catchers in California and the second-ranked pitcher in Arizona.
 
Here's a look at USC's 2018 incoming class…
 
Chandler Champlain – RHP, 6-4, 205 – Mission Viejo, Calif. (Santa Margarita Catholic HS)
Champlain was the 120th ranked prospect in the 2018 draft class and was selected in the 38th round of the MLB Draft by the Angels, but declined to sign. He is a veteran of the USA National Team system, playing for Team USA youth teams from 2014-17 and competed in the 2017 Under Armour All-American Game at Wrigley Field. Champlain played three seasons at Santa Margarita Catholic, where he was a three-time All-Trinity League selection, and played his travel ball for CBA Marucci. As a prep senior, Champlain hit .387 and had 63 strikeouts in 58 innings on the mound. He was the second-ranked pitcher, ninth-ranked player overall, in California for the class of 2018 according to Perfect Game and the 28th-ranked pitcher nationally.
 
Preston Hartsell – OF, 6-0, 205 – Newport Coast, Calif. (Corona Del Mar HS)
Hartsell comes to USC as the top-ranked outfielder in California for the class of 2018, the fifth-ranked player overall in the state and the 11th-ranked outfielder nationally according to Perfect Game. He played his prep ball at Corona Del Mar, earning All-American honors as a junior and senior. For his high school career, Hartsell hit .396 with 110 RBI. His highlight performance came in the league championship game for Corona Del Mar, where he went 3-for-3 with two homers, one triple and seven RBI. Played travel ball for FTB Tucci 55.
 
Clay Owens – C/3B, 6-0, 196 – Corona, Calif. (Norco HS)
Owens joins the Trojans after four years of varsity baseball at Norco High, where he graduated with high honors in 2018. He hit .415 as a senior and notched 10 home runs to earn All-State first team recognition. Owens was the fifth-ranked catching prospect in California in the class of 2018 according to Perfect Game. He played his travel ball for CBA Marucci.
 
Emilio Rosas – SS, 6-1, 175 – Yorba Linda, Calif. (Mater Dei HS)
Rosas played four varsity seasons at Mater Dei High School before coming to USC, earning Rawlings Pre-Collegiate All-American recognition. He was the fifth-ranked shortstop and 14th-ranked player overall in California according to Perfect Game, and was the 20th-ranked shortstop nationally in the class of 2018. Rosas hit .367 with a .405 on-base percentage and earned All-Trinity League honors as a junior and senior. He played his travel ball for the Evoshield Canes. Rosas was a member of the baseball honor roll all three years in high school.
 
Carson Lambert – RHP, 6-3, 200 – Thousand Oaks, Calif. (Newbury Park HS)
Lambert joins the Trojans after a decorated career at Newbury Park High School, where he was the back-to-back Marmonte League Pitcher of the Year in 2017 and 2018. Lambert also earned All-Ventura County first team recognition twice and set the Newbury Park single-season record with a 0.86 ERA as a junior. Over the course of three varsity seasons, Lambert posted a 1.44 ERA and 17-6 record in 165 innings, with a total of 147 strikeouts. He was the 20th-ranked pitcher in California according to Perfect Game. Lambert played his travel ball for SGV Arsenal.
 
Ethan Reed – RHP, 6-4, 200 – Laguna Niguel, Calif. (Aliso Niguel HS)
Reed played both baseball and basketball at Aliso Niguel High School, and comes to USC as the fourth-ranked pitcher and 11th-ranked player overall in the state of California for the class of 2018 according to Perfect Game. He played three years of varsity baseball for Aliso Niguel, earning All-South Coast League honors as a junior and senior, and also won a league championship in basketball. He played his travel ball for Canes Baseball.
 
Tyler Lozano – C/INF, 6-0, 170 – Stockton, Calif. (St. Mary's HS)
Lozano is a Northern California product out of Saint Mary's High School in Stockton, Calif. where he played three years of varsity baseball, along with football and basketball. Lozano earned Cal-Hi Sports All-State, All-NorCal, All-Area and All-League honors during his prep career. In an impressive senior season, Lozano posted a .537 batting average and a .604 on-base percentage before graduating with honors. He also played two years for Club All-Stars in Stockton. Lozano comes in as the seventh-ranked catching prospect in the state for the class of 2018.
 
Calvin Schapira – LHP, 6-5, 225 – Scottsdale, Ariz. (Pinnacle HS)
Schapira is one of two recruits hailing from outside of California in this class, coming from Pinnacle High School in Scottsdale, Ariz. where he played three varsity seasons of baseball and two varsity basketball seasons. Schapira was a member of the USA Baseball 17U National Team Development Program and was the second-ranked pitching prospect in the state of Arizona for the class of 2018, and the 48th-ranked pitcher nationally. He was a 2018 Rawlings-Perfect Game All-American honorable mention and earned underclass high honorable mentions as well. Schapira also won a basketball state championship with Pinnacle.
 
Gus Culpo – RHP, 6-3, 170 – Providence, R.I. (Bishop Hendricken HS/Orange Coast College)
Culpo hails from Providence, R.I., but most recently played at Orange Coast College (2016-18) in Costa Mesa after transferring from the University of Pittsburgh, where he played in 2015. Culpo won state championships in both baseball and basketball at Bishop Hendricken High School in Rhode Island, and then finished his prep career at Worcester Academy in Massachusetts, where he was named MVP of the New England Prep Baseball Championship in 2015. After appearing just once at Pitt, Culpo transferred to Orange Coast College where he made 13 appearances and compiled a 3.86 ERA this past season. He helped OCC advance to the state Final 4 by striking out seven of the final nine batters he faced against El Camino College.
 
Patrick Hubbs – RHP, 6-0, 165 – Pasadena, Calif. (Loyola HS)
Hubbs is another local product out of Loyola High School in Pasadena, where he graduated cum laude in 2018. The righty notched a 3-3 record, with a 3.35 ERA and three saves as a senior, a season that came on the heels of a 2-0 junior year where he posted an even 1.00 ERA. In 2018 he earned Rawlings-Perfect Game California Region honorable mention. Hubbs also played four years of travel ball with SGV Arsenal.
 
Charlie Johnson – C/OF, 6-2, 185 – Pasadena, Calif. (Loyola HS)
Johnson, along with Hubbs, is one of two players coming to USC from Loyola High in Pasadena. Johnson played two varsity seasons at Loyola, finishing his senior year with a 1.000 fielding percentage behind the plate and in the outfield. He was the recipient of the Brain J Ulmer Award, the highest honor given for Loyola High School athletics. Johnson played travel ball for the ABD Bulldogs for three years.
 
Ty Evans – C/INF, 6-0, 185 – San Marino, Calif. (Polytechnic HS)
Evans joins the Trojans after three varsity seasons and a CIF Southern Section title at Polytechnic High School in Pasadena. Evans was a two-time All-Area and All-Prep League first team selection, and hit .491 with 40 RBI as a junior. He played four years for BI Academy and the El Monte Assassins.
 
Will Steele – 1B/3B, 6-4, 195 – San Marino, Calif. (San Marino HS)
Steele comes to USC after starting two varsity seasons at San Marino High School. He was named the offensive MVP for the Titans as a junior and also holds the distinction of making the honor roll every semester in high school.
 
Tyler Uberstine – RHP, 6-1, 175 – Manhattan Beach, Calif. (Chaminade College Prep)
Uberstine played two varsity seasons at Chaminade College Prep before coming to USC where he enrolled in 2017 and is majoring in business administration, along with being a member of the Sports Business Association, the Trojan Investing Society and the Career-Advantage Program. Uberstine received Laureate honors all four years in high school.