LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC San Diego baseball team will be looking for a third straight trip to the NCAA National Championships in 2011, but the coaching staff is also looking forward to 2012 with the inking of eight student-athletes during the NCAA's early signing period. The Tritons have gotten National Letter of Intent commitments from a pitcher, two catchers, a pair of outfielders, a shortstop, a first baseman/outfielder and a utility player. Two will transfer from other colleges and six will be coming straight from high school to compete during the 2012 season.

"Our philosophy with this class was to sign talented players who genuinely want to wear the UCSD uniform," said head coach Dan O'Brien, entering his 14th season leading the Tritons. "Throughout the process this group proved they would buy in to the program's philosophies and do what it takes to help us continue our recent success. When you combine make-up and talent, this class has all it needs to work and compete at a championship level."

Brian Choi is the first of two catchers among the signees. A native of Laguna Niguel and current Dana Hills High School attendee, Choi posted a solid .985 fielding percentage as the Dolphins were the 2010 CIF Southern Section runner-up. He was the battery mate of right-hander Peter Tago, a first round draft pick (47th overall) of the Colorado Rockies in the 2010 Major League Baseball draft. Choi has also spent time as a member of the Trombly Baseball travel program.

"Brian came to our camp and really impressed with his physicality and strength," said O'Brien. "He has tremendous catch and throw ability with plenty of pop as a hitter - tools that should help him compete right away."

Outfielder Ryan Cooper, who hails from Yorba Linda, will join UCSD in the fall of 2011 following his graduation from Esperanza High School. He hit .344 with nine stolen bases this past season and Esperanza made the CIF playoffs in 2009 and 2010. Cooper runs a 6.7 second 60-yard dash and utilizes his speed as a defensive back and wide receiver on the Aztec football team as well.

"Ryan is another camp attendee who sold us on his athleticism and speed," said O'Brien. "He hits from the left side of the plate and has a knack for finding barrels. Coming from a tremendous high school program, he should be well-versed in winning philosophies."

Right-handed hurler Daniel Kolodin is out of Westlake Village and plays for Agoura High School. At 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, he's a physical pitcher that could be the workhorse of a staff. A member of the SoCal Cards scout team in the fall of 2010, Kolodin was chosen to play in the All-Academic Game at the 2010 Arizona Fall Classic. 

"Daniel is a talented arm from a talented baseball region," said O'Brien. "He impressed our staff immediately with a solid three-pitch mix, including a potential knockout slider, and showed enough intelligence to pitch as a freshman."

Scotts Valley product Brett Levy plays catcher, but is also listed as a utility player. Teammates with numerous blue chip prospects and high draft picks at Scotts Valley High School, Levy led the team in home runs and runs scored while batting .370 with a .509 on-base percentage. The Falcons went 20-9 and won the Santa Cruz Coast League in 2010. He's also a member of the prestigious NorCal Baseball amateur program.

"Everywhere Brett plays, he performs," said O'Brien. He's a very skilled athlete who could help us at a number of positions, but what impresses me most about him is his maturity. He's just a flat-out ballplayer."

Utility man Jack Lombardi led Loyola High School with a .350 batting average in 2010. A contact hitter, he struck out just four times in 80 at-bats. As a junior, the Pacific Palisades resident was an All-Mission League selection.

"Jack attended camp on multiple occasions and never failed in making spectacular plays," said O'Brien. "With his work ethic and blue collar attitude, he'll be another solid left-handed bat who can fill multiple holes defensively. He's a true grinder."

Shortstop Ryan O'Malley from San Jose led Pioneer High School in hitting (.386) and on-base percentage (.507) this past season. Stacked with leadership ability, he's also a power forward on the basketball team.

"The first thing I think about with Ryan is his swing - it's a thing of beauty," said O'Brien. "Being a basketball player as well, his actions are smooth and athletic. We recruited him as a shortstop, but he can play anywhere and I'm excited to see how his tools fit into the program."

Austin Prott, a first baseman/outfielder, is the first of two transfers in the class. At Butte College in Oroville, Calif., he batted .321 with a .485 on-base percentage in 2010. The left-hander walked 21 times, the second most on the team. Prott is from Chico and is a 2008 Chico High School graduate.

"Experience and maturity sum up what Austin will bring to UCSD," said O'Brien. "He's been well-coached at Butte and knows the ins and outs of the game. His approach to hitting is simple - put the barrel on the ball. It doesn't hurt that he hits from the left side either!"

Rounding out the class is outfielder Tim Rowley, who will transfer in from Los Angeles Mission College. In 2010, his first season with the Eagles, he hit .311 with five home runs, 10 doubles and 13 stolen bases. Rowley had just one error in 31 games and was tabbed First Team All-Western State North Conference for his efforts. He was an all-state player at Chaminade Prep and once stole 50 bases in a season.

"Tim is a burner, his speed will shrink the field on both sides of the ball," said O'Brien. "His tools should make him a table setter at the top of the lineup and his make-up could enable him to be a legitimate force in the CCAA."

"From a purely physical standpoint, this group is full of tremendous athletes," said O'Brien. "There's two or three football players, a basketball player, a couple of soccer players - just athleticism up and down the board. Speed, strength, versatility - these guys seem to bring it all."

In 2010, UCSD posted a 54-8 record, the best mark in program history, and advanced to the finals of the Division II College World Series. The Tritons begin their 2011 campaign with 16 straight home games starting with an exhibition against San Diego Christian on Jan. 28. The regular season kicks off with a four-game set against Western Oregon Feb. 4-6.