The UTM head baseball coach has a left-handed pitcher on his Christmas wish list, but he realizes that every other college baseball coach wants one of them, too.

Sure, Cates would take a power hitter and a slick-fielding shortstop, but he's not going around the country chasing players. Not now, especially since the early signing period is over and he's landed six talented recruits, including the best in Tennessee.

Cates recently announced the signing of six players, Bryce Carden, Blake Turner, Ryan Hill, Jason Moore, Chris Rezabek and John Hooper.

Bryce Carden, a senior at Centennial High School in Franklin, Tenn., has signed a national letter of intent to play baseball for the UTM Skyhawks.

"Carden is a big and rangy player, that will help add a different dimension to our team," said UTM head baseball coach Bubba Cates.

Carden is a 6-5, 210-pound senior. He is a left-handed center fielder and had a batting average of .468, hit two home runs, drove in 29 runs, and stole 11 bases as a junior last season for CHS.

"He is a left-handed hitter," said Cates. "That will be good for our park."

Carden was an all-district player last season in division 5A. In the district tournament last season, Carden hit .823, with one home run, while driving in nine runs and stealing seven bases.

"Carden is a great student, a great athlete, and a great player," Cates said. "He is an all-around package."

Cates also signed Blake Turner, a 6-0, 195-pound utility player from Brentwood.

"We are not sure how we are going to use Blake, but we know he can play for us," Cates said.

Turner played last season for Franklin Road Academy, but has transferred to Brentwood High School for his senior season. He played summer ball for the Nashville Shoteques and also played in the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Showcase this fall.

Turner's father, Tim, played at Vanderbilt, while his brother, Josh Pride is in the Colorado Rockies organization.

Ryan Hill, a 6-6, 205-pound right-handed pitcher from Tom C. Clark High School in San Antonio, Texas, will join the Skyhawks' pitching rotation in 2005.

Cates said Hill will offer immediate help. "Here's a young man that can come to UTM, help us right away, and have the chance to be a special player for us."

Hill led his 5-A high school team with a 7-2 record. He also picked up two saves. He was credited with 38 strikeouts, 30 walks, and he only gave up 22 hits in 43 innings of work this past spring.

Jason Moore, a 5-10, 160-pound shortstop from Bartlesville, Okla., brings his outstanding defensive play to the Skyhawks’ next season.

Moore will transfer to UTM from Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College, where he hit .241 with 10 doubles, three triples, and 19 RBI.

"Jason is an outstanding defensive player who should help solidify our infield a year from now," Cates said. "He has great arms and hands, and he can play the field."

Moore participated in the Kansas Junior College Showcase this past season as a sophomore.

Carden, Hill, Turner and Moore join Chris Rezabek, a catcher from Bolton High School and John Hooper, a right-handed pitcher from Goodpasture Christian School as members of Cates' 2004-05 recruiting class.

Rezabek is one of the top catching prospects in a competitive Memphis region. He has good physical size with a strong accurate arm and solid defensive skills. He can also play third base. He batted .375 with five home runs and 48 RBI this past spring and summer. He was named a “Top Junior Player” in a selection by the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper. He also earned all-district, all-metro, and all-region honors.

Hooper is 6-2 and 185 pounds. He finished his junior season with 57 strikeouts in 46 innings and he sported a 6-2 won-loss record. He won the district championship game for Goodpasture and finished the season with a 3.20 earned run average. Hooper attended the Blue-Gray Classic VII at the University of Tennessee and played this fall for the NC Red Sox scout team against many colleges. He also played summer ball for the Tennessee Athletics where he recorded an 8-3 worksheet and struck out 76 hitters in 67.7 innings pitched. He had a 1.45 ERA with the Athletics.

"We are excited about our entire class," Cates said.

"We signed six guys for next season. We would love to have a left-handed pitcher, but everybody wants one of those. By signing these six players, we can narrow our focus. We are not chasing a lot of players. This recruiting class energizes our team and gives our guys some excitement."