After making its first appearance at the College World Series in 45 years last summer, the Irish baseball program used that momentum in signing another stellar recruiting class Saturday.

Notre Dame signed nine high school seniors to letters-of-intent, including four pitchers, four position players and one of the nation's premier two-way players.

"We met certain needs by signing power pitching arms, power bats, a tremendous two-way player, a great catcher and an outstanding athlete who can play the outfield," Irish coach Paul Mainieri said.

The signees include righthanded pitchers Jeff Manship, Derik Olvey, Jess Stewart and Dan Kapala, utility player Chris Vasami, first baseman Mike Dury, infielder Chris Fournier, catcher Sean Gaston and centerfielder Danny Dressman.

Four of the signees — Manship, Olvey, Dury and Vasami — are ranked among the nation's top-100 high school players by either the Perfect Game/Baseball America "Prospects Plus" or Team One Baseball.

"Notre Dame again has signed one of the best classes in the nation, and it's an incredibly-balanced group, with speed, power, good arms and defense at several key areas," said Jeff Spelman, editor of TeamOneBaseball.com. "I'd certainly grade this class an `A'."

The highlight of the Class of 2007 could be Manship. The San Antonio right-hander is rated the sixth best high school player in the nation, and the top player in Texas, by Perfect Game/Baseball America Prospects Plus. As a junior last spring at Reagan High School, Manship recorded a 9-1 record with a 0.66 ERA, 159 strikeouts, 19 walks and just 19 hits allowed in 74 innings. His nine wins included three no-hitters and one perfect game.

"Jeff Manship has an outstanding fastball and a devastating curveball," Mainieri said. "With his experience against top-level competition, he should make an immediate impact."

The signing of Texas native Manship could be quite a coup for the Irish, who lured the pitcher away from in-state powerhouses Texas and Rice, both teams that appeared in the College World Series in 2002 with the Irish. The signing is a testament to how far the Notre Dame program has risen in recent years in the ranks of the college baseball elite.

"Notre Dame really turned the corner with making it to Omaha, and there is nothing they can't offer a recruit now," Spelman said. "What is exciting to see is that they are maintaining things on a high level and building on it — they are not a `flash-in-the-pan.'"

Manship, Olvey and Vasami could provide one of the top trios of pitchers to sign with the Irish. The three were listed second, 32nd and 53rd, respectively, in Perfect Game/Baseball America's list of the nation's top pitchers.

"If you add these signees to the freshman and sophomore pitchers already are at Notre Dame, you could envision them back in Omaha [at the College World Series], because you'd have weekday starters who would be weekend starters at most other top-20 programs," Spelman said.

In addition, the utility player Vasami could provide an immediate surge to the Notre Dame lineup with his hitting ability. As a junior at Mamaroneck High School in Mamaroneck, N.Y., Vasami hit .544 with seven home runs and 27 RBI while going 8-2 on the mound with a 1.10 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 70 innings.

"Chris is an imposing player with great bat speed and excellent mechanics that allow him to hit with power to all fields," Mainieri said. "He also throws a heavy, hard fastball that tops out in the low 90's."

As several recruits indicated, Notre Dame's rise in the baseball world has made the South Bend school an attractive alternative to baseball recruits all over the nation. Recent accolades of the Irish baseball program include 14 consecutive 40-win seasons, the top-rated high school recruiting class two years ago, the school's first No.1 national ranking during the 2001 season and Notre Dame's first appearance at the College World Series in 45 years last season.

"My visit solidified things, seeing the tradition of the school and the baseball program firsthand," the Fairfield, Conn., recruit Fournier said. "It was great to see the dedication that they have to go back to Omaha for the College World Series. It's a great baseball program and school, and I knew I couldn't go wrong."

Danny Dressman OF 5-9 160 L

San Jose, Calif. Archbishop Mitty HS

Mike Dury 1B/OF 6-4 210 S

Indianapolis, Ind. Bishop Chatard HS

Chris Fournier IF 6-1 185 R

Fairfield, Conn. Fairfield HS

Sean Gaston C 6-1 175 L

Brownsburg, Ind. Brownsburg HS

Dan Kapala RHP 6-5 195 R

Royal Oak, Mich. Shrine Catholic HS

Jeff Manship RHP 6-0 170 R

San Antonio, Texas Reagan HS

Derik Olvey RHP 6-3 210 R

Pelham, Ala. Pelham HS

Jess Stewart RHP 6-4 210 R

Manassas, Va. Osbourn City HS

Chris Vasami RHP/1B/OF 6-4 210 R

Mamaroneck, N.Y. Mamaroneck HS

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