2004-05 Recruits

Lamoni High School senior Brian Kennedy has signed a letter of intent to play football and baseball at Graceland University beginning in the fall of 2004.

Kennedy is a six-foot-two-inch defensive end on the football field and a right handed pitcher on the baseball diamond. In high school, Kennedy was a first team all-district football player and threw a no-hitter during his senior year with the Demons.

“Brian is a local kid who continues to get better every time he takes the mound,” says Graceland baseball coach Brady McKillip. “He tossed a no hitter in his last start and we look for him to continue to improve as he joins the Jacket pitching staff. His work ethic and will to compete will be a great addition to the team.”

Kennedy is also a member of FFA (Future Farmers of America), National Honors Society and the academic team.

Brian is the son of Leroy and Bev Kennedy of Lamoni, Iowa.

Matt Calcagni, from Brampton, Ontario, Canada, has signed a letter of intent to play baseball for Coach Brady McKillip’s Graceland Yellowjackets in Lamoni, Iowa. In 2003, Calcagni played for the Canadian Thunderbirds, of the Canadian Elite Baseball Club, hitting .433, with a .567 slugging average and .506 on base percentage. Calcagni, a five-foot-eleven-inch shortstop and second baseman, was selected as a team captain and starting short stop at High Point University in High Point, N.C.

“Signing Matt is huge,” says McKillip. “He was a freshman captain and starting short stop for Division I High Point. He has all of the tools to be a top player in our conference. We will be looking at Matt to compete for the starting job but a player of his caliber will find his way into the lineup somewhere.”

Calcagni is a graduate of Notre Dame Secondary School. He will enter Graceland as a sophomore and he plans to major in English.

Matt is the son of Rose and Adeo and a brother of Adam and Andy.

Chris Hayes from Oakville, Ontario, Canada, signed a letter of intent to play baseball for the 2004-05 Graceland University Yellowjackets. Hayes is a six-foot-two-inch pitcher and outfielder. He was the most valuable player for the St. Ignatius of Loyola High School Hawks. “Chris is a major signing for Graceland baseball,” says Yellowjacket Head Coach Brady McKillip. “He has unbelievable power at the plate and can get it done on the mound. He will make an instant impact both offensively and defensively. We are excited to have him.”

Hayes plans to major in secondary education at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa.

Chris is the son of Ted and Anne and the brother of Katherine.