SAN FRANCISCO – Academy of Art baseball and Head Coach Dan McDermott have announced the third and final wave of the ART U 2022 recruiting class as the Knights prepare for first pitch of the season just under a week away. Joining ART U baseball will be right-handed pitcher Dallen Turner (St. George, Utah/Wagner College), outfielder Travis Turney (Fresno, Calif./University of Portland), and right-handed pitcher/first baseman Cole Shafer (Fairfield, Calif./Napa Valley College). 

Though he enters as an athletic sophomore, Dallen Turner spent the previous two seasons with Wagner College where he appeared in seven games on the mound, recording six strikeouts in 7.2 innings pitched. Prior to his time in college, the Utah native graduated from Desert Hills High School where he was named All-Region Second Team while also competing on the team that won the Utah 4A state championship in 2019, which Turner lists as his favorite sports moment. The right-hander garnered garnered three All-Tournament Team selections and was a Rawlings-Perfect Game Preseason All-West Region Honorable Mention in 2019. Turner is currently enrolled in the School of Communications & Media Technologies with the goal of one day becoming an entrepreneur. 

"Dallen Turner is a right-handed pitcher with an electric fastball and outstanding slider," McDermott said. "Dallen is new to the program this year and has been meshing well with Coach Nate Gercken. They are working hard on developing a short reliever mentality."

The distinction of being the only graduate student in the 2022 recruiting class belongs to Travis Turney, who comes to ART U after having spent the previous four seasons with the University of Portland baseball team where he appeared in 56 games, including 27 starts. Over the course of his career, the outfielder batted scored 14 runs and registered 12 RBI, while also tallying three doubles, one triple and three home runs. Turney graduated from Clovis West High School in 2017 prior to his collegiate career where he was a dual-sport athlete in both baseball and basketball. Hailing from Fresno, Calif., Turney lists his favorite sports moment was winning the championship in NEB summer baseball league while his favorite non-sport hobbies are painting and playing piano. Currently he is enrolled in the School of Advertising with the goal of one day becoming a creative director. 

"A grad transfer with a degree in marketing, Turney is a true game changer," McDermott said. "Travis is the epitome of a servant-leader. He is a great leader and very meticulous in everything that he does. We expect big things from him, he is a great player and teammate."

Entering ART U as an athletic freshman, Cole Shafer brings a bit of experience at the next level after having spent the previous two seasons with Napa Valley College where he split time at both first base and on the mound, appearing in a total of 30 games as a position player and 11 as a right-handed pitcher. Across his time as a corner infielder, Shafer batted .240 (18-for-75) with 11 runs scored and 10 RBI while also recording seven doubles, one home run and three walks. On the mound, the right-hander made 11 total appearances, including one game started, while logging a 1-1 record with 20 strikeouts in 28.0 innings pitched. Prior to college, the Bay Area native graduated from Angelo Rodriguez High School in 2018 where he played varsity baseball for two seasons and was named a scholar-athlete. Shafer is currently enrolled in the School of Communications & Media Technologies with the goal of becoming a sports broadcaster or baseball coach. 

"Shafer profiles as a two-way player as he is an an outstanding hitter and athlete," McDermott said. "Cole will start out pitching from the bullpen with the goal of competing for the fourth slot in the rotation."