SAN FRANCISCO – Having lost many familiar names from last season and with the 2023 campaign mere days away, it's time to meet the new faces that have joined Academy of Art baseball for the 2023 campaign and beyond. The Urban Knights continue the series with freshman shortstop/pitcher Gabe Henderson, junior outfielder Landon Levine, sophomore pitcher Dwyer Lewis, junior third baseman Ryne Lina, and junior pitcher Koh Maeda. 

Gabe Henderson (Sacramento, Calif./C.K. McClatchy High School)
Starting at Academy of Art as a true freshman, Henderson recently graduated from C.K. McClatchy High School where he played baseball and was ranked the No. 56 player in the state of California after helping McClatchy to a 29-5 overall record, in addition to remaining undefeated in conference play at 12-0. During his senior campaign, the Sacramento, Calif. native recorded a 0.60 ERA over 70.1 innings pitched in 12 appearances, logging a total of 10 wins and 96 strikeouts. By the end of his career, he had totaled a 1.11 ERA, an 18-2 record, and 168 strikeouts over 126.2 innings pitched.
 
The combo shortstop/pitcher also could swing the bat, as during that same senior campaign he batted .427 (44-for-103) in 34 games with 47 runs, 35 RBI, 12 doubles, three triples, and three home run. Across his career he compiled a .438 (95-for-217) batting average in 87 total games played with 95 hits, 110 runs scored, 54 RBI, 21 doubles, seven triples, and three home runs. Across his career he earned nearly every honor as he was named team captain, All-League and All-State.
 
He is currently enrolled in the School of Communications & Media Technologies. 

"Gabe is a total athlete who can truly play any position on the field," said ART U Head Coach Dan McDermott. "Gabe is mature beyond his years and he will be our starting shortstop as we begin the season. He will also help us out of the bullpen, and would be considered as a starting pitcher if he were not such a valuable position player."
 
Landon Levine (St. George, Utah/Utah Tech)
Levine joins ART U as a junior transfer from Utah Tech. Prior to his collegiate career, the St. George, Utah native was a varsity letter winner in baseball at Desert Hills High School.
 
The outfielder's run with junior varsity was highlighted by hitting .583 with four doubles, one home run, nine runs scored, nine RBI, and two stolen bases in 11 games played in 2017-18, helping lead the Thunder to a 2019 Utah 4A state title and 2018 state runner-up finish. That same season he was named to the Perfect Game Fall National and SoCal Championship All-Tournament Teams. Outside of his prep career, he led his American Legion team to a 2017 state title and West Region runner-up finish. 
 
He is currently enrolled in the School of Industrial Design to earn his master's degree. 

"Landon is a pleasure to coach and fits seamlessly into our program," McDermott said. "He is a team leader and a great example for all the younger players, and Landon is an aggressive player who will hit near the top of the lineup and start in right field."
 
Dwyer Lewis (Half Moon Bay, Calif./Butte College)
Lewis starts at Academy of Art as a sophomore transfer from Butte College, where he nine appearances with one win and 10 strikeouts in 16.1 innings pitched. For his prep career, the right-handed pitcher was a varsity letter winner in baseball in his hometown school of Half Moon Bay High School, posting a 3.76 ERA, 5-3 record, and 24 strikeouts in eight starts and 41.0 innings pitched across his junior and senior seasons. 
 
In addition to his time in college, Lewis has also spent time with the California Bees of the Golden State Collegiate Baseball League where he was the team's Most Valuable Player last season, in addition to being the GSCBL Pitcher of the Year runner-up in 2022.
 
He is currently enrolled in the School of Communications & Media Technologies. 

"Dwyer is both a coach and a player favorite as he always brings a cheerful and hard-working attitude to the field every day," McDermott said. "With his rubber arm and 88 mph fastball, Dwyer will both start and relieve for the Urban Knights during the early season. When Dwyer is between the lines, he is one of the most intense competitors I have ever had the honor to coach."
 
Ryne Lina (Carson, Calif./Orange Coast College)
Lina comes to the Urban Knights as a junior transfer from Orange Coast College where he hit .222 with three doubles, six runs scored, and four RBI across 13 games played for the Pirates in 2022, highlighting the year with a 3-for-3 performance that included a double, two runs scored, and two driven in versus Sacramento City on Feb. 24. Prior to that the third baseman spent the 2021 campaign with LA Harbor College, hitting .211 with seven runs scored and six RBI across 19 games played. 
 
Before his collegiate career, the Carson, Calif. native was a two-sport varsity letter winner in baseball (four years) and basketball (three years) at Mary Star of the Sea High School where he earned All-State honors in baseball as a senior after hitting .312 with eight doubles, 21 runs scored, 15 driven in over 27 games as well as a 9-1 record as a pitcher which featured a 1.23 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 10 starts and 57.0 innings pitched. 
 
He is currently enrolled in the School of Communications & Media Technologies. 

"Ryne comes to ART U from ultra-competitive Orange Coast Community College and is an outstanding hitter who will bat in the middle of the lineup," McDermott said. "Ryne will also contribute immediately and third and first base, and as a designated hitter."
 
Koh Maeda (Fukuoka, Japan/Laney College)
Maeda begins his Urban Knights career as a junior after spending the previous three seasons with Laney College, making five starts on the mound prior to the season being halted in 2020. In that action the Fukuoka, Japan native was 1-5 with a 4.05 ERA (21 ER in 46.2 IP), striking out 26 (5.01 K/9) while walking only 11 and allowing 54 hits (33 total runs allowed).
 
He is currently enrolled in the School of Communications & Media Technologies. 

"Koh is new to the program this semester after transferring from Laney, he has great control and knows how to pitch," McDermott said. "He is very comfortable with three pitches and keeps hitters off balance with a true 12-6 curveball."