Philadelphia, PA - La Salle University Head Baseball Coach Lee Saverio starts his first season at the helm of the Explorer club. Saverio is making strides in putting the team back among the elite in the Atlantic 10. He has done so by slating four top recruits for the 2005 season.

Fran O'Kane will finish his final season at Marple Newtown High School this spring. The Broomall native will finish his high school career with four varsity letters, seeing time both at first base and pitching. O'Kane has been named the team MVP twice heading into his senior year.

As a junior O'Kane earned first team All-Delco honors after leading Delaware County in homeruns. He was third in the county with a .487 batting average and was clocked at 90 mph on several different occasions. He aided his team to a playoff berth pitching a complete game where he struck out 12 batters and allowed just two hits.

O'Kane was highly recruited not only by every major college in the Philadelphia area, but also schools in the SEC, ACC, Big East, PAC-10, and the Big 10. O'Kane, who's father is an alumnus of La Salle decided to become an Explorer because he was "impressed by the coaching staff and their desire to compete." O'Kane also had the desire "to attend a university with a top notch education."

Saverio has also signed Matt Dunaway a short stop and right-handed pitcher out of Mount Holly, NJ. Dunaway is a senior at Northern Burlington High School, where he will earn his fourth varsity letter in baseball this spring, Dunaway has also won letters as a conference champion, regional champion, and a two-time state champion.

Dunaway, named team captain as a junior, earned Mercer County American Legion All-Star honors in 2003. He was also the Mercer County American Legion Stolen Base Champion with 26 stolen bases in 2003.

As a junior Dunaway recorded a no-hitter shutout against the Trenton American Legion and a one hit shutout against Bordentown High School. He was selected to attend the World Baseball Showcase in Fort Meyers, FL, where he will be evaluated by Major League Baseball Scouts.

Joining Dunaway and O'Kane will be Dennis Burge a right handed pitcher and center fielder out of Chalfont, PA. Burge has started since his sophomore campaign and was voted the team captain for the upcoming season.

As a junior Burge was named the defensive MVP of the team and earned first team All-Suburban 1 League outfielder honors. He was also an All-Suburban 1 League Honorable Mention as a pitcher.

In his five starts on the mound as a junior, he went 4-0, striking out 26 batters and tallying just five walks. His .365 batting average earned him 37 total bases, which was the highest on his team. He also led his team in stolen bases with 13 and was tied in home runs with 13.

Rounding out the newcomers for 2005 will be Brandon Geib, a right handed pitcher out of Warwick, PA, Warwick High School. While at Warwick, Geib has started on the mound since he was a sophomore. Geib was a member of the Warwick high school Section II Championship team in 2002, playing both third base and pitching.

Geib received honorable mention accolades as both a sophomore and a junior. He also played for the Pennsylvania Select showcase this past summer and had an ERA under 2.00.

Saverio is focused on the season at hand, but also very excited about the talent he has slated for the 2005 season. The Explorers will kick-off the 2004 season, Tuesday February 24th as they host West Chester University at 3:00 p.m.