Chambers keeps tapping area talent, signs seven locals to play at UNLV

Tim Chambers didn’t need to make too many recruiting trips outside Clark County during his 11 seasons as coach at powerhouse College of Southern Nevada, essentially cornering the market on local talent.

Not much has changed since Chambers moved to UNLV last year.

The Rebels have signed seven locals among the 10 players in their still-growing recruiting class. Add that to the 11 players who followed Chambers from CSN when he took the job.

“That’s the way it’s supposed to be,” Chambers said. “You’re supposed to want to go to the local university and play there and have pride in your hometown school. You get to play with guys you played with and against your whole life.”

Scott Tomassetti, a catcher from Sierra Vista High School, is the top local recruit in this class. The four-year starter is batting .435 with 13 home runs and 60 RBIs through 33 games.

Tomassetti, who should compete for the starting job with UNLV next season, turned down Oregon and Wake Forest.

Chambers also signed immediate help for his thin pitching staff. Injuries have kept three Rebels pitchers off the mound for two years, but they still count against the 35-man roster.

He expects to have 10 new pitchers on next season’s roster and needs them to make an immediate impact.

“It’s really, really, really important,” Chambers said. “The midweek games, we haven’t been in really, and it’s because we’re primarily chasing runs. We’ve got to play 56 games, and we need pitchers who can play 56 games.”

UNLV signed right-hander Eric Holdren and left-hander Zak Qualls from Rancho, right-hander Erick Fedde from Las Vegas High and right-hander T.J. White from Bishop Gorman. The Rancho pitchers can reach the 90s with their fastballs, with Holdren’s topping out at 94 mph. All four could play next season, with White also possibly filling an infield spot.

The Rebels will also welcome Rancho's Brandon Pletsch and Gorman's Erik Van Meetren.

Chambers said the recruiting class has come together better than he expected, but he thought his success at CSN would attract top talent to UNLV.

“We’re moving the program in the right direction,” he said.