EUGENE - The University of Oregon has its first baseball recruiting class in 27 years, head coach George Horton announced during the NCAA's early signing period.

The Ducks inked 17 players, who each signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the U of O for the 2008-09 academic year. Of the newcomers, nine are prep athletes from five states and eight are current junior college student-athletes.

Horton previously coached baseball power Cal State Fullerton for 11 seasons and won the 2004 College World Series.

Oregon is expected to add five to six additional recruits before the early signing period ends on Nov. 21.

The early signees are: Nick Baligod, OF, Fairfield, Calif. (Sacramento City College/UC Irvine); Kenny Bartz, OF, Bellevue, Wash. (Lassen College); Ryan Fleckenstein, LHP, Stockton, Calif. (Chabot College); Chris Garrison, RHP, Rocklin, Calif. (Rocklin); Dylan Gavin, IF, Santa Cruz, Calif. (Santa Cruz); Darrell Hunter, SS/RHP, Springfield (Thurston); Alex Keudell, RHP, Beaverton (Jesuit); Justin LaTempa, RHP, Huntington Beach, Calif. (Golden West College/UC Irvine); Scott McGough, RHP/SS, Plum, Pa. (Plum); Ty Morrison, OF, Mililani, Hawaii (Mililani); Danny Pulfer, SS, Cypress, Calif. (Cypress); Curtis Raulinaitis, UT, Sacramento, Calif. (Sacramento City College); Pete Ruiz, RHP, (Santa Barbara City College); Casey Serna, RHP/SS, Santa Barbara, Calif. (St. Bonaventure); Colby Sokol, OF, Puyallup, Wash.; Zack Thornton, RHP, R/R, Oak Park, Calif. (Ventura College); Ben Whitmore, LHP, Clovis, Calif. (Fresno City College).