Central Michigan University Athletics
Baseball Inks Six
11/29/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 29, 2001
MOUNT PLEASANT -- Central Michigan University head baseball coach Judd Folske announced the signing of six preps to national letters-of-intent.
Joining CMU in the Class of 2002-03 will be: Dan Evey (Royal Oak/Kimball), Jason Gotwalt (Mississauga, Ont./Our Lady of Mount Carmel), Joel Pelland (Carom Stream, Ill./Glenbard North), Jayson Ruhlman (Macomb/L'Anse Creuse North), Ryan Stromer (Cave Creek, Ariz./Cactus Shadows), and Chase Welker (Maumee, Ohio/St. Johns).
"It's a solid group of athletes who are academically oriented," Folske said. "They possess the skills that will allow us to contend for the MAC championship each year. It fills a number of our needs and should prove to be an outstanding recruiting class in the future." Following is a thumbnail sketch of each signee:
*Evey is a 6-0, 170-pound outfielder with excellent speed ... bats from the left side ... All-State selection after finishing with seven homers, 37 RBI and 29 stolen bases last season ... has 113 career stolen bases, 32 shy of the state record ... former Chippewa Brian Gordon is his prep coach.
*Gotwalt is a power-hitting right-handed third baseman at 6-1 and 195 pounds ... above average throwing arm ... played on Team Ontario last summer following in the footsteps current Chippewa David Latour ... selected to participate in prestigious Area Code Games in Long Beach, Cal., last summer ... could contend for a starting job as a frosh.
*Pelland is a 6-3, 185-pound right-handed outfield/pitcher ... will play both positions ... has excellent speed ... posted an 8-1 record with a 1.77 ERA and 66 strikeouts and 60 innings last spring ... batted .322 ... all-conference pick ... three-sport standout.
*Ruhlman is a 6-0, 155-pound left-handed pitcher ... throws in the mid 80s with good control ... has three pitches ... great composure and demeanor on the mound ... should show rapid improvement after being slowed by an injury last summer.
*Stromer is a 6-2, 185-pound right-handed pitcher with a lively fastball ... consistently throws in the high 80s ... posted a 5-2 record with a 1.36 ERA ... struck out 87 batters in 51.7 innings while walking just 15.
*Welker is a talented middle-infielder with good hands and arm strength ... stands 6-1 and weighs 175 ... bats and throws from the right side ... hit .365 last spring ... all-city and all-district as a sophomore and junior ... played for Team Ohio, a selected group of all-stars, in the Sunbelt Classic.
"To fill out an excellent recruiting class we will target additional pitchers to replace the arms we'll lose and add depth in catching," said Folske, who hopes to add three more players.
