Central Michigan University Athletics
Pair Join Incoming Baseball Class
7/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
Central Michigan baseball coach Steve Jaksa has announced the signing of two players to National Letters of Intent.
The players, Dazon Cole of Pontiac and Michael Brettell of Fonthill, Ontario, Canada, will join the six future Chippewas who signed last November. Both Cole and Brettell will have freshman eligibility beginning this fall.
Cole is an athletic 5-foot-10, 175-pound middle infielder/pitcher who played at West Bloomfield High School. He is hitting .375 with two home runs, 11 doubles, 16 RBI and 12 stolen bases for the Lake Erie Monarchs in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League.
Cole, who bats and throws right-handed, was drafted in the 29th round by the Atlanta Braves in 2014 and is loaded with potential, Jaksa said.
"He's not a finished product," said Jaksa, who added that Cole has the tools to be a closer. "He knows that. He's going to have to learn. He has the demeanor, and he understands and he's very committed to getting better. He's hungry."
Brettell is a 6-3, 200-pound right-handed pitcher who has played his summer ball for the past three seasons with the Great Lakes Canadians. He is a member of the Canada Junior National Team and, as such, has played against minor leaguers, which is a plus, Jaksa said.
"He's a competitor and he throws quality strikes," Jaksa said. "He's getting people out with his stuff who are playing at a professional level."
Cole and Brettell will join the six players â€" pitcher Grant Wolfram, infielders Jason Sullivan and Jarrod Watkins, catcher Evan Kratt, outfielder Daniel Robinson and first baseman Jarod Burton â€" who signed in November.
Wolfram, a left-hander from Hamilton, was drafted last month in the 17th round by the Detroit Tigers. He turned down the professional contract to attend CMU.
"We feel really good about this group," Jaksa said. "Got some infielders, got some pitching, got a catcher, and a true outfielder. There's a couple of left-handed hitters in there. We're very happy."
