Central Michigan University Athletics
Bischel Signs 13 In First Recruiting Class
11/17/2018 10:10:00 AM | Baseball
Athleticism, academics characterize incoming class
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Central Michigan Baseball coach Jordan Bischel has announced the addition of 13 student-athletes who join the program for the 2020 season.
In his first recruiting class since being named the Chippewas head coach on June 28, Bischel described his incoming players as a group with a lot of athleticism and character.
"They're not going to be the most physically imposing class but as a group, they can really run, they can move, and they can really defend their positions," he said.
The class consists of nine position players and four pitchers. Eight hail from the state of Michigan, three come in from Wisconsin as well as a player from Ohio and Illinois.
"This group will bring us some depth," said Bischel. "We have big senior class this year and couple juniors that have a chance to move on the pro ball, so we'll have a lot to replace.
"We bring in more hitters than we do pitchers because we lose a bit more in that area."
The group of incoming position players consists of Nick Dardas (C/IF) from Bay City; Jakob Marsee (OF) from Allen Park; Kyle Nott (C) from Jenison; Zach Brunet (SS) from Commerce Township; Kevin Tuttle from Woodhaven; Drew Lechnir (CF) and Zach Lechnir (SS) who hail from Kimberly, Wis., Shane Ryan from Markesan, Wis., and Parker Mathieson from Bloomington, Ill.
"What's big about this group coming in, is that they should help us win games on days they don't hit," said Bischel. "We'll be able to defend, we'll be able to run the bases, we'll be able to bunt and do some different things that way."
The incoming pitching class includes Drew Alsobrooks (LHP) from Livonia; Andrew Taylor (RHP) from Caledonia; Cole Agemy (RHP) from Macomb and Clayton Brock from Cincinnati, Ohio.
"On the mound, we were looking for guys that could really create movement and throw strikes," Bischel said. "Everybody is looking for velocity, but if they can pound the strike zone have some pitches with movement, I think we're going to be in good shape."
Bischel also talked about the importance of character and academics when evaluating his incoming players.
"For all of these guys, having good references and being good students was key. If you look at the cumulative GPA of this group coming in, it's going to be awfully high.
"We have some really good students coming that should succeed in the classroom right away."
Zach Brunet • shortstop/second base • 6-2, 190 pounds • Commerce Twp., Mich./Walled Lake Northern HS
Two-time All-Lakes Valley Conference selection … two-time all-district pick … enters senior season ranked fifth in program history with 96 hits and ranked third with 48 stolen bases … hit .400 in 2017 with 48 hits, the third-highest total in school history … three-time Academic All-Lakes Valley Conference.
Kyle Nott • catcher • 6-foot, 180 pounds • Jenison, Mich./Jenison HS
Named Second Team All-State by Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association in 2018 … hit .411 with 33 RBI and 19 stolen bases and scored 42 runs while leading team to 32-4 finish … as a sophomore in 2017, hit .422 with 38 RBI, 17 stolen bases and 16 extra-base hits in leading Wildcats to 35-3 record … hit .415 with 23 RBI as a freshman in 2016 … has thrown out 32 of 47 base stealers in his career … three-time first team all-conference selection … three-time all-district and two-time all-region selection … also a three-year starter at quarterback on the football team, recording 5,351 yards in total offense and accounting for a combined 61 touchdowns in rushing and passing.
Drew Alsobrooks • pitcher • 6-2, 210 pounds • Livonia, Mich./Churchill HS
Left-hander helped Churchill to Division I district title in 2018 … member of Michigan Bulls travel team that won the American Amateur Baseball Congress Mickey Mantle World Series in 2018 and the Pastime National Championships in 2017 … played for Team Michigan in the Prep Baseball Report (PBR) Future Games … heading into senior year of baseball, has earned seven varsity letters, including four in football … twice earned All-Kensington Lakes Activities Association First Team honors in football.
Kevin Tuttle • shortstop • 6-1, 175 pounds • Woodhaven, Mich./Riverview Gabriel Richard HS
Named First Team All-State by the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association after leading the Pioneers to the Division III state championship … has helped Richard to three consecutive Catholic High School League titles … three-time All-Catholic League pick … has helped lead team to three consecutive district and three consecutive regional titles … two-time Downriver News-Herald All-Area Dream Team selection … named to News-Herald All-Area Second Team as a sophomore … career statistical totals through junior season: .431 batting average; .486 on base percentage, .964 fielding percentage; 72 RBI; 25 extra-base hits; 98 runs scores; 123 hits … Pioneers have compiled a combined 70-17 record in his three years on the varsity … also a four-year starter on the soccer team and a two-year starter on the basketball team.
Cole Agemy • pitcher • 6-2, 210 pounds • Macomb, Mich./Warren De La Salle HS
Right-hander helped Pilots to back-to-back district championships in 2017-18 and Catholic High School League title in '18 … three-time Scholastic All-Catholic honoree … part of 2017 De La Salle football team that won Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 state championship.
Zach Lechnir • shortstop • 5-10, 160 pounds • Kimberly, Wis./Kimberly HS
Earned first team all-conference honors and all-district accolades in 2018 … hit .398 during junior season in 2018 … played on 2017 state championship team as a sophomore … has earned three varsity letters through his junior year … also has played football, earning letters on 2016 and 2017 state championship teams.
Drew Lechnir • outfield • 5-9, 160 pounds • Kimberly, Wis./Kimberly HS
played on 2017 state championship team as a sophomore … has earned three varsity letters through his junior year … also has played football, earning letters on 2016 and 2017 state championship teams.
Shane Ryan • catcher/infield • 6-0, 195 pounds • Markesan, Wis./Markesan HS
Entering senior season, has posted a .400 career batting average, a .600 career slugging percentage, a .498 on base percentage, 63 RBI … has career 14-4 pitching record with a 0.99 earned run average and two saves … in 2018, earned All-State honorable mention, and earned the Trailways North Conference Player of the Year Award … also named the American Legion South Conference Most Valuable Player in 2018 … member of the National Honor Society.
Nick Dardas • catcher/infield • 5-10, 175 pounds • Bay City, Mich./Bay City Western
Hit .293 with a .460 on base percentage during his junior year in 2018 … hit .423 with 27 RBI and scored 18 runs as a sophomore in 2017 … named to All-State Second Team by the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association in '17 … named to Midland Daily News All-Area First Team in 2018 and to the publication's second team in '17 … two-time All-Saginaw Valley League first teamer … MHSBCA Academic All-District, All-Region and All-State in 2018 … named to all-district team in 2017 and in 2018 … named all-region in 2017 … American Legion regional MVP in 2018 … coached at Western by CMU great Tim McDonald.
Jakob Marsee • outfield • 6-0, 180 pounds • Allen Park, Mich./Allen Park HS
Two-time All-Downriver League honoree … twice named to Downriver News Herald All-Area squad … enters senior year having earned eight varsity letters: three in baseball, three in football and two in basketball … also an all-league football player.
Clayton Brock • pitcher • 6-2, 220 pounds • Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy
Named in 2018 Second Team All-City by the Cincinnati Enquirer … earned First Team All-Miami Valley Conference honors in 2018 … All-MVC honorable mention in 2017 … enters senior year having earned three letters in baseball … named an Underclass All-American by Perfect Game USA in 2018.
Parker Mathieson • infield/outfield • 5-11, 175 pounds • Bloomington, Ill./University High
A three-year letter winner at University High … hit .356 during his junior season with 42 hits, 9 triples, 8 doubles and 31 stolen bases … named to the Central State All-Conference team in 2017… selected to Springfield Register All-Area Game in 2018 … played club for the Chicago Elite under coach Brian Forystek in 2018 … also lettered in football and was an All-Conference selection in 2018.
Andrew Taylor • pitcher • 6-5, 190 pounds • Alto, Mich./Caledonia HS
Right-hander enters senior year having earned three varsity letters … played summer ball for Diamonds baseball.
In his first recruiting class since being named the Chippewas head coach on June 28, Bischel described his incoming players as a group with a lot of athleticism and character.
"They're not going to be the most physically imposing class but as a group, they can really run, they can move, and they can really defend their positions," he said.
The class consists of nine position players and four pitchers. Eight hail from the state of Michigan, three come in from Wisconsin as well as a player from Ohio and Illinois.
"This group will bring us some depth," said Bischel. "We have big senior class this year and couple juniors that have a chance to move on the pro ball, so we'll have a lot to replace.
"We bring in more hitters than we do pitchers because we lose a bit more in that area."
The group of incoming position players consists of Nick Dardas (C/IF) from Bay City; Jakob Marsee (OF) from Allen Park; Kyle Nott (C) from Jenison; Zach Brunet (SS) from Commerce Township; Kevin Tuttle from Woodhaven; Drew Lechnir (CF) and Zach Lechnir (SS) who hail from Kimberly, Wis., Shane Ryan from Markesan, Wis., and Parker Mathieson from Bloomington, Ill.
"What's big about this group coming in, is that they should help us win games on days they don't hit," said Bischel. "We'll be able to defend, we'll be able to run the bases, we'll be able to bunt and do some different things that way."
The incoming pitching class includes Drew Alsobrooks (LHP) from Livonia; Andrew Taylor (RHP) from Caledonia; Cole Agemy (RHP) from Macomb and Clayton Brock from Cincinnati, Ohio.
"On the mound, we were looking for guys that could really create movement and throw strikes," Bischel said. "Everybody is looking for velocity, but if they can pound the strike zone have some pitches with movement, I think we're going to be in good shape."
Bischel also talked about the importance of character and academics when evaluating his incoming players.
"For all of these guys, having good references and being good students was key. If you look at the cumulative GPA of this group coming in, it's going to be awfully high.
"We have some really good students coming that should succeed in the classroom right away."
Zach Brunet • shortstop/second base • 6-2, 190 pounds • Commerce Twp., Mich./Walled Lake Northern HS
Two-time All-Lakes Valley Conference selection … two-time all-district pick … enters senior season ranked fifth in program history with 96 hits and ranked third with 48 stolen bases … hit .400 in 2017 with 48 hits, the third-highest total in school history … three-time Academic All-Lakes Valley Conference.
Kyle Nott • catcher • 6-foot, 180 pounds • Jenison, Mich./Jenison HS
Named Second Team All-State by Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association in 2018 … hit .411 with 33 RBI and 19 stolen bases and scored 42 runs while leading team to 32-4 finish … as a sophomore in 2017, hit .422 with 38 RBI, 17 stolen bases and 16 extra-base hits in leading Wildcats to 35-3 record … hit .415 with 23 RBI as a freshman in 2016 … has thrown out 32 of 47 base stealers in his career … three-time first team all-conference selection … three-time all-district and two-time all-region selection … also a three-year starter at quarterback on the football team, recording 5,351 yards in total offense and accounting for a combined 61 touchdowns in rushing and passing.
Drew Alsobrooks • pitcher • 6-2, 210 pounds • Livonia, Mich./Churchill HS
Left-hander helped Churchill to Division I district title in 2018 … member of Michigan Bulls travel team that won the American Amateur Baseball Congress Mickey Mantle World Series in 2018 and the Pastime National Championships in 2017 … played for Team Michigan in the Prep Baseball Report (PBR) Future Games … heading into senior year of baseball, has earned seven varsity letters, including four in football … twice earned All-Kensington Lakes Activities Association First Team honors in football.
Kevin Tuttle • shortstop • 6-1, 175 pounds • Woodhaven, Mich./Riverview Gabriel Richard HS
Named First Team All-State by the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association after leading the Pioneers to the Division III state championship … has helped Richard to three consecutive Catholic High School League titles … three-time All-Catholic League pick … has helped lead team to three consecutive district and three consecutive regional titles … two-time Downriver News-Herald All-Area Dream Team selection … named to News-Herald All-Area Second Team as a sophomore … career statistical totals through junior season: .431 batting average; .486 on base percentage, .964 fielding percentage; 72 RBI; 25 extra-base hits; 98 runs scores; 123 hits … Pioneers have compiled a combined 70-17 record in his three years on the varsity … also a four-year starter on the soccer team and a two-year starter on the basketball team.
Cole Agemy • pitcher • 6-2, 210 pounds • Macomb, Mich./Warren De La Salle HS
Right-hander helped Pilots to back-to-back district championships in 2017-18 and Catholic High School League title in '18 … three-time Scholastic All-Catholic honoree … part of 2017 De La Salle football team that won Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 state championship.
Zach Lechnir • shortstop • 5-10, 160 pounds • Kimberly, Wis./Kimberly HS
Earned first team all-conference honors and all-district accolades in 2018 … hit .398 during junior season in 2018 … played on 2017 state championship team as a sophomore … has earned three varsity letters through his junior year … also has played football, earning letters on 2016 and 2017 state championship teams.
Drew Lechnir • outfield • 5-9, 160 pounds • Kimberly, Wis./Kimberly HS
played on 2017 state championship team as a sophomore … has earned three varsity letters through his junior year … also has played football, earning letters on 2016 and 2017 state championship teams.
Shane Ryan • catcher/infield • 6-0, 195 pounds • Markesan, Wis./Markesan HS
Entering senior season, has posted a .400 career batting average, a .600 career slugging percentage, a .498 on base percentage, 63 RBI … has career 14-4 pitching record with a 0.99 earned run average and two saves … in 2018, earned All-State honorable mention, and earned the Trailways North Conference Player of the Year Award … also named the American Legion South Conference Most Valuable Player in 2018 … member of the National Honor Society.
Nick Dardas • catcher/infield • 5-10, 175 pounds • Bay City, Mich./Bay City Western
Hit .293 with a .460 on base percentage during his junior year in 2018 … hit .423 with 27 RBI and scored 18 runs as a sophomore in 2017 … named to All-State Second Team by the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association in '17 … named to Midland Daily News All-Area First Team in 2018 and to the publication's second team in '17 … two-time All-Saginaw Valley League first teamer … MHSBCA Academic All-District, All-Region and All-State in 2018 … named to all-district team in 2017 and in 2018 … named all-region in 2017 … American Legion regional MVP in 2018 … coached at Western by CMU great Tim McDonald.
Jakob Marsee • outfield • 6-0, 180 pounds • Allen Park, Mich./Allen Park HS
Two-time All-Downriver League honoree … twice named to Downriver News Herald All-Area squad … enters senior year having earned eight varsity letters: three in baseball, three in football and two in basketball … also an all-league football player.
Clayton Brock • pitcher • 6-2, 220 pounds • Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy
Named in 2018 Second Team All-City by the Cincinnati Enquirer … earned First Team All-Miami Valley Conference honors in 2018 … All-MVC honorable mention in 2017 … enters senior year having earned three letters in baseball … named an Underclass All-American by Perfect Game USA in 2018.
Parker Mathieson • infield/outfield • 5-11, 175 pounds • Bloomington, Ill./University High
A three-year letter winner at University High … hit .356 during his junior season with 42 hits, 9 triples, 8 doubles and 31 stolen bases … named to the Central State All-Conference team in 2017… selected to Springfield Register All-Area Game in 2018 … played club for the Chicago Elite under coach Brian Forystek in 2018 … also lettered in football and was an All-Conference selection in 2018.
Andrew Taylor • pitcher • 6-5, 190 pounds • Alto, Mich./Caledonia HS
Right-hander enters senior year having earned three varsity letters … played summer ball for Diamonds baseball.
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