Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Sign 9
12/15/2020 1:20:00 PM | Baseball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Central Michigan baseball coach Jordan Bischel announced on Tuesday his 2021 signing class comprising nine Chippewas-to-be.
The new Chippewa nine, which is set to join CMU for the 2022 season, includes five pitchers (two of them left-handers) and represents the Chippewas' strong Midwest recruiting base representing Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Wisconsin.
"Obviously this was an extremely challenging year from a recruiting standpoint," CMU coach Jordan Bischel said. "Most of our commitments came after the start of the pandemic which means a bulk of the experience was virtual. Combining this dynamic with the restored eligibility for members of last year's team, this led to our smallest recruiting class in our staff's three years here.
"With that said, we feel each of these young men will contribute positively to not only our on-field depth, but the positive direction of the energy and enthusiasm in our program. Each one of these student-athletes is truly excited about becoming a Chippewa; and we feel equally excited to have them on board."
Gregory Guzik • IF • Macomb, Mich. • Dakota HS
Helped Dakota to Division I state semifinals as a junior in 2019 … led Dakota in batting average (.355), slugging (.514), hits (38), home runs (2), RBI (19), stolen bases (11) and runs (26) in '19 … named Dakota's offensive player of the year in both 2018 and 2019 … named to Macomb Area Conference All-Academic Team in 2018-19 … played for coach Gerald Carly at Dakota … played 17u and 18u summer ball with the Michigan Bulls for coach Sean Gallagher … also lettered in bowling at Dakota.
Michael Conte • RHP • Cincinnati, Ohio • Walnut Hills HS
Earned two letters … threw a no-hitter in first varsity start … named a Rawlings Preseason All-American in 2019-20 … named to Prep Baseball Report Top 50 for Ohio … named a top 500 player in the nation by Prep Baseball Report … played for coach Jack Kuzniczci at Walnut Hills … played summer ball for the Cincinnati Baseball Club (2016-19), Midland Baseball (2019-20) and the Ohio Warhawks (2020) … coached by Keith Becker (CBC), Scott Stocker (Midland) and Ron Slushee (Warhawks).
Shane Baumgarten • RHP/INF • Wheaton, Ill. • Wheaton Academy
Led Wheaton in home runs and doubles and, on the mound, strikeouts and saves, during both freshman and sophomore seasons … earned All-Suburban Christian Conference and all-area honors as a sophomore … struck out 58 in 44 innings during first two high school seasons as a pitcher … combined to hit .382 in conference games with 48 hots, 38 RBI and 48 runs in first two prep seasons … played summer ball for Force Elite, coached by Randy Dunnett, Rob Currie and Nate Montgomery.
Avery Mona • RHP • Bloomfield Hills, Mich. • U of D Jesuit
Earned two letters at U of D Jesuit, playing for coach Gary Mags … played summer ball for Arsenal Baseball, coached by Aaron Wilson and Evan Petro.
Adam Mrakitsch • LHP/OF • Howell, Mich. • Howell HS
Named to All-Kensington Lakes Athletic Association Team and Second Team All-County by the Livingston Daily in 2019 … named one of top 5 players in Livingston County prior to the 2020 season … named a team captain in 2020 and in 2021 … in 2019, hit .371 with five doubles, struck out just five times and stole 11 bases in 11 attempts; on the mound, struck out 34 with a 3.00 earned run average in 37 1/3 innings … played for coach Jason Ladd at Howell High School … played summer ball for the Lincoln Park Rails (2018) and Diamondbacks Elite (2019-20), coached by Nick McGuire and Paul Gildersleeve.
Robert Ball • INF • Brookfield, Wis. • Brookfield Central HS
Named Brookfield Central team captain in 2020 and in 2021 … National Honor Society member … named to honor roll in each semester of high school … played for coach Jeff Bigler at Brookfield Central … played summer ball for STIKS, coached by Sean Smith and Karl Richter.
Spencer Verburg • C/1B • Grandville, Mich. • Grandville HS
Named a team captain at Grandville in 2020 and 2021 … played for coach Matt Cook at Grandville High School … played summer ball for Diamonds Baseball (2018-20) for coaches Alex Hoover and Adam Sokolove.
Luke Sefcik • INF • Palos Heights, Ill. • Marist HS
Named to all-tournament team at 2020 Kernels Championship and at the Jupiter World Wood Bat Tournament … coached by his father, Kevin Sefcik, at Marist High School … played summer ball for Cangelosi Sparks Black, coached by Tyler Thompson and Bill Copp … hit .322 with 16 RBI for the Sparks during the 2020 season.
Jack Fecko • LHP • Aurora, Ohio • Aurora HS
Named All-Suburban League First Team as a sophomore in 2019 … posted a 1.80 earned run average in 43 innings in 2019 … coached by Michael Brancazio at Aurora High School … played summer ball for Release Baseball, coached by Matt Rosinski.
The new Chippewa nine, which is set to join CMU for the 2022 season, includes five pitchers (two of them left-handers) and represents the Chippewas' strong Midwest recruiting base representing Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Wisconsin.
"Obviously this was an extremely challenging year from a recruiting standpoint," CMU coach Jordan Bischel said. "Most of our commitments came after the start of the pandemic which means a bulk of the experience was virtual. Combining this dynamic with the restored eligibility for members of last year's team, this led to our smallest recruiting class in our staff's three years here.
"With that said, we feel each of these young men will contribute positively to not only our on-field depth, but the positive direction of the energy and enthusiasm in our program. Each one of these student-athletes is truly excited about becoming a Chippewa; and we feel equally excited to have them on board."
Gregory Guzik • IF • Macomb, Mich. • Dakota HS
Helped Dakota to Division I state semifinals as a junior in 2019 … led Dakota in batting average (.355), slugging (.514), hits (38), home runs (2), RBI (19), stolen bases (11) and runs (26) in '19 … named Dakota's offensive player of the year in both 2018 and 2019 … named to Macomb Area Conference All-Academic Team in 2018-19 … played for coach Gerald Carly at Dakota … played 17u and 18u summer ball with the Michigan Bulls for coach Sean Gallagher … also lettered in bowling at Dakota.
Michael Conte • RHP • Cincinnati, Ohio • Walnut Hills HS
Earned two letters … threw a no-hitter in first varsity start … named a Rawlings Preseason All-American in 2019-20 … named to Prep Baseball Report Top 50 for Ohio … named a top 500 player in the nation by Prep Baseball Report … played for coach Jack Kuzniczci at Walnut Hills … played summer ball for the Cincinnati Baseball Club (2016-19), Midland Baseball (2019-20) and the Ohio Warhawks (2020) … coached by Keith Becker (CBC), Scott Stocker (Midland) and Ron Slushee (Warhawks).
Shane Baumgarten • RHP/INF • Wheaton, Ill. • Wheaton Academy
Led Wheaton in home runs and doubles and, on the mound, strikeouts and saves, during both freshman and sophomore seasons … earned All-Suburban Christian Conference and all-area honors as a sophomore … struck out 58 in 44 innings during first two high school seasons as a pitcher … combined to hit .382 in conference games with 48 hots, 38 RBI and 48 runs in first two prep seasons … played summer ball for Force Elite, coached by Randy Dunnett, Rob Currie and Nate Montgomery.
Avery Mona • RHP • Bloomfield Hills, Mich. • U of D Jesuit
Earned two letters at U of D Jesuit, playing for coach Gary Mags … played summer ball for Arsenal Baseball, coached by Aaron Wilson and Evan Petro.
Adam Mrakitsch • LHP/OF • Howell, Mich. • Howell HS
Named to All-Kensington Lakes Athletic Association Team and Second Team All-County by the Livingston Daily in 2019 … named one of top 5 players in Livingston County prior to the 2020 season … named a team captain in 2020 and in 2021 … in 2019, hit .371 with five doubles, struck out just five times and stole 11 bases in 11 attempts; on the mound, struck out 34 with a 3.00 earned run average in 37 1/3 innings … played for coach Jason Ladd at Howell High School … played summer ball for the Lincoln Park Rails (2018) and Diamondbacks Elite (2019-20), coached by Nick McGuire and Paul Gildersleeve.
Robert Ball • INF • Brookfield, Wis. • Brookfield Central HS
Named Brookfield Central team captain in 2020 and in 2021 … National Honor Society member … named to honor roll in each semester of high school … played for coach Jeff Bigler at Brookfield Central … played summer ball for STIKS, coached by Sean Smith and Karl Richter.
Spencer Verburg • C/1B • Grandville, Mich. • Grandville HS
Named a team captain at Grandville in 2020 and 2021 … played for coach Matt Cook at Grandville High School … played summer ball for Diamonds Baseball (2018-20) for coaches Alex Hoover and Adam Sokolove.
Luke Sefcik • INF • Palos Heights, Ill. • Marist HS
Named to all-tournament team at 2020 Kernels Championship and at the Jupiter World Wood Bat Tournament … coached by his father, Kevin Sefcik, at Marist High School … played summer ball for Cangelosi Sparks Black, coached by Tyler Thompson and Bill Copp … hit .322 with 16 RBI for the Sparks during the 2020 season.
Jack Fecko • LHP • Aurora, Ohio • Aurora HS
Named All-Suburban League First Team as a sophomore in 2019 … posted a 1.80 earned run average in 43 innings in 2019 … coached by Michael Brancazio at Aurora High School … played summer ball for Release Baseball, coached by Matt Rosinski.
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