Sabol Announces Sterling Class of Signees

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Central Michigan baseball coach Jake Sabol has announced his 2026 signing class, a collection of transfers and incoming freshmen who will arrive in Mount Pleasant in fall, 2026.

"I'd like to personally acknowledge the work and effort put in by our staff in securing this tremendous start to our 2026 recruiting class," said Sabol, who is in his third season in charge of the program. "Doug Walters, Aaron Hilt and Justin Sumner have done an excellent job of identifying student-athletes that fit the way we want to play Chippewa baseball here at Central Michigan and we could not be more excited about the 10 young men that will be joining us in the fall of 2026.

"We are thrilled that these super talented student-athletes see the vision for our program and want to be a major part of it very soon."

Included are seven future Chippewas who include pitching, though not all of them exclusively, on their respective resumés. Two of the signees, pitcher/first baseman Zach Essig (Orchard Lake St. Mary's Prep) and Jayden Yancy (Flat Rock High School) hail from Michigan.

Other states represented in the class are the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Pennsylvania.

Tyler Ledvina • 6-0 • 175 • LHP • Frankfort, Ill. • Lincoln Way East HS • Heartland Community College
Heartland (2025): Left-hander went 1-1 with a 4.43 earned run average and 1.67 WHIP during freshman season in 2025 … struck out 18 in 20 1/3 innings.
High School: was also recruited by Valparaiso and Murray State … earned two letters in football as a wide receiver … graduated with a 3.0 grade point average … cousin Ryan Kutt played at Illinois.

Landon Raygo • 6-7 • 290 • LHP • De Pere, Wis. • De Pere HS • Bryant & Stratton College
Bryant & Stratton (2025): Left-hander went 3-0 in 11 appearances, seven of them starts … struck out 50 and walked 26 in 39 2/3 innings … compiled a 4.54 earned run average and a 1.76 WHIP.
High School: Compiled a 1.34 earned run average with 47 strikeouts in 34 innings during senior season … helped lead team to Division 1 state championship in 2024 … earned two varsity letters … graduated with a 3.55 grade point average … played summer ball for Green Bay Blue Ribbons.

Kyle Larson • 6-0 • 195 • OF • Huntley, Ill. • Huntley HS • College of Lake County/McHenry County College
McHenry County College (2026): Enrolled in fall, 2025 and will be a member of the team for the 2026 season.
College of Lake County (2025): Hit .409 with a .517 on-base percentage and a .577 slugging percentage … collected 56 hits, scored 34 runs, drove in 28 runs and stole 16 bases … posted a 3.7 grade point average … earned NJCAA Academic Third Team honors.
High School: Hit .384 with 43 hits while scoring 24 runs and driving in 33 in 38 games during his senior season (2024) … also posted a .463 on-base percentage and a .518 slugging percentage … was also recruited by Northern Illinois, Eastern Illinois, Murray State, Ohio, Kent State, Gardner Webb, Illinois-Chicago, and Southern Illinois Edwardsville … graduated with a 3.8 grade point average

Jayden Yancy • 6-2 • 190 • RHP • Taylor, Mich. • Flat Rock HS
High School: Through junior year, right-hander has a 17-4 record with a 2.03 earned run average, eight saves, 177 strikeouts in 137 2/3 innings pitched … has thrown four career complete games, four shutouts, one no-hitter and one one-hitter … went 7-0 with three saves and 74 strikeouts against 15 walks in 52 2/3 innings with a 0.93 ERA as a junior in 2025 … as a junior in 2025, earned First Team All-Huron League, All-District, All-Region honors and Second Team All-State honors from the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association … also named to the Monroe News All-Region and the Southgate All-News-Herald squads … as a sophomore in 2024, earned first team all-league and all-district accolades and was named to the All-News-Herald second team … led Rams to 2025 Huron League championship … played summer ball for West Oakland Wings and Detroit Bees … played for Team Michigan in 2025 High School Baseball National Championship Series in Nebraska … was also recruited by Oakland, Eastern Michigan, Grand Valley State, Findlay and Wayne State … father, Jeffrey, graduated from CMU in 2004 … carries a 3.23 grade point average.

Jake Parpet • 5-8 • 175 • C • Schaumburg, Ill. • James B. Conant HS • Heartland Community College
Heartland Community College: Hit .363 with five home runs, 15 doubles, and 43 RBI in 2025, his one season at Heartland … posted a .476 on-base percentage … helped lead Hawks to 47-16 finish and Mid-West Athletic Conference, NJCAA Region 24, and NJCAA Division II Central District championships and a berth in the NJCAA Division II World Series.
High School: Named to Prep Baseball All-State First Team as a senior in 2024 … earned Mid-Suburban League Player of the Year Award both as a junior and as a senior … three-time all-league honoree … four-year letter winner … had a school-record 47 hits as a senior; 46 as a junior … led Conant to Class 4A state runner-up finish in 2024 … graduated with a 3.3 grade point average … also lettered in basketball.

Bailey Collins • 6-3 • 238 • RHP • Evansville, Ind. • Reitz Memorial HS • Frontier Community College
2025 (Frontier CC): Went 1-0 with 11 strikeouts and 11 walks and a 5.56 earned run average in 11 1/3 innings.
High School: three-year letter winner … first baseman/pitcher … .344 batting average with three home runs … three 3A sectional championships … two regional titles … on state quarterfinal appearance … played summer ball for Southern Indiana Legends and USA Prime Indiana … graduated with a 3.5 grade point average … was also recruited by Akron and Western Illinois.

Jackson King • 6-4 • 215 • RHP • Muncie, Ind. • Delta HS • Central Methodist/McHenry County College
McHenry County College (2025): Went 2-2 with three saves in 15 appearances, 13 of them starts … struck out 31 and walked 30 in 32 2/3 innings … posted a 3.86 earned run average … helped McHenry to NJCAA Region 4 championship.
Central Methodist (2024): Redshirted on team that won Heart of America Conference regular season championship.
High School: four-year letter winner … graduated in 2023 with a 3.7 grade point average … brother, Carter, played four years at Marian University (2021-25) … also earned two letters in soccer … was also recruited by Penn State, Murray State, Indiana State, Ohio and Southern Indiana

EJ Milliner • 6-3 • 210 • OF/INF • Greenville, Ind. • Floyd Central HS
High School: Will spend senior season (2026) at Floyd Central after three years at Trinity in Louisville, Ky. … at Trinity, hit .343 with three home runs and 48 RBI … helped Trinity to 4A state championship in 2025 and to the state semifinals in 2024 … carries a 3.9 grade point average … member of the National Honor Society … earned Academic All-State honors … chose CMU after being recruited by Cincinnati, Kent State, Yale and Northwestern … played summer ball for Rawlings Mavericks.

Zach Essig • 6-1 • 200 • LHP • Commerce Twp., Mich. • Orchard Lake St. Mary's Prep
High School: Three-year varsity letter winner … earned St. Mary's Teammate of the Year Award in 2024 … went 2-1 with 24 strikeouts in 30 innings as a junior in 2025 … went 3-0 with 24 strikeouts in 20 innings during sophomore season in 2024 … helped Eaglets to Catholic High School League championship in 2023, district title in 2004 and state semifinals in 2025 … carries a 4.0 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society … m other, Noelle, holds two degrees from CMU … father, Rick, was a pitcher at Grove City College … youngest of four boys … twin brothers John and Steven played baseball at Ashland and John now plays at Florida Southern … brother, Grant, is a sophomore pitcher at Grand Valley State … uncle, Steve Essig, played baseball at Charleston Southern … cousin, Matthew Essig, played soccer at Duquesne … was also recruited by Bowling Green and Butler … played summer ball for Team Elite, West Oakland Wings … selected to play for Team Michigan in the 2025 High School Baseball National Championship in Omaha, Nebraska.

Zane Pacek • 7-0 • 298 • RHP • Saxonburg, Pa. • Knoch HS
High School: Three-year letter winner … two-time all-section honoree … has thrown four complete games and one no-hitter in his career … in 26 career games on the mound, has struck out 88 in 107 2/3 innings … member of the national honor Society … 4.4 weighted GPA … also earned three letters in basketball … mother and father both were track & field athletes at Grove City College … uncle Jason Hammel pitched 13 years (2006-18) in the major leagues with the Devil Rays, Rockies, Orioles, Cubs, Athletics and Royals, compiling a 96-114 record with a 4.62 earned run average.

Central Michigan University Athletics

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