MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois baseball head coach Ryan Brownlee announced his 2015 recruiting class on Thursday (Nov. 13). The Fighting Leathernecks welcome in eight new players, all of which will come to Western straight out of high school.
"I want to congratulate and welcome our incoming Leathernecks and families. We feel great about our relationships with all of them," said coach Brownlee. "Honestly, with how long we have been communicating with them it feels like they have all been part of the program already. It is a great day to be a Leatherneck."
The recruiting process is a year-long experience that involves many members of the Western Illinois community working together to make everything run smoothly.
"I want to thank everyone involved with our University, Athletic Department and Community of Macomb," Brownlee said. "We feel that WIU and Macomb both make this a special place. I also want to thank our athletic director, Tommy Bell, assistant athletic director for compliance, Julie Gibbes, NCAA academic eligibility coordinator, Laurie Black, and Western Illinois strength and conditioning. In order for us to bring in quality student-athletes it takes all of us. I especially want to thank Shane Davis and Matt Igara for their hard work throughout the whole recruiting process. The three of us work well together. It is never just one person that brings together a recruiting class. I like the fact that all of us have a hand in it. It also keeps one person from getting too beat up out there on the road and the phone. Shane has been a huge part of all of our classes and Matt did a great job of transitioning into a recruiting position this year."
Meet the New Leathernecks
Drue Galassi
Position: UTIL/RHP
Hometown: Peoria, Ill.
High School: Richwoods High School
Height: 6-2
Weight: 185
Summer Team: Central Illinois Outlaws
Parents: Raelyn Galassi and Mike McDonald
High School Coach: Doug Goessman
Summer Coach: Dave Rodgers/Ryan Camp | | Statistics and Awards
2014 First Team All-Conference... Honorable Mention All-Area in 2014... Junior season batted .360, 2 HR, 17 RBI... Notched eight stolen bases on eight attempts in 2014 and tallied 11 extra base hits.
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Coach Brownlee on Drue Galassi: "We started to follow Drue before he started his junior year. He has an advanced swing from the left side and wil add some more athleticism to our program. He is a versatile player that has a chance to make an impact as a hitter and a pitcher."
Drue on Western Illinois: "I really like the baseball program and I feel that I will be pushed to further my career in baseball, while also achieving an excellent education. The coaching is great and I appreciated all the interest, support and commitment coach Brownlee and coach Davis put into me for the past year. I look forward to playing for a NCAA Division I program."
Ian Koch
Position: RHP
Hometown: Crystal Lake, Ill.
High School: Crystal Lake Central
Height: 6-6
Weight: 210
Summer Team: CL Cardinals/Phillies MW Scout
Parents: Louise and Robert Koch
High School Coach: Dan Badgley
Summer Coach: Dan Malone | | Statistics and Awards
Top fastball clocked at 92 mph... Varsity starter as a junior for Crystal Lake Central... 2013 member of Phillies (17u) scout team... 2014 member of Crystal Lake (18u) Cardinals.
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Coach Brownlee on Ian Koch: "With his size, Ian is a very projectable right-hander that was somewhat under the radar until this fall. He has some life on his fastball and a quick arm. His ceiling is very high and we are happy to have him join our program."
Ian on Western Illinois: "I chose Western because of all the schools I looked at, Western was the only school I could see myself at if I wasn't playing baseball."
Derek Lieurance
Position: RHP
Hometown: Monticello, Iowa
High School: Cascade High School
Height: 5-11
Weight: 180
Spring Team: Dubuque County Legion
Parents: Julie and Jim Lieurance
High School Coach: Roamn Hummel/Eric DeSousa
Spring Coach: Ross Janes |  | Statistics and Awards
Two-time All-District... Four year letter winner... Two-Time All-Area... Two-Time All-Conference... Ranked as 'Top 10' Iowa prospect according to Prep Baseball Report.
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Coach Brownlee on Derek Lieurance: "Derek is the type of strike thrower and competitor that you are looking for on the mound. He will run the fastball into the upper 80's to compliment a breaking ball that has great depth."
Derek on Western Illinois: "I chose Western because I really liked the coaching staff, facilities and the campus. Western seemed like a place that I could call home for four years."
Jimmy Perkins
Position: OF/RHP
Hometown: Cary, Ill.
High School: Cary-Grove High School
Height: 5-11
Weight: 155
Summer Team: Pro Player Canes
Parents: Judy and Jim Perkins
High School Coach: Don Sutherland
Summer Coach: Mick Matsie | | Statistics and Awards
Batted .341 and posted 1.84 ERA in 2014 at CGHS... Fall 2014, batted .400 posted 1.93 ERA with Pro Player and Chicago Scouts Association... Ranked 59th in Illinois by Prep Baseball Report... CGHS Honor Roll Student 2012-14.
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Coach Brownlee on Jimmy Perkins: "Jimmy is a very versatile player that has a chance to make an impact for us on the mound as well as in the outfield. He is a good runner and solid defender. We are also really excited about him on the mound, where he pitches into the upper 80's with a breaking ball that will be a really good pitch for him."
Jimmy on Western Illinois: "Western offers a great Visual Design/Digital Media program and an impressive baseball program. I want to contribute to a team by becoming a stronger and better player. I am looking forward to Fall 2015 and to becoming a Leatherneck where I can to continue to grow under experienced coaches while playing at a high level of competitive baseball."
CJ Schaeffer
Position: C
Hometown: Lake St. Louis, Mo.
High School: Timberland High School
Height: 6-0
Weight: 200
Summer Team: St. Louis Gamers Blue
Parents: Colleen and Chris Schaeffer
High School Coach: Frank Masters
Summer Coach: Matt Whiteside/Scott Cooper | | Statistics and Awards
Second Team All-League catcher in 2014... Member of St. Louis Gamers Blue team ranked 20th by Perfect Game... Timberland High School team ranked 'Top 10' in STL Metro for 2014.
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Coach Brownlee on CJ Schaeffer: "Catcher is a premium position and we have one of the better ones in our area coming in. CJ has a chance to be a very good hitter at this level. What we are most excited about is his ability to defend. We are fortunate to have good catching in our program and CJ will fit right in with the backstops he have had here."
CJ on Western Illinois: "I chose Western Illinois because it gives me the opportunity to play at the next level while also receiving a great education. The coaches' style of play and work ethic were a good fit for me as a player. The location is also one that is close to home which allows my parents a chance to make home games."
Nick Schrader
Position: INF
Hometown: Cambridge, Wisc.
High School: Jefferson High School
Height: 5-9
Weight: 165
Summer Team: Pro Player Canes
Parents: Cindy Lapidakis-Schrader and John Schrader
High School Coach: Greg Fetherston
Summer Coach: Mick Matsie | | Statistics and Awards
Batted .465 with 32 runs scored on 42 hits in 2013... In 2014 batted .493, scored 51 runs on 45 hits... Three-year varsity starter at Jefferson High School... Two-time First Team All-Confernece... First Team All-Region and Third Team All-State in 2014
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Coach Brownlee on Nick Schrader: "We have had a relationship with Nick since early in his junior year. Nick is a good competitor that has a chance to play up the middle for us. He is a top-of-the-order type of bat from the left side that you are always looking for."
Nick on Western Illinois: "The atmosphere of Leatherneck baseball caught me. I wanted to be a part of the WIU baseball family. The coaches set high expectations for player performance on and off the field, and are very committed to the program and its players. Passion, enthusiasm and a hard working player and coach environment exhibits a "drive to succeed" philosophy. I like that."
Ben Sellers
Position: LHP/1B
Hometown: Evansville, Ind.
High School: Mater Dei High School
Height: 6-3
Weight: 195
Summer Team: Evansville Wolfepack
Parents: Julie and Mike Sellers
High School Coach: Steve Ricketts
Summer Coach: Joe Lis | | Statistics and Awards
First Team All-Southern Indiana Athletic Conference (pitcher) 2014... First Team Evansville All-Metro (1B) 2014... In 2014 led high school team with 34 hits, batting .337, notching 26 RBI, 18 doubles (led conference) and one home run... As a pitcher posted a 6-2 record with a 2.13 ERA... 50 innings pitched, 47 K's, and Four complete games. |
Coach Brownlee on Ben Sellers: "Ben is someone that we have been following since I got to Western. We feel he has a chance to swing the bat. His uncle, Mike, pitched for my dad and was my dad's pitching coach at UE, and his uncle Jeff was my stregnth coach UE."
Ben on Western Illinois: "I chose Western Illinois University because it feels like home. The administration is approachable, friendly, and helpful. The team is full of passionate, competitive, hard-working players who want to win. The coaching staff treats the players as if they were their sons. They want nothing but success for the players on and off the field. Coach Brownlee and his staff approach the players on a personal level and become actively involved in their baseball and academic lives. For those reasons, I believe I made the right choice by choosing to become a Leatherneck."
Deion Thompson
Position: INF
Hometown: Bloomington, Ill.
High School: Bloomington High School
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190
Summer Team: Bloomington GOLD
Parents: Christi and Kenny Thompson
High School Coach: Steve Clapp
Summer Coach: Steve Clapp | | Stastics and Awards
In 2013 batted .333, 19 rbi, 26 runs, and led team with 11 doubles... In 2014 led team with 7 HR, 34 rbi, .427 BA, 41 hits, and 13 doubles... Two-time First Team All-Big 12... Led 2014 Summer squad with 8 HR, 38 rbi, .388 ba... Two-time Crossroads Showcase Participant.
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Coach Brownlee on Deion Thompson: "Deion is a physical and athletic player that caught our eyes before his junior year. Since that time he has matured into one of the better hitters in the state. He has a chance to make an impact early on for us."
Deion on Western Illinois: "When it came to Western Illinois University I noticed right away how talented and friendly the coaching staff was. As I walked around campus, I couldn't help but notice how amazing the facilities were. I was looking for a school that would best fit me academically and athletically. Western was top on my list in both categories. Also, it is not too far away from home so my family can still come watch me play. To top everything off I was able to fulfill my dreams of being a NCAA Division I baseball player at a great program that is supported by the entire community.""I feel very good about the way we recruit and develop here. Getting kids committed is a part of having a good program. Developing them and allowing them to be successful while they are here is very important to us," added Brownlee. "We are putting solid classes together. I really like how we are putting pieces together with each class. We have a couple of spots open in our 2015 class, but the great thing with baseball is it is a late developing sport and there are always impact players available in the Spring and Summer."
