Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

Head Coach Ryan Brownlee

Baseball WIU Athletic Communications

Leatherneck Baseball Signs Six Recruits

Head coach Ryan Brownlee announced recruits for the 2018 season

MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois head baseball coach Ryan Brownlee announced the signings of six high school recruits for the 2018 class. The Leathernecks welcome four pitchers, a catcher/outfielder and infielder.
 
The fifth-year head coach addressed needs for the program looking ahead to the 2018 campaign.
 
"We have spent a lot of time with our six incoming players. They are excited to be Leathernecks, and we are proud to have them. I look forward to coaching all of them on and off the field. We will still bring in a couple of players during the spring signing period. We have had a lot of success finding players in the second signing period. We are going to be patient and let things play out here to see what is going to be best for the program. We will build a championship program with players that want to be Leathernecks, and are willing to make sacrifices on and off the field to improve everyday," said Brownlee. "Shane Davis has done a great job over the last four and a half years of bringing in players that fit what we are trying to do here with our program. Matt Risdon hit the ground running this summer. He has been a great addition since he played here and was our Operations Director last year. I'd personally like to thank Sara Lytle and Drew Donahoo in Admissions, Haley Jones and Tori Niemann, and our strength and conditioning coach Jamie O'Neill for all their work helping with the recruiting process."
 
Brownlee, who is entering his fifth year in charge of the Leathernecks, looked ahead to fill the needs from the future graduation of several seniors following the 2017 season.
 
"Our first recruiting class are seniors this year. First I want to thank those Leathernecks (Chris Tschida, Carson Cheesman, Adam McGinnis, Roman Visintine and Preston Church). All five of those players have been very instrumental in building our program. I can't say enough about those guys, they have a very special place in my heart. In the current climate of players leaving schools if things aren't always rosy, they are a shining example of staying loyal and handling the ups and downs of Division I baseball," said Brownlee. "We also have four other seniors that were junior college transfers in Matt Sturchio, Nate Westfahl, Conner Currier and Cord Church. Those four bolstered that class last year. Regardless of whether they have been a high school or junior college recruit, we have found players that are good fits for the program. With having a large group of impact seniors, we have been very specific on the type of student-athlete we are bringing in to replace our seniors."
 
 
Fall 2016 Western Illinois Baseball Signing Class
 
JACK CARBERRY  •  6-3, 220  •  RHP  •  R/R  •  Palos Heights, Illinois (Shepard HS)
Parents: Paul and Betty Carberry
High School Coach: Frank DeFoggio
Top Tier Club Coach: Matt Plante
 43631
STATS & AWARDS: All-South Suburban Conference… earned Perfect Game WWBA All-Tournament team honors after striking out 10 in six innings of shutout work in the tournament.
 
BROWNLEE QUOTE: "Jack is a big bodied right-hander with excellent deception to compliment his good stuff. He was a guy that we identified very early on this past summer, and had a chance to follow for much of the travel season. We saw a guy that could be a workhorse, and was extremely competitive with the ball in his hand."
 
 
JUSTIN FOY  •  6-3, 185  •  RHP  •  R/R  •  Taylor Ridge, Illinois (Rockridge HS)
Parents: Jason and Julie Foy
High School Coach: Neil Mecagni
Rock Island Legion Post 200 Coach: Tom Teager
 43634
STATS & AWARDS: Struck out 55 batters in 39 innings last spring… posted a 3.41 ERA, but just a .231 opponent batting average… TRAC All-Conference honors.
 
BROWNLEE QUOTE: "Justin has an athletic build with room to grow. He has progressed a great deal in the past year. We are excited to bring in a guy with ties to Western, and who has the ability to positively impact our program both on and off the field."
 
 
CALEB JACOBS  •  6-2, 215  •  C/OF  •  R/R  •  Bloomington, Illinois (Normal West HS)
Parents: Doug and Jenny Jacobs
High School Coach: Chris Hawkins
Club team BNBA Gold Coach: Mike Brown
 43630
STATS & AWARDS: Batted .381 last spring with eight doubles, two triples and two home runs… drove in 23 runs… posted a .440 on-base percentage.
 
BROWNLEE QUOTE: "The Bloomington-Normal area has been a hotbed for us the last few years. Caleb's competitiveness and versatility has a chance to make an immediate impact on our program. He has the type of all-in mentality that coaches love to work with."
 
 
JORDAN MIKEL  •  6-5, 175  •  RHP  •  R/R  •  Plainfield, Illinois (South HS)
Parents: John Mikel and Shelly Adler
High School Coach: Phil Bodine
Illinois Hawks Coach: Kelly Ash
 43633
STATS & AWARDS: Worked 41 innings last spring, recording two wins and a save… struck out 46 batters… posted a 1.74 ERA.
 
BROWNLEE QUOTE: "Jordan is an extremely projectable RHP. There are a lot of similarities between him and past Leatherneck standout Tyler Willman. He has a very fast arm and athletic delivery, and we see him being a very effective pitcher for us throughout his career."
 
 
DILLON SEARS  •  5-10, 165  •  INF  •  L/R  •  Harlan, Iowa (Harlan HS)
Parents: Chad and Janelle Sears
High School Coach: Steve Daeges
 43629
STATS & AWARDS: First Team All-State… helped Harlan HS to a Class 3A State championship… batted .407 with five doubles and seven triples last year… stole 31 bases… .524 on-base percentage.
 
BROWNLEE QUOTE: "Dillon was the first commitment in this class last winter. He's a left-handed hitter that has top of the order speed and athleticism. The ceiling is very high for Dillon and we are expecting great things out of him here in Macomb."
 
 
JACE WARKENTIEN  •  5-11, 170  •  LHP  •  L/L  •  Winnebago, Illinois (Winnebago HS)
Parents: Jim and Kim Warkentien
High School Coach: Ron Adams
Club Rockford Baseball Academy Coach: Dennis Scarpetta
 43632
STATS & AWARDS: All-State Academic… Big Northern Conference All-Conference honors… BNC 'Pitcher of the year'… went 8-1 with two saves last spring… 107 strikeouts and a 0.70 ERA… batted .489 on the year.
 
BROWNLEE QUOTE: "Jace is an athletic lefty that compliments a mid-80s fastball with very good secondary stuff. His stuff will allow him to match up against hitters on either side of the plate."
 
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Carson Cheesman

#25 Carson Cheesman

LHP
6' 0"
Junior
L/L
Preston Church

#24 Preston Church

LHP
6' 3"
Junior
L/L
Adam McGinnis

#12 Adam McGinnis

C
5' 11"
Junior
R/R
Chris Tschida

#6 Chris Tschida

INF
6' 3"
Junior
R/R
Roman Visintine

#9 Roman Visintine

OF
6' 0"
Sophomore
L/R
Cord Church

#17 Cord Church

OF
6' 2"
Junior
R/R
Nate Westfahl

#19 Nate Westfahl

P
6' 3"
Junior
L/L
Conner Currier

#18 Conner Currier

INF
6' 0"
Junior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Carson Cheesman

#25 Carson Cheesman

6' 0"
Junior
L/L
LHP
Preston Church

#24 Preston Church

6' 3"
Junior
L/L
LHP
Adam McGinnis

#12 Adam McGinnis

5' 11"
Junior
R/R
C
Chris Tschida

#6 Chris Tschida

6' 3"
Junior
R/R
INF
Roman Visintine

#9 Roman Visintine

6' 0"
Sophomore
L/R
OF
Cord Church

#17 Cord Church

6' 2"
Junior
R/R
OF
Nate Westfahl

#19 Nate Westfahl

6' 3"
Junior
L/L
P
Conner Currier

#18 Conner Currier

6' 0"
Junior
R/R
INF