Bay Baseball Signs 13 Players; Two From Australia
ESCANABA---The Norse Baseball Team has added 13 names to the list of signed players for next year's team. The 2018-19 team will be the first ever in school history.
Watervliet Senior High School
Jeff graduated in 2015 with a .298 career batting average, 72 RBI, and 69 hits. He was twice named Honorable Mention All-Conference, one-time First Team All-Conference, and was named All-District three times. He was also the Watervliet High School "Dirtball" Award winner in 2015. Jeff was originally recruited to play at a two-year school in Kansas, but an offseason injury forced him to change his path. Coach Pankow says… "I am looking forward to the maturity and leadership that Jeff will bring to the team. We have a very talented young man that had his career derailed by an unfortunate injury. Jeff had to work hard to recover and get to the point where he can play at a high level again, and we are extremely happy that he chose Bay College to continue his career.
Logan Bailey Sault Area High School and Career Center
Logan earned All-Conference, All-District, and Co-Player of the Year Conference awards in 2017, and is having a fantastic senior year. He has shown a tremendous amount of versatility for his high school team, playing nearly every position on the field. Coach Pankow says… "Logan brings a ton of versatility with him, and can find many ways to help a ball club win. I am excited to see what he can do on the mound at this level, he is a highly intelligent pitcher that is able to command multiple pitches within the strike zone. His bat will play, his versatility will bring us depth around the diamond, and his character will represent Bay College well."
Garrett Finkbeiner Marquette Senior High School
Garrett graduated in 2017 and spent the past school year at Bay College as a member of the Norse Basketball Team. He is excited to get back into baseball and pick up from an excellent high school career. For the Marquette Redmen in 2017 Garrett posted a 1.49 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP in 51 and two thirds innings of work on the mound. He was the workhorse of the staff, leading the team in innings pitched and struck out 55 batters on the season. Garrett is currently enrolled in the Water Resource Management Program.
Alex Hanson Stephenson High School Alex is the leadoff hitter and pitcher/shortstop for the Stephenson Eagles. Offensively he shows the ability to get on base and put pressure on his opponents with his speed and aggressive base running. On the mound he has proven very effective and attacks the strike zone. He shows the ability to shut down some strong lineups. In the field he reads the ball well off the bat and has a strong arm. He has shown the ability to be versatile in the field. Coach Pankow says… "Alex is an exciting addition for us because he has the ability to do multiple things defensively. He will be an effective pitcher at our level, but also has the ability to play multiple positions. I really like his speed and aggressive base running, he fits our offensive philosophy well, and with some hard work he can be a great asset for the Norse."
Sam McDonald Traverse City West High School
Sam is a middle infielder for a very good Traverse City West Baseball team. He is batting in the top of the order for the Titans, hitting for a .341 average and setting the table for his team with a .491on base percentage. Sam attended the preseason Audition Day in Escanaba and showed a reliable glove defensively. Coach Pankow says… "Sam caught my eye at Audition Day, I am excited he has chosen to continue his education at Bay. He is a young man with a great work ethic, and it is paying off for him in his senior year. It is exciting to see a young man work hard and enjoy the fruits of his labor. We hope it leaves him hungry for more and he continues to reach his potential as a Norse. I look forward to good things from Sam."
Kyler Moir Hillman High School
Kyler is a left handed pitcher and first baseman for the Tigers. After a sensational junior season, he has followed it up with an excellent senior campaign. He currently boasts a 1.63 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 30 innings pitched. He is also hitting .417 with six doubles and one grand slam. He also takes pride in his defense, having committed just one error so far this season. Coach Pankow says… "Kyler and Bay are a natural fit. He is a young man that is drawn to the U.P. and all it has to offer, and after he was able to get a chance to visit campus, he was hooked. Kyler is a talented young man that will figure into the competition to be in the starting rotation, as well as in the field defensively. He is going to be a fantastic addition to the team and the community."
Alex Morehouse Sault Area High School and Career Center
Alex was an All-Conference and All-District player for Sault Area High School last season and is continuing along that path this year. Alex is currently the everyday third baseman, but has shown versatility, having played shortstop, second, and pitched in the past. Alex is a National Honors Society member and a Business Professionals of America member, all while maintaining a 3.76 GPA. Coach Pankow says… "Alex came highly recommended to the Bay Program and we look forward to his contributions to the Bay community on and off the field. Unfortunately I was not able to see him recently in the tournament in Escanaba, as he was in Texas for the National Competition in Personal Finance. It shows the dedication and intelligence of the young man that he was not only selected for such an honor, but had to be urged by his coaches to go on that trip. I am looking forward to working with Alex soon."
Fynn Morrison Caulfield Grammer School, Wheelers Hill Burnwood East, Victoria, Australia
Flynn spent last summer playing for the Waverly Baseball Club and Forrest Hill Baseball Club, both based out of Melbourne, Australia. Primarily a catcher for those teams, he has shown versatility, spending time at third base. His combined batting average for the summer was .313, playing some of the toughest competition Australia has to offer at that level. He has also had the opportunity to represent the State of Victoria in the U/18 Australian Baseball Tournament. Flynn plans to pursue a degree in Business. Coach Pankow says… "Flynn has been a pleasure to recruit. This is not only a talented young man, but a very intelligent person that has chosen Bay because of the opportunities we offer both on the field and in the classroom. He brings a wealth of experience to our team and has competed at high levels, I look forward to some great things from Flynn."
Connor Olson Washburn High School (Wisconsin)
Connor has followed up a strong junior season with an outstanding senior campaign for the Castleguards. Through ten games he his hitting for a .533 average, with 8 RBI and 11 stolen bases. He also has a 4-0 record on the mound with a 1.46 ERA, while striking out 28 hitters and walking just three in 24 innings of work. Connor plays shortstop when he is not on the mound. Coach Pankow says… "Connor is a dedicated and intelligent ballplayer. I received glowing reports from both of his coaches and am excited to work with him. His athleticism is going to allow him to do many things for us. I know he has worked hard to improve his level of play and I am excited to see what levels he can rise to at Bay College. He is a great pickup for us!"
Alek Santure Superior Central High School
Alek is a catcher from Superior Central that has shown the work ethic to contribute at the collegiate level. Coach Pankow says… "I am happy to add Alek to our team. Walt Smith [Superior Central's Head Coach] is one of the hardest working coaches in the U.P. and has been a great resource to the program. His work with Alek has this young man ready for this level and to take on some new challenges. Alek will bring a great work ethic to the team, and I am confident he is up for the challenge of college baseball."
Avery TenEyck Sault Area High School and Career Center Avery is another player that can play multiple positions. Primarily an outfielder, he has also spent time as a corner infielder and a relief pitcher. He was a captain of the Sault High Hockey this past season and a key member of his high school baseball team. He hits in the middle of the lineup and is expected to be an RBI person in that offensive attack. Coach Pankow says… "Avery is one of those hockey guys that you love to see on the baseball field. The hand-eye coordination required to play hockey at a high level really translates well to a player's swing. Avery shows some 'pop' in his bat. His defensive versatility will make him a big asset to the Norse."
Dane VanDenHeuvel Norway High School
Dane graduated in 2017 and will transfer from Northern Michigan University for the chance to play baseball. He was a catcher and pitcher for his high school team, known for his defense. His strong arm not only shut down opposing teams' running games, but also allowed him to strike out 44 batters and post a 0.75 ERA in 33 and two-thirds innings on the mound. Coach Pankow says… "When you talk to a high school coach you always try to get some idea of the character of a player. Dane's coach talked about his hard work and someone who wants to be a perfectionist. When you pair that with the success he had in high school, it is a player that you are excited to coach, because you know that the young man will work hard to succeed on and off the field."
Mark Zhang Burgmann Anglican School Canberra, ACT, Australia
Mark is a corner infielder and catcher with a lot of experience. Since 2013 he has been a part of the Canberra High Performance Program which required him to attend gym sessions and practice and/or play on a regular basis. He has competed in the U14, U16, and U18 National Youth Championships of Australia. Coach Pankow says… "Mark is an exciting addition to the Norse program. We are talking about a player that has been through a lot, played on some big stages and high levels, and succeeded in those opportunities. His play, experiences, and work ethic will make our team so much more successful as a group, we are happy to add Mark to the team." |