Illinois State baseball coach Jim Brownlee has signed his first recruiting class since being named the head coach in July with seven new additions that should add depth and experience to the 2004 roster.
Our coaching staff did an outstanding job, especially considering the fact that we got started so late, said Brownlee. I think it speaks highly of how my assistants (Tim Brownlee and Seth Kenny) recruit and how Illinois State is in terms of attracting recruits. This is a great start for our coaching staff, because we got a little bit of everything: pitching, hitting and defense.
Brad Sashko is a catcher from Mundelein High School in Mundelein, Ill., who started as a junior for a team that tied the school record for wins with 32 and finished fourth in the state.
Brad is an excellent defensive catcher, said Brownlee. He will see playing time as a freshman and has the ability to stop the running game at our level. He is definitely one of the best catchers out of the Chicagoland area this season.
Steven Kroeschen is a right-handed pitcher out of Mt. Vernon Township High School in Mt. Vernon, Ill.
Steven is the typical type of pitcher we try to recruit into our program, said Brownlee. He has the skills and potential to go into the draft after three or four years at the collegiate level. He is a great athlete and knows the game of baseball.
Eric Theisen is also a right-handed pitcher that hails from Adrian High School in Adrian, Mich., and was named first-team all-conference and all-district as a junior. He recorded an 8-4 record with a 2.00 ERA and 80 strikeouts for his varsity team and had a 14-2 record with 100 strikeouts as pitcher for his American Legion team, which finished as runner-up in the Michigan State Legion Tournament.
Eric is one of the better pitchers in Michigan, said Brownlee. He is the son of a baseball coach, which helps give him a great understanding for the game. He will have an immediate impact on our program and he possesses the ability to throw strikes from all three arm slots.
Kitt Kopach, a senior at Downers Grove South High School in Oak Park, Ill., played pitcher and shortstop in high school and will play both positions as a Redbird. He pitches right, but bats left and has been clocked at over 90 mph.
Kitt is one of the best athletes in this recruiting class, said Brownlee. He is a two-way player that has the ability to play both shortstop and pitch for us. He is a hard worker and will help our program a lot.
Dan Frega rounds out the pitchers in this seasons Redbird recruiting class as a right-handed hurler from Willowbrook High School in Villa Park, Ill. As a junior, his varsity team finished 20-14 and was the conference champion.
Dan is a pitcher that I am really excited about, said Brownlee. His frame at 64, 175 pounds, will give him a chance to grow into his body and develop into a strong pitcher that should have an excellent shot at getting drafted out of college. He has excellent control of his change-up and is also an outstanding student.
Joe Peterson will join the Illinois State baseball program out of Wabash Valley Junior College, where he played shortstop and second base for two years. He went to John Hersey High School in Prospect Heights, Ill., where during his senior season he accumulated a .430 batting average, six home runs and 21 stolen bases.
Joe is one of the best shortstops in the Midwest, said Brownlee. For our needs, he may be one of the best shortstops in the country. He can set the tone for a game both offensively and defensively and brings maturity to the program. He also has the speed to steal 30 to 40 bases and the determination to become a leader for our squad.
Kyle OBrien, a Lombard, Ill., native from Glenbard East High School, is a corner outfielder that bats left and played for Illinois State Hall of Famer Dan Duck Hogan, who concluded his Redbird baseball career in 1973.
Kyle is another two-way guy that is a pure leftie hitter, said Brownlee. He gives us a corner outfielder that can hit in the middle of the batting order. He will definitely be a welcomed addition to our program.
