June 7, 2005
Normal, Ill. -
Good pitching is fundamental to a baseball team's success and the Illinois State has shown that by signing Dan Sorce of Western Springs, Ill., its third pitching prospect of the 2005-06 recruiting class.
Sorce, who recently graduated from Lyons Township High School, came into his senior season after being named the MVP of the 2004 Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association State Summer Championship Tournament, leading the Lions to the title. That success fueled Sorce to an 8-2 record with a 0.99 ERA in his senior season. The 6-1, 165 pound left-hander allowed just 38 hits in 63 plus innings of work, while striking out 97 batters and walking just 15. Sorce also threw a no hitter against Downers Grove South, missing a perfect game due to an error.
Illinois State pitching coach Seth Kenny believes Sorce will be able to compete immediately.
"Dan has been successful throughout his career and has the ability to throw three pitches for strikes at any time," said Kenny. "His competitiveness combined with his ability to pitch should enable him to help the team out as soon as he gets here."
Although Sorce will be new to college baseball and Illinois State, he will have two former high school teammates to welcome him to campus. Juniors Brian Davis and Matt Bolt were teammates of Sorce's on the 2003 Lyons Township class AA state championship team.
Sorce becomes the seventh in-state player to sign a National Letter of Intent with the Redbirds for next season. He joins fellow pitchers Ian Berger (Oak Park-River Forest H.S.) and Jim Sajewich (Glenbard West H.S.), along with position players Gabe DeMarco (Rockford Boylan H.S.), Kevin Dubler (Downers Grove South H.S.), Mike Staloway (Joliet Catholic) and Mike Tokarski (Downers Grove North H.S.).
"The addition of Dan to this class gives us a strong crop of young pitchers for the future" said Kenny. "We lose (Matt) Fowles, (Brandon) Gale and (Ned) Schauff to graduation, but we're confident that Dan, Jim (Sajewich) and Ian (Berger) will be able to come in and fill the void."
