FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
Lincoln – University of Nebraska baseball coach Mike Anderson announced Wednesday a fall recruiting class of 14 student-athletes who will join the Husker program next fall. The class features a trio of in-state performers in Kurt Farmer (Columbus), Tyler Niederklein (Omaha) and Josh Scheffert (Lincoln) as well as players from eight other states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Texas). According to Anderson, this recruiting class brings impressive credentials on the diamond as well as in the classroom.
“No question that this is the best academic group that we’ve recruited since I’ve been here,” Anderson said. “We feel great about the type of student-athletes we have in this group. We feel strongly about their character and ability as not only baseball players, but as students who want be able to be successful at the collegiate level. We also like the athleticism and versatility that this class brings to our program.”
Chase Adams
Chas Adams signs with Nebraska after pitching for Coach Britt Smith • Was one of the aces of the Howard Junior College squad which was ranked as high as second nationally and finished with a 48-10 record • Compiled a 7-0 record with a 3.76 ERA, striking out 60 and walking 20 over 57.1 innings of work • Selected to the 2008 Texas/New Mexico Junior College All-Star Team • Enjoyed a dominant senior season at Mineola High School for Coach Ron Ihler • Went 12-2 with a 0.70 ERA, as he struck out 133 and walked only 12 en route to first-team all-state honors by the Texas Sports Writers Association and second-team all-state laurels by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association • Named the District 15-3A MVP and was selected to the THSBCA All-Star Team • Is the son of Sherry Thompson and Perry Adams.
Anderson on Adams: “Chase has been very successful on the junior college level and has played against strong competition. We like his pitchability and believe that he can step in and help us immediately next season.”
Geoff Baldwin
One of four Colorado high school players in this fall’s signing class, Geoff Baldwin attends Grand Junction High School and plays for Coach Kyle Rush • Hit .420 with 11 homers and 34 RBIs in 20 games last year, helping Grand Junction to its second elite eight finish in three years • Named first-team all-conference in each of the last three seasons • Selected to play in the 2008 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. • Spent the fall playing for the Angels Elite Rocky Mountain Scout Team • Played basketball the past two years, earning all-conference recognition in both campaigns • Is an excellent student who is a three-time member of the GJHS Honor Roll and was chosen Academic All-State in both baseball and basketball as a junior • Is the son of Dave and Ann Baldwin.
Anderson on Baldwin: “Geoff is a very good defensive first baseman and has a lot of power from the left side. We recruited him for his offense, but he could also potentially help us as a pitcher and are excited to have him in our program.”
Luke Bublitz
Luke Bublitz is one of the top two-way performers in the state of Colorado playing for Coach Gary Mares at Legacy High School • Compiled a 9-3 record with 121 strikeouts during his prep career, while also hitting .417 with 13 homers in three varsity seasons • Helped Legacy to a elite eight appearance as a junior en route to eaning honorable-mention all-state accolades for the second straight year • Is a three-time all-conference honoree who also is the team’s starting quarterback • Excels in the classroom, earning three academic honors and carrying a 3.70 GPA over his last six semesters • Is the son of Brent and Jennifer Bublitz.
Anderson on Bublitz: Luke is both an outstanding athlete and a very good student. He is a right-hander with great velocity and a slider and has a lot of athleticism. We feel like he can come in and help us as a freshman.
Chad Christensen
One of the top infielders in the Midwest, Chad Christensen is a senior at Washington High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa • Rated by publications as the top high school senior in the state of Iowa in the 2009 graduating class and one of the top 200 players in the country • Earned first-team Class 4A all-state honors at shortstop as junior, hitting .565 with 17 homers for Coach Bryon Schletterback en route to earning Mississippi Valley Conference MVP honors • Is a two-time all-metro and all-conference pick, as he hit .408 with seven homers during his sophomore campaign • Is a three-sport athlete, as he plays basketball and runs track in addition to playing baseball • Has been on the honor roll throughout his entire high school career • Is the son of Dick and Tracy Christensen
Anderson on Christensen: “Chad was one of the most sought-after players in the Midwest and is the No. 1 prospect in the state of Iowa this year. He is a great all-around athlete and has the potential to develop a lot of power in our program.”
Kurt Farmer
One of three in-state products in this fall’s class, Kurt Farmer plays for Coach Mark Mueller at Columbus High School • Was one of Nebraska’s top high school players, earning second-team all-state honors in the infield from the Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World-Herald • Led the state with six homers, while ranking in the top 10 in the state in batting average (.466, sixth), RBIs (33, fifth) and doubles (15, second) during his junior season • Collected all-state recognition for the first time in 2007, after hitting .450 with five homers and 15 doubles • Spent last summer playing for the Scottsdale (Ariz.) Angels and Coach John Gracio, hitting .440 with 14 doubles • Lettered three times in basketball, garnering honorable-mention all-state laurels as a junior • Currently is the president of the C-Club at Columbus High School • Is the son of Steven and Debra Farmer.
Anderson on Farmer: “Kurt has great potential to be an impact player in our program. He has made great strides since we began recruiting him and is just tapping his potential. He not only has good power and arm strength, but also has great work habits and wants to get better every day.”
Kurt Giller
The only Kansas native in this fall’s recruiting class, Kurt Giller pitches for Coach Don Hess at Manhattan High School • Is a combined 13-3 in his two varsity seasons • Went 4-3 with a 2.23 ERA as a junior, earning honorable-mention all-state honors • Had 13 strikeouts and didn’t allow an earned run in his best outing of the season • Was dominant during his sophomore season going 9-0 with a 0.91 ERA to lead Manhattan HS to a state runner-up finish • Spent the summer playing for the Kansas City Sluggers and Coach Jaime Bluma • Has also been on the school’s honor roll all three seasons • Is the son of Tom and Mary Kevin Giller.
Anderson on Giller: “Kurt is a young man we look forward to working with in our program. We see a lot of growth potential and that combined with his work ethic makes him someone who we think has his best years ahead of him.”
Ryan Hander
The only South Dakota native in this fall’s recruiting class, Ryan Hander pitches for Coach Josh Merrigan at Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, S.D. • Fanned 23 over 16.1 innings with a 3.91 ERA, while also hitting .310 with seven RBIs in 29 at-bats • Spent the summer playing American Legion Ball for Sioux Falls West, recording 61 strikeouts over 40 innings of work while posting a 3.90 ERA • Two-way performer also hit .350 with four homers and 35 RBI • Turned in a 17-strikeout, seven-inning no-hitter, while also hitting a grand slam in the same game • Is also a football standout who threw for 2,329 yards and 20 touchdowns leading his team to a 11-2 record and a state title in 2008 • Is the son of Chuck and Gayle Hander.
Anderson on Hander: “Ryan fits the mold for what we are looking for in a pitcher, as he has a live arm and is very athletic. He has good velocity and we believe that he will only get stronger as he gets into our weight program and develops into a very good college pitcher.”
Zach Hirsch
Zach Hirsch is one of the top high school pitchers in Illinois playing for Coach Todd Genke at St. Charles North High School • Compiled an 12-3 career record with an ERA under one in his two varsity seasons • Selected to play for Team Illinois by the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association • Has been an all-area selection by numerous papers and a two-time unanimous Upstate Eight Conference honoree • Went 4-3 with a 0.87 ERA as a junior, allowing 34 hits over 48.1 innings while posting a 58-to-13 strikeout-to-walk ratio • Turned in a dominant sophomore campaign, going 8-0 with a 0.93 ERA, striking out 51 and allowing 35 hits over 45.1 innings of work • Pitched for the Downers Grove Longshots over the summer, going 4-0 with a 1.38 ERA and 31 strikeouts over 26 innings in helping his club qualify for the Connie Mack World Series • Is a member of the school’s honor roll and named academic all-conference in both baseball and basketball as a junior • Is the son of David and Nancy Hirsch.
Anderson on Hirsch: “Zach was sought after by many schools and may be the best left-handed pitcher in the Chicago area. He has a plus body, very good control and a good frame that he will continue to grow into. He has the ability to step in as a freshman and made an impact on the mound.”
Pat Hirschberg
Pat Hirschberg (Hersh-berg) is one of the top prep outfielders in the state of Colorado playing for Coach Tony Persichina at Chaparral High School • Collected second-team all-state honors during his junior campaign, hitting .535 with six homers and 23 RBIs to help Chaparral to a sixth-place finish at the state tournament • Is a two-time All-Continental League selection after hitting .457 with three homers and 15 RBIs as a sophomore • Selected as the CHS Underclassman Athlete of the Year in each of the last two years, as he is a three-year letterwinner in both baseball and basketball entering his senior year • Carries a 4.0 GPA and is ranked 13th in a class of over 500 • Is the son of Joanne Meilnick and Eric Hirschberg.
Anderson on Hirschberg: “Pat has very good speed for his size and has potential to develop some power. He is an outstanding student-athlete with a lot of potential. We believe his best days in baseball are ahead of him as he continues to grow and develop.”
Ryan Hughes
The only California native in this fall’s recruiting class, Hughes pitches at Chabot College in California • Selected in the 16th round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks • Threw just 11.1 innings as a freshman, but posted a 2.43 ERA with 11 strikeouts • Attended Foothill High School, the same school as Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes • Was an all-state track athlete as a discus thrower, but did not play baseball in high school • He is the son of Ernie Hughes and Maureen Haber-Gonzales • Ernie played in the NFL for five seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants
Anderson on Hughes: “Ryan has a great frame and is very projectable on the mound. He has a very high ceiling and had an opportunity to sign last year, but wanted to continue with school and is dedicated to being a college athlete. We think that once he works with Coach Newman, he will be able to really develop in our program.”
Tom Lemke
Tom Lemke signed with Nebraska after being one of the state’s top two-way performers at Northwest Christian High School under Alan Boelter • Has pitched on the varsity since his freshman year, and enters his senior year with a 20-7 mark with a 2.20 ERA, 246 strikeouts and seven shutouts, holding hitters to a .165 average • Is a three-time all-region honoree and two-time all-state performer • Garnered first-team all-state accolades as an infielder in 2008, hitting .515, while also going 5-3 with a 2.92 ERA, striking out 69 and walking only 16 hitters • Participated in the 2008 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. • Compiled a 10-1 record with a 1.43 ERA as a sophomore to earn first-team all-state honors • Struck out a state-high 108 hitters and walked only 29 in 63 innings of work • Also plays basketball at Northwest Christian, pulling in second-team all-state recognition last season as they won a state title • Is the son of Jeff and Beth Lemke, and was born in Grand Island before moving to Arizona.
Anderson on Lemke: “Tom was probably the most recruited player we went after this year and are really excited about his potential. He has some family ties to the state and that helped us in recruiting him. On the mound, he throws in the low 90s with a very good breaking ball. He is a prototypical pro pitcher, but we feel that he is committed to go to school and that is one of the reasons he chose Nebraska over a lot of other programs.”
Tyler Niederklein
Tyler Niederklein (knee-der-kline) is one of the state’s top pitching prospects playing for Coach Frank Ryan and Millard West High School • Compiled a 4-2 record with a state-best five saves and a 2.60 ERA in helping Millard West to a state runner-up finish • Struck out 31 and walked only six over 32.1 innings to earn honorable-mention all-state honors from the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star • Hit .345 with 11 RBIs when he was not on the mound • Moved to the starting rotation for American Legion ball last summer, going 10-3 with a 1.75, fanning 83 over 92 innings of work • Tossed nine complete games in 12 starts, highlighted by a 14-strikeout effort in the regional championship game • Also started on Millard West’s 13-0 state championship football team in 2008 and plays basketball • Is the son of Kevin and Terri Niederklein.
Anderson on Niederklein: “Tyler caught our eye during the state tournament and in the regionals over the summer. He is highly competitive in whatever he does, and is a natural leader and people are drawn to him. We love his competitiveness, as he understands how to compete on the mound and get people out and shows a mature feel for pitching.”
Bryan Peters
Bryan Peters is considered one of Colorado’s premier high school seniors playing for Coach Scott Bullock at Rocky Mountain High School • Helped RMHS to a 23-4 record and the school’s second straight Class 5A title, finishing the year ranked sixth nationally • Named second-team all-state as a pitcher, going 5-0 with a 1.30 ERA, fanning 48 in 37.2 innings, while also hitting .436 with six homers, 27 RBIs and 41 runs scored • Garnered honorable-mention All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball • Is a two-year starter who went 8-0 with a 3.97 ERA as a sophomore, while also hitting .456 with 28 RBIs • Spent the summer playing American Legion baseball, helping is team to a state title, going 7-0 with four saves and a 2.52 ERA, while hitting .463 with 16 homers and 77 RBIs, earning state tournament MVP honors • Is a multi-sport standout who also players quarterback in football and starts on his basketball team • Threw for 2,536 yards and 31 touchdowns and just two interceptions during his senior year • Ranked in the top five percent of his class and is a member of the national honor society • Is the son of Mike and Sandy Peters.
Anderson on Peters: “Bryan is one of the most decorated and proven athletes we have in this class. He has helped his school win state titles in baseball and football and just knows how to win. He is also an outstanding student, and we are excited that Bryan has decided to sign with Nebraska.”
Josh Scheffert
Josh Scheffert (pronounced sh-ef-ert) is one of the state’s premier high school performers playing for coach Randy Brolhorst at Lincoln Southeast High School • Is a two-time all-state performer on the diamond and has hit over .400 in each of his two years on varsity • Garnered first-team all-state accolades from both the Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World-Herald as a junior, hitting .447 with 16 doubles, four triples and four home runs, while also going 6-2 with a 0.50 ERA • Fanned 59 and walked only 13 over 56 innings to help the Knights to a berth in the 2008 Class A state tournament • Garnered second-team Super State honors from the Journal Star in 2007, hitting .427 with a state-high five homers and 29 RBIs • Is also an accomplished student, earning a spot on the LSE honor roll throughout his high school career.
Anderson on Scheffert: “We recruited Josh as a hitter, but he has the potential to also pitch for us before his career is over. You would be hard pressed to find a harder working player, and I was drawn to him because of Coach Brolhorst’s program. He had a lot of options, but made a decision to stay home and be a Husker, and we couldn’t be happier. He is a tremendous hitter with a lot of leadership qualities on the diamond.”
