FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State baseball coach Jake Boss Jr. announced the addition of seven student-athletes who have signed National Letters of Intent and will report to campus this fall. The summer signees include: Dane Frazier (Mattawan, Mich.), Bryce Jenney (Northville, Mich.), John Martinez (Auburn Hills, Mich.), Chad Nielsen (Ann Arbor, Mich.), Trey Popp (Kalamazoo, Mich.), Chase Rihtarchik (Rochester Hills, Mich.) and Joe Zwierzynski (Crystal Lake, Ill.). The freshman class for the fall of 2009 will number 14 student-athletes, as the seven who recently signed join the previously-announced seven that committed in November 2008.
In all, 12 of the 14 student-athletes are from the state of Michigan.
Dane Frazier had a .341 batting average in two years of junior college baseball. In 2008 he attended Lake Michigan Community College where he played for coach Eric Danapolis and last season he played for coach Dana Cyrus at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, NC. He was a three-year letterwinner at Mattawan High School.
Boss on Frazier: "Dane is a solid defender who will help provide much needed depth to our catching position. He is a good receiver and blocker, and his arm strength gives him a chance to be very good behind the plate."
Bryce Jenney played the last two seasons for Western Kentucky University where he struck out 16 in 15.2 innings of work and picked up three saves. Jenney attended Northville High School where he was a three-year letterwinner for coach John Kostrzewa. As a junior in 2006 he garnered Louisville Slugger All-America and all-state honors after posting an 11-0 record. As a senior, he went 7-3 and again earned Louisville Slugger All-America and all-state accolades in addition to playing in the MHSAA All-Star Game. Per NCAA regulations as transfer student-athlete, Jenney will sit out the entire 2010 season.
Boss on Jenney: "Bryce will be sitting out this year after transferring from Western Kentucky. He is a Michigan native who has a genuine love for Michigan State. He was a solid contributor at Western Kentucky with a fastball in the low 90’s who we are looking forward to having in the 2011 season."
John Martinez was a three-year all-state selection for coach Brian Kelly at Warren DeLaSalle where he helped the Pilots capture the 2009 state championship. Martinez’s versatility as a catcher, outfielder and infielder helped him earn second team EA Sports Baseball All-America honors this past season as well. In addition to collecting Dream Team honors as a senior on the diamond, he earned the same honor on the football field where he helped the Pilots get to the state championship game in 2008.
Boss on Martinez: "John is a flat-out winner who plays the game the right way. He is extremely versatile and will contribute anywhere we put him on the field. I look for John to help us behind the plate and possibly on the mound in a relief role."
Chad Nielsen transfers to MSU after two years at IPFW where he made a total of five starts and 16 appearances on the mound for the Mastadons. As a freshman, he posted a 4.72 ERA which was good for second on the team. He attended Chelsea High School where he earned three letters playing for coach Wayne Welton. Nielsen earned all-conference and all-district honors in all three seasons on the varsity squad and was an all-state selection as a senior. Per NCAA regulations as transfer student-athlete, Jenney will sit out the entire 2010 season.
Boss on Nielsen: "Chad will sit out the 2010 season because of the transfer rule as he comes back home to us from IPFW. He is a right handed pitcher who will provide depth for us in the 2011 season."
Trey Popp joins MSU from Grand Rapids Community College where he went 7-3 with a 4.10 ERA last season. Prior to attending Grand Rapids CC, Popp earned three letters for coach Paul Schneider at Portage Central High School.
Boss on Popp: "Trey really came on late in the summer and threw very well from the left side. After one year at Grand Rapids Community College he is ready to contribute more than likely out of the bullpen for us in 2009."
Chase Rihtarchik joins MSU from Brother Rice High School where he was a three-time letterwinnter. In 2007 he was the winning pitcher in the Catholic League championship game and helped the Warriors to a 29-9 record and state championship as a junior in 2008. As a senior, he was recognized by ESPN Rise as an All-Area Top Pitcher.
Boss on Rihtarchik: "Chase is extremely strong and athletic, but was hampered most of his junior and senior years of high school by injuries. He is extremely projectable and if he can stay fully healthy, could be a big, big arm for us down the road."
Joe Zwierzynski played for coach Dave Haskins at Prairie Ridge High School where he was part of the 2008 Illinois 4A Baseball State Championship team. Zwierzynski, a pitcher, garnered first-team all-conference and all-area as a senior in helping Prairie Ridge to a 27-7 record his senior season.
Boss on Zwierzynski: "Joe came to our winter camp and threw very well. He is a 6’4" RHP who will only continue to get stronger and gain velocity to his mid 80’s fastball. He throws a very good breaking ball for strikes and knows how to win."
2009 Baseball Recruiting Class
Torsten Boss (Lowell/Lowell, Mich.)
Casey Dishman (Wabash Valley CC/Saline, Mich.)
Dane Frazier (Blue Ridge CC/Mattawan, Mich.)
Bryce Jenney (Western Kentucky University/Northville, Mich.)
Jordan Keur (Hudsonville/Hudsonville, Mich.)
John Martinez (DeLaSalle/Auburn Hills, Mich.)
Chad Nielsen (IPFW/Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Trey Popp (Grand Rapids CC/Kalamazoo, Mich.)
Andy Rademacher (DeWitt/DeWitt, Mich.)
Chase Rihtarchik (Brother Rice/Rochester Hills, Mich.)
Andrew Waszak (Rochester Adams/Rochester Hills, Mich.)
Anthony Wieber (Grand Ledge/Lansing, Mich.)
Joel Williams (Circleville /Circleville, Ohio)
Joe Zwierzynski (Prairie Ridge/Crystal Lake, Ill.)
