IPFW Baseball Signs Six During Early Period
12/18/2014 1:56:00 PM | Baseball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - IPFW head baseball coach Bobby Pierce has announced the signing of six players during the early signing period for the 2016 season. The players that signed are Brayton Cooper, Garrett Mohler, Adam Neal, James Spera, Josh Van Beek, and Brandon Yoho.
"We are very happy with our early signees," said Pierce. "We identified these prospects early in the recruiting process as players we felt could come in and make an immediate impact on the success of our program. Our entire coaching staff, including recruiting coordinator Grant,Birely, continue to raise the level of talent within the program. Coach Birely's efforts and hard work of hitting the recruiting trail, logging the miles across our region during the summer, and developing relationships with our recruits has paved the way for another outstanding recruiting class. A,common theme amongst all the recruits in this recruiting class is that they come from good families, and are committed to achieving success in the classroom as well as the field."
Brayton Cooper - RHP - Rossville, Ind. / Rossville H.S.
Cooper will come to IPFW after striking out 51 batters as a junior at Rossville High School, ending the season with a 2.55 ERA. As a sophomore he struck out 58 batters in 62.2 innings of work with a 5-7 record. He was named to the Hoosier Heartland Conference squad in 2013 and 2014 for his efforts.
"Brayton is a player that we see coming in and making an immediate impact on the mound," said Pierce. "The sky is the limit for Brayton and we are excited to watch him continue to get better and grow in the program."
Garrett Mohler - IF - New Haven, Ind. / New Haven H.S.
Mohler, a local product from the same high school as current Mastodon players Lucas Salerno and Brandon Pease, earned a second team All-Northeast Hoosier Conference honor as a junior.,
"Keeping a player like Garrett in the Fort Wayne area is very exciting for us," said Pierce. "He is going to continue to get better and better, and we look for him to be a cornerstone in our lineup for the next few years."
Adam Neal - RHP - Fortville, Ind. / Cathedral H.S.
As a pitcher during his junior season, he went 4-0 and also batted .398 en route to being named All-City.
"We are very excited to add Adam to this class," said Pierce. "We see a lot of room for growth, and by coming from such a successful high school program, he will do nothing but help our program get better. We are excited to work with Adam and see where he can take us."
James Spera - OF - Bluffton, Ind. / Norwell H.S.
An outfielder for Norwell High School, Spera batted .314 last season with 27 hits in 70 at-bats, knocking in 24 runners and stealing 10 bases. Over his 85-game varsity career, he is batting .345 with 79 RBIs and 63 runs scored. As a sophomore he was a part of the Class 3A State Title squad, while last years' team won the Sectional Title.
"Adding another Fort Wayne area player with James' strength and power is very exciting for our program," said Pierce. "James comes from a very successful high school program and we are very excited to add him to this class."
Josh Van Beek - RHP - St. John, Ind. / Wabash Valley College
As a freshman at Wabash Valley College, Van Beek went 1-0 in 15.0 innings of work, striking out 16 batters. As a senior at Illiana Christian, he went 4-2 with there saves in 30.1 innings of work, striking out 19 for a 3.46 ERA. He also batted .386 with nine doubles, three home runs and 25 RBI's. He was also named to The Times 2013 Illinois All-Area Baseball Team.
"We knew we were going to need some experienced help on the mound in this class," said Pierce. "Josh comes from a top-10 junior college program, and he will bring a competitiveness to our program that will help elevate the success we have on the mound."
Brandon Yoho - IF - Fishers, Ind. / Fishers H.S.
As a junior at Fishers, Brandon batted .326 with 17 runs scored and 22 RBIs in 32 games. In 2013 All-Northwest Crossroads Conference Honorable Mention, and All-Hamilton County. During his junior season he threw one of two no-hitters in Fishers baseball history.
"Brandon is a player that we see can help our program in a lot of different ways," said Pierce. "He brings a skill set that will give him the opportunity to compete for playing time right away.",,
The 2015 Mastodon squad opens its season on February 13 when the team travels to Huntsville, Alabama, to take on the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in a three-day, four-game series.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
"We are very happy with our early signees," said Pierce. "We identified these prospects early in the recruiting process as players we felt could come in and make an immediate impact on the success of our program. Our entire coaching staff, including recruiting coordinator Grant,Birely, continue to raise the level of talent within the program. Coach Birely's efforts and hard work of hitting the recruiting trail, logging the miles across our region during the summer, and developing relationships with our recruits has paved the way for another outstanding recruiting class. A,common theme amongst all the recruits in this recruiting class is that they come from good families, and are committed to achieving success in the classroom as well as the field."
Brayton Cooper - RHP - Rossville, Ind. / Rossville H.S.
Cooper will come to IPFW after striking out 51 batters as a junior at Rossville High School, ending the season with a 2.55 ERA. As a sophomore he struck out 58 batters in 62.2 innings of work with a 5-7 record. He was named to the Hoosier Heartland Conference squad in 2013 and 2014 for his efforts.
"Brayton is a player that we see coming in and making an immediate impact on the mound," said Pierce. "The sky is the limit for Brayton and we are excited to watch him continue to get better and grow in the program."
Garrett Mohler - IF - New Haven, Ind. / New Haven H.S.
Mohler, a local product from the same high school as current Mastodon players Lucas Salerno and Brandon Pease, earned a second team All-Northeast Hoosier Conference honor as a junior.,
"Keeping a player like Garrett in the Fort Wayne area is very exciting for us," said Pierce. "He is going to continue to get better and better, and we look for him to be a cornerstone in our lineup for the next few years."
Adam Neal - RHP - Fortville, Ind. / Cathedral H.S.
As a pitcher during his junior season, he went 4-0 and also batted .398 en route to being named All-City.
"We are very excited to add Adam to this class," said Pierce. "We see a lot of room for growth, and by coming from such a successful high school program, he will do nothing but help our program get better. We are excited to work with Adam and see where he can take us."
James Spera - OF - Bluffton, Ind. / Norwell H.S.
An outfielder for Norwell High School, Spera batted .314 last season with 27 hits in 70 at-bats, knocking in 24 runners and stealing 10 bases. Over his 85-game varsity career, he is batting .345 with 79 RBIs and 63 runs scored. As a sophomore he was a part of the Class 3A State Title squad, while last years' team won the Sectional Title.
"Adding another Fort Wayne area player with James' strength and power is very exciting for our program," said Pierce. "James comes from a very successful high school program and we are very excited to add him to this class."
Josh Van Beek - RHP - St. John, Ind. / Wabash Valley College
As a freshman at Wabash Valley College, Van Beek went 1-0 in 15.0 innings of work, striking out 16 batters. As a senior at Illiana Christian, he went 4-2 with there saves in 30.1 innings of work, striking out 19 for a 3.46 ERA. He also batted .386 with nine doubles, three home runs and 25 RBI's. He was also named to The Times 2013 Illinois All-Area Baseball Team.
"We knew we were going to need some experienced help on the mound in this class," said Pierce. "Josh comes from a top-10 junior college program, and he will bring a competitiveness to our program that will help elevate the success we have on the mound."
Brandon Yoho - IF - Fishers, Ind. / Fishers H.S.
As a junior at Fishers, Brandon batted .326 with 17 runs scored and 22 RBIs in 32 games. In 2013 All-Northwest Crossroads Conference Honorable Mention, and All-Hamilton County. During his junior season he threw one of two no-hitters in Fishers baseball history.
"Brandon is a player that we see can help our program in a lot of different ways," said Pierce. "He brings a skill set that will give him the opportunity to compete for playing time right away.",,
The 2015 Mastodon squad opens its season on February 13 when the team travels to Huntsville, Alabama, to take on the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in a three-day, four-game series.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
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