Karter Hann, Enas Hayden, Braxton Wilson, Sam Garland, Rex, Stills and Bryce Martens
Purdue Fort Wayne Baseball Signs Six From Indiana
11/24/2020 11:15:00 AM | Baseball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne baseball program has announced the addition of six student-athletes for the 2022 season. All six are from Indiana.
"I'm very excited about this talented group of student-athletes who will be joining our program in the fall of 2021," Purdue Fort Wayne head coach Doug Schreiber said. "Each of these six young men come from competitive high school and summer programs that should enable them to make an immediate impact here at Purdue Fort Wayne."
Rex Stills (P, R/R, 6-4, Valparaiso, Ind./Wheeler HS) was ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 22 right handed pitcher in Indiana and a top 50 player in the state. As a sophomore on the varsity squad he threw 45 innings, giving up only 32 hits for a .183 opponent batting average while striking out 66. His sophomore year performance earned him First Team All-Conference, MVP and Second Team All-Area honors. Due to COVID-19, he was not able to play his junior season. He will play summer travel ball for the Morris Chiefs in 2021.
Bryce Martens (P, R/R, 6-0, South Bend, Ind./John Adams HS) was ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 17 right handed pitcher in the state and the No. 38 overall player in the state. He was named by Perfect Game to the 2020 Rawlings Preseason Underclassmen All American Team. He was a member of the National Honor Society and also played on the John Adams basketball team. Martens played for one of the top travel ball organizations in the nation with the Indiana Bulls. In summer 2020, his team won the City Series on ESPN U against another top national program, the Cangelosi Sparks from Illinois. Martens was named Player of the Game for his impressive performance on the mound in the nationally televised championship game.
Sam Garland (P, R/R, 6-0, Newburgh, Ind./Tecumseh HS) also joins the 'Dons in 2022. Due to COVID-19, his high school baseball competition was canceled last spring. In the classroom, Garland made Academic Honor Roll and was a member of the National Honors Society. In 2020 he played for the summer travel team Evansville Leathernecks. A catcher for his high school team, Garland found success on the mound this past summer, sporting a 2.00 ERA and striking out 25 while only walking three in 34 innings pitched.
Karter Hann (1B/OF/P, L/L, 6-2, West Lafayette, Ind./Harrison HS) played for Harrison High School earning a varsity letter all four years. The Prep Baseball Report listed him as the No. 2 first basemen in Indiana. This three-position player earned the 2018 Rookie of the Year honor. Hann was a member of several other baseball teams including: Hoosier North (2017), Northern Stars Baseball Club (2018, 2019), USA Baseball Great Lakes (2018), USA Baseball Midwest (2019), Indy Sharks (2020) and Roundtrippers Elite (2020). Hann was involved in the Athletic Leadership Council at his high school for four years and the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards for three years.
Enas Hayden (P, R/R, 6-3, Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North HS) was ranked No. 21 in the state among right handed pitchers according to the Prep Baseball Report as well as earning a top 50 player in the state nod. Perfect Game ranked him a top 500 player in the nation as well as giving him a 2020 Preseason Underclassmen All-America Team nod. He played summer ball for Indiana Nitro in 2020 and also played for the Indiana Bulls. He earned Academic Honors as well as Distinguished Honor Roll accolades at Lawrence North.
Braxton Wilson (P, R/R, 6-1, Martinsville, Ind./Martinsville HS) was ranked the No. 16 right handed pitcher and the No. 37 player in the state by the Prep Baseball Report. He was also named to the 2020 Preseason Underclassmen All-America Team. He earned 2019 All-Conference honors at Martinsville High School as well as helping his team win the 2019 Sectional Championship. Wilson played summer ball for the Indiana Bulls from 2015-2020. In 2019 as a sophomore on the varsity squad Wilson held opponents to just a .184 batting average against in 33.2 innings pitched with 23 hits, striking out 36 batters and earning a 2.70 ERA. He also lettered in basketball at Martinsville High School.
"They are not just talented athletes but also quality students and people," Schreiber added "Our coaching staff is looking forward to working with them as they pursue their academic and athletic goals as Mastodons and continue with their overall development."
The Mastodons will open the 2021 season in February.
"I'm very excited about this talented group of student-athletes who will be joining our program in the fall of 2021," Purdue Fort Wayne head coach Doug Schreiber said. "Each of these six young men come from competitive high school and summer programs that should enable them to make an immediate impact here at Purdue Fort Wayne."
Rex Stills (P, R/R, 6-4, Valparaiso, Ind./Wheeler HS) was ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 22 right handed pitcher in Indiana and a top 50 player in the state. As a sophomore on the varsity squad he threw 45 innings, giving up only 32 hits for a .183 opponent batting average while striking out 66. His sophomore year performance earned him First Team All-Conference, MVP and Second Team All-Area honors. Due to COVID-19, he was not able to play his junior season. He will play summer travel ball for the Morris Chiefs in 2021.
Bryce Martens (P, R/R, 6-0, South Bend, Ind./John Adams HS) was ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 17 right handed pitcher in the state and the No. 38 overall player in the state. He was named by Perfect Game to the 2020 Rawlings Preseason Underclassmen All American Team. He was a member of the National Honor Society and also played on the John Adams basketball team. Martens played for one of the top travel ball organizations in the nation with the Indiana Bulls. In summer 2020, his team won the City Series on ESPN U against another top national program, the Cangelosi Sparks from Illinois. Martens was named Player of the Game for his impressive performance on the mound in the nationally televised championship game.
Sam Garland (P, R/R, 6-0, Newburgh, Ind./Tecumseh HS) also joins the 'Dons in 2022. Due to COVID-19, his high school baseball competition was canceled last spring. In the classroom, Garland made Academic Honor Roll and was a member of the National Honors Society. In 2020 he played for the summer travel team Evansville Leathernecks. A catcher for his high school team, Garland found success on the mound this past summer, sporting a 2.00 ERA and striking out 25 while only walking three in 34 innings pitched.
Karter Hann (1B/OF/P, L/L, 6-2, West Lafayette, Ind./Harrison HS) played for Harrison High School earning a varsity letter all four years. The Prep Baseball Report listed him as the No. 2 first basemen in Indiana. This three-position player earned the 2018 Rookie of the Year honor. Hann was a member of several other baseball teams including: Hoosier North (2017), Northern Stars Baseball Club (2018, 2019), USA Baseball Great Lakes (2018), USA Baseball Midwest (2019), Indy Sharks (2020) and Roundtrippers Elite (2020). Hann was involved in the Athletic Leadership Council at his high school for four years and the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards for three years.
Enas Hayden (P, R/R, 6-3, Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North HS) was ranked No. 21 in the state among right handed pitchers according to the Prep Baseball Report as well as earning a top 50 player in the state nod. Perfect Game ranked him a top 500 player in the nation as well as giving him a 2020 Preseason Underclassmen All-America Team nod. He played summer ball for Indiana Nitro in 2020 and also played for the Indiana Bulls. He earned Academic Honors as well as Distinguished Honor Roll accolades at Lawrence North.
Braxton Wilson (P, R/R, 6-1, Martinsville, Ind./Martinsville HS) was ranked the No. 16 right handed pitcher and the No. 37 player in the state by the Prep Baseball Report. He was also named to the 2020 Preseason Underclassmen All-America Team. He earned 2019 All-Conference honors at Martinsville High School as well as helping his team win the 2019 Sectional Championship. Wilson played summer ball for the Indiana Bulls from 2015-2020. In 2019 as a sophomore on the varsity squad Wilson held opponents to just a .184 batting average against in 33.2 innings pitched with 23 hits, striking out 36 batters and earning a 2.70 ERA. He also lettered in basketball at Martinsville High School.
"They are not just talented athletes but also quality students and people," Schreiber added "Our coaching staff is looking forward to working with them as they pursue their academic and athletic goals as Mastodons and continue with their overall development."
The Mastodons will open the 2021 season in February.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Monday, May 05
Wednesday, February 28
Thursday, February 15
Monday, May 15
