Ball State University Athletics
Baseball Signs Eight Players for the 2007 Season
November 14, 2005 | Baseball
"I believe this year's class speaks volumes about Ball State University as a whole," Beals, who is beginning his fourth year at the helm of the Cardinals, says. "I say this because we are able to recruit locally, nationally and most importantly within the Ball State family.
"I'm very excited about the group of student-athletes we have signed to join our program next year. The 11 seniors we have on the club this season make it very important for us to recruit a solid class for next season -- I feel that this is probably the best group we've brought to Ball State in my three years. These eight young men will have a huge impact on the future of Ball State baseball."
Kory Benbow -- OF -- 6-1 -- 185 -- Muncie, Ind./Cowan
Benbow, a six-foot-one outfielder, enters his senior season at Cowan H.S. as one of the top outfielders in the Mid-Eastern Conference following back-to-back first team All-Conference seasons as a sophomore and junior. A three-year letterwinner prepped by former Cardinal Keith Nunley (2000-02), Benbow set single-season school records for batting average (.595), hits (50), runs (51), RBIs (52) and stolen bases (37), while slugging nine home runs in 29 games as a junior for the Blackhawks. He has also been named to the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association (IHSBCA) All-State First Team and All-Delaware County First Team in each of the past two years. Benbow, who participated on the Muncie American Legion Post 19 squad under coach Bobby Graves and the Indiana Bulls as a sophomore and junior, respectively, is undecided on a major at BSU.
"Kory will be a great addition to our outfield. He can run and throw well enough to play all three outfield positions. We feel that Kory will be a great college hitter who has developing power and is a base-stealing threat. Kory will have a great impact on the future."
Wayne Bond -- OF -- 5-11 -- 170 -- Pendleton, Ind./Pendleton Heights
A three-year letterwinner at Pendleton Heights, Bond managed a .472 batting average as a senior under head coach Bill Stoudt, while garnering All-Hoosier Heritage Conference First Team accolades and first team All-State honors. Bond, a 5-11 outfielder who will major in sports management at BSU, also earned four letters in wrestling where he qualified for state and was named all-conference as a senior. He is transferring from Lincoln Trail College, where he played under coach Mitch Hannahs.
"Wayne has been recruited to come in and play centerfield. He is extremely quick and has an outstanding throwing arm. We believe these skills will allow him to play centerfield with the best of our conference. Wayne also has the ability to be an impact offensive player with great base-running skills."
Zach Dygert -- C -- 6-2 -- 190 -- Angola, Ind./Angola
A 6-2 catcher, Dygert, the younger brother of current Cardinals' senior second baseman Kyle Dygert, had a .483 batting average with 33 RBIs and 39 runs through 28 games as a junior at Angola H.S. under head coach Scott Johnson. As a sophomore, he set school records in RBIs (57), hits (49), total bases (104) and slugging percentage (1.020). Dygert, also the quarterback of the Hornets football team, added to his records when he stole 31 bases as a junior. A first team all-North East Corner Conference selection the past two seasons and a member of the Indiana Bulls team, Dygert plans on majoring in physical therapy.
"We are very happy to keep the Dygert name in our program for the next three to four years. Zach has the ability to come right in and be an impact player for us. I'm looking forward to working with him behind the plate. Zach also has the balance and strength to be a great hitter with power."
Jeremy Hazelbaker -- INF -- 6-3 -- 170 -- Muncie, Ind./Wapahani
A three-year letterwinner in both baseball and basketball, Hazelbaker managed a .436 batting average with 11 doubles, four home runs, 37 RBIs, 42 runs and 25 stolen bases in 26 attempts as a junior under coach Brian Dudley. Hazelbaker, a 6-3 infielder, received 2005 All-State honorable mention accolades while making the All-East Central Indiana team as a junior. He has earned All-Delaware County honors each of his three seasons, while leading his team to 2005 sectional and regional championships and finishing the 2004 season as state runners-up in class 2A. A member of the Indiana Broncos 17-and-under team and the Muncie American Legion Post 19 team, Hazelbaker is undecided on a major at BSU.
"Jeremy fits the mold of all the great hitters we've had here at Ball State. He has a long, lean left-handed stroke which possesses both bat speed and leverage. Jeremy also runs very well, which will allow him to steal bases. He has all the tools to be a solid defenseman at the hot corner."
Brad Piatt -- RHP -- 6-4 -- 215 -- Kokomo, Ind./Lewis Cass
A 6-4 right-handed pitcher, Piatt has been prepped by coach Greg Marschand the past three seasons with the Kings. As a junior, he managed a 7-0 record with four shutouts during 57 innings of work. Piatt finished the season with a 0.98 ERA, allowing just eight earned runs and 29 hits, while striking out 83 and walking seven batters. An All-State First Team selection as a junior, Piatt played summer ball for the Indiana Broncos under coach Mike Farrell's direction.
"Brad is a big and physical prototype power pitcher. We have seen the fastball up to 91 mph and he has shown signs of being dominating at times. I'm excited about Brad going to work with coach Stafford and what the future holds for him."
Heath Riley -- RHP -- 6-2 -- 155 -- Lafayette, Ind./Jefferson
A 6-2 right-handed pitcher, Riley finished his junior season with an 8-3 record and four saves during 17 appearances on the mound, while notching a 3.30 ERA with 70 strikeouts and only 13 walks. A first team All-Hoosier Crossroads Conference selection, Riley was also named Jefferson's Pitcher of the Year by head coach -- and former Cardinal -- Kevin Maxwell, a Ball State letterwinner from 1991-93. Riley, who played for the Indiana Bulls fall team, plans on majoring in computer arts at Ball State.
"We are really excited about Heath's projectability. He is a tall, thin right-handed pitcher with a great feel for pitching. We believe that his ability to throw strikes and effectively use all three of his pitches will allow him to be very successful as a Cardinal."
Tyler Rogers -- INF -- 5-11 -- 190 -- Lafayette, Ind./Jefferson
A two-year letterwinner for the Bronchos, Rogers has compiled a .440 batting average, scored 29 runs and stolen 15 bases also under head coach Kevin Maxwell. He was named All-Hoosier Crossroads Conference and Team MVP as a junior, while also competing on the Indiana Bulls fall team. Rogers, a 5-11 infielder who is currently playing basketball for former Cardinals assistant men's basketball coach Scot Bunnell, plans on majoring in physical fitness at BSU.
"Tyler is a great competitor. Not only does he have all the skills, but I really liked his presence on the field. Tyler can play all three infield positions and has proven to hit the toughest of pitching. His approach to the game will be a great addition to our program."
Matt Stoeklen -- INF -- 6-1 -- 210 -- North Glenn, Colo./Thornton
Stoeklen, a 6-1 infielder who is transferring from Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College where he played under the direction of coach Chris Moddelmog, plans on majoring in physical education at Ball State. As a freshman with the Greyhounds, when he was named second team all-conference, Stoeklen managed a .351 batting average with 13 home runs, 16 doubles, 49 RBIs and eight stolen bases.
"Matt is a big, strong offensive first-baseman. He has a great feel for hitting that will allow him to hit in the middle of our line-up next year. We also like his skills as a defensive player, which is very important to complete our infield. Matt also has a competitive nature on the field that matches our philosophy. I'm very excited about his future in our program."
