Ball State University Athletics
Baseball Announces The Signing Of Six Players For 2009
November 15, 2007 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State baseball team has signed six student-athletes to join the program in 2009. Those six players are:
Cal Bowling
(Muncie, Ind./Yorktown HS)
Morgan Coombs
(W. Terre Haute, Ind./W. Vigo HS)
Cody Elliott
(Florence, Ky./Beechwood HS)
Nate Koontz
(Indianapolis, Ind./Brebeuf Prep.)
Ian Nielsen
(La Porte, Ind./La Porte HS)
Justin Warrington
(Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial HS)
All six players have signed National Letters of Intent to attend Ball State and play baseball for the Cardinals.
"This is a great group of baseball players, but more importantly, it is an even better group of young men," Ball State coach Greg Beals says. "These guys are good students and come from great families. Our number one recruiting philosophy is to bring championship people into our program, and more than anything, we've accomplished that with this class."
Cal Bowling
Bowling plays for coach Mike Larrabee at Yorktown, where he has earned all-county honors three times, all-conference accolades twice and all-state recognition once. A right-handed pitcher, Bowling was named the East Central Indiana Player of the Year by The Star Press in 2007 after compiling a 12-1 record and a 0.83 ERA. At the plate, he hit .309 with eight doubles and 23 RBI. Bowling plays summer baseball for coaches Jared and Quinn Moore of the Indiana Bulls.
"Cal is a guy we liked better each time we saw him pitch," Beals says. "He has a great understanding of how to pitch, and he has the ability to use both sides of the plate and hit with his off-speed pitches consistently."
Bowling, who plans to major in social studies education, is the son of Amy and Bruce Bowling.
Morgan Coombs
Coombs is a right-handed pitcher for coach Mitch Hannahs at Lincoln Trail College. As a freshman in 2007, he logged a 5-3 record with five saves and a 1.87 ERA. He also struck out 43 batters in 33 innings. Prior to attending Lincoln Trail, Coombs played his high school baseball for West Vigo and coach Steve DeGroote.
"Morgan is a relief pitcher with the ability and desire to pitch every day," Beals says. "He is a potential closer with a sinking fastball and a good slider. Morgan will sure up the back end of a solid bullpen."
Coombs, the son of Jeff and Rhonda Coombs, is undecided on a college major.
Cody Elliott
Elliott is a center fielder at Beechwood for coach Bob Myerhoff. He hit .409 with four home runs and 21 stolen bases as a junior on his way to all-star recognition from the Northern Kentucky Baseball Coaches, the Cincinnati Enquirer and the Cincinnati Post. A four-year starter, Elliott helped his team to a state runner-up finish in 2006, earning MVP honors at the semi-state. Elliott plays summer baseball for the Kentucky Colonels and coach Walt Terrell. He also quarterbacks his high school football team, which is still alive in the Kentucky state playoffs.
"Cody was the most exciting center fielder we saw all summer," Beals says. "He can really run. His speed allows him to cover a lot of ground defensively and makes him dangerous on the base paths. Cody is athletic and a superb competitor who figures into the outfield equation immediately."
Elliott, who is undecided on a major, is the son of Chris and Joy Elliott.
Nate Koontz
Koontz is an outfielder and left-handed pitcher at Brebeuf for coach John Zangrilli. As a junior in 2007, Koontz hit .398 with seven home runs, 10 doubles and 36 RBI. He also slugged .750 and logged an on-base percentage .476. He earned recognition on the 2007 All-Marion County Team and was also honored over the summer as a member of the 2007 Indiana State Team. Koontz plays summer baseball for coaches Quinn and Jared Moore of the Indiana Bulls.
"Nate possesses the dynamic combination of speed and power," Beals says. "We are very excited to work with Nate. His natural abilities give him the potential to be an outstanding college baseball player."
Koontz, who plans to major in psychology, is the son of Keith and Lori Koontz.
Ian Nielsen
Nielsen plays first base and pitches at La Porte for coach Scott Upp. An all-area selection as a junior, he hit .344 with seven home runs, 12 doubles and 35 RBI. On the mound, Nielsen compiled an 8-2 record with a 2.52 ERA. He plays summer baseball for coach Jim Treadway and the American Legion - Bristol Post 143 team.
"Ian is a big, power-hitting first baseman," Beals says. "He showed as much power as any player we saw this summer. Primarily recruited to hit, Ian's ability to pitch will not be overlooked."
Nielsen, the son of Scott and Lisa Nielsen, plans to major in education.
Justin Warrington
Warrington is a left-handed pitcher for coach Don Schone at Watkins Memorial. The school's all-time strikeout leader with 302, Warrington earned Ohio Capital Conference Player of the Year honors in 2007 after compiling a 9-1 record and a 0.98 ERA. Also a letterwinner in basketball and football, he has played summer baseball for coaches Mike Hannah and Rick Houston of the Licking County Athletics. Last summer, Warrington pitched a one-hitter against Iowa in the Babe Ruth World Series.
"We are very excited about Justin's future here at Ball State," Beals says. "He's a left-hander with a good fastball up to 89 miles-per-hour and a very good breaking pitch. Justin will make an immediate impact on our pitching staff. He was one of the most highly recruited pitchers in the region."
Warrington, who plans to major in education, is the son of Mike and Marcy Warrington.
