Ball State University Athletics
Photo by: Mike Janes Photography
Six Players Commit to Ball State Baseball for 2018 Season
November 10, 2016 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State baseball head coach Rich Maloney announced that six student-athletes have agreed to join the team and compete for the Cardinals in 2018 – Drey Jameson, Chayce McDermott, Noah Navarro, Kyle Nicolas, Ben Wiegand and Rhett Wintner.
"I'm really excited about the 2017-18 class," Maloney said. "I feel like we struck a good balance between pitching talent, athleticism and position needs. My staff, led by recruiting coordinator Scott French, deserves a lot of credit for putting this class together."
Jameson is a pitcher/outfielder from Greenfield, Indiana. He earned team MVP honors last spring for Greenfield Central High School as well as first team all-conference honors. A three-sport athlete in high school, Jameson also competed on the basketball and football squads for the Cougars.
"Drey will be a very athletic two-way player for us," Maloney said. "He has a fast arm, is very competitive and runs extremely well."
McDermott, a right-handed pitcher from Anderson, Indiana, posted a 7-0 record with 60 strikeouts in 12 appearances as a junior. He was a first team all-league pick last year for Pendleton Heights High School and helped the Arabians win back-to-back sectional titles in 2015 and 2016. In the classroom, McDermott carries a 3.7 GPA.
"Chayce has a loose arm, thrives in competition and his best days are in front of him," Maloney said.
Navarro is currently a shortstop for Avon High School in Avon, Indiana. As a junior, Navarro set the program single-season record for stolen bases (26). He also led the team in runs and doubles last year, helping the team win the sectional title for the first time in 22 years.
"Noah is a very athletic infielder who can either play shortstop or second base for our team," Maloney said. "He will give us an added dimension of speed to our lineup."
Nicolas, a right-handed pitcher from Massillon, Ohio, was nearly unhittable this past spring for Jackson High School. He threw two no-hitters and finished with a 3-0 record, 0.56 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 25.1 innings pitched. Nicolas helped the Polar Bears go undefeated (29-0) in the regular season and earn the No. 1 ranking in the state Associated Press poll.
"Kyle is a very competitive young man with a tremendous upside," Maloney said.
Wiegand currently plays prep baseball for the Detroit Metro Stars. The left-handed pitcher from Warren, Michigan, helped Detroit capture the 2015 River City Classic Championship and the 2016 Kyle Monroe JRM Shores Shootout Championship. As a junior, he struck out 51 batters in 40 innings and finished with a 1.58 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.
"Ben is a natural leader out on the baseball field," Maloney said.
Wintner was a second team all-state selection in 2016 for Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana. The first baseman posted a .461 batting average and helped the Greyhounds win the sectional title for the first time in 16 years.
"Rhett is a very physical young man with plenty of power potential," Maloney said.
The Cardinals won the MAC West Division title for the second time in the last three seasons in 2016 and finished with an overall record of 32-26. Four Ball State players were then selected in the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft – OF Alex Call, C Jarett Rindfleisch, P Zach Plesac and P Colin Brockhouse.
For the most up-to-date information on the Ball State baseball team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateBB and @CoachMaloney.
"I'm really excited about the 2017-18 class," Maloney said. "I feel like we struck a good balance between pitching talent, athleticism and position needs. My staff, led by recruiting coordinator Scott French, deserves a lot of credit for putting this class together."
Jameson is a pitcher/outfielder from Greenfield, Indiana. He earned team MVP honors last spring for Greenfield Central High School as well as first team all-conference honors. A three-sport athlete in high school, Jameson also competed on the basketball and football squads for the Cougars.
"Drey will be a very athletic two-way player for us," Maloney said. "He has a fast arm, is very competitive and runs extremely well."
McDermott, a right-handed pitcher from Anderson, Indiana, posted a 7-0 record with 60 strikeouts in 12 appearances as a junior. He was a first team all-league pick last year for Pendleton Heights High School and helped the Arabians win back-to-back sectional titles in 2015 and 2016. In the classroom, McDermott carries a 3.7 GPA.
"Chayce has a loose arm, thrives in competition and his best days are in front of him," Maloney said.
Navarro is currently a shortstop for Avon High School in Avon, Indiana. As a junior, Navarro set the program single-season record for stolen bases (26). He also led the team in runs and doubles last year, helping the team win the sectional title for the first time in 22 years.
"Noah is a very athletic infielder who can either play shortstop or second base for our team," Maloney said. "He will give us an added dimension of speed to our lineup."
Nicolas, a right-handed pitcher from Massillon, Ohio, was nearly unhittable this past spring for Jackson High School. He threw two no-hitters and finished with a 3-0 record, 0.56 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 25.1 innings pitched. Nicolas helped the Polar Bears go undefeated (29-0) in the regular season and earn the No. 1 ranking in the state Associated Press poll.
"Kyle is a very competitive young man with a tremendous upside," Maloney said.
Wiegand currently plays prep baseball for the Detroit Metro Stars. The left-handed pitcher from Warren, Michigan, helped Detroit capture the 2015 River City Classic Championship and the 2016 Kyle Monroe JRM Shores Shootout Championship. As a junior, he struck out 51 batters in 40 innings and finished with a 1.58 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.
"Ben is a natural leader out on the baseball field," Maloney said.
Wintner was a second team all-state selection in 2016 for Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana. The first baseman posted a .461 batting average and helped the Greyhounds win the sectional title for the first time in 16 years.
"Rhett is a very physical young man with plenty of power potential," Maloney said.
The Cardinals won the MAC West Division title for the second time in the last three seasons in 2016 and finished with an overall record of 32-26. Four Ball State players were then selected in the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft – OF Alex Call, C Jarett Rindfleisch, P Zach Plesac and P Colin Brockhouse.
For the most up-to-date information on the Ball State baseball team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateBB and @CoachMaloney.
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