Chippewa baseball coach Folske signs 14 recruits for next season
Central Head Baseball Coach Judd Folske announced the signing
of 14 players to national letters-of-intent for the 2000-2001 season.
The Chippewas, 41-17 in 2000, lost 10 seniors including pitchers who accounted
for 44 starts and 28 wins.
Central also lost 45 percent of its offense.
"We lost a lot through graduation but this is an outstanding group," Folske
said.
"The group we have coming in is a great group of athletes."
Folske also acknowledged the efforts of Assistant Coach Steve Jaksa.
"Steve's work has been endless," Folske said.
"Recruiting is a staff effort and he has done an outstanding job."
Two talented junior college players, right-handed pitcher Lee Naplin and
catcher Brad Reid, are among the players that signed with the Chippewas.
Naplin's fastball has been clocked as high as 93 miles-per-hour while
Reid is an outstanding defensive catcher who will battle for the starting
job.
Pitchers Ryan Cremeans and Jeff Opalewski were drafted by Detroit and
Cleveland, respectively.
Derek Schaller, a catcher from North Branch, was named MVP of the East-West
prep all-star game this summer after slugging three hits in the game at
Comerica Park.
Nine of the 14 new Chippewas will receive academic aid.
"The people we have are good ball players, but they're also good students,"
Folske said. "We take great pride in that as well."
The Chippewas start fall ball on Aug. 28 and goes through Oct. 7.
