Eastern Michigan Athletics
Baseball Announces 2020 Signing Class
8/26/2019 8:53:00 AM | Baseball
Head Coach Eric Roof welcomes 10 new players to Ypsilanti
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University baseball team and Head Coach Eric Roof announced the signing of 10 players to the incoming recruiting class, today, Aug. 26. A mix of junior college transfers and high school standouts, Roof expects the group to contribute to the team in immediate fashion.
The 2020 signing class includes: Christian Bault (Maineville, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller (Lincoln Trail)), Logan Bursick-Harrington (South Lyon, Mich.-South Lyon East), Tyler Helgeson (Portage, Mich.-Portage Northern), Trevor House (Okeana,Ohio-Ross), Ryan Lux (Shelby Twp., Mich.-Stevenson), Justin Reinkall (Superior, Wisc.-Superior (Southeast C.C.)), Luke Russo (Livingston, Mich.-Howell), Anthony Sharkas (Canton, Mich.-Plymouth), Cam Wagoner (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh), and Daniel Warkentin (Leamington, Ontario-Leamington District Secondary (Parkland College)).
Christian Bault IF R/R 6'2 235 Maineville, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller (Lincoln Trail)
A native of the Buckeye State, Bault joins the Eagles by way of Lincoln Trail College where he played the previous two seasons. At Lincoln, the power-hitting first baseman compiled a .365 batting average, a .432 on-base percentage, and added nine home runs. Bault attended Archbishop Moeller High School, where he compiled a .315 career-batting average, including a .300 average and two home runs in his senior season to lead the Crusaders to a 22-7 finish. There, he was a 2016 First Team All-Greater Catholic League and all-city selection.
"Christian is a gamer. He has worked very hard to get where he is at. We look forward to having his mature presence in the infield and in the lineup," noted EMU assistant coach Jonathan Roof.
Logan Bursick-Harrington IF/RHP R/R 6'3 170 South Lyon, Mich.-South Lyon East
Following the footsteps of his father Sean (1998-00) and great grandfather Robert (1935-37), whom both played baseball at Eastern Michigan, and his mother Karyn, who also attended EMU, Bursick-Harrington comes to Ypsilanti from nearby South Lyon, where he was a two-year team captain for the South Lyon East Cougars. The Michigan native hit .307 in his senior season as he helped the Cougars win a 2017 district title.
"Logan is a raw, lanky right-hander who has a ton of projection. He has a loose arm and feel for a good breaking ball, and he is an extremely coachable kid who is eager to learn," said EMU pitching coach A.J. Achter, adding "I am looking forward to getting to mold him into a college pitcher."
Tyler Helgeson OF/RHP L/R 6'4 215 Portage, Mich.-Portage Northern
A three-time letterwinner as a member of the Portage Northern baseball team, Helgeson racked-up all-district honors on three occasions, all-region honors twice, was named a First Team All-State selection, and participated in the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association (MHSBCA) All-Star Game during his time as a Husky, all while helping lead his team to a 2019 state championship.
"Tyler is a physical student-athlete who led his team to a state championship this spring. We are looking forward to having him bring his winning attitude to the team," noted assistant coach Jonathan Roof.
Trevor House LHP L/L 6'0 160 Okeana, Ohio-Ross
The first commit to Roof's 2020 class and brother of current EMU baseball player Thomas House, Trevor House joins the Eagles from Ross High School, in Ross, Ohio. A southpaw who helped lead the Rams to a 24-6 record in 2019, House finished with a 5-1 mark on the mound during his senior campaign, while compiling just a 2.26 ERA. A multi-sport athlete in high school, House earned recognition in both baseball and football as an all-city honoree and as a Southwest Ohio All-Star. Known for his array of pitches, House joins the EMU pitching staff as the lone lefty in this year's class.
"The lone left-handed pitcher in the class, Trevor is a raw projectable arm that has a chance to step into big innings this spring," remarked Achter.
Ryan Lux C R/R 6'2 210 Shelby Twp., Mich.-Stevenson
The first and only catcher in the 2020 class, Lux comes to Ypsilanti by way of Stevenson High School. A native of Shelby Twp., Mich., Lux was a four-time letterwinner as a member of the Titans baseball program. Voted the defensive MVP of the team, and the recipient of all-district honors in two different seasons at Stevenson, Lux put together a senior season to remember, as he compiled a .351 batting average, .435 on-base percentage, and a .404 slugging percentage.
"Ryan spent the last year really dedicating his body and craft to take his game to the next level," said Head Coach Eric Roof. "He is a big physical kid who can really catch and throw. Offensively he has the ability to drive the ball to all fields."
Justin Reinkall RHP R/R 6'3 210 Superior, Wisc.-Superior (Southeast C.C.)
A transfer from Southeast Community College, Reinkall joins EMU after spending the previous two season pitching for the Storm. In initial season at S.C.C., Reinkall made 14 starts en route to an 8-3 record on the bump. The Superior, Wisc. native added a pair of wins in 2018-19, making nine starts for the Storm. Reinkall earned four letters as a member of the Superior High School Spartans baseball program, and was twice named a team captain. The 6-3 righty went 7-1 with a 1.19 ERA during his senior season with the team.
"The lone JUCO arm in the class, Justin comes to us from a great program as a late signee. We expect Justin to come in and do what he did at Southeast C.C., eat innings and fill up the zone," said Achter. "Justin should be a great fit for our pitching staff."
Luke Russo IF/RHP L/R 6'4 195 Livingston, Mich.-Howell
A three-time letterwinner and one-time captain as a member of the Howell High School baseball program, Russo was an all-district, all-region, and All-State Dream Team selection during his prep school career. The Livingston, Mich. native was named the MVP of the 2019 MHSBCA All-Star game, an annual event that honors the best high school players in the state of Michigan. Noted for his ability to hit and pitch with incredible power, Russo will likely see time on the bump and in the field for the Eagles.
"Luke comes to us from a great high school program in Howell High School. Luke is a kid that I saw probably six times last summer and he got better and better every time out. We expect Luke to compete for innings right away next spring," remarked Achter.
Anthony Sharkas OF R/R 6'2 175 Canton, Mich.-Plymouth
Joining the EMU baseball program from just down the road in Canton, Mich., Sharkas was a three-time letterwinner and two-time captain as a member of the Plymouth Wildcats baseball program. A career .359 hitter, Sharkas compiled a .487 on-base percentage during his prep years and drove in 92 runs. Sharkas also added 49 stolen bases during his time as a Wildcat. A keen eye inside the batters box, Sharkas holds the Plymouth single-season record with 33 base-on-balls. A multi-time all-district and All-Kensington Lakes Athletics Association honoree, Sharkas helped lead his team to repeat district championships (2017-18) and the 2018 KLAA conference title.
"Anthony is an incredible student-athlete. He can track down balls in the outfield with the best of them. His positive energy is going to be contagious within the team," remarked Jonathan Roof.
Cam Wagoner OF/RHP R/R 6'5 185 Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh
One of the best high school athletes in the state of Michigan, Wagoner comes to Ypsilanti from Tecumseh High School, where he was a standout hurler for the Indians. After a stellar high school career, which included racking-up a school-record 271 strikeouts, a 10-2 record on the bump in his senior campaign, and a .450 batting average at the plate, the right-hander was drafted in the 22nd round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers. Wagoner has elected to forego the opportunity with the Rangers to pursue his collegiate career at Eastern.
"Cam getting drafted speaks for the type of pitcher we are getting on campus. His arm strength and ability to spin a breaking ball are extremely advanced for his age. We are thrilled he chose to be an Eagle and expect big things out of him during his time at Eastern."
Daniel Warkentin IF R/R 6'3 215 Leamington, Ontario-Leamington District Secondary (Parkland College)
A native of neighboring Canada, Warkentin spent last season as a member of the Parkland College baseball team. The Ontario native played in 50 games during the 2019 season, tallying 52 hits, 43 RBI, and a .323 batting average for the Cobras. In his prep years, Warkentin earned all-region honors in consecutive seasons, doing so in his junior and senior years, respectively. Warkentin hit at a .315 clip his senior year, amassing 60 RBI and five home runs along the way.
"Daniel is a versatile student-athlete with a presence. He's going to bring a power bat to add to our offense. We look forward to having his calm demeanor on the field for us," noted Jonathan Roof.
About the class as a whole, Head Coach Eric Roof offered, "First and foremost, the credit for putting this class together goes to both of our assistants, our recruiting coordinator AJ Achter, and Jonathan Roof. We were able to fill of our needs, adding depth on the mound, and athleticism to our group position players. We feel strongly that all 10 guys can make an impact on our program right away. We can't wait to get them on campus and continue developing their game."
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU Baseball, be sure to follow @EMU_Baseball on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and be sure to visit EMUEagles.com
The 2020 signing class includes: Christian Bault (Maineville, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller (Lincoln Trail)), Logan Bursick-Harrington (South Lyon, Mich.-South Lyon East), Tyler Helgeson (Portage, Mich.-Portage Northern), Trevor House (Okeana,Ohio-Ross), Ryan Lux (Shelby Twp., Mich.-Stevenson), Justin Reinkall (Superior, Wisc.-Superior (Southeast C.C.)), Luke Russo (Livingston, Mich.-Howell), Anthony Sharkas (Canton, Mich.-Plymouth), Cam Wagoner (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh), and Daniel Warkentin (Leamington, Ontario-Leamington District Secondary (Parkland College)).
Christian Bault IF R/R 6'2 235 Maineville, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller (Lincoln Trail)
A native of the Buckeye State, Bault joins the Eagles by way of Lincoln Trail College where he played the previous two seasons. At Lincoln, the power-hitting first baseman compiled a .365 batting average, a .432 on-base percentage, and added nine home runs. Bault attended Archbishop Moeller High School, where he compiled a .315 career-batting average, including a .300 average and two home runs in his senior season to lead the Crusaders to a 22-7 finish. There, he was a 2016 First Team All-Greater Catholic League and all-city selection.
"Christian is a gamer. He has worked very hard to get where he is at. We look forward to having his mature presence in the infield and in the lineup," noted EMU assistant coach Jonathan Roof.
Logan Bursick-Harrington IF/RHP R/R 6'3 170 South Lyon, Mich.-South Lyon East
Following the footsteps of his father Sean (1998-00) and great grandfather Robert (1935-37), whom both played baseball at Eastern Michigan, and his mother Karyn, who also attended EMU, Bursick-Harrington comes to Ypsilanti from nearby South Lyon, where he was a two-year team captain for the South Lyon East Cougars. The Michigan native hit .307 in his senior season as he helped the Cougars win a 2017 district title.
"Logan is a raw, lanky right-hander who has a ton of projection. He has a loose arm and feel for a good breaking ball, and he is an extremely coachable kid who is eager to learn," said EMU pitching coach A.J. Achter, adding "I am looking forward to getting to mold him into a college pitcher."
Tyler Helgeson OF/RHP L/R 6'4 215 Portage, Mich.-Portage Northern
A three-time letterwinner as a member of the Portage Northern baseball team, Helgeson racked-up all-district honors on three occasions, all-region honors twice, was named a First Team All-State selection, and participated in the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association (MHSBCA) All-Star Game during his time as a Husky, all while helping lead his team to a 2019 state championship.
"Tyler is a physical student-athlete who led his team to a state championship this spring. We are looking forward to having him bring his winning attitude to the team," noted assistant coach Jonathan Roof.
Trevor House LHP L/L 6'0 160 Okeana, Ohio-Ross
The first commit to Roof's 2020 class and brother of current EMU baseball player Thomas House, Trevor House joins the Eagles from Ross High School, in Ross, Ohio. A southpaw who helped lead the Rams to a 24-6 record in 2019, House finished with a 5-1 mark on the mound during his senior campaign, while compiling just a 2.26 ERA. A multi-sport athlete in high school, House earned recognition in both baseball and football as an all-city honoree and as a Southwest Ohio All-Star. Known for his array of pitches, House joins the EMU pitching staff as the lone lefty in this year's class.
"The lone left-handed pitcher in the class, Trevor is a raw projectable arm that has a chance to step into big innings this spring," remarked Achter.
Ryan Lux C R/R 6'2 210 Shelby Twp., Mich.-Stevenson
The first and only catcher in the 2020 class, Lux comes to Ypsilanti by way of Stevenson High School. A native of Shelby Twp., Mich., Lux was a four-time letterwinner as a member of the Titans baseball program. Voted the defensive MVP of the team, and the recipient of all-district honors in two different seasons at Stevenson, Lux put together a senior season to remember, as he compiled a .351 batting average, .435 on-base percentage, and a .404 slugging percentage.
"Ryan spent the last year really dedicating his body and craft to take his game to the next level," said Head Coach Eric Roof. "He is a big physical kid who can really catch and throw. Offensively he has the ability to drive the ball to all fields."
Justin Reinkall RHP R/R 6'3 210 Superior, Wisc.-Superior (Southeast C.C.)
A transfer from Southeast Community College, Reinkall joins EMU after spending the previous two season pitching for the Storm. In initial season at S.C.C., Reinkall made 14 starts en route to an 8-3 record on the bump. The Superior, Wisc. native added a pair of wins in 2018-19, making nine starts for the Storm. Reinkall earned four letters as a member of the Superior High School Spartans baseball program, and was twice named a team captain. The 6-3 righty went 7-1 with a 1.19 ERA during his senior season with the team.
"The lone JUCO arm in the class, Justin comes to us from a great program as a late signee. We expect Justin to come in and do what he did at Southeast C.C., eat innings and fill up the zone," said Achter. "Justin should be a great fit for our pitching staff."
Luke Russo IF/RHP L/R 6'4 195 Livingston, Mich.-Howell
A three-time letterwinner and one-time captain as a member of the Howell High School baseball program, Russo was an all-district, all-region, and All-State Dream Team selection during his prep school career. The Livingston, Mich. native was named the MVP of the 2019 MHSBCA All-Star game, an annual event that honors the best high school players in the state of Michigan. Noted for his ability to hit and pitch with incredible power, Russo will likely see time on the bump and in the field for the Eagles.
"Luke comes to us from a great high school program in Howell High School. Luke is a kid that I saw probably six times last summer and he got better and better every time out. We expect Luke to compete for innings right away next spring," remarked Achter.
Anthony Sharkas OF R/R 6'2 175 Canton, Mich.-Plymouth
Joining the EMU baseball program from just down the road in Canton, Mich., Sharkas was a three-time letterwinner and two-time captain as a member of the Plymouth Wildcats baseball program. A career .359 hitter, Sharkas compiled a .487 on-base percentage during his prep years and drove in 92 runs. Sharkas also added 49 stolen bases during his time as a Wildcat. A keen eye inside the batters box, Sharkas holds the Plymouth single-season record with 33 base-on-balls. A multi-time all-district and All-Kensington Lakes Athletics Association honoree, Sharkas helped lead his team to repeat district championships (2017-18) and the 2018 KLAA conference title.
"Anthony is an incredible student-athlete. He can track down balls in the outfield with the best of them. His positive energy is going to be contagious within the team," remarked Jonathan Roof.
Cam Wagoner OF/RHP R/R 6'5 185 Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh
One of the best high school athletes in the state of Michigan, Wagoner comes to Ypsilanti from Tecumseh High School, where he was a standout hurler for the Indians. After a stellar high school career, which included racking-up a school-record 271 strikeouts, a 10-2 record on the bump in his senior campaign, and a .450 batting average at the plate, the right-hander was drafted in the 22nd round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers. Wagoner has elected to forego the opportunity with the Rangers to pursue his collegiate career at Eastern.
"Cam getting drafted speaks for the type of pitcher we are getting on campus. His arm strength and ability to spin a breaking ball are extremely advanced for his age. We are thrilled he chose to be an Eagle and expect big things out of him during his time at Eastern."
Daniel Warkentin IF R/R 6'3 215 Leamington, Ontario-Leamington District Secondary (Parkland College)
A native of neighboring Canada, Warkentin spent last season as a member of the Parkland College baseball team. The Ontario native played in 50 games during the 2019 season, tallying 52 hits, 43 RBI, and a .323 batting average for the Cobras. In his prep years, Warkentin earned all-region honors in consecutive seasons, doing so in his junior and senior years, respectively. Warkentin hit at a .315 clip his senior year, amassing 60 RBI and five home runs along the way.
"Daniel is a versatile student-athlete with a presence. He's going to bring a power bat to add to our offense. We look forward to having his calm demeanor on the field for us," noted Jonathan Roof.
About the class as a whole, Head Coach Eric Roof offered, "First and foremost, the credit for putting this class together goes to both of our assistants, our recruiting coordinator AJ Achter, and Jonathan Roof. We were able to fill of our needs, adding depth on the mound, and athleticism to our group position players. We feel strongly that all 10 guys can make an impact on our program right away. We can't wait to get them on campus and continue developing their game."
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU Baseball, be sure to follow @EMU_Baseball on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and be sure to visit EMUEagles.com
Players Mentioned
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