Huskers Complete Fall Recruiting Class

Lincoln ? University of Nebraska Head Coach Mike Anderson finalized the fall signing class on Tuesday by announcing that 10 players have signed National-Letters-of-Intent to play baseball at Nebraska beginning in 2005. These 10 student-athletes (seven high school seniors and three junior college transfers) join the six Nebraska high school seniors announced last week.

This part of the fall recruiting class includes players from eight states (Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming), and is highlighted by a pair of players ranked among the top 200 high school seniors nationally by Team One Baseball ? infielder/right-handed pitcher Ryan Bohanan (No. 51) and right-handed pitcher Tim Radmacher (No. 104). In all, the 2003 fall recruiting class is dominated by high school seniors, as 13 of the 16 signees are from the high school ranks, something that is important in sustaining the Huskers’ recent success, including five straight NCAA Tournament appearances, and two Big 12 title over the past three years and two College World Series appearances since the 2001 campaign.

"Our assistant coaches (Rob Childress and Andy Sawyers) worked extremely hard in putting together a class that we are excited about," Head Coach Mike Anderson said. "Our staff believes in recruiting the right talent and developing it in our program, and Rob and Andy do a great job of looking throughout the country to find players who can be successful in this program. We believe our strength is finding kids throughout the central region that can develop in our program, and continue the success we have had over the past five years."

The Huskers begin the 2004 campaign on Friday, Feb. 20, as they travel to New Mexico to compete in a three-day tournament against the host Lobos, Kent State and Northwestern. The Huskers will open the home portion of their schedule on Tuesday, March 16, when they play host to Western Illinois.

Player

Pos.

Ht.

Wt.

Hometown (High School)

Ryan Bohanan

INF/RHP

6-2

180

Goddard, Kan. (Goddard)

Casey Klapperich

INF

5-11

175

Rapid City, S.D. (Central)

Adam Moore

C

6-3

215

Mineola, Texas (Northeast Texas CC/Mineola)

Bryce Nimmo

OF

5-10

165

Cheyenne, Wyo. (Central)

Jake Opitz

INF

6-1

185

Littleton, Colo. (Heritage)

Ryan Phillips

LHP

6-5

210

Altus, Okla. (Barton County CC/Altus)

Tim Radmacher

RHP

6-0

170

Rosemount, Minn. (Rosemount)

Charlie Shirek

RHP

6-3

180

Minot, N.D. (Minot)

Nick Sullivan

OF

5-11

195

Arvada, Colo. (Pomona)

Tim Sullivan

INF

5-11

170

Leedey, Okla. (Seminole State JC/Woodward)

Previously Announced Members of Nebraska’s Fall Signing Class

Player

Pos.

Ht.

Wt.

Hometown (High School)

Johnny Dorn

RHP

6-3

195

Grand Island, Neb. (Grand Island)

Jake Mort

UTL

5-11

155

Nebraska City, Neb. (Nebraska City)

Drew Schwab

RHP

6-4

180

Omaha, Neb. (Westside)

Michael Storey

LHP

6-3

185

Omaha, Neb. (Bellevue West)

Matt Wagner

UTL

6-3

207

Wahoo, Neb. (Bishop Neumann)

Ryan Wehrle

INF

6-2

190

Papillion, Neb. (Papilion-LaVista)

Ryan Bohanan ? Bohanan is one of the top two-way players in the Midwest playing for Coach Jim Foltz at Goddard (Kan.) High School. A two-time first-team All-Kansas selection by the Kansas High School Coaches Association, he is a three-year starter for the Class 5A school and was a second-team all-state pick as a freshman. As a junior, he earned first-team all-state accolades as a utility player, batting .451 with a homer and 22 RBIs, while going 3-1 with a 2.60 ERA on the mound. Bohanan, who is ranked 51st nationally by Team One Baseball, was a member of the Wichita Sluggers team that won the 18-and-under National Baseball Congress Tournament in Wichita. As a sophomore, he was a first-team all-state selection at third base, batting .534, including a 23-game hitting streak with four homers, 22 RBIs and 29 runs scored. He also saw duty on the mound, going 5-2 with a save and a 1.43 ERA, as he struck out 60 hitters (and walked 18) in 46 innings. The son of Susan and Mike Bohanan, Ryan chose Nebraska over Arkansas.

Associate Head Coach/Pitching Coach Rob Childress on Bohanan ? "Ryan throws three pitches with a fastball in the mid-to-upper 80s and a very good slider. He is probably one of the first high school players we have recruited that can be a two-way guy for us. As a pitcher, he has a very good sink on his fastball and is an outstanding swing-and-miss pitcher. He also plays the infield, where he has some power and pretty good speed."

Casey Klapperich ? Klapperich starred for his American Legion team in Rapid City, S.D. Last season, he earned all-state honors at third base, batting .496 with three homers, 82 RBIs and 76 runs scored in 82 games. He also added 22 doubles and 10 triples during his junior campaign while setting his team’s record for highest batting average in a season. The son of Tim and Desiree Klapperich, Casey also looked at Notre Dame, Arizona State, Kansas and Northern Iowa before choosing Nebraska.

Assistant Coach Andy Sawyers on Klapperich ? "Casey is a very offensive-minded infielder who has a lot of athletic ability. He has a plus arm as a shortstop and is athletic enough to play any one of three infield positions for us. We think his athleticism and offensive tools give him a chance to be successful in this program."

Adam Moore -- Moore is in his second season playing for Coach Chad Tidwell at Northeast Texas Community College. As a freshman, he helped the Eagles to a 42-13 record and a conference title in 2003, hitting .381 with 14 homers and 60 RBIs. Northeast Texas CC is the same school that produced former Husker outfielder Justin Seely (2001-02). A native of Mineola, Texas, Moore was selected to the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association 3A All-State Team in 2002 and was selected to play in the Texas High School All-Star Game as a senior after hitting .576 with 18 homers and 67 RBIs. The son of Harold and Laura Moore, Adam choose Nebraska after looking at Missouri and Kentucky.

Assistant Coach Andy Sawyers on Moore ?"We are excited about Adam’s signing. He gives us a power hitter that we believe can step into the middle of our lineup next year. At 6-3, 215 pounds, he is a physical presence and has shown the ability at both the high school and junior college levels to hit for power."

Bryce Nimmo ? Ninno played for Coach Tagg Lain for the Post 6 American Legion Baseball Club in Cheyenne, Wyo. A two-time MVP of the Wyoming State Legion Tournament, Nimmo batted .496 with five homers, 71 RBIs and 110 runs scored, while stealing 40-of-42 bases to help Post 6 to a 51-19 record and its first regional finals appearance since 1991. In addition to his outfield play, he was also the ace of his staff, going 11-2 with a 1.76 ERA, fanning 83 in 83.2 innings last summer. Although Wyoming does not sponsor high school baseball, Nimmo is an accomplished athlete who lettered in football, basketball and track during his prep career. He was a first-team all-state quarterback and defensive back this fall and was presented with the Wyoming Super 25 Award, given to the top 25 players in the state. In track, he was the state’s 400-meter indoor champion two years ago and played basketball at Central High School. The son of Ron & Patricia Nimmo, Bryce carries a 3.90 GPA and is in the top 10 percent of his graduating class. He selected over Texas Tech, Illinois, Purdue, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Gonzaga and a host of junior colleges.

Head Coach Mike Anderson on Nimmo ? "The recommendations from coaches we talked to on Bryce as a player and a person made Bryce someone we wanted to have in our program. He is a very scrappy player who finds a way to get on base and score runs. He has a lot of athleticism and finds ways to help his team win."

Ryan Phillips ? One of three junior college transfers in the fall signing class, Phillips comes to Nebraska from Barton County (Kan.) Community College. Phillips is a 6-5, 210-pound left-hander who compiled a 3-1 record with a 3.15 ERA last spring. Although he was limited to just 20 innings because of an injury, Phillips showed great command, striking out 24 and walking just seven. His pitching coach at Barton County CC is former Husker pitcher Jay Sirianni. The son of Bob and Charlotte Phillips, Ryan selected Nebraska over Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Alabama and Louisiana-Lafayette.

Associate Head Coach/Pitching Coach Rob Childress on Phillips ?"Coming from junior college, we think that Ryan should be able to step in and contribute for us next season. He was coached by Jay Sirianni at Barton County, and Jay does a great job in teaching his pitchers, so we know that he will understand many of the pitching philosophies we use. At 6-5, 210 pounds, he is a big strong pitcher who knows how to work in the strike zone and get people out."

Jake Opitz ?Opitz comes to Nebraska from one of the top high school programs in Colorado, playing for Coach John Quarton at Heritage High School, which went 20-4 and had a runner-up finish at the Colorado Class 5A state tourament. A three-year starter at shortstop, he was a first-team All-Continental League and second-team all-state selection at shortstop last season, batting .517 with three homers, 45 RBIs, 32 runs scored and 11 stolen bases. An honorable-mention all-state selection, as a sophomore, Opitz attended Nebraska’s Stars of Tomorrow Camp in the summer of 2003 and is a starter on the Heritage High School football team. The son of Jeff and Melanie, Jake also looked at New Mexico State, Florida Atlantic and Dallas Baptist before choosing Nebraska.

Head Coach Mike Anderson on Opitz ? "Jake is someone who we have had in our camps and have been able to watch the progress he has made. He has the ability to play second, third or shortstop for us and is someone who can help us offensively. Like many of the others in the class, Jake is a multi-sport athlete who we think will make great progress once he gets on campus next fall."

Tim Radmacher ? One of the nation’s top seniors, Radmacher is one of three Husker recruits ranked among the top-200 seniors nationally according to Team One Baseball. Baseball America/Perfect Game also rated the 6-0, 170-pound right-hander as the top high school senior in Minnesota entering the fall, while Team One Baseball listed him No. 104 nationally. Radmacher attends Rosemount High School, where he plays for Coach Craig Kusick. As a junior, he was an honorable-mention all-state selection and first-team All-Lake Conference honoree. Redmacher was also the No. 2 overall prospect regardless of position at the Team One North Showcase in South Bend, Ind., over the summer. The son of Dan Radmacher and Cheryl Adelmann, Tim selected Nebraska over LSU, Arizona State, Oklahoma and Minnesota.

Associate Head Coach/Pitching Coach Rob Childress on Radmacher ? "Tim is considered by many to be one of the most polished high school pitchers in the Midwest. He throws in the upper 80s with four pitches, can field his position well and has a good pickoff move. We think Tim is someone who can help us as a freshman."

Charlie Shirek ?The younger brother of current Husker junior pitcher Phil Shirek, Charlie Shirek brings impressive credentials of his own into the Husker program. The 6-3, 180-pound right-hander was an all-region (North Dakota does not sponsor all-state teams) selection in baseball during the spring, before turning in an outstanding summer in American Legion baseball for Coach Todd Larson. Shirek compiled an 8-4 record with a save and a 1.75 ERA to help Minot to a 44-17 record and a regional tournament semifinal appearance. He struck out 79 (and walked 20) in 68 innings and held opponents to a .197 batting average. He was the state tournament’s Most Valuable Player and an all-regional selection. He also plays football and basketball at Minot High School, earning All-West Region honors in both sports. The son of Randy and Joy Shirek, Charlie also looked at Minnesota and several junior colleges before choosing Nebraska.

Associate Head Coach/Pitching Coach Rob Childress on Shirek ? "Charlie is the first younger brother of a player we have recruited in my five years here and we believe he has a chance to be a very good pitcher for us. He’s already 6-foot-3 at 18 and has a great frame that he is now starting to grow into. He throws consistently in the upper 80s and low 90s and throws a lot of strikes and is going to get bigger and better as gets into our weight program here."

Nick Sullivan ? One of two recruits from Colorado in this fall’s signing class, Sullivan is a senior at Pomona High School for Coach E.J. Mapps. The 5-11, 195-pound outfielder earned second-team All-Jefferson County League honors, helping Pomona to a 22-4 record, a Class 5A title and a No. 23 national ranking in 2003. Sullivan batted .422 with four homers, 26 RBIs and 23 runs scored as a junior to earn first-team all-region honors. A two-year starter, he was a first-team all-region choice in 2002 and was chosen for Colorado’s Junior Olympic program. Sullivan also is the starting quarterback at Pomona High School, rushing for 1,516 yards and eight touchdowns, while throwing for 540 yards and three touchdowns to lead his team to an 11-1 record this fall. In football, he was chosen as a first-team all-league selection and was his conference’s Most Valuable Player. Sullivan is also an outstanding student, as he has been named to the school honor roll in each of the last three years and is in the top 10 percent of his senior class. The son of Michael and Cindy Sullivan, Nick also looked at a host of schools, including Stanford, Arizona, Arizona State, Kansas State and Kansas before selecting Nebraska.

Head Coach Mike Anderson on Sullivan ? "The thing that stands out about Nick is his toughness. He is a hard-nosed kid who has great work habits and leadership qualities that you look for. He is another player we have had in our camps and is a very good athlete who can help us in a variety of ways."

Tim Sullivan - Sullivan follows the same path as older brother Beau, who is junior first baseman/DH at Nebraska. A 5-11, 170-pound infielder, Tim Sullivan is a freshman at Seminole State (Okla.) Junior College, playing for Coach Eric Meyers. He played varsity baseball for three seasons, earning three runner-up finishes in the process and was selected to the state all-tournament team as a senior. A first-team all-state selection by the Oklahoma High School Coaches Association in 2003, Sullivan led the state with 20 homers during his junior year (spring and summer). Last summer, Sullivan played for the Oklahoma Travelers, batting .402 with 12 homers, six triples and 64 RBIs. He also stole 27 bases, while finishing with a .713 slugging percentage. In two years with the Travelers, he hit .387 with 19 homers, 120 RBIs, 134 runs scored and 41 stolen bases. The son of Gene & Sara Sullivan, Tim also looked at Kansas State before selecting Nebraska.

Assistant Coach Andy Sawyers on Sullivan? "Tim is just a ballplayer. He played shortstop in high school and is playing second base at Seminole (JC) and plays both positions very well. He has deceptive power for his size and runs very well, but the thing you notice about the way he plays is that he’ll always play hard and knows how to play the game."

-- Huskers --