Luke Wertz Season 2005

• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (Fall 2004; Spring 2005; Fall 2005; Spring 2006; Fall 2006)

2007 Outlook: One Husker who looks to build momentum heading into the 2007 season is junior right-hander Luke Wertz ? Went 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in 12 appearances, working in middle and short relief in 2006 ? Suffered a shoulder injury in mid-April after allowing only two runs in his previous seven outings, including a save in a 13-inning win over Missouri, before pitching a scoreless inning of relief against Kansas in the Big 12 title game ? Continued that progress in the summer, allowing no runs in five appearances in the Northwoods League ? Is fully healthy after missing the fall because of arthroscopic surgery ? Is throwing the ball the best he has in his Husker career, topping out in the mid-90s with improved off-speed command ? Is one of the most athletic players on the roster and uses that athleticism to cover his position exceptionally well ? Has shown the ability to start as a freshman, but found a home working in short and middle relief last season ? Carries a 3.194 GPA in business administration and has been on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in each of his five semesters at Nebraska.

2006: Wertz was one of the Huskers’ top bullpen workers, going 1-0 with a save and a 3.00 ERA in 12 appearances ? Fanned 13 over 15 innings of work and held opponents to a .236 batting average ? Missed six weeks because of a shoulder injury before returning to pitch in relief in the Big 12 title game on May 28, tossing a shutout inning with a strikeout against Kansas ? Fanned a season-high three Hawkeyes in 1.1 innings in NU’s win over Iowa on April 11 ? Made four appearances in Big 12 play, finishing with a 2.70 ERA ? Picked up his first career save against Missouri on April 8, pitching the final 0.2 innings and getting out of a bases-loaded jam to preserve NU’s 5-2, 13-inning win ? Tossed a scoreless inning of relief in the series opener against K-State on March 31 ? Made two appearances against Kansas, tossing the final inning of the series opener before coming back the next day to pitch 0.2 innings of shutout ball on March 26 ? Fired two innings of no-hit ball against South Dakota State on March 17, scattering two hits in a 10-0 win ? Earned his first win of the season versus Illinois State on March 14, allowing one run on three hits over 2.2 innings in a 10-7 victory ? Went a season-high 3.1 innings in a loss to The Citadel on Feb. 18, allowing two runs on two hits in an 8-5 setback ? Spent the summer pitching for St. Cloud (Minn.) in the Northwoods League, going 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in five appearances ? Scattered seven hits and struck out eight over 9.1 innings of work.

2005: Wertz was one of five true freshmen who played major roles in Nebraska’s 57-15 record and CWS appearance ? Went 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in 10 appearances, covering 18.1 innings of work ? Made two starts (Northern Colorado and Northern Illinois), earning his first career win against Northern Illinois on May 18 ? Fanned a career-best six hitters over five innings of work, allowing two runs on four hits in a 3-2 win ? Made three conference appearances (vs. No. 1 Texas, No. 8 Baylor and at Oklahoma) ? Allowed one hit over 1.2 innings to eventual national champion Texas ? Fired a scoreless 1.1 innings of relief in the series-opening loss at Oklahoma on April 28 ? Tossed two shutout innings of relief with two strikeouts against North Dakota State on April 13 ? Made his first career start against Northern Colorado on March 17, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out four in 3.2 innings of work ? Retired all three batters he faced against South Dakota State on March 12 ? Opened the season with two shutout innings at Hawaii-Hilo on Feb. 20, fanning three without a walk in helping NU post an 8-1 win.

Ponderosa High School: Wertz was one of Colorado’s top two-way performers playing for Coach Clark Eyl at Ponderosa High School ? Rated as the No. 5 high school prospect in Colorado by Baseball America in 2004 ? Compiled a 14-8 record with 190 strikeouts in 140 career innings during his high school career ? Went 5-2 with a 2.70 ERA on the mound to earn honorable-mention all-state honors ? Ranked among the state leaders with 94 strikeouts in 57 innings ? Reached double figures in strikeouts seven times in nine starts, highlighted by a 15-strikeout effort in a 2-1 win over Douglas County ? Played outfield when not pitching, hitting .460 with 16 runs scored to earn all-conference honors at two positions ? Tabbed an honorable-mention all-state pick as a junior, going 6-1 with a 1.86 ERA, as he struck out 53 in 49 innings of work ? Went 3-3 while hitting .418 during his sophomore campaign en route to all-conference honors ? Was a member of the Principal’s Honor Roll throughout his high school career and was a member of the National Honor Society ? Looked at Oklahoma State, Northern Colorado and several junior colleges before choosing to become a Husker.

Personal: Born on Sept. 20, 1985, in Longmont, Colo. ? Parents are Mike and Sharon Wertz ? Has one sister (Lindsey) ? Carries a 3.174 GPA in business administration.