CHARLESTON, Ill. – With 20 new players on the roster this season, Eastern Illinois baseball's recruiting class for the 2009 season, announced by head coach Jim Schmitz, didn't need to be as large in terms of numbers but that doesn't mean the coaching staff isn't just as excited about what the new signees can do.

 

Zach Borenstein (Buffalo Grove/Buffalo Grove), Daniel Bracken (Louisville, Ky./Fern Creek Traditional), Danny DeLong (Olathe, Kan./Northwest), Chris Ulrey (Greenfield, Ind./Lincoln Trail CC) and Josh Wilson (Charleston/Lake Land College) have each National Letters of Intent to play at EIU beginning with the 2008-09 school year.

 

“With the last two recruiting classes featuring nine and 15 newcomers, we had minimal needs this year,” Schmitz said. “The main focus was to improve our overall team speed and find more left-handed power in the lineup. Each of these players is capable, and will be expected to contribute to our success.”

 

Borenstein is a left-handed hitting shortstop with power. Bracken and Ulrey are both speedy outfielders. Wilson is a two-way prospect as a right-handed pitcher and outfielder, who also possesses good speed. Delong, finally, is a 6-foot-2, left-handed pitcher.

 

Borenstein broke the single-season school record for hits (56) and led BGHS to the Elite Eight round of the IHSA State Tournament as an honorable mention all-state selection in the spring.

 

Bracken is a two-time all-district performer entering his senior year of high school. He was selected as his team's offensive player of the year in the spring.

 

DeLong earned First Team All-Area honors from the Olathe Daily News while leading ONHS to a share of the Sunflower League title.

 

Ulrey was drafted by the Chicago White Sox following his senior year of high school. During his freshman year at Lincoln Trail, he led his team to Great Rivers Athletic Conference and Region XXIV titles.

 

At CHS, Wilson established new single-season marks for victories, saves and run scored as a senior. He was a First Team All-GRAC performer his first year at Lake Land. His older brother Kyle also plays for the Panthers.

 

“All four of the position players have good speed,” Schmitz said. “Daniel Bracken and Josh Wilson can both fly and will have the opportunity to create havoc on the bases. Zach Borentstein and Chris Ulrey will add some punch to the lineup from the left side. Danny Delong is the left-hander we needed to compliment the six freshmen right-handers we have on the team.

“The credit should go to [assistant coaches] Sean Lyons and Skylar Meade for their countless hours on the road, and their ability to identify talent. We ran into some bad luck in Illinois, so they went to Kansas, Indiana and Kentucky to fill our needs.

 

“This class coupled with the last two years' brings a lot of excitement to our program,” Schmitz concluded. “We feel we have the team to compete for OVC titles in the years to come.”

 

Notable Junior Year Stats: batted .470 with 8 home runs, 21 total extra-base hits, 37 RBIs, 42 runs scored and 11 stolen bases… Honors: Honorable Mention All-State, First Team All-Conference and All-Area… Other Notables: broke the single-school record for hits with 56, led his team to the Elite Eight round of the 2007 IHSA State Tournament… BGHS Coach John Wendell says: “Zach loves the game. He is one of the best hitters we have had at Buffalo Grove. Zach has the tools to be successful and a contributor at the next level”… Coach Schmitz says: “Zach was the top hitter on my list this summer. He has outstanding power from the left side. He had some nagging injuries that limited his exposure this summer, but we stayed on him and are fortunate to land such a prize recruit. We think he will come in and play immediately.”

 

Notable Junior Year Stats: batted .423 with 3 home runs, 15 doubles, 25 RBIs, 38 run scored and 17 stolen bases… Honors: two-time all-district, First Team All-Region VII, selected to play in the Region VI and VII All-Star Games, team Offensive Player of the Year as a junior, Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore… FCHS Coach Jared Dunham says: “Daniel has everything going for him. As he matures, he will be a top-notch collegiate outfielder”… Coach Schmitz says: “Daniel gives us the speed we are missing. He will be a catalyst at the top of the order. He also has some pop in his bat which will make him a double threat. We were lucky to find him. Skylar is from Louisville and saw him at the UofL showcase. Daniel did not come from one of the baseball powers in Louisville and was overlooked by many schools. He is going to make a major impact in our program.”

 

Notable Junior Year Stats: posted a 3-1 record with a 3.07 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 29 innings pitched… Honors: Honorable Mention All-Sunflower League, Olathe Daily News First Team All-Area, Honorable Mention All-Johnson County and All-Sun Country… Other Notables: Olathe Northwest was the 2007 Sunflower League Co-Champions in 2007… ONHS Coach Jay Novacek says: “Danny is a great pitcher and an even more outstanding young man. He has started in the outfield and at pitcher since his sophomore year in the Sunflower League, the toughest conference in Kansas. He loves baseball and will work hard everyday to compete for EIU”… Coach Schmitz says: “Danny was a real find late in the recruiting season. We needed a lefty to compliment all the freshmen right-handers on the team. He is a strike thrower with a plus knuckle-curveball. He played on a real competitive summer team coached by former MLB All-Star Joe Carter. Talking with Joe, he said Danny is a real competitor and pitched in many of their big games.”

 

Notable JUCO Stats: batted .310 with 11 doubles, 10 home runs, 39 RBIs, 46 runs scored, 12 stolen bases and 30 walks… as the starting center fielder, led Lincoln Trail to the to Great Rivers Athletic Conference and Region XXIV titles… High School Honors as a Senior: All-State, 1st Team All-Conference, Indianapolis Star Super Team, played in the Indiana North-South All-Star Game … was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 33rd round… Lincoln Trail coach Mitch Hannahs says: “This was a great sign for Eastern Illinois. Chris was a heavily recruited player who will make an immediate impact”… Coach Schmitz says: “We are really lucky Chris was still around. He is an impact player who will come in and gives us the power we have been lacking. He is also an outstanding athlete who can steal bases and play great defense.”

 

Bats/Throws: Right
Notable JUCO Stats: batted .360 with 3 doubles, 2 home runs, 14 RBIs, 14 runs scored and 6 stolen bases… also posted a 1-1 record with a 3.55 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 10 appearances on the mound… he was a First Team All-GRAC honoree… High School Accomplishments: was a First Team All-Apollo Conference performer as a senior after breaking the school's single-season records for wins (7), saves (3) and runs scored (36)… Lake Land Coach James Jarret says: “Josh is a great young man. He is a very competitive hard worker, and a great athlete. Coach Schmitz is getting a very good player and great person”… Coach Schmitz says: “Josh will be able to help us both on the mound and in the outfield. He has tremendous speed and, along with Bracken, gives us real team speed. I saw him this summer with the Mattoon Legion team, and when he got on base he made a lot of things happen. We are looking for him to pitch in a closer's role. He has been clocked in the low 90s and has the mentality needed for relief.”

More Info: Contact Ben Turner, Asst. SID