BY JOHN D. HOMAN
Logan Media Services

The John A. Logan College baseball team added depth to its roster for next fall with the announced signing this week of eight new recruits this week, mostly from the Chicago area.

Vols head coach Jerry Halstead praised the work of assistant coach Page Kirkpatrick, who serves the program as recruiting coordinator.

“We think we have a pretty good class of recruits we’re bringing in,” Halstead said. “We have eight signings to report now and will be adding a few more. What we did was address some pitching needs first, as well as the catcher and shortstop positions, because that’s where we’re being hit the hardest due to graduation.”

Halstead pointed out that there is always the possibility that a few of the Vols’ recruits could get offered a scholarship from a four-year school later this spring or even a pro contact this summer following the June draft, but is hopeful to keep everyone who has signed letters of intent.

“That’s the risk we run every year when you recruit some of the best prep talent.”

One of the premier recruits is Joba Ferrell, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound outfielder/righthanded pitcher from Kenwood High School in Chicago, who is ranked as the third-best outfielder in the state by Prep Baseball Report.

Last spring as a junior, he batted .387 with two home runs and 20 runs batted in. He also fashioned a 3-0 record with a 3.66 earned-run average.

The magazine describes Ferrell as having “all the tools to become a high-level prospect” and has been clocked up to 90 mph with his fastball.

DeJohn Suber is another potential pro prospect. He is a 6-foot-1, 160-pound shortstop from Morgan Park. He is ranked the fifth-best shortstop in the state by Prep Baseball Report.

The magazine describes Suber’s defensive skills as “arguably the best in the class with excellent speed, extremely quick hands and feet who covers a lot of ground.”

John Schram is a 6-foot-4, 205-pound righthanded pitcher/catcher from Lake Park. PBR magazine reports that Schram “opened eyes with his heavy 87-88 mph fastball” with the potential to be a power arm by the end of the spring. As a batter, he was said to possess “big power.”

Matt Krenz is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound catcher out of Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake. He is ranked the ninth-best catcher in the state by PBR. As a junior, he hit .305 with one homer and 18 runs batted in. He had an on-base percentage of .473.

Krenz is described in the magazine as “one of the best defensive catching prospects in the Class of 2012 with impressive arm strength.”

Johnny Hondlik is a 6-foot-5, 220-pound righthanded pitcher from East High School in St. Charles. PBR comments that he “is a big-bodied righthander who throws with mid 80s velocity and has a plus curveball.”

Mark Self is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound lefthanded-hitting first baseman from Jacobs High School in Algonquin. As a junior, he batted .395 with six homers and 15 RBIs. PBR describes Self as “one of the state’s most gifted offensive players who generates tremendous bat speed and barrel whip through the zone as he stays tall throughout his swing.”

Austin Fender is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound lefthanded pitcher from Tolono Unity High School. As a junior, he posted an 0.81 earned-run average and struck out 99 batters in only 52 innings of work. PBR reports that his fastball has been clocked in the upper 80s.

The one local product is Tyler McGowan, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound righthanded pitcher from Southern Illinois powerhouse, Harrisburg.

McGowan is ranked the 12th-best righthanded pitcher by PBR and the 46th-best prospect overall in the state. Last year, he went 4-2 for the Bulldogs with a 2.37 ERA and 54 strikeouts. He was even better as a sophomore, posting a 6-0 mark and 0.89 ERA.

PBR describes McGowan as “long and athletic who possesses an extremely quick and loose arm. As he continues to physically develop, he should see his mid/upper 80s velocity continue to climb.”

Halstead said he knows he’s getting a quality recruit when he taps into the Harrisburg pool of talent.

“This is my 29th year here at Logan and Harrisburg has been the premier prep program in the area and among the best in the state. We feel very fortunate to get a player the caliber of Tyler McGowan. Those Harrisburg kids have great work ethic and should be a solid player for us.”