Coming off of a 43-20 record and No. 3 ranking and third place finish in the NJCAA Wolrd Series last season, Head Coach Marc Rardin and Reiver Baseball announce the recruiting class for the 2012-2013 season.

Nick Elmore – Infielder - Oak Park, Missouri

Oak Park, Missouri native Nick Elmore has signed his letter of intent to join the Reivers next season. The 5’11” 210 lb.  infielder was a two sport athlete at Oak Park High School, playing both football and baseball. In 66 at bats last season, Elmore batted .515 with 6 homeruns, and 33 RBI’s. He was also a perfect 12/12 in stolen bases. He was named to the 2011 Missouri Sportswriters Class 4 All-State second team. His combination of strength and speed is something that will fit right in with the style of play the Reivers have become known for. Elmore also participated this Fall with the Kansas City Royals Elite Scout Team.

 Matt Olsen – Outfielder- Lees Summit, Mo.

Matt Olsen is a 5’10” athletic outfielder who comes to Iowa Western from Lees Summit, Mo. In 69 games spanning from summer to fall, Olsen posted a .507 batting average with 34 doubles, 6 triples, and 4 homeruns while driving in 48 RBI’s. Olsen also has the tool that cannot be taught, speed, stealing 21 bases in the 69 games.  Olsen participated this Fall with the Kansas City Royals Elite Scout Team.  In the summer and fall Matt played for the KC Express travel program.

Ethan Schlesener – Catcher/Utility. - Rogersville, Missouri

Ethan Schlesener is a 6’2” 190 lb. power hitting utility player from Rogersville, Missouri whose athleticism enables him to play multiple positions on the field. In the spring and summer combined, Schlesener combined to bat .377 with 10 homeruns and 18 doubles and 60 RBI’s in 175 official at bats. His performance in the spring at Logan-Rogersville High School has landed him on the All-Conference and All-district teams all three years, including being named to the 2011 All- State team. Schlesener also competes in football and wrestling, and helped lead his football team to a Class 3 State Championship.  Ethan is currently the #13 ranked player in Missouri according to prepbaseballreport.com.

Chad Worman – Left Handed Pitcher – Blue Springs, Missouri

Chad Worman is a 6’3” 190 lb. left-handed pitcher from Blue Springs, Missouri. Last season as a junior at Blue Springs South High School, Worman earned second team all conference honors as well as honorable mention on the Examiner All-Area team. He helped lead his team to a 2011 District Championship. Worman also achieved good grades in the class room as he was a part of the Class 4 Academic All-State team.

 

Statement from Head Coach, Marc Rardin:

 “I am proud and excited to announce this year’s recruiting class.  Reiver baseball looks promising for the future with this quality class of student athletes signing with Iowa Western baseball.”

“I have made claims in the past and will continue to make them and stand by them that our coaching staff does one of the best jobs of any college baseball program in the Midwest.  Assistant coach Rob Allison has coordinated the recruiting of Reiver Baseball for the past 4 years and has done an incredible job.  There isn’t a student athlete around that Coach Allison hasn’t heard about and seen. It is a long process to locate the athletes and build a relationship with them.  Coach Allison is relentless in every aspect of being our recruiting coordinator. We don’t just indicate who can play the game of baseball, we target those athletes that can play but are also good students and good people.  We recruit nationally, and with recruiting nationally comes competing against other top national junior college programs. We cross paths with schools from Florida, Arizona, and Texas when going after the same student/athletes. It says a lot about my coaching staff and our program when we can get those top tier talents to our school.”

 This recruiting class was a challenge because we had to sign more pitchers than usual.  Any time you are recruiting a talented high school pitcher, so is everyone else.  When you are recruiting 8 or 9 in one class it calls for a lot of work on the phones and on the road.  I’m also very excited about the position players we have coming in.  They are very athletic and driven.  Coach Allison, Coach Johns, and Coach Ziadeh definitely found a group of players that I feel will fit in very quickly and adapt and grow in our system.  Reiver baseball is relentless and tireless when doing all of this that is needed to keep Iowa Western baseball in the top 5 in the country every year.”