By Ryan McCosky

Up next is Billy Gernon’s Western Michigan Broncos early signees. Gernon is heading into his third season in Kalamazoo alongside him are Associate Head coach and Recruiting Coordinator Blaine McFerrin (3^rd Season) and Assistant Coach and Assistant Recruiting Coordinator Matt Rademacher (1^st season.)   

Gernon's 2012 recruiting class was an impressive one with the likes or Player of the Year Brett Sunde (Bishop Foley HS), Hunter Prince (Hudsonville HS), Kurt Hoekstra (Grand Rapids Christian HS), and Brandon Cable (Hudsonville HS) to name a few. All four of those players won state championships for their schools in 2012. For the class of 2013, the hard work of the Bronco coaches landed four local high school standouts.    

Keegan Akin (Bullock Creek HS) is a 1^st team All-State selection is a LHP who possesses a FB in the upper 80’s.  Akin dominated last year on the mound with a 9-0 record and a 0.78ERA striking out 132 in 72 IP.  He also plays some OF and is a left handed hitter who hit at a .463 clip in 2012 with an OBP of .590.

 Corbin Clouse (Grand Ledge HS) has plenty of tools and huge potential.  In 2012 Clouse hit .462 slugged .788 with 16 doubles, 8 home runs and 45 RBI. Those numbers helped Clouse get named to the Dream Team.  I remember Clouse and current Bronco Hunter Prince both belting homeruns in the championship game of the Great Black Swamp Tournament in Ohio this past summer.  

Grant Miller (Bay City Western HS) is a talented middle infielder whose athleticism allows him to be able to play any position on the field.  Through two years of varsity competition Miller has compiled a .410 batting average, 56 RBI and 71 runs scored.  

Nate Schneider preps at nearby Portage Central HS and is no stranger to the Bronco tradition. Patti, his mother is an alum. Father, Paul Schneider, was an All-American outfielder for the Broncos and brother Derek is currently a freshmen pitcher for the Broncos.  In 2012, Nate led Portage Central in RBI and Runs scored and hit .320. 

 

Western Michigan University

 Keegan Akin- LHP/OF- 6-0- 190- (Midland, Mich. / Midland Bullock Creek HS)
PBR State Rank: 25

Corbin (CJ) Clouse- OF/LHP -6-1- 200 (Grand Ledge, Mich. / Grand Ledge HS)
PBR State Rank: 15
Overall Rank: 164

Grant Miller- INF- 5-10- 160 (Bay City, Mich. / Bay City Western HS)
PBR State Rank: 24

Nate Schneider- INF -6-2 – 185 (Portage, Mich. / Portage Central HS)
PBR State Rank: 53