Baseball Completes 2006 Recruiting Class
06/20/2005 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
June 20, 2005
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - There's something to be said about good pitching. Momentum stems from it. Offenses struggle against it. All three of Southern Illinois University's weekend starters from last season were selected in the Top-20 rounds of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft because of it. Next year, the Salukis will be loaded with it.
Earlier today, SIU head coach Dan Callahan announced that he and his staff added five more pitchers, two infielders and a catcher to polish off their 2006 recruiting class. All five of those pitchers are junior college transfers.
"We feel we've filled our recruiting needs with quality athletes, who are also good students," said Callahan. "In addition to our November signees, we feel this year's recruits rival a number of our other recent classes which churned out some pretty good ballplayers and even some pro drafts."
Charlie Weber (LHP, Murphysboro, Ill.) and Cody Adams (RHP/SS, Viola, Ill.) signed with the Dawgs last fall and Jordan Powell (RHP, Danville Area Community College) committed in April.
SIU's recent pitching signees, however, include Cory Baker (John A. Logan College), Kyle Catto (John A. Logan College), Matthew Dahlkamp (Lincoln Land Community College), Dusty Baker (Olney Central College) and Jordan Garner (Cowley County Community College).
Baker and Catto come to SIU from nearby John A. Logan College.
Standing at 6-1, 180, Baker went 5-1 with 32 strikeouts and a 3.50 ERA for the Volunteers last spring. The fact that he throws in the high eighties as a left-handed pitcher really drew Callahan's attention.
"There aren't a lot of left-handers with that kind of arm strength," said Callahan. "Plus, we've had a lot of success with left-handed pitchers lately, and we hope that trend continues with Cory."
While Baker has pitched as both a starter and reliever at JALC, Catto served as a member of the Vols' starting conference rotation for two years. He's a talented right-hander, who brings a lot of experience to the Saluki program.
"I think Kyle will battle for a spot in SIU's weekend rotation next year," said Vols coach and former Saluki pitcher Jerry Halstead. "He's a power pitcher, who put up some good strikeout numbers, and he's had a lot of success."
Catto concluded his junior college stint with seven wins, which tied for the team-lead. He achieved a 3.00 ERA and topped the Vols in both innings pitched and strikeouts with 84 and 82, respectively.
Like Catto, Dahlkamp is a right-hander who also has the potential to crack the Salukis' weekend rotation.
Towering at 6-6, 230, Dahlkamp joins the Salukis from Lincoln Land Community College, where he recovered from shoulder surgery to collect three wins, toss three complete games, twirl one shutout and record 73 strikeouts in a team-high 13 starts.
When Dahlkamp is on the mound, his size can be intimidating, and Loggers coach Ron Riggle agrees.
"Matthew's size is impressive and he handles himself very well on the mound," Riggle said. "He consistently throws 89-90 and he definitely has the potential to be a draft. He works hard and I think he'll do well at Southern."
Recently, Dahlkamp registered eight strikeouts and allowed two hits in six shutout innings to earn his first win of the summer with the Springfield Rifles, a Central Illinois Collegiate League member.
Baker's freshman year at Olney Central College was cut short due to Tommy John surgery, so, he too, has dealt with adversity.
After picking up a pair of saves in his first season with the Blue Knights, Baker earned 12 a year ago. In two years at OCC, the right-hander appeared in 20 games, where he held a 1.81 ERA, struck out 20 and earned 14 saves.
According to Blue Knights coach Dennis Conley, Baker lives for clutch situations.
"Dusty has pitched in some tight games and performs well under pressure," stated Conley. "He has good makeup, throws 87-89 with a good slider and is the kind of player who will give you his best effort on a daily basis. He'll be a nice addition to the Salukis."
Cowley County Community College houses one of the most highly respected junior college programs in the country, and Garner is the second Tiger in as many years, who will play at SIU.
A left-hander who throws in the mid-80s, Garner began his Cowley County CC career as more of a situational type pitcher, but finished as part of the Tigers' starting rotation in conference games. He went 5-2 with 33 strikeouts in 44 innings a year ago.
"Jordan matured a lot while he was here," said Cowley County CC coach Dave Burroughs. "He continues to improve, and hopefully, he can contribute immediately at SIU."
Rounding out SIU's final batch of signees are catcher Mark Kelly (Hanover Park, Ill.) and infielders Scott Elmendorf (Newburgh, Ind.) and Bret Maugeri (Palos Heights, Ill.).
Kelly attended Hoffman Estates High School, where he garnered all-conference and all-area honors. He hit over .350 in each of his last three prep seasons.
Elmendorf joins the Dawgs from Castle High School, where he anchored the Knights' infield and hit in the leadoff position for three varsity seasons.
CHS coach Curt Welch refers to him as a fierce competitor.
"Scott really got things going for us the last two years," said Welch. "He's a great leader, who fights until the very end. When he steps between the lines, you always know what you're going to get."
Elmendorf helped lead CHS to 23-win seasons as both a junior and senior. In 2004, the Knights went 23-4 and advanced to the Final Four of the Indiana State Tournament, before going 23-5 a year ago.
A first-team all-Southern Indiana Athletic Conference pick and the Knights' Most Valuable Player last season, Elmendorf wrapped up his prep career by hitting .436 with a team-high 44 runs, 44 hits, 11 doubles and four triples.
A four-year starter at Stagg High School, Maugeri was named second-team Chicago Tribune all-state. He also led the Chargers with a .452 batting average and seven home runs as a senior.
SIU's recruits join forces with 20 returnees in 2006, as the Salukis only lose three key contributors, including 2005 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year P.J. Finigan (P/SS), second-team all-MVC left-hander Bryan Rueger and right-handed reliever Jason Chavez.
Finigan and Rueger, along with Tyler Norrick formed SIU's starting rotation last season, and each were drafted in the first 20 rounds of this year's MLB Draft. The patented trio led the Salukis to a 3.38 ERA which ranked both second in the Valley and 19th in the nation.
Finigan went in the seventh round to the Detroit Tigers, while Rueger was chosen in the 20th round by the New York Yankees. Finigan and Rueger, both seniors a year ago, opted to sign with those respective organizations.
After being drafted in the 17th round by the Toronto Bluejays, SIU ace left-hander, Norrick, will return to campus for his senior season. A native of Festus, Mo., Norrick garnered second-team all-MVC honors and ranked second on the team with 89 strikeouts as a junior.
Saluki outfielder Grant Gerrard was also selected in this year's MLB Draft. Gerrard, who is undecided if he'll return to Carbondale for his senior campaign, was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 16th round.
2006 Southern Illinois University Baseball Recruiting Class
Cody Adams, Fr., RHP/SS, 6-1, 205, Viola, Ill. (Sherrard H.S.)
Cory Baker, Jr., LHP, 6-1, 180, Fairfield, Ill. (John A. Logan College)
Dusty Baker, Jr., RHP, 6-0, 235, Olney, Ill. (Olney Central College)
Kyle Catto, Jr. RHP, 6-3, 200, Anderson, Ind. (John A. Logan College)
Matthew Dahlkamp, Jr., RHP, 6-6, 230, Springfield, Ill. (Lincoln Land CC)
Scott Elmendorf, Fr., INF, 6-0, 165, Newburgh, Ind. (Castle H.S.)
Jordan Garner, Jr., LHP, 6-1, 190, Pittsburg, Kan. (Cowley County CC)
Mark Kelly, Fr., C, 6-4, 195, Hanover Park, Ill. (Hoffman Estates H.S.)
Bret Maugeri, Fr., INF, 5-9, 170, Palos Heights, Ill. (Stagg H.S.)
Jordan Powell, Jr., RHP, 6-1, 210, Danville, Ill. (Danville Area CC)
Charlie Weber, Fr., LHP, 6-0, 210, Murphysboro, Ill. (Murphysboro H.S.)