Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Baseball Welcomes Nine Newcomers
1/27/2016 9:01:00 AM | Baseball
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern University head baseball coach Spencer Allen and his staff have announced that nine young men from across the country will join the program in the fall of 2016. This is the first recruiting class that Allen has brought in since taking over the reigns of the program.
The class features four pitchers, two infielders, a pair of utility players and an outfielder.
"I am really excited about our recruiting class," said Allen. "First and foremost, they are all great students and high-character young men. Each one brings a different skill set that will help us build upon the foundation that we have created, and ultimately, I am confident that they will have an immediate impact on the program."
Northwestern opens its 2016 season Feb. 19—21 with a four-game series against Nevada in Mesa, Ariz., before coming back to Evanston to open its brand new facility and 18-game home schedule on March 30.
Nick Cauley
Alton, Ill. | Alton High School | Recruits Baseball Club
Projected Position: Pitcher
High School: Three-year letterwinner at Alton High School … Helped the Redbirds to a program-best 30 wins in 2015 … A 6-1 right-handed pitcher … Played with Recruits Baseball Club during summer ball.
Personal: Born Nicholas Andrew Cauley … Son of Rebecca and the late Raymond Cauley … Has five siblings, including a twin sister … Intends to major in biological sciences.
Hank Christie
Oak Park, Ill. | Oak Park-River Forest High School | Top Tier
Project Position: Pitcher
High School: A two-year letterwinner at Oak Park-River Forest High School … Member of an Oak Park-River Forest team that posted a 32-8 overall record in 2015 and earned a third-place finish in the state of Illinois … Has an overall record of 8-1 on the bump with an ERA of 2.01 … Picked up 75 strikeouts in 78 innings pitched during his varsity career … Played his summer ball for Top Tier and helped the program capture BOMC and WWBA championships … Honor roll every semester of his high school career.
Personal: Born Scott Henry Christie … Son of Jill and Scott Christie … Intends to major in economics.
Alex Erro
Miami, Fla. | Gulliver Prep | Elite Squad Baseball
Projected Position: Shortstop/Second Base
High School: Three-year letterwinner at Gulliver Prep … Helped the Raiders win the district and region championships en route to a state semifinal berth last season … Had a .330 batting average with eight doubles, two home runs and 19 runs batted in … Has a career on-base percentage of .431 … Plays with Elite Squad Baseball during the summer and helped the club capture the top spot at the Under-17 BCS Finals and Under-16 Mizuno Sunshine State Championships … Named to the All-Tournament Team in Perfect Game's Florida State Championship and the Perfect Game BCS Finals … Made the honor roll each year of high school … National Honor Society member.
Personal: Born Alexander Erro … Son of Judith and Juan Carlos Erro … Intends to major in biological sciences.
Matt Gannon
Skillman, N.J. | Montgomery High School | All Star Baseball Academy
Projected Position: Pitcher
High School: Member of the Montgomery High School baseball team for three years … A 6-7 left-handed pitcher who played summer ball with the All Star Baseball Academy … Honor roll all four years in high school.
Personal: Born Matthew Aguilar Gannon … Son of Marta and Stephen Gannon … Undecided on a major.
Leo Kaplan
Santa Monica, Calif. | Harvard Westlake High School | Pacific Baseball Academy/SoCal Giants
Projected Position: Outfield
High School: Earned two varsity letters during his high school career … Named a team captain at Harvard Westlake, where he helped the team to a 24-6 overall record in 2015 … Hit for an average of .345 with a .398 on-base percentage and a .464 slugging percentage during his varsity career … Was named the team's Offensive Player of the Year in both 2014 and 2015 … Selected and played in the 2015 Area Code Games … Played for Pacific Baseball Academy and the SoCal Giants in the summer months … Named to the 2015 Perfect Game Louisville Slugger Classic All-Tournament Team.
Personal: Born Leo Moran Kaplan … Son of Jean and Stephen Kaplan … Intends on majoring in economics.
Sam Lawrence
Winfield, Ill. | Wheaton North High School | DTA Wildcats
Projected Position: Pitcher
High School: A three-year letterwinner for the Falcons … Named a team captain his junior year … Pitched his way to a 9-3 overall mark the last two seasons … Posted a combined 3.21 earned run average over his sophomore and junior seasons … Recognized as Wheaton North's Most Valuable Player in 2015 … Played his club ball with the DTA Wildcats … Had a 2.5 ERA with 75 strikeouts in the summer of 2015 for his club team … Tossed three shutouts for the DTA Wildcats, which included a no-hitter … Honor roll all four years of high school … Member of the student council and Math Honor Society.
Personal: Born Samuel Peter Lawrence … Son of Pam and Dave Lawrence … Intends to major in economics.
Josh Levy
Atlanta, Ga. | Woodward Academy | East Cobb Patriots
Projected Position: Pitcher
High School: Earned a varsity letter all four years of high school … Led the War Eagles in innings pitched (35) and strikeouts (43) during the 2015 season … Played with the East Cobb Patriots during the summer and helped the team reach the 18-Under WWBA semifinals … Four-time member of the honor roll.
Personal: Born Joshua Steven Levy … Son of Julie and Greg Levy … Intends on majoring in industrial engineering and management sciences.
Charlie Maxwell
Evanston, Ill. | Evanston Township High School | Downers Grove Longshots
Projected Position: Infield
High School: A three-year letter winner for the Wildkits … Named to the Chicago Tribune's All-Area Team as a junior after hitting .386 with an on-base percentage of .515, 33 runs batted in, four triples and 15 stolen bases … Central Suburban League All-Conference selection in 2015 … Earned the team's Silver Slugger Award … Plays his summer ball with the Downers Grove Longshots … Named to Perfect Game's Iowa Kernel All-Tournament Team in 2015 … Earned honor roll status each year of high school … National Honor Society member.Personal:
Born Charles August Maxwell … Son of Elizabeth Maxwell-Carlson and Mark Maxwell … Intends to major in economics.
Nick Paciorek
Sherman Oaks, Calif. | Oaks Christian | SoCal Cubs/SoCal Giants
Projected Position: Utility
High School: A three-year letterwinner at Oaks Christian … Helped the Lions capture the CIF title in 2013 … Participated in the Southwest All-Star Series … Member of the Headmaster and Dean's Lists … Earned the school's Athlete-Scholar Award.
Personal: Born Nicholas Andrew Paciorek … Son of Staci and Mike Paciorek … Undecided on a major.
The Wildcats will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Rocky and Berenice Miller Park before the home opener on Wednesday, March 30th, and for the Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, April 2nd. For more information on this occasion, please contact Matthew Smith at (847) 467-5289 or matthew-smith2@northwestern.edu.
The class features four pitchers, two infielders, a pair of utility players and an outfielder.
"I am really excited about our recruiting class," said Allen. "First and foremost, they are all great students and high-character young men. Each one brings a different skill set that will help us build upon the foundation that we have created, and ultimately, I am confident that they will have an immediate impact on the program."
Northwestern opens its 2016 season Feb. 19—21 with a four-game series against Nevada in Mesa, Ariz., before coming back to Evanston to open its brand new facility and 18-game home schedule on March 30.
Nick Cauley
Alton, Ill. | Alton High School | Recruits Baseball Club
Projected Position: Pitcher
High School: Three-year letterwinner at Alton High School … Helped the Redbirds to a program-best 30 wins in 2015 … A 6-1 right-handed pitcher … Played with Recruits Baseball Club during summer ball.
Personal: Born Nicholas Andrew Cauley … Son of Rebecca and the late Raymond Cauley … Has five siblings, including a twin sister … Intends to major in biological sciences.
Hank Christie
Oak Park, Ill. | Oak Park-River Forest High School | Top Tier
Project Position: Pitcher
High School: A two-year letterwinner at Oak Park-River Forest High School … Member of an Oak Park-River Forest team that posted a 32-8 overall record in 2015 and earned a third-place finish in the state of Illinois … Has an overall record of 8-1 on the bump with an ERA of 2.01 … Picked up 75 strikeouts in 78 innings pitched during his varsity career … Played his summer ball for Top Tier and helped the program capture BOMC and WWBA championships … Honor roll every semester of his high school career.
Personal: Born Scott Henry Christie … Son of Jill and Scott Christie … Intends to major in economics.
Alex Erro
Miami, Fla. | Gulliver Prep | Elite Squad Baseball
Projected Position: Shortstop/Second Base
High School: Three-year letterwinner at Gulliver Prep … Helped the Raiders win the district and region championships en route to a state semifinal berth last season … Had a .330 batting average with eight doubles, two home runs and 19 runs batted in … Has a career on-base percentage of .431 … Plays with Elite Squad Baseball during the summer and helped the club capture the top spot at the Under-17 BCS Finals and Under-16 Mizuno Sunshine State Championships … Named to the All-Tournament Team in Perfect Game's Florida State Championship and the Perfect Game BCS Finals … Made the honor roll each year of high school … National Honor Society member.
Personal: Born Alexander Erro … Son of Judith and Juan Carlos Erro … Intends to major in biological sciences.
Matt Gannon
Skillman, N.J. | Montgomery High School | All Star Baseball Academy
Projected Position: Pitcher
High School: Member of the Montgomery High School baseball team for three years … A 6-7 left-handed pitcher who played summer ball with the All Star Baseball Academy … Honor roll all four years in high school.
Personal: Born Matthew Aguilar Gannon … Son of Marta and Stephen Gannon … Undecided on a major.
Leo Kaplan
Santa Monica, Calif. | Harvard Westlake High School | Pacific Baseball Academy/SoCal Giants
Projected Position: Outfield
High School: Earned two varsity letters during his high school career … Named a team captain at Harvard Westlake, where he helped the team to a 24-6 overall record in 2015 … Hit for an average of .345 with a .398 on-base percentage and a .464 slugging percentage during his varsity career … Was named the team's Offensive Player of the Year in both 2014 and 2015 … Selected and played in the 2015 Area Code Games … Played for Pacific Baseball Academy and the SoCal Giants in the summer months … Named to the 2015 Perfect Game Louisville Slugger Classic All-Tournament Team.
Personal: Born Leo Moran Kaplan … Son of Jean and Stephen Kaplan … Intends on majoring in economics.
Sam Lawrence
Winfield, Ill. | Wheaton North High School | DTA Wildcats
Projected Position: Pitcher
High School: A three-year letterwinner for the Falcons … Named a team captain his junior year … Pitched his way to a 9-3 overall mark the last two seasons … Posted a combined 3.21 earned run average over his sophomore and junior seasons … Recognized as Wheaton North's Most Valuable Player in 2015 … Played his club ball with the DTA Wildcats … Had a 2.5 ERA with 75 strikeouts in the summer of 2015 for his club team … Tossed three shutouts for the DTA Wildcats, which included a no-hitter … Honor roll all four years of high school … Member of the student council and Math Honor Society.
Personal: Born Samuel Peter Lawrence … Son of Pam and Dave Lawrence … Intends to major in economics.
Josh Levy
Atlanta, Ga. | Woodward Academy | East Cobb Patriots
Projected Position: Pitcher
High School: Earned a varsity letter all four years of high school … Led the War Eagles in innings pitched (35) and strikeouts (43) during the 2015 season … Played with the East Cobb Patriots during the summer and helped the team reach the 18-Under WWBA semifinals … Four-time member of the honor roll.
Personal: Born Joshua Steven Levy … Son of Julie and Greg Levy … Intends on majoring in industrial engineering and management sciences.
Charlie Maxwell
Evanston, Ill. | Evanston Township High School | Downers Grove Longshots
Projected Position: Infield
High School: A three-year letter winner for the Wildkits … Named to the Chicago Tribune's All-Area Team as a junior after hitting .386 with an on-base percentage of .515, 33 runs batted in, four triples and 15 stolen bases … Central Suburban League All-Conference selection in 2015 … Earned the team's Silver Slugger Award … Plays his summer ball with the Downers Grove Longshots … Named to Perfect Game's Iowa Kernel All-Tournament Team in 2015 … Earned honor roll status each year of high school … National Honor Society member.Personal:
Born Charles August Maxwell … Son of Elizabeth Maxwell-Carlson and Mark Maxwell … Intends to major in economics.
Nick Paciorek
Sherman Oaks, Calif. | Oaks Christian | SoCal Cubs/SoCal Giants
Projected Position: Utility
High School: A three-year letterwinner at Oaks Christian … Helped the Lions capture the CIF title in 2013 … Participated in the Southwest All-Star Series … Member of the Headmaster and Dean's Lists … Earned the school's Athlete-Scholar Award.
Personal: Born Nicholas Andrew Paciorek … Son of Staci and Mike Paciorek … Undecided on a major.
The Wildcats will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Rocky and Berenice Miller Park before the home opener on Wednesday, March 30th, and for the Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, April 2nd. For more information on this occasion, please contact Matthew Smith at (847) 467-5289 or matthew-smith2@northwestern.edu.
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