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Right-hander Ryan Billo (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) and two-way star Peter Spear (Itasca, Ill./Lake Park) will join the UE pitching staff next season, while Ohio slugger Jacob Mahon (Plain City, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) will battle for time at both first base and catcher. Versatile players Kevin Kaczmarski (Cary, Ill./Prairie Ridge), Brett Wiley (Huntington, Ind./Huntington North), Matt Wilkinson (Evansville, Ind./North), Tim Bodine (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township), and David Patton (Wolcottville, Ind./East Noble) will meanwhile add depth, athleticism, and speed to both the UE outfield and infield.
“When we began the process for putting this class together, one of our main goals was to become more athletic as a team and add depth and versatility to our roster,” said Carroll. “I feel that we were definitely able to accomplish that with this class.
“I really have to credit my assistant coaches, Marc Wagner and Josh Reynolds, for helping to identify players who really fit with our playing philosophy. They did a great job of being able to bring in players who will increase our overall team speed and athleticism, as well as a couple of arms that will help us replace what we are losing in our senior class this season. We are really excited to see this second recruiting class get on campus next fall and begin to match up with the players we already have in our program.”
Billo is a four-year standout on the mound at Carl Sandburg High School outside of Chicago. He earned all-conference and all-area honors last year for the Eagles, while posting a 7-1 record with two saves and a 1.00 ERA. Billo owned an seven-to-one strikeout-to-walk ratio as a junior, recording 55 strikeouts to just eight walks in 63.0 innings of work. He comes from good baseball bloodlines, as his father, Gregory, pitched for Lewis University from 1979-83, while his older brother, Greg, led the Kansas City Royals’ farm system in earned run average this past year with a 1.81 ERA in his second professional season.
“Ryan has a lot of upside with his ability to pound the strike zone,” said Carroll. “He has the potential to be a real power pitcher at the college level, and we have high hopes that he will develop into a weekend starter for us in the MVC.”
Spear missed his junior year with Tommy John surgery, but has been one of the top prospects in the Chicagoland area as a pitcher and shortstop. Spear was named one of the top prospects/athletes in 2008 by PrepBaseballReport.com, and played on the “Top Prospect Team” at the 2007 Perfect Game Nationals in Fort Myers, Florida. He was the starting pitcher for the Lake Park Lancers in the 2008 regional championship game, and helped his summer league team to the CABA World Series championship.
“In the field, Peter is an athletic, left-side of the diamond-type player with a very strong arm and good actions,” said Carroll. “On the mound, he already has a mid- to upper-80s fastball. His recovery from Tommy John surgery has gone very well so far, and we are confident that he will be able to bounce back and be a strong part of our pitching staff over the next four years.”
Kaczmarski has been one of Illinois’ top base stealers over the last three years at Prairie Ridge High School on the north side of Chicago. Kaczmarski hit .430 as a junior with three home runs, 23 RBI, and 34 stolen bases for the Wolves on his way to all-conference, all-area, and honorable mention all-state honors. He helped Prairie Ridge win the Illinois state title as a sophomore and hails from a good baseball family as well, as his father, Randy, played in the San Diego Padres’ organization and two of his uncles played college baseball.
“Kevin is a pure center fielder who is a lead-off-type hitter,” said Carroll. “He really fits our style of offense and will be really fun to watch over the next four years, as he can be a game-changer on the base paths with his speed.”
Bodine is a speedy outfield prospect who runs a 6.6 60-yard dash. He was selected to play in the Northwest Suburban All-Star tournament last year for the Warren Township Blue Devils and is a career .337 hitter with 76 stolen bases in 78 attempts over the last three years. He hit .615 with six runs scored and four stolen bases this past summer in the high school regional tournament.
“Tim will provide us with great athleticism and speed in the outfield,” said Carroll. “He transitioned this year from the infield to the outfield, and that has really helped his game. He is a speed-type guy who can do a lot with the bat.”
