MASON CITY – Nine players have signed national letters of intent with the NIACC baseball team this week.
Six of the nine players are in-state prospects, including four of the state of Iowa’s top fifty players, according to Prep Baseball Report rankings. Also included based off those same rankings is the state’s eighth-ranked player and top player in the state of Iowa to sign with a junior college inked with the Trojans (Connor Enochs).
The remaining three players consist of two signees from Australia and one player ranked in the Prep Baseball Report’s top 50 rankings from the state of Minnesota.
Signing with the Trojans are Chino Alcala (Des Moines East), Fischer Durbala (Burlington), Noah Egger (Waukee), Enochs (Des Moines East), Zack Hamilton (Southeast Polk), Mat Hudson (Newcastle, Australia), Tyler Jacobson (Exira-EHK), TJ Nicholson (Minnetonka, Minn.) and Brandon Michie (Queensland, Australia).
The following is the list of NIACC’s recruits, their accomplishments and comments from the NIACC coaches:
Chino Alcala (first base, Des Moines East) – 6-4, 220 pounds, bats left, throws left
Alcala is the state of Iowa’s 29th ranked player by Prep Baseball Report and No. 1 first baseman; .593 on-base percentage, .457 batting average, 10 home runs and 53 RBIs as a sophomore in 2013; .511 on-base percentage, .354 batting average, 2 home runs and 33 RBIs as a junior in 2014; Class 4A 1st team INA all-state selection as a sophomore, only underclassmen to make 4A 1st team; 2013,2014 1st team All-CIML conference; 2013,2014 1st team all-district.
NIACC coaches comments: “One of our biggest measurable data stats in evaluation is ball exit speeds for hitters, Chino shows the bat speed to produce ball exit speed readings as well as any 2015 high school player in the nation. His physicality along with our plan to develop him mentally and physically as a hitter we believe will put him on track to become a Division One player. We really believe in Chino and his talent.”
Fischer Durbala (utility, Burlington) – 6-2, 180, L/R
Durbala is the state of Iowa’s 34th ranked player by PBR and No. 2 second baseman/middle infielder; .534 on-base percentage, .396 batting average as a sophomore in 2013; .400 on-base percentage, .275 batting average as a junior in 2014; 2nd team all-conference and all-district.
NIACC coaches comments: “Fischer’s presence on the field, the way he carried himself really stood out to us. His athletic movements in his swing, actions turning double plays, we just couldn’t help but think of where he could be in a couple years with continued development. We really believe in Fischer and are thrilled to work with him the next couple years as a Trojan.”
Noah Egger (right-handed pitcher, Waukee) – 5-11, 170
Egger is the state of Iowa’s 48th ranked player by PBR and No. 14 right-handed pitcher
NIACC coaches comments: “Noah displayed his talent at a Prep Baseball Report Showcase in the fall. Noah has no varsity baseball experience with other arms ahead of him at a deep Waukee high school baseball team. For any players to be a relative unknown in this day and age is rare and we couldn’t care less if he hasn’t put up stats, we really believed in what we saw that day. His ranking amongst the best players in Iowa without pitching a varsity inning alone tells you he’s a talented arm that hasn’t gotten an opportunity. He’s a mid 80’s arm that will just keep getting better. We are thrilled to give him an opportunity and really believe in Noah as a player.”
Connor Enochs (shortstop, Des Moines East) – 5-10, 160, R/R
Enochs is the state of Iowa’s 8th ranked player by PBR and No. 1 shortstop; .456 on-base percentage, .383 batting average, 36 RBIs, 43 stolen bases, and .955 fielding percentage in 2014 junior season; 282 career assists is a Des Moines East school record and also has 104 career stolen bases; 2014 Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 4A 1st team all-state; 2014 1st Team all-CIML Conference and all-district; 2014 Perfect Game USA Preseason Underclassmen All American; 2013 1st team all-CIML Conference and all-district; 2013 Under Armour Pre-Season All-American.
NIACC coaches comments: “One of the best compliments you can be given as a player is to just be known as a ballplayer. Connor is exactly that. He’s aggressive, feisty in every area of the game. He’s a high school player that causes a lot of disruption on the base paths with his fearlessness. To have Connor believe in the plan we laid out for him meant a lot to us and we are going to do everything we can to provide him with the information and training to reach his ultimate goals in baseball. We really believe in Connor and couldn’t be more excited to get him a Trojan uniform.”
Zack Hamilton (right-handed pitcher/catcher, Southeast Polk) – 6-0, 220, R/R
Hamilton helped lead Southeast Polk to the 2014 Class 4A state title; .405 on-base percentage, .305 batting average, 24 RBIs as junior in 2014; 6-2 record, 42 innings pitched, 2.83 ERA, 36 strikeouts and 15 walks as junior in 2014; 2014 honorable mention all-CIML Conference.
NIACC coaches comments: “Zack showed well on the mound in a couple showcase settings and we will give him every opportunity to be a dual player considering the level of competition he has faced in high school. We love his makeup as a person and believe strongly with the commitment to our developmental program he will flourish in our setting. He’s shown the ability to run it up to the mid 80’s on the mound all ready and we really believe in his abilities as a player.”
Mat Hudson (left-handed pitcher/first base, Newcastle, Australia) – 6-3, 180
Hudson was 4-1 record on the mound with 27 innings pitched, 1.83 ERA, 35 strikeouts and 10 walks; .414 batting average, 21 RBIs.
NIACC coaches comments: “Mat comes from our Australian connection. Mat is a big left handed arm with a mid 80’s fastball and a mature feel for offs speed pitches. Mat also swings it with some pop from the left side and has a chance to develop into a legit dual player. After the first inning seeing him throw we knew he was a player we wanted in our program.”
Tyler Jacobsen (right-handed pitcher, Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton) – 5-11, 220
Jacobsen was 6-4 record in 66.1 innings pitched with a 1.06 ERA, 114 strikeouts with 12 walks as sophomore in 2013; 9-0 record in 59.1 innings pitched with a 0.24 ERA, 123 strikeouts with 4 walks as junior in 2014; 3rd in state in strikeouts junior season; 2013 and 2014 1st Team Rolling Valley Conference; 2014 1st team all-district; 2014 1st team All-Western Iowa; 2014 2nd team all-state Sports Spotlight and 3rd team all-state INA.
NIACC coaches comments: “Tyler puts to test every coaches theory about the importance of throwing strikes. You would have to look through the record books in the history of Iowa to find a better strikeout-walk ratio than what Tyler has done in the last two seasons. 123 strikeouts with 4 walks, it doesn’t matter what level you play at, it’s impressive to throw strikes at that rate. He throws his fastball for a strike like it’s shooting a layup in basketball. We have seen him run his fastball up to 85. He is so dominant in his ability to throw strikes that we want to work with a player like this and really believe in Tyler.”
Brandon Michie (outfield, Queensland, Australia) – 6-0, 175, L/R
Michie had a .420 on-base percentage, .338 batting average, 8 stolen bases in 2014 Greater Brisbane League; 2014 Queensland Under 25 Representative Player of the Year; Invited to attend MLBAAP Academy.
NIACC coaches comments: “Brandon is another that comes from our Australian connection. Watching him play this summer he has plus speed and a knack for hitting from the left side. We believe in Brandon’s abilities to turn into a very good outfielder and would like to mold him into a leadoff, two hole type of hitter that will help him add to his value when exposed to four year schools in the states.”
TJ Nicholson (catcher/utility, Minnetonka, Minn.) – 5-11, 170, R/R
Nicholson is the state of Minnesota’s 34th ranked player by PBR and No. 6 catcher in Minnesota.
NIACC coaches comments: “TJ has very little experience at the varsity level playing behind a Division One catcher at Minnetonka but has displayed his talents at showcases which we couldn’t ignore. His arm really stands out behind the plate. The ability to square up balls with the rhythm he shows has us excited to work with him the next couple years. We really believe in TJ’s abilities and can’t wait to give him the opportunity to get better as a Trojan.”
