Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Signs Seven to National Letters of Intent
12/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Dec. 16, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern head baseball coach Paul Stevens has announced the signing of seven individuals to National Letters of Intent. Ethan Bramschreiber (Glendora, Calif./St. Francis), Nick Friar (Westport, Mass./Westport), Nick Linne (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central), Kyle Ruchim (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson), Cody Stevens (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South), Jack Straub (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) and Dan Tyson (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic) are set to join the Wildcats for the 2011 season.
"I'm really excited about this group," Paul Stevens said. "They embody what Northwestern is all about from a student-athlete perspective. They have tremendous athletic and academic credentials as well as great character. I think they're all going to make an impact on this program from the get-go."
Bios on each of the signees and comments from Coach Stevens on each of the individuals follows.
Ethan Bramschreiber
Right-handed Pitcher
6-4 • 230
Glendora, Calif./St. Francis
High School: Posted a 3-3 record with a 3.37 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 46 innings pitched as a junior ... Two-time selection to the All-Mission League Academic Team ... Tossed 3.2 innings of shutout relief in a win at defending CIF champion Notre Dame ... Competed in Valley Invitational Baseball League ... Played alongside fellow Northwestern signee Dan Tyson for Tampa Bay Rays scout team ... Helped lead ABD Orange County to runner-up finish at the 2008 USA Baseball Junior Olympics in the 16U West Division ... Honor roll student ... High school coach is Brian Esquival.
Personal: Born Ethan Matthew Bramschreiber on 4/11/92 ... Son of Bill and Pam Bramschreiber ... Attends same high school as Major League Baseball players Mark Loretta (Northwestern alum) and Geoff Zahn.
Coach Stevens on Bramschreiber: "Ethan is a big, strong and powerful pitcher who is going to make a difference. He is somebody who is going to intimidate hitters with his large frame at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds. He'll be a great addition to our program."
Nick Friar
Right-handed Pitcher
6-0 • 185
Westport, Mass./Westport
High School: Named conference MVP as a junior, posting a 1.62 ERA with 71 strikeouts in 56 innings pitched to go along with a .377 batting average and 16 RBI ... Team MVP ... Named to New Bedford Standard Times Super Team ... Fall River Herald News all-star ... Tossed two one-hitters as a junior, one as a sophomore and combined on a no-hitter as a freshman ... Helped Westport to three straight Mayflower League Large Division championships ... Team captain ... Posted a 1.17 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 48 innings pitched sophomore year ... Two-time Bay State Games selection ... Also plays soccer and basketball ... National Honor Society president ... Member of Quill & Scroll National Honor Society ... Student government class representative ... High school coach is Glenn Lincoln.
Personal: Born Nicholas Garth Friar on 10/11/91 ... Son of Michael and Maria Friar ... Attends same high school as former MLB pitcher Allen Levrault.
Coach Stevens on Friar: "Nick is going to be able to come in here and pitch with all three pitches. He's someone who we feel has the ability to command the zone consistently and get ahead of hitters, plus his breaking ball is very impressive."
Nick Linne
Outfield
6-2 • 205
Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central
High School: Posted a .325 batting average, two home runs, 10 doubles, 16 stolen bases and 30 RBI as a junior to earn honorable mention All-DuPage Valley honors ... Homered in the team's first playoff game against Hinsdale Central ... Participated in Stevenson Showcase ... Helped lead the Redhawks to the state quarterfinals in 2009 ... Played summer ball for the Illinois Sparks ... All-conference selection, offensive MVP and Walter Payton Roundhouse Player of the Year in football as a quarterback senior year ... Also played basketball, earning honorable mention all-conference as a junior ... Team captain in all three sports ... Honor roll student ... Academic all-conference ... High school baseball coach is Bill Seiple.
Personal: Born Nicholas David Linne on 7/2/91 ... Son of Dave and Anne Linne ... Uncle, Bobby Carlsen, played baseball collegiately at Oklahoma State and for three years in the minor leagues.
Coach Stevens on Linne: "Nick is a great all-around athlete. We're not sure where we'll play him yet, but he has played the outfield. He is someone who will definitely fill a role with all of the athleticism he brings to the table."
Kyle Ruchim
Infield
5-10 • 175
Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson
High School: All-area selection junior year, posting a .389 batting average, 12 doubles, 4 triples and 4 home runs while posting a 4-1 record with a 0.72 ERA on the mound ... Helped the team to the regional championship ... Participated in Stevenson Showcase ... Played summer ball for Top Trier and tossed a perfect game in the 17U CABA World Series championship game en route to being named the tournament's Most Outstanding Pitcher ... Invitee of Super 60, Black & Silver, Pitch & Hit Club, Team Illinois and Area Code Games ... Honor roll student ... High school coach is Paul Mazzuca.
Personal: Born Kyle Max Ruchim on 8/11/92 ... Son of Mitch and Cindi Ruchim and Karen Ruchim.
Coach Stevens on Ruchim: "Kyle has all of the pieces of the puzzle. He can play both the middle infield positions in addition to pitching. He had tremendous success over the summer as well as at Stevenson High School. He's someone who brings a lot of speed and agility to our program."
Cody Stevens
Infield
5-9 • 145
Glenview, Ill/Glenbrook South
High School: Posted a .381 batting average junior year ... Homered off Chicago Cubs draftee John Nasshen to break up a no-hitter in regional tournament game ... Team captain ... Stevenson Showcase invitee ... Represent Team Illinois at Sun Belt tournament in Oklahoma ... Played summer ball for Lakeside Cardinals and Glenview American Legion ... Honor roll student ... Peer tutor ... Represented school at district leadership conference ... Also played hockey ... High school baseball coach is Bob Rosinski.
Personal: Born Cody Kenneth Stevens on 3/24/91 ... Son of Paul and Kenan Stevens ... Father is the Northwestern head baseball coach ... Brother, Trevor, is a sophomore infielder on the Northwestern baseball team.
Coach Stevens on Stevens: "Cody can play a number of positions for us, which gives us a lot of flexibility in the infield. He has proven that he can swing the bat and get things done from gap-to-gap."
Jake Straub
Catcher
6-0 • 180
Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern
High School: Posted a .321 batting average, 6 home runs and 37 RBI as a junior ... Recorded 34 assists as a catcher to lead the state of Indiana in the category ... Name all-conference and all-north while guiding the Royals to a 20-11 record ... Team captain ... Played summer ball for the Indiana Prospects and Indiana Bulls ... Also played football ... Member of Student Athletic Council ... Honor roll student ... Recipient of Scholar-Athlete Award ... Coached in high school by Scott Johnson and Curry Harden.
Personal: Born Jack Edward Straub III on 9/1/91 ... Son of Jack and AnneMarie Straub.
Coach Stevens on Straub: "Jake has proven that he can handle pitchers very well. He's a very good catch-and-throw player and we're very excited to have him be a Wildcat."
Dan Tyson
Left-handed Pitcher
6-0 • 190
San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic
High School: Posted a 5-0 record on the mound as a junior ... Named Scholar-Athlete by San Diego Union Tribune ... Selected to compete in North/South All-Star game ... Participated in San Diego County 2009 High School All-Star Game ... Posted wins over the two top-ranked teams in San Diego ... Team was ranked No. 1 in San Diego County both sophomore and junior years and was ranked No. 15 in the nation by Max Preps in 2009 ... Team captain ... Played summer ball for San Diego Show, helping team to 2009 USABF World Series and 2008 J.O. USA National Championships titles ... Also played football ... National Honor Society member ... National Merit Commended Scholar ... AP Scholar ... Honor roll student ... Assisted with house-building projects in Mexico as well as volunteering for a baseball league serving handicapped children ... High school coach is Gary Remiker.
Personal: Born Daniel James Tyson on 5/6/92 ... Son of Joseph and Patricia Tyson ... Attends same high school as Barry Zito, Mark Prior, Carlos Quentin and Phil Mickelson.
Coach Stevens on Tyson: "Dan is someone who fits the mold of a number of our recent left-handed pitchers like Dan Brauer and Eric Jokisch. He knows how to pitch and fills the zone up and moves his pitches around. We're excited about what he brings to our program."
