Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Sign Five to National Letters of Intent
12/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Dec. 8, 2010
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern head baseball coach Paul Stevens has announced the signing of five individuals to National Letters of Intent to join the Wildcats for the 2012 season.
Luke Dauch (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Lahser), Chris Dennis (Poway, Calif./Poway), Reid Hunter (Tucson, Ariz./Catalina Foothills), Cody Libman (Gleview, Ill./Glenbrook South) and Brandon Magallones (Manhattan, Ill./Providence Catholic) comprise the list of individuals who joined on during the early signing period.
"I think that the group as a whole really fills a lot of needs for us next year with the graduation of a few of our players and the possibility of losing a couple of other juniors in the MLB Draft," Stevens said. "These guys have the ability to step in and plug some of the holes that may be opened up."
Complete bios and quotes from Coach Stevens on each of the signees follow.
Luke Dauch
OF • L/L
6-3 • 190
Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Lahser
High School: Hit .458 with nine doubles, eight triples, three home runs, 27 RBI and 31 stolen bases as a junior ... Three-year letterwinner ... Team captain ... All-conference and all-district selection ... Two-time team MVP ... Perfect Game preseason All-American ... Named ESPN Rise player to watch for Detroit metro area ... Played summer ball for Midland Redskins ... Helped the team to a pair of Connie Mack national championships ... Also played football ... National Honor Society member ... Principal's honor roll ... High school coach is Scott Long.
Personal: Born Lucas David Dauch ... Son of David and Anita Dauch ... Father played football at Miami (Ohio) and grandfather played at Purdue.
Stevens on Dauch: "Luke is an outfielder with great size who can go and get them. He is definitely someone who is to be reckoned with at the plate. We're excited about what he's bringing to Northwestern because he's an all-around athlete."
Chris Dennis
1B • R/R
6-3 • 225
Poway, Calif./Poway
High School: Two-year letterwinner ... Perfect Game underclass honorable mention All-American ... Named to Union Tribute All-Academic team ... Played summer ball for So Cal Dirtbags ... Under Armour 2010 National Team and 2011 Preseason All-America team selection ... MILB Names to Watch for 2011 and 2012 Draft List ... Also played football and basketball ... High school baseball coach is Robert Parry ... Longtime Major Leaguer Tom Brunansky is an assistant coach for the Titans.
Personal: Born Christopher Michael Dennis ... Son of Ted and Marianne Dennis ... Attends same high school as Major Leaguer Tony Gwynn Jr.
Stevens on Dennis: "Chris is a power hitter who runs well for a big man. It's difficult to find someone who is 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds. Whether he winds up at first base or possible left field is to be determined, but the way the ball comes off of his bat, we're excited about what Chris is going to allow us to do in the middle of the lineup."
Reid Hunter
3B/RHP • R/R
6-2 • 185
Tucson, Ariz./Catalina Foothills
High School: Batted .409 as a junior in earning all-state honors ... Three-year letterwinner ... Team captain ... Two-time 4A all-region selection ... Named to All-Southern Arizona team as a sophomore and junior ... Helped guide Catalina Foothills to a state runner-up finish as a junior and quarterfinal round as a sophomore ... Played summer ball for AO Aces and Chicago White Sox Scout Team ... Team earned a top-16 finish at the 2009 USA Baseball Championships and won Labor Day Kickoff Tournament that same year ... Also played basketball ... National Honor Society member ... Recipient of Academic Scholar Award ... High school coach is Lance Robertson
Personal: Born Reid William Hunter ... Son of Steve and Jane Hunter ... Brother, Andy, is a junior member of the baseball team at Gonzaga.
Stevens on Hunter: "Reid is another two-way guy as both an infielder and a pitcher who we have a reputation for going out and getting. He is very athletic with a strong arm. He's a good hitter who runs well. Reid is an all-around player who understands the game and we're excited about what he'll bring to the table."
Cody Libman
C/RHP
6-1 • 190
Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South
High School: Named to Prep Baseball Report list of top 150 players in Illinois ... Recorded a walk-off single in a win over Maine South ... Member of the Titans' regional championship team ... Played summer ball for Top Tier ... Helped the team to a fourth-place finish at CABA World Series ... Went 4-for-4 with a home run and three doubles at University of Dayton summer tournament ... National Honor Society member ... Recipient of National Science Merit Award, Prairie State Achievement Award and Athletic Academic Award ... Honor roll member ... High school congressional debate member ... Coached in high school by Terry Harris and Bob Rosinski.
Personal: Born Cody Daniel Libman ... Son of Stephen and Abbie Libman ... Father played baseball at Northern Illinois ... High school teammate of Northwestern freshman Cody Stevens.
Stevens on Libman: "Cody gives us some flexibility as both a catcher and a pitcher. He hasn't done a whole lot of pitching to this point, but we believe that he has potential in that area. He'll give us some depth behind the plate and may bring us some other opportunities on the mound."
Brandon Magallones
RHP • R/R
6-3 • 185
Manhattan, Ill./Providence Catholic
High School: Posted a 6-2 record with a 3.53 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 35.2 innings pitched as a junior ... Earned All-Chicago Catholic League honors ... Second-team all-area selection ... Hurled 5.2 innings of scoreless relief against Loyola Academy ... Helped the Celtics to a 24-13 record ... Played summer ball for Illinois Sparks ... Also played basketball for one year ... Member of National Honor Society and German National Honor Society ... Honor roll member ... Recipient of German Academic Award ... High school coach is Mark Smith.
Personal: Born Brandon Kainalu Magallones ... Son of Lason and Laura Magallones.
Stevens on Magallones: "Brandon is one of the best arms that we've run into in a number of years. He throws in the low 90s right now and he's still developing. We are so excited about what he brings to the table because he is a true talent."
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