Northwestern University Athletics
Reynolds Announces First Signing Day Class
11/16/2021 11:00:00 AM | Baseball
Evanston, Ill. - Head Coach Josh Reynolds announced the addition of six incoming student-athletes to Northwestern Baseball this week as part of National Signing Day.
The incoming first-years include Drew Dickson, Michael Elko, Sam Garewal, Marty Kaplan, Trent Liolios and Owen McElfatrick.
"Through much hard work and good fortune, the baseball staff is proud to present an exceptional class of talented baseball players who are proven students as well," Reynolds said. "We love the athleticism, character and competitiveness of this group and we are confident they will continue to enjoy success during their time at Northwestern. We are excited to welcome [these] young men and their families to our program."
Full information on all six student-athletes can be found below:
Drew Dickson | RHP | Zionsville, IN | Zionsville Community High School
Reynolds on Dickson: "Drew is a very competitive right-handed pitcher with good feel to pitch. He is upper 80's with good spin right now but has the frame to add more. He is very dedicated to his training and will project as a starter at the college level."
7-0 with a 1.43 ERA and 97 Ks though 57 IP...Helped lead Zionsville to a 20-9 record...No-hitter in his first career start for the Eagles...1st-team All Conference, 1st team All-District, Academic All-State...Three-year letter winner...Brother David Novak is a baseball player at Miami (OH)...Played against fellow incoming student-athlete Owen Mcelfatrick...Honor Roll student and Eagle Scholar...Chose Northwestern over Purdue, Indiana State, Ball State, Butler, Dartmouth, Yale, St Louis, Xavier, Charleston Southern and Miami (OH)...Son of Tonya Hole and Jim Dickson...Dad was a baseball player at Butler...Anticipated major is Economics
Michael Elko | INF | College Station, Texas | College Station High School
Reynolds on Elko: "Michael is an athletic, left-handed hitting middle infielder. Michael's skillset will give him the ability to compete at multiple positions, but he projects to stay in the middle of the diamond. Offensively, he has high bat to ball skills and could be a top of the order guy."
Hit .367 with a .537 OBP as a junior, with three home runs, 36 walks, 21 RBIs and scored 30 runs...Led the district in stolen bases...Three-year letter winner...2nd team All-District,1st team All-County...Hit a grand slam to help Cougars advance in 2021 high school playoffs...All-Tournament MVP in the Texas Premier State Championship...Went to the same high school as Brandon Joseph...National Honor Society Member and Honor Roll Student...Chose Northwestern over Columbia, Rice and Davidson...Son of Michelle and Mike Elko...Dad is the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M...Anticipated major is Economics
Sam Garewal | LHP | San Diego, California | Canyon Crest Academy
Reynolds on Garewal: "Sam is a top-level left-handed pitcher who is high 80's low 90's right now. He shows good feel to pitch and continues to improve. With his frame and pitch ability, he projects as a starter at the college level."
Perfect Game 2021 Preseason High School Underclass All American Honorable Mention...Perfect Game 2021 All California High School Underclass - 1st Team...2021 1st Team All Coastal League...2019 All Avocado West League Honorable Mention...Helped lead the Ravens to a 2019 Avocado West League Championship...Chose Northwestern over UC Berkeley, Princeton, Dartmouth, University of Pennsylvania, San Diego State, Pepperdine and UC Santa Barbara...Son of Jason Garewal and Wendy Garewal...Anticipated major is Psychology
Marty Kaplan | OF | Santa Monica, California | Harvard-Westlake School
Reynolds on Kaplan: "Marty is an athletic, left-handed hitting outfielder. He has had success against high level competition, as shown by his performance in the Underclass and Upperclass Area Code Games. Marty projects as a corner outfielder, and with his ability to hit to all fields, he could be a middle of the order type bat."
Hit .330 in conference play as a junior...Helped lead the Wolverines to a CIF Championship...Three-year letter winner...Brother Leo is an outfielder on the Wildcats...Sister Madeline plays softball at Harvard...Went to the same high school as Max Fried, Lucas Giolito and Jack Flaherty...Honor Roll student...Played club baseball with fellow incoming student-athlete Trent Lliois...Chose Northwestern over Arizona, Cal and Georgia Tech...Son of Jean and Stephen Kaplan...Anticipated major is Economics
Trent Liolios | RHP/INF/OF | Newport Beach, California | Newport Harbor High School
Reynolds on Liolios: "Trent will come in as a two-way player. As a position player, Trent is a left-handed hitting corner infielder/outfielder who shows potential to hit for power. On the mound, he is an upper 80's right-handed pitcher, who will help out of the pen."
All-Region Academic Team as a junior...Hit six home runs as a third baseman and pitcher for the Sailors...Was also captain of the football team as a quarterback and defensive end...Played one year of club baseball with the SoCal Giants...Son of Scott and Stacy Liolios...Anticipated major is Economics
Owen McElfatrick | RHP/INF/OF | Tampa, Florida | Berkeley Preparatory School
Reynolds on McElfatrick: "Owen will bring versatility, since he can play multiple positions and also pitch. As a position player he will be an infielder/outfielder with good bat to ball skills. On the mound he is upper 80's with good spin and should help out of the pen early in his career."
2020 and 2021 Preseason Underclass All American (Perfect Game)...Three-year varsity letter winner...Helped lead the Bucs to a District crown in 2021...28 strikeouts through 23.1 innings...Played club baseball with CBU Scout/United 2022...Won a 14U BCS National Championship with Kangaroo Court...Went to the same high school as Nelson Agholor and Maulik Pancholy...Dean and Headmaster's List student...Chose Northwestern over Wofford College...Son of Deborah and Brian McElfatrick...Dad played soccer at Bates College...Anticipated major is Economics
The incoming first-years include Drew Dickson, Michael Elko, Sam Garewal, Marty Kaplan, Trent Liolios and Owen McElfatrick.
"Through much hard work and good fortune, the baseball staff is proud to present an exceptional class of talented baseball players who are proven students as well," Reynolds said. "We love the athleticism, character and competitiveness of this group and we are confident they will continue to enjoy success during their time at Northwestern. We are excited to welcome [these] young men and their families to our program."
Full information on all six student-athletes can be found below:
Drew Dickson | RHP | Zionsville, IN | Zionsville Community High School
Reynolds on Dickson: "Drew is a very competitive right-handed pitcher with good feel to pitch. He is upper 80's with good spin right now but has the frame to add more. He is very dedicated to his training and will project as a starter at the college level."
7-0 with a 1.43 ERA and 97 Ks though 57 IP...Helped lead Zionsville to a 20-9 record...No-hitter in his first career start for the Eagles...1st-team All Conference, 1st team All-District, Academic All-State...Three-year letter winner...Brother David Novak is a baseball player at Miami (OH)...Played against fellow incoming student-athlete Owen Mcelfatrick...Honor Roll student and Eagle Scholar...Chose Northwestern over Purdue, Indiana State, Ball State, Butler, Dartmouth, Yale, St Louis, Xavier, Charleston Southern and Miami (OH)...Son of Tonya Hole and Jim Dickson...Dad was a baseball player at Butler...Anticipated major is Economics
Michael Elko | INF | College Station, Texas | College Station High School
Reynolds on Elko: "Michael is an athletic, left-handed hitting middle infielder. Michael's skillset will give him the ability to compete at multiple positions, but he projects to stay in the middle of the diamond. Offensively, he has high bat to ball skills and could be a top of the order guy."
Hit .367 with a .537 OBP as a junior, with three home runs, 36 walks, 21 RBIs and scored 30 runs...Led the district in stolen bases...Three-year letter winner...2nd team All-District,1st team All-County...Hit a grand slam to help Cougars advance in 2021 high school playoffs...All-Tournament MVP in the Texas Premier State Championship...Went to the same high school as Brandon Joseph...National Honor Society Member and Honor Roll Student...Chose Northwestern over Columbia, Rice and Davidson...Son of Michelle and Mike Elko...Dad is the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M...Anticipated major is Economics
Sam Garewal | LHP | San Diego, California | Canyon Crest Academy
Reynolds on Garewal: "Sam is a top-level left-handed pitcher who is high 80's low 90's right now. He shows good feel to pitch and continues to improve. With his frame and pitch ability, he projects as a starter at the college level."
Perfect Game 2021 Preseason High School Underclass All American Honorable Mention...Perfect Game 2021 All California High School Underclass - 1st Team...2021 1st Team All Coastal League...2019 All Avocado West League Honorable Mention...Helped lead the Ravens to a 2019 Avocado West League Championship...Chose Northwestern over UC Berkeley, Princeton, Dartmouth, University of Pennsylvania, San Diego State, Pepperdine and UC Santa Barbara...Son of Jason Garewal and Wendy Garewal...Anticipated major is Psychology
Marty Kaplan | OF | Santa Monica, California | Harvard-Westlake School
Reynolds on Kaplan: "Marty is an athletic, left-handed hitting outfielder. He has had success against high level competition, as shown by his performance in the Underclass and Upperclass Area Code Games. Marty projects as a corner outfielder, and with his ability to hit to all fields, he could be a middle of the order type bat."
Hit .330 in conference play as a junior...Helped lead the Wolverines to a CIF Championship...Three-year letter winner...Brother Leo is an outfielder on the Wildcats...Sister Madeline plays softball at Harvard...Went to the same high school as Max Fried, Lucas Giolito and Jack Flaherty...Honor Roll student...Played club baseball with fellow incoming student-athlete Trent Lliois...Chose Northwestern over Arizona, Cal and Georgia Tech...Son of Jean and Stephen Kaplan...Anticipated major is Economics
Trent Liolios | RHP/INF/OF | Newport Beach, California | Newport Harbor High School
Reynolds on Liolios: "Trent will come in as a two-way player. As a position player, Trent is a left-handed hitting corner infielder/outfielder who shows potential to hit for power. On the mound, he is an upper 80's right-handed pitcher, who will help out of the pen."
All-Region Academic Team as a junior...Hit six home runs as a third baseman and pitcher for the Sailors...Was also captain of the football team as a quarterback and defensive end...Played one year of club baseball with the SoCal Giants...Son of Scott and Stacy Liolios...Anticipated major is Economics
Owen McElfatrick | RHP/INF/OF | Tampa, Florida | Berkeley Preparatory School
Reynolds on McElfatrick: "Owen will bring versatility, since he can play multiple positions and also pitch. As a position player he will be an infielder/outfielder with good bat to ball skills. On the mound he is upper 80's with good spin and should help out of the pen early in his career."
2020 and 2021 Preseason Underclass All American (Perfect Game)...Three-year varsity letter winner...Helped lead the Bucs to a District crown in 2021...28 strikeouts through 23.1 innings...Played club baseball with CBU Scout/United 2022...Won a 14U BCS National Championship with Kangaroo Court...Went to the same high school as Nelson Agholor and Maulik Pancholy...Dean and Headmaster's List student...Chose Northwestern over Wofford College...Son of Deborah and Brian McElfatrick...Dad played soccer at Bates College...Anticipated major is Economics
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