• Roster
• ▪
• Schedule / Results
• ▪
• News
• ▪
• Archives

Nov. 12, 2008

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -

            The University of Northern Iowa baseball team has added four players to its roster for 2009-2010, UNI head coach Rick Heller announced. Jordan Adams from Mason City, Iowa, Mike Eckhart from Boone, Iowa and Cody Strang from Solon, Iowa have all signed to play for the Panthers in next year.

            “We don't lose many players off next year's team, so we were able to be very selective with this class,” Heller said. “Being able to sign three of the best players in the state is exactly what we needed. This is a very good class of position players. Marty Sutherland did an awesome job this past year as our recruiting coordinator. His hard work is greatly appreciated. We will sign a couple more players in the spring, but feel we are in a fantastic situation for fall of 2009.”

Jordan Adams, 6-2, 205, Catcher, Mason City, Iowa (Newman)

            Adams is a four-year starter at Newman High School. He earned second-team all-conference honors in eighth grade, and was a first-team selection as a freshman, sophomore and junior. He earned second-team all-state honors in eighth grade, and was a first-team all-state selection as a freshman, sophomore and junior. He hit .518 in 2008, and has 212 career hits with 204 career RBIs. He has 36 home runs and 42 doubles in his four seasons, and he holds the state record for grand slams with five.

            “We are extremely happy to have Jordan Adams sign with us. He is one of the finest players in the state, if not the best. We were looking for a player who could handle our catching duties and also be a threat offensively. Jordan will be able to do both,” Heller said. “He is a big, strong kid who can also run and throw well.”

            “Jordan's father, Tony, is the head coach at Mason City Newman and I consider him one of the top high school coaches in the state,” Heller said.  “It means a lot to me that Tony would want his son to play for us
             “The winningest high school coach in the country, Gene Schultz of Kee High, and former Iowa State head coach Lyle Smith also have sons (Gabe Schultz and Jason Smith) who are in our program. I think it says a lot for the kind of program we run that these excellent coaches would trust us with their sons.”

Mike Eckhart, 6-1, 180, Outfield, Boone, Iowa (Boone)

            Eckhart started in the outfield for Boone as a sophomore and junior, earning Rookie of the Year honors as a sophomore. He was an all-conference selection in 2008 after hitting better than .400 and earning the Boone Golden Glove award. In 2007, he tied the school record with eight home runs for the season. Eckhart also earned academic all-conference honors and is a member of NHS.

            “Our staff really likes Mike. He's a very good athlete who can run, throw and he hits from the left side,” Heller said. “We feel he will be an excellent all-around player for us. He plays three sports in high school, and once he focuses all his attention on baseball, we feel his potential is through the roof.”

Cody Strang, 6-2, 205, Outfield, Solon, Iowa (Solon)

            Cody Strang is a two-year starter at Solon. He was an all-conference honorable mention as a sophomore, and he earned first team-all conference, all-district and all-state honors as a junior. Strang hit .438 as a junior, along with 18 home runs and 75 RBIs. He was also the Iowa City Press Citizen player of the year runner up in 2008. He was also a member of the 2A state champion football team and 2A third-place basketball team as a junior.