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Nov. 19, 2007

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -

            The University of Northern Iowa baseball team has signed 10 athletes for the 2009 season, head coach Rick Heller announced on Monday. The Panthers will add five pitchers, Ryne Schwenke, Brian de la Torriente, Rob Sorensen, Colin Rea, Andrew Reck, one outfielder, Travis Bennett, and infielders, Drake Austin, James Dinizo, Nate Meyer and Anthony Meza.            

            "It was an important class for us and we signed some very good athletes again this year. I'm proud of Marty Sutherland and our new assistant coach Scott Brickman," Heller said. "They did an awesome job and worked hard. We filled most of our holes but will still be looking for some left-handed pitching in the spring." 

Drake Austin - Shortstop/Second Base

            Drake Austin joins the Panthers after a standout career at Wilton High School. Austin is included on Collegiate Baseball's list of top players to watch in the state. He was a first-team all-state utility player as a junior. He was an all-conference selection as a sophomore and a junior, and he helped lead Wilton to a perfect 42-0 season and state championship in 2005. Austin was also an all-state football player at Wilton in 2007.     

            "We are very excited to add Drake to our 2008 recruiting class.  Drake has the ability to steal some bases and also hit for some power," Heller said. "He is a great athlete who is versatile enough to play multiple infield positions along with the outfield.  Drake is a winner who will always figure out a way to help our baseball team."

Travis Bennett - Outfield

            Travis Bennett comes to UNI after spending two years at Kirkwood Community College. As a freshman, he hit .412 with 18 doubles, five home runs and 57 RBI. His efforts earned him a place on the all-region first team and he was named a first-team NJCAA II All-American. He finished with 82 hits on the year, a school record at Kirkwood.

            At Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School, Bennett was a first-team all-state selection as a junior and a senior.

            "It's exciting that Travis has decided to be a Panther," Heller said. "We feel he is one of the best junior college hitters in the country as well as a solid outfielder. With our losses after this year, Travis's bat will be needed in the middle of the line up next season. The fact that he swings it from the left side is huge for us. Travis is a tough kid and we are happy he will be with us next year."

James Dinizo- First Base/Catcher

            James Dinizo joins the Panthers from Scotch Plains, N.J.. He was selected to play in the Under Armor All-American game, and he is named one of the top recruits in the nation by Perfect Game. He hit .435 as a sophomore and .420 as a junior, and led the team in home runs, triples, doubles, walks, runs scored and RBIs as a sophomore and junior. He was an all-conference and all-county selection, and he is also a member of the honor roll.

            "We're extremely happy that James will be a Panther. He is a versatile athlete who can play several positions and is an excellent hitter," Heller said. "He fits into our plans very well and should be able to make an immediate impact for us. Being able to catch and play both first base and outfield will help us a lot. James is a tough kid who will be a leader for us down the road."

Nate Meyer - Infield

            Nate Meyer joins the Panthers after a prep career at Cascade High School. As a junior he hit .440 with six home runs, eight doubles and 54 stolen bases, the school record. He was a first-team all-state pick, and he was named to the all-conference team twice. He also had a standout career in football, being named to all-state first team twice and picking up the school records in receiving yards in a season and in a game.

            "Nate is a great fit for us here at UNI. He is an exciting player who plays the game hard," Heller said. "With his speed and quickness he will fit right in at the top of our line up. Not only can he run, but he can also swing the bat and play defense as well. We are all very happy that Nate will be a Panther and feel he will have a great career here."

Anthony Meza - Infielder/Outfielder

            Anthony Meza comes to UNI from Vista, Calif. He is a four-year varsity starter, and he hit .389 as a freshman, .339 as a sophomore and .364 as a junior. The middle infielder/outfielder is also a three-time all-conference selection.  Meza is also a state champion wrestler and will compete with the UNI wrestling team.

            "Anthony is a great athlete who will wrestle and play baseball. As a baseball player he hits from the left side and runs very well," Heller said. "He is a solid infielder who can also play in the outfield. As a state champion wrestler he's a tremendous competitor."

Colin Rea - RHP

            Colin Rea will join his high school teammate Nate Meyer at UNI. The 6-4 right-handed pitcher finished 7-2 as a senior at Cascade High. He was a first-team all-conference and all-district baseball selection, and he also earned all-district and all-conference honors in basketball. He was an academic all-district pick in football, and he was on the honor roll and a member of NHS.

            "We are very happy that Colin has decided to come to UNI," Heller said. "In my opinion, Colin is one of the top two or three pitchers in the state and has the potential to be a top arm in the Valley. As good as Colin is right now, we feel he is just going to keep getting better. It will be exciting to watch him develop."

Andrew Reck - RHP

            Right-handed pitcher Andrew Reck is one of five pitchers who will be joining the staff in 2008-09. At Iowa Central Community College, Reck finished his freshman season with a 5-1 record, a 3.20 ERA, 20 strikeouts in 19.2 innings pitched and one save. The Marion, Iowa, native was a two-time all-conference and all-metro first-team selection, and he earned a place on the all-state third team. He also participated in the Senior All-Star Game.

            "We're all very happy to have Andrew with us here at UNI," Heller said. "We expect Andrew to come in and have a big role for us next year. He has an 88-90 fastball, and we feel he is getting better all the time. This will be a big spring for Andrew at Iowa Central, and we believe he will continue to grow as a pitcher and come to us next fall ready to compete for a top spot on our staff."

Ryne Schwenke - RHP

            Ryan Schwenke joins the Panthers as a right-handed relief pitcher. Schwenke also pitches for Iowa Central Community College, where he was a first-team all-region relief pitcher in 2007. That season, he finished with six saves, a 2-1 record, a 3.97 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched.

            Schwenke earned 15 varsity letters at Sigourney-Keota High School. He earned all-state football honors and was a second-team all-district baseball selection.

            "Ryan is a submarine pitcher who should compete for our closer spot next season," Heller said. "At times his fastball is in the upper 80's from down under with nasty movement. He will be a welcome addition next year. Ryan is a great athlete, hard worker and we are all happy he chose to be a Panther."

Rob Sorenson - RHP

            Rob Sorenson comes to UNI after pitching at Southeastern Community College in Burlington, Iowa. A native of Perth, Western Australia, Sorenson finished the 2007 season with 41 strikeouts.

            "We are all very happy that Rob is a Panther. He had a lot of choices and we are happy he will be with us," Heller said. "Rob has a great arm and looks to come in and be one of our top pitchers next year. His fastball is in the low 90's and he has a nice slider as well. He should really help ease the blow from losing most of our top arms after this season."

Brian de la Torriente - RHP

            Brian de la Torriente joins the Panthers after a prep career at St. Charles (Ill.) North High School. The South Elgin, Ill., native was named to the Upstate 8 all-conference first team as a junior.  As a junior he finished with a 5-1 record and 1.59 ERA while recording 41 strikeouts in 39 innings pitched. He hit .368 with 10 doubles, one triple, three home runs and 17 RBIs.

            "Brian is a guy who could come in as a freshman and have a big role next season," Heller said. "He has an 85-87 arm with a lot of run and sink on his fastball, and he competes very hard. We are very excited that he chose UNI and feel he will be a great pitcher for us."