EIU Adds 10 Players To 2017 Baseball Roster

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois baseball has added ten players to its 2017 roster head coach Jason Anderson announced today with the group of new players featuring a mixture of both high school and junior college talent.   The Panthers have added a pair of two-way products in high school player Alex Stevenson  and junior college player Logan Beaman.   EIU bolstered its pitching staff with four junior college arms in Devin Rose, Michael Starcevich, Brent Stephens and Dustin Wilson.   The Panthers added junior college position players Matt Albert, Hunter Beetley, Andrew Curran and Dougie Parks.
 
“We are very excited about the additions we’ve made to the 2016 class,” said Anderson who will enter his second season as the Panthers head coach.  “We set out to address specific needs and help increase our experience and we were able to do that.  We managed to identify, recruit and add some quality young men that will help impact our 2017 season in a multitude of ways.  The experience we are adding both on the mound and to the line-up is exciting to be a part of.  We were able to pick the correct individuals that will help continue to grow the program on the field and in the classroom.”
 
Stevenson is a two-way player that earned first team All-Metro League honors as a senior playing for coach Steve Pfund at Lutheran South HS in St. Louis.   He hit over .330 for his prep career with a solid junior season that included ten doubles and three home runs.   He pitched over 20 innings in each of his three varsity seasons with a sub 2.00 earned run average as both a sophomore and senior.  
 
Beaman is a versatile two-way player that earned first team All-Skyway Conference honors playing for former EIU player Troy Barton at Oakton CC.  As a left-handed pitcher Beaman made ten appearances with a 5-3 record and one save.  He worked 46.2 innings with a 3.86 ERA and 52 strike outs.  Playing in the outfield Beaman hit .381 with 14 doubles, four triples, five home runs, 49 RBI and 16 stolen bases.  He is from Indianapolis and played at Cardinal Ritter HS.
 
Rose is a right-handed pitcher from nearby Tuscola, Ill., that played a big role for Waubonsee CC as they advanced to the NJCAA Division III World Series this past year under head coach Brad Unger.  Rose was a key starter down the stretch throwing a ten inning complete game win in the sectionals.  He finished the year making 13 starts with seven complete games and 84.1 innings pitched.  He posted an ERA of 2.35 with 96 strike outs.   He was a second team All-Region IV selection.
 
Starcevich is a right-handed pitcher that made 12 appearances out of the bullpen for coach Cam Walker at Indian Hills CC last spring.  He averaged 10.3 strike outs per nine innings finishing the season with 63 K’s in 55 innings.  Working all 14 appearances out of the bullpen, Starcevich posted a 4-4 record with a 6.05 ERA.   He was an JUCO Academic All-Region 11 selection.  Starcevich is from Centerville, Iowa and played at Centerville HS.
 
Stephens was a good right-handed pitcher out of the bullpen for coach Mike Burns at Calhoun CC.  Last season he made 11 appearances finishing the year with a 6-3 record in 58 innings of work.  He posted a 4.97 ERA and finished the year with 56 strike outs to fall just short of averaging one strike out per inning.  Stephens is from Pinson, Ala., and played at Pinson Valley HS.
 
Wilson was a weekend starter for coach Ryan Mummert at Tacoma CC.  The right-hander made 11 appearances during the season with nine starts and one complete game.  Wilson posted a 5-2 record working 59 innings with 46 strike outs and a 4.27 ERA.  As a freshman he helped TCC win 36 games as he finished the year with a 2.64 ERA.   Wilson is from Rochester, Wash., and played at Rochester HS.
 
Albert  is a first baseman that earned JUCO All-Region IV honors last season playing for coach Josh Pethoud at Kishwaukee CC.   Albert hit for both power and average during the season finishing the year with a .416 average to go along with 17 doubles, 15 home runs and 63 RBI.  Albert also excelled in the class room earning his degree with a 3.9 grade point average.   He is from Bettendorf, Iowa and played at Bettendorf HS.
 
Beetley is a solid defensive infielder that hits from the left side of the plate.  He played last season for coach Mitch Koester at Kaskaskia CC where he made only one error in 392 total chances for a fielding percentage of .997.  Beetley hit .335 for the season with 13 doubles and 34 RBI.  He drew 33 walks to finish the year with an on-base percentage of .465.   Beetley is from Coulterville, Ill., and played at Nashville Community HS.
 
Curran is a middle infielder that played last season for coach Brett Kelley at Illinois Central College.   He was recently named an All-Star playing for the Danville Dans of the Prospect League where he is hitting .330 this summer.  Last season at ICC Curran appeared in 49 games hitting .272 with eight doubles, 18 RBI, 15 stolen bases and 43 runs scored.  His on-base percentage was .396.  Curran is from St. Charles, Mo., and played at Francis Howell HS.
 
Parks is an infielder that helped John A. Logan College win the Great Rivers Athletic Conference regular season title last season playing for coach Jerry Halstead.  He provided power from the corner infield position with a slugging percentage of .609 as he hit .313 with 20 doubles, 11 home runs and 46 RBI.  Parks is from Lakeville, Minn., and played at Apple Valley HS.