Michigan State University Athletics
Jake Boss Announces First Recruiting Class
11/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 14, 2008
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State baseball coach Jake Boss announced the signing of seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Friday (Nov. 14). It is Boss' first recruiting class since coming to Michigan State in July. Seven of the student-athletes are from Michigan.
The Spartans signed the following six players to National Letters of Intent: Torsten Boss (Lowell, Mich.), Casey Dishman (Saline, Mich.) Jordan Keur (Hudsonville, Mich.), Andrew Waszak (Rochester Hills, Mich.), Anthony Wieber (Lansing, Mich.) and Joel Williams (Circleville, Ohio). Andy Rademacher (DeWitt, Mich.) has accepted admission into Michigan State.
"We are extremely excited about our first recruiting class here at Michigan State," said Boss. "my assistants Mark VanAmeyde and Billy Gernon deserve a great deal of credit for bringing in an outstanding group of players, but more importantly, an outstanding group of young men who play the game the right way, have strong character, and are familiar with success and winning. Mark and Billy worked tirelessly throughout the summer and fall and we are reaping the fruits of their labors. This class addresses each of our needs and we are excited to bring these young men and their families into the Michigan State baseball family."
Torsten Boss will enter his fourth season on the Lowell High School varsity squad this spring for coach Juston Miller. He is a decorated two-sport star that is currently a finalist for Michigan Mr. Football. In baseball, he was named to the Division I all-state team as a sophomore (second team) and junior (first team) and was also an All-State Dream Team member as a junior. Last spring he hit .567 with five home runs and 32 RBIs in 60 at-bats. His 25 career triples is tied for the state record. Boss garnered all-region accolades a sophomore and junior. A three-year team MVP, Boss also is the school record holder in home runs, hits, extra base hits and runs scored. In football, Boss earned all-state accolades and was a member of the Grand Rapids Press Dream Team.
Boss on Boss: "Torsten Boss is a left-handed hitting infielder who can play anywhere on the field. He is extremely versatile and his athleticism allows him to play many different brands of baseball. Torsten runs very well and is one of the best all around hitters in the state of Michigan. He is a finalist for the Mr. Football award honoring the top high school football player in the state. His high school team is undefeated and ranked as a national power."
Casey Dishman played for coach Scott Theisen at Saline High School. He is currently a sophomore for coach Rob Fournier at Wabash Valley Community College in Mt. Carmel, Ill. Last season, he hit .368, with 21 doubles and six home runs while driving in 49 runs.
Boss on Dishman: "Casey is a corner infielder who has proven to be a talented hitter at the collegiate level. He is a hard-nosed competitor who will compete for a spot in the middle of our batting order. We are excited Casey will be coming back to the state of Michigan to continue his education. Casey played for a very successful high school program and is now a part of another winning program at Wabash Valley and we look forward to him bringing those experiences to East Lansing."
Hudsonville, Mich., native Jordan Keur is an outfielder and enters the 2009 season as a three-year letterwinner for coach Dave VanNoord at Hudsonville High School and is currently rated the No. 3 outfielder in Michigan by PGCrosschecker.com. As a junior, he earned all-region, all-district and all-area first team honors. He also garnered all-conference accolades as a sophomore. Keur also shines on the football field as he was named all-conference as a sophomore and junior and also was named team MVP as a junior. He played for the Diamonds Baseball Academy during the summer.
Boss on Keur: "Jordan Keur is a centerfielder who is one of the premier hitters in the state of Michigan. He runs very well, will hit for power, and plays outstanding defense with good arm strength. He is a true leader who will play an important role for us immediately. A wide receiver and defensive back on his football team, Jordan is a tough young man who plays the game hard."
Andy Rademacher is an infielder and pitcher from DeWitt. As a junior, he helped coach Mike Brya and the Panthers to a 24-10 season that included a Diamond Classic title and earned Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association All-District and All-Region honors. He will enter this third varsity season this spring and is also an academic all-district and all-league honoree.
Boss on Rademacher: "Andy Rademacher has accepted admission into Michigan State as an infielder. A shortstop in high school, Andy has the ability to move to a corner because of his defensive ability and arm strength. He is an outstanding young man who really competes and has a will to win."
Andrew Waszak is a right-handed pitcher who played for coach Chuck VanRobays at Rochester Adams High School. Waszak, who served as team captain as a junior, earned all-area and all-district accolades. He was rated as the No. 3 pitcher in Michigan by PGCrosschecker.com and is three-year letterwinner. This past football season, Waszak started for the Highlanders. He played for coach Will Tollinson and manager Frank Gallagher for the Michigan Bulls during the summer.
Boss on Waszak: "Andrew Waszak is a strong-armed right handed pitcher with a very good breaking ball. He is very athletic and will only continue to get stronger as his college career progresses. He is very capable of playing a major role in our pitching staff next year. Andrew also quarterbacked his high school team to a No. 1 ranking on the football field this fall."
Tony Wieber is an outfielder and pitcher who played for coach Pat O'Keefe at Grand Ledge High School. As a junior, the Comets went 36-3 and won the regional championship as Wieber earned first team all-state honors and was named to the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches and Lansing State Journal Dream Teams. As a sophomore and junior, he garnered first team all-region, all-district and all-league accolades. During the summer, he played for coach Randy Sparks and Underwood Orr/Post 34.
Boss on Wieber: "Anthony Wieber is a very athletic outfielder/pitcher who we expect to be a dual position player here at MSU. Tony has a strong arm and is a fierce competitor who will also hit for power at the plate. Also a wide receiver on his football team, he helped lead Grand Ledge to an undefeated season this past fall."
Joel Williams, a catcher from Circleville, Ohio, helped lead Circleville High School and coach Brian Bigham to a 22-7 record his junior season. He garnered all-district accolades as a freshman, sophomore and junior and all-district honors his sophomore and junior season. He is rated the No. 2 catcher in Ohio by PGCrosscheker.com. During the summer he played for the Columbus Cobras.
Boss on Williams: "Joel Williams is a catcher with a very impressive arm. He has the ability to stop the running game with his defensive prowess and also possesses a great deal of power offensively at the plate. With the graduation of current senior Eric Roof, Joel will be looked upon to contribute immediately as a freshman behind the plate."
