KALAMAZOO, Mich. Western Michigan head baseball coach Billy Gernon has announced that seven student-athletes that will join the Broncos in the fall of 2017.   Cooper Dundas (Walled Lake, Mich. /Walled Lake Central), Blake Dunn (Saugatuck, Mich. /Saugatuck), Jack Huisman (Holland, Mich. /Holland Christian), Brenden Lovell (Vicksburg, Mich. /Vicksburg), Justin McIntyre (Portage, Mich. /Portage Central), Ryan Missal (Lowell, Ind. /Lowell), and Sean O'Keefe (Saline, Mich. /Saline).

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"Our recruiting classes over the last four years have continued to improve and become more athletic.  During that stretch, our recruits have been ranked in the top-75 and as high as 53rd in the nation including second best in the Mid-American Conference in 2016 by Collegiate Baseball.  Quite frankly, this class could be our best yet" said Gernon. "It is important to recognize the industrious and diligent efforts of our recruiting coordinator Adam Piotrowicz and associate head coach Blaine McFerrin.  They both understand the time and energy we have successfully invested creating an outstanding culture and what type of student/athletes help us improve upon that great culture. We are fresh off the first MAC Tournament Championship in school history and the first NCAA Regional appearance since 1989 and these seven impressive athletes will help us maintain that championship atmosphere.  Not only are these young men very special athletes, they also excel academically.  There is no doubt in my mind they will all impact our program on and off the playing field and help lead us towards more championships."
 

Cooper Dundas / Walled Lake, Mich. / Walled Lake Central / 6'6 / 175 / R/R / RHP
Will be three-year starting pitcher at Walled Lake Central….plays for Coach Michael Raffi … 155 strikeouts in 146 innings pitched..6-3 with 2.15 ERA in 2016 … KLAA North Division All-Conference selection … ace of staff 2015 & 2016 … played summer ball for T2 … parents are James and Melissa and sister Shelby.

Gernon on Dundas: "Cooper has a long and lean body type that lends itself to future growth.  His 6'6 frame and broad shoulders make him as projectable as any pitcher we have signed.  He is just starting to develop and take his ability to the next level and I think the sky is the limit for him as he continues to polish up his arsenal.  Cooper's arm swing is very clean and his fastball has good life while the breaking ball shows both good depth and tilt."
 


Blake Dunn / Saugatuck, Mich. / Saugatuck / 6'0 / 190 / B/R / C/RHP
Four year letter winner in baseball, track, football, and basketball …  played football for his father and athletic director Bill Dunn and baseball for David Gawlak … baseball starting catcher/shortstop/pitcher all four years … 1^st team All-Conference, All-District, All-County 2014-16 … 1^st team All-State 2015 and 2016 … 123-126 career stolen bases ... 240 strikeouts in 141 innings pitched … one career no-hitter … had .573 batting average with 19 doubles and 59 runs scored in 2016 … 2015 Area Code selection … PBR 1^st Team All-State 2015 and 2016 … currently ranked 8^th in state by PBR … played summer ball 2015 and 2016 for Indiana Prospects Coach Shane Stout … 2015 & 2016 MHSAA Track Division IV State Champion and state record holder for 110 meter hurdle (14.33) and 300 meter hurdle (38.31) 1^st Team All-State, All-Conference, All-County 2014-2016 … named Grand Rapids Press and Holland Sentinel Track Athlete of the Year 2016 … starting quarterback & free safety all four years and led team to a 34-8 record in that span … 4-time SAC 1^st Team All-Conference as quarterback & safety … named Associate Press 1^st Team All-State 2015 … rushed for 6,421 yards and 92 touchdowns from 2014-16 … threw for 2,261 yards and 38 touchdowns 2014-16 … basketball four year starter … first team All-Conference, All-District and All-County 2014 and 2015….26.6 point average in 2015 including high school record of 51 points in a single game….scored 1,075 points thus far in three years...National Honor Society inductee Spring 2015…Senior Class President…carries a 3.92 grade point avg…..parents are Bill and Beverly…brothers Will, Nick, Brad and sisters Lindsay, Stephanie, Mindy, Danielle and Sallie…Nick graduated with a business degree from WMU.

Gernon on Dunn: "Blake is an explosive quick-twitch athlete who could have picked from four sports to play in college.  He is a fierce competitor that runs extremely well and has a very strong arm.  Dunn is quick behind the plate as a receiver and could easily become a legitimate switch hitter.  He has the type of arm that could put him in our rotation and make him a very special two way player.  Blake has demonstrated the ability to balance a very challenging athletic schedule as well as academics and I look forward to seeing him continue to develop in baseball when it is the only sport that occupies his time."
 


Jack Huisman / Holland, Mich. / Holland Christian / 6'4 / 185 / R/R / RHP
Will be a three year starter and letter winner for head coach Jim Caserta … helped lead Holland Christian to a 36-6 record and a Division II State Championship title in 2016…1^st Team All-Conference 2016 … was 7-1 tossing 42 innings with 54 strikeouts and a 4.18 ERA … Dad Rick pitched as well and was a 3^rd round draft pick by the San Francisco Giants in 1990…he made his major league debut for the Kansas City Royals on September 4, 1995….Mother is Nikki…younger brother Mason and younger sister Avery.

Gernon on Huisman:  "Jack has an impressive pitchers frame.  His Dad pitched in the major leagues with the Kansas City Royals so needless to say, his pedigree is impressive.  There is great life in Jack's fastball that we have seen as high as 90 mph and good tilt in his breaking ball.  He is extremely projectable with his 6'4 frame and long arms and has a chance to impact our staff very early in his career.
 


Brenden Lovell / Vicksburg, Mich. / Vicksburg 6'3 / 190 / R/R / RHP/OF
Will be a four year varsity letter winner under Coach Brian Deal … Ace of pitching staff 2015-16…helped lead team to State Semi-Finals for first time in Vicksburg school history as well as District, Regional and Quarterfinal Championships … 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District 2014-16, 1^st Team All-Region 2015 and 2016 … 2^nd Team All-State 2015 and 2016 … 1^st Team Kalamazoo Area Dream Team 2015 and 2016..Perfect Game WWBA 17U All-Tournament selection 2016 … currently ranked 7^th in the state by Prep Baseball Report (PBR) … played summer baseball for HBF Maroons and Coach Tony Mitchell … teammates with Justin McIntyre and Sean O'Keefe … basketball varsity letter winner 2014-16 … team captain selection 2016 and 2017 … three year varsity starting quarterback letter winner … All-Conference 2015 and 2016 as well as 2016 team captain … National Honor Society with 3.9 grade point average … three year Academic Athlete Award winner … Parents are Jeff and Tracy.

Gernon on Lovell:  "Brenden is another very talented and competitive multi-sport athlete in the 2017 class.  He was an outstanding quarterback at Vicksburg as well as a very talented basketball player.  I remember seeing him early in his high school career and admiring his frame and arm action. Lovell has many in the class and on the playing field accolades that have no doubt prepared him for the next level. He has developed into a very special athlete and could impact our pitching staff very early in his career as well as becoming a dual player.



Justin McIntyre / Portage, Mich. / Portage Central 6'0 / 180 / R/R / MIF
Plays for head coach and former Bronco Brandon Baker where he will be a three year varsity starter and letter winner at shortstop … 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District 2016 … played 31 games and led his team with 15 doubles and 31 runs scored …hit .356 with .431 OBP and .538 SLG … football All-Conference honorable mention 2015 … academic three year Silver Award winner … parents John and Heidi…brothers Brandon, Nick and Alex.

Gernon on McIntyre:  "Justin is an impressive athlete who has excelled in multiple sports.  He is a hard-nosed type of player that demonstrates both physical and mental toughness in the way that he plays.  Although a middle infielder, he can play most any position on the field.  We are thrilled Justin has chosen to stay close to home and play for the Broncos who he has cheered for his entire life."
 
 

Ryan Missal / Lowell, Ind. / Lowell / 6'2 / 185 / L/R / OF
Will be three year starter and varsity letter winner for Coach Bobby Wong…Co-Captain 2016 … named 2^nd Team All-Conference in 2016 … Perfect Game WWB Classic All-Tournament Team 2015 and 2016 … nominated for Tony Klaja Memorial Scholarship for outstanding work ethic, commitment and positive mental attitude towards team and community … selected Co-Captain for summer team Hammond Chiefs and led organization in hits, batting average, total bases and extra base hits in 2016 … parents are Bill and Lisa … younger brother Logan.

Gernon on Missal:  Ryan is another special athlete in this recruiting class that runs extremely well that has a long, athletic frame that has room for growth and added strength.  He hits from the left side and really covers a lot of ground in the outfield.  Missal, like the others, could impact our outfield early in his college career."
 


Sean O'Keefe / Saline, Mich. / Saline / 6'4 / 255 / R/R / C/RHP/1B
Will be a four year varsity player and three year varsity starter and letter winner for Coach Scott Theisen … helped lead Saline to Division 1A State runner-up title in 2016 … hit .358 and led team with four home runs and a 1.055 OPS … pitched 41 innings going 5-0 with a 3.10 ERA … 1^st Team All-Conference 2016 … three-year All-Conference selection in football … 2015-16 Ann Arbor Dream Team … 2014 State Runner-Up Division 1 … playing Detroit Cass Tech this weekend for Regional Championship … three-year Varsity Scholar Athlete … four year Honor Roll performer … parents are Steve and Carrie … has a younger brother Jackson.
 
Gernon on O'Keefe:  O'Keefe is not only a huge baseball talent, he is a very special football player as well that exudes a tremendous amount of confidence.  He has excelled in both sports and could've played Division 1 football.  Sean is big and strong and has shown the ability to drive the baseball and hit for power.  He has a great feel behind the plate as well as first base and could easily see some action on the mound for us.  His versatility will allow him to impact our program early in his career and possibly at more than one position.  Sean understands the importance of academics and balances a strenuous schedule very well.