KALAMAZOO, Mich.  – Western Michigan head baseball coach Billy Gernon has announced the signing of eight athletes to National Letters of Intent. The signees will join the Broncos for the 2019 season.

Joining the Broncos is Jimmy Allen (Westmont, Ill.), Dane Armbrustmacher (Fowler, Mich.), Bobby Dearing (West Lafayette, Ind.), Gavin Doyle (Plainfield, Ill.), Brady Miller (Plainfield, Ill.), William Morrison (Clinton Township, Mich.), Drew Szczepaniak (Woodhaven, Mich.) and Ryan Vice (New Lenox, Ill.).

"Recruiting and culture are the center pieces of any good program. Collegiate Baseball has ranked the Broncos last five recruiting classes in the top 90 in the nation. All five of those recruiting classes have also been in the top four or higher of the Mid-American Conference during that span," said Gernon. "This class, like the others, is extraordinarily special. It is filled with high quality young men from great families that ended up being the "right fit" for Bronco Baseball."

"They will without a doubt, continue to elevate our culture and make our locker room a very special place. All eight are outstanding students along with being tremendous athletes that possess size, speed, ability and explosive up-side. Our recruiting coordinator Adam Piotrowicz assembled a master piece. He and assistant coach Blaine McFerrin deserve a lot of credit. They both invested a tremendous amount of time and effort in coordinating this remarkable class of athletes," said Gernon.

"Western Michigan won its first ever MAC Tournament Championship in 2016 and earned a berth to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 27 seasons. The Broncos have had juniors drafted and signed every year since 2014 including two in 2015 with Brett Sunde and Kurt Hoekstra. Keegan Akin was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2016 as the 54th pick overall and secured the highest signing bonus in school history shortly after being named the first MAC Tournament MVP in school history. In 2017, Tanner Allison became the first Bronco to be named MAC Player of the Year since 1991 and was drafted by the Atlanta Braves that same summer after his junior season."

Jimmy Allen • Westmont, Ill. • Timothy Christian HS • 5'11 • 175lbs • MIF • R-R
Four-year varsity starter & letter winner for Coach Jim Snoeyink…The 2017 & 2018 Captain has hit leadoff & 3-hole, started at SS and has experience all over the IF in his prep career…Carries a .421 average, .501 OBP, 59 RBI & 50 stolen bases for his career...Led team to a Regional & Sectional championship in 2017. The Elite 8 finish is the highest finish in school history…Plays summer baseball for the nationally recognized Justin Stone's Elite Baseball Training…The athletic infielder will also be a 2 year varsity letter winner for basketball…plays G/F & was a captain during his junior campaign…4 year letter winner in soccer…Has the career goal scoring record with 108…Also set the single season record as a sophomore with 35 goals…Helped lead team to a runner-up finish as a Freshman...Turned around and led his team to the 2016 Illinois Soccer State Championship…Son of Janell & Jim who both were multi-sport athletes at Trinity Christian College…Older sister Ashley who currently attends Trinity Christian College

Gernon on Allen: "Jimmy is a multi-sport athlete and a stand out baseball and soccer player. During summer ball he competed against very strong competition and hit high level pitching every time he was evaluated. Allen has a great temperament and has an arm that works effortlessly with strength and accuracy from the left side of the infield. He along with the other seven signees is very academically conscientious."

Dane Armbrustmacher  • Fowler, Mich. • Fowler High School  • 6'4" • 195lbs • L-L • LHP/1B
A four-year varsity starter & letter winner for Coach Brian George…The Fowler High school standout has an impressive resume heading into his senior season…Led team in IP, ERA and K's for 2016 & 2017…1^st Team All Central Michigan Conference 2015, 2016, 2017…Lansing State Journal All-District 2015, 2016, 2017…Named team MVP 2016 and 2017…1^st Team All-State 2016…Plays summer baseball for the Baseball Kingdom, which is owned and coached by WMU Alum, Joe McDonald…Honor Roll student at Fowler High School…A member of the National Honors Society…does volunteer work for local dinner raffles, Fowler youth sports camps, American Red Cross, and helps coach his younger brothers baseball team…Son of Julie & Dan…Brothers are Dustin (currently attends Lansing CC), Drew and Dakota.

Gernon on Armbrustmacher: "Dane has great size at 6'4" and has progressively developed into a very solid left handed pitcher. The big lefty's velocity took a jump for us late this past summer and he has a breaking ball that will be a problem for left handed hitters. Ambrustmacher's delivery makes his ball difficult to pick up and with continued development could impact our staff very early in his career."

Bobby Dearing • West Lafayette, Ind. • William Henry Harrison • 6'4" • 230lbs • L-L • 1B/LHP
A three-year varsity starter and letter winner for Coach Pat Lowrey…The 2018 Captain has hit primarily out of the clean-up position, while making starts both on the mound and at 1B during his tenure as a prep…Batted .326 and was among conference leaders with 3 HRs, 10 2Bs, 27 RBI, 22 runs scored, .966 FLD% and an impressive .981 OPS…Also posted a record of 2-0 on the mound…2016 he had 17 RBI, 3 of which were game winners…Voted Second Team All North Central Conference…Voted First Team All-Area (Big School) Lafayette Journal & Courier…played summer baseball for the prestigious Indiana Nitro…The big southpaw also has letters in varsity basketball…Averages 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.9 blocked shots per game…Tied season record for blocked shots…Honorable Mention All-Conference…2 Year Member of Harrison High School Athletic Leadership Council…Son of Michelle and Bob…Sister Julia, is a senior at Indiana University

Gernon on Dearing: "Bobby is also a multi-sport athlete that stands out in baseball and basketball. He has tremendous size and his feet work very well. Dearing has tremendous strength in the bat from the left side and could bring some power to the line up early in his career. Options will remain open for him to impact the Broncos from the mound as well. He too, is an outstanding student."

Gavin Doyle • Plainfield, Ill. • Plainfield North HS • 6'4" • 195lbs • R-R • INF/RHP
 Three-year letter winner & starting SS for Coach John Darlington…All Southwest Prairie Conference in 2017…1^st Team All-Area in 2017…Ranked 55^th best overall prospect in the state of Illinois…Won Regional Championships in 2016 & 2017…Won Sectional Championship in 2016…Plays summer baseball for ESP Black, coached by Culley Summers…Three sport standout athlete in golf, basketball, baseball… All Southwest Prairie Conference golfer in 2016, 2017, 2018…2017 State Qualifier in golf… Member of National Honor Society, Principal's Advisory Committee, Link Crew, DECA, Key Club & Plainfield North Athletics Captains Committee…Holds a 5.4 GPA on a 5.0 scale with a 32 ACT…Son of Debbie & Ryan…Brothers Jimmy and Colin.

Gernon on Doyle: "Gavin is what I would call your classic "late bloomer". We kept our eyes on him all summer and he kept getting better. He is a tremendous athlete with a very accurate throwing arm and could easily work as a two-way player. Doyle has been in the high 80's off the mound with an impressive arsenal and everything looks easy when he works as an infielder. Gavin is a remarkable student."

Brady Miller • Plainfield, Ill. • Plainfield North HS • 6'4" • 195lbs • R-R • RHP/INF
Three-year varsity starter & letter winner for Coach John Darlington… All Southwest Prairie Conference in 2017 and led the league in RBI's…2^nd Team All-Area in 2017…Ranked 30^th overall in Illinois 2018 class according to Prep Baseball Report…Won Regional Championships in 2016 & 2017…Won Sectional Championship in 2016… Plays summer baseball for ESP Black, coached by Culley Summers…Three sport standout athlete in football, basketball, baseball…Led football team as Quarterback to State Championship Game in 2017…Bugle and Herald News All-Area Quarterback and All State Honorable Mention 2017…Currently holds records at Plainfield North in football for: TD's in a single game, TD's in a season, Career TD's, most passing yards in a game, single season total passing yards, and career passing yards…Three-year varsity starter and letter winner in basketball…2017 Basketball team MVP…Honor Roll student…Son of Kelly & George…Has older sister, Bailey (currently attends Illinois State) and an older brother Brendan who currently pitches for Southern Illinois at Edwardsville.

Gernon on Miller: "Brady is another special multi-sport athlete that excels in football, basketball and baseball. Miller was courted by several Division I schools including several from the MAC as a quarterback before deciding baseball was his passion. He is long, wirey and very competitive and his frame projects an enormous up-side once he puts his focus on one demanding sport."

William Morrison • Clinton Township, Mich. • University Liggett HS • 5'11" • 180lbs • R-R • OF
Four year varsity starter & letter winner for Coach Dan Cimini...The 2018 captain has been the leadoff hitter & primarily played CF while having experience in the MIF as well…Batted .400 with 3 HR's, 10 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 24 RBI & 40/40 stolen bases…3 time MHBCA All-State Selection…2017 1st Team Michigan All-Dream Team OF selection…2016 PBR Futures Games Team Michigan Selection…Ranked 18th overall in the state of Michigan according to Prep Baseball Report… 2015 Michigan D3 District Championship team….2016 Michigan D3 State Champion...In 2017, helped win first ever D1 District & Regional Championships, making it to the school's first Final Four in Michigan Class D1…Played summer baseball for the prestigious Little Caesars Baseball Club out of Detroit…The speedy athlete also lettered twice in football...Volunteer community service work includes creating care packages for the homeless & soldiers overseas during the holidays…Son of Carrie & Keith…2 older brothers Keith & Harris

Gernon on Morrison: "Another multi-sport athlete, Will is a very explosive runner with great instincts in the outfield. He gets out the box and down the line as well as anyone we have had in my tenure. Morrison won a state title in 2016 and was runner up in 2017 and brings a championship mentality in the class room as well. Speed never slumps and Will most certainly possesses that tool and could impact our outfield very early in his career."

Drew Szczepaniak • Woodhaven, Mich. • Woodhaven HS • 6'4" • 190lbs • L-L • LHP/1B
A three-year varsity starter & letter winner for Coach Corey Farner…Part of the back to back Downriver Conference Champions...was voted team pitching MVP in 2016 and overall team MVP in 2017…Led team in victories with 8 in both 2016 & 2017 seasons…Team leader & record holder in shutouts (5…school record) in 2016 & 2017…Also holds school records for ERA in a season in 2016 (0.66 / 2^nd All-time) & 2017 (0.25, 1^st All-Time)…In 2017, the two-way player also played 1B, when not on the mound and led his team in RBI's (28) and Batting AVG (.343)…In the Summer of 2018, Drew will be playing for the Nationally renowned, Chi-Town Cream…All-District and All Downriver Conference pitcher 2016 & 2017…News-Herald 1^st Team in 2016 & Dream Team 2017…All-Region in 2017…During his time at Woodhaven High School he has been a DECA State Finalist…Student Athletic Leadership Committee member…Leader of the Student Link Crew…an also volunteers regularly for Kids Against Hunger…Son of Jodi & Matt... Brothers are Matt (current WMU student) and Ryan.

Gernon on Szczepaniak: "Drew was our first commitment in this special class. The 6'5 southpaw has continued to grow in size and strength since his verbal commitment and has tremendous length and projectability. He has good command of a firm fastball and his curveball is already a special pitch. Drew is a special athlete as well as great student and has an arsenal that could potentially make him an early contributor to our pitching staff."

Ryan Vice • New Lenox, Ill. • Lincoln-Way Central HS • 6'4" • 210lbs • R-R • RHP/1B
Two year varsity starter & letter winner for Coach Mitch Nowicki...Versatile athlete that has pitched in the starting rotation & filled the closer role for LWC as well as played 1B & provided power to the middle of the order… Ranked 23rd overall prospect in the state of Illinois 2018 class.…With a FB that has touched 94, he is the hardest throwing pitcher in the 2018 class for the state of Illinois via Prep Baseball Report…2017 PBR IL Preseason All-State Invite Selection…Plays summer baseball and trains with the Chicago Elite Baseball program, one of the most competitive organizations in the Chicagoland area and coached by Brian Forystek…Took his game to another level last summer posting a 2.47 ERA, 3-1 record, 22 K's in 15 IP for the Elite as they competed throughout the country…Son of Karen & Ron…older brother David who is a football coach at Lincoln-Way Central

Gernon on Vice: "Ryan shows as much projection as anyone in this class with a 6'5", 210-pound frame and a fastball that has been as high as 94. His arm strength is special and he is still growing/developing and will be the
youngest player on the roster next fall. Vice still has room to fill out and he could dual as he shows athleticism in the field. Ryan has a solid mix of pitches and an overpowering fastball at times and with continued development could have an immediate impact."