KALAMAZOO, Mich. – On Thursday, Western Michigan baseball head coach Billy Gernon announced the addition of Kalamazoo Valley Community College LHP Jeffery Burch to the 2019 recruiting class.

Burch joins Jimmy Allen, Dane Armbrustmacher, Bobby Dearing, Gavin Doyle, Brady Miller, William Morrison, Easton Sikorski, Drew Szczepaniak, and Ryan Vice as part of the 2019 recruiting class.

"With the loss of Nic Laio to the draft and Chase, Piechota and Reisinger to graduation, we felt it was imperative to add an experienced and impactful arm. Burch adds both of those needed elements to the club," said Gernon. "What I like most about him is how he competes and pounds the strike zone."

In 2018 at KVCC, Burch compiled an overall record of 5-4 in 57.2 innings with a 2.81 ERA and 87 strikeouts. Burch went five or more innings in six of his nine starts including two complete games at Ancilla (May 4) and vs. Jackson (May 16).

Burch had a career day on the mound at Ancilla throwing a complete game, allowing no runs on one hit and striking out a KVCC school record 20 batters. The lefty had four starts with double digit strikeouts and ranked sixth in the NJCAA with 13.58 strikeouts per game. Overall, Burch was 23^rd in the nation in total strikeouts.

This past season, Burch earned Second Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region honors. The left-handed pitcher was also named to the NJCAA Region XII Division II Baseball All-Tournament team. 

A native of Paw Paw, Mich., Burch was a four-time All-Conference honoree at Paw Paw High School and earned All-District honors twice. In his junior season at Paw Paw, Burch had a 6-2 record with a 2.10 ERA and 86 strikeouts.

This summer, Burch is playing with the hometown Kalamazoo Growlers in the Northwoods League. Burch has made three starts for the Growlers, compiling an overall record of 1-0 with a 3.11 ERA and 18 strikeouts.