KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan University head baseball coach Billy Gernon announced the signing of seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the program's class of 2022 on Thursday.

WMU welcomed right-handed pitcher Matthew Hoover (Buchanan, Mich.), catcher Michael Huff (North Tonawanda, N.Y.), left-handed pitcher Michael Kelly (Mokena, Ill.), outfielder Luke Kerrins (Mattawan, Mich.), middle infielder Connor Ostrander (Granger, Ind.), corner infielder Avery Thielman (Kalamazoo, Mich.) and right-handed pitcher DJ Thompson (Alma, Mich.). All seven are set to join the Broncos in the fall of 2022 and suit up for Western Michigan beginning with the 2023 season.
 
"I want to thank our coaching staff for their efforts on assembling a very talented and balanced recruiting class that addresses all of our needs moving forward," Gernon said. "Our philosophy each year is to improve on our culture, while increasing our overall athleticism by bringing in selfless players who value the team more than themselves. This class will help us with our relentless pursuit of winning championships and achieving academic excellence."
 
"We are bringing in strength, toughness, athleticism, character and relentless skill," Gernon added. "We feel great about the connection we have made with these recruits and their families. It is with open arms we welcome them into the amazing culture that is Western Michigan Baseball."

Matthew Hoover • RHP • 5-10 • 180 • Buchanan, Mich. • Buchanan High School
Hoover is set to head into his fourth year as a starter for coach Jim Brawley at Buchanan High School. Last season, he played shortstop in addition to pitching and helped the Bucks to an appearance in the state finals. On the mound, the righty posted a 0.45 earned run average and struck out 115 in 62.0 innings of work. Hoover earned First Team All-State honors and was also First Team All-Region and All-District, as well as earning a spot on the Prep Baseball Report Michigan's Elite 25 Team. Over the summer, he played for the Landsharks and coach Jim Robinson.

The son of Lonnie and Jennifer Hoover, he carries a 3.4 grade point average. Hoover is also the grandson of WMU Athletics Hall of Famer Liz Miller, who played both volleyball and field hockey at Western Michigan and also played for the American Softball Travel Association for six years. She also earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees from WMU.
 
Coach Gernon on Hoover:
"Matt is a strike-thrower with a developed arsenal, led by a tremendous breaking ball and electric fastball. His athleticism was evident every time we saw him and he demonstrated strong pitchability while beating some of the best teams in the state during his team's postseason run. We are thrilled to add an athlete like Matt to our pitching staff and locker room."



Michael Huff • C • 6-2 • 200 • North Tonawanda, N.Y. • Niagara-Wheatfield High School
Huff will head into his senior season this spring as a four-year starter for Coach Jim Hagerty at Niagara-Wheatfield High School. Voted a team captain each of the last two years, Huff is coming off of a junior season that saw him hit .357 with a .500 on-base percentage and 1.071 OPS on his way to a First Team All-Conference selection. He plays his summer ball for head coach Jeff Ziemecki and the Niagara Thunderwolves.

In addition to his exploits on the diamond, Huff is also a three-year letterwinner and scholar-athlete for the golf program. He is also a three-year Academic Athletic Honors and Honor Roll member, a member of the National Honor Society and graduate of the Leadership Niagara Youth Program. The son of Katharine and Michael Huff, he plans on studying Exercise Science at Western Michigan.

Coach Gernon on Huff:
"Michael is a high energy, talented backstop with an infectious personality. He has a strong arm, plus receiving skills and carried his high school team as a middle of the order bat. I like his assertiveness and leadership skills as much as anything else and he is a perfect addition to our locker room and culture."


 
Michael Kelly • LHP • 6-0 • 180 • Mokena, Ill. • Mt. Carmel High School
Kelly will be a three-year starter and letterwinner for coach Brian Hurry at Mt. Carmel High School. Last season, he threw a no-hitter in league play and had a 15-strikeout game, the second-highest single-game strikeout total in school history. In 2020, he helped guide Mt. Carmel to a Regional Championship. Kelly is ranked as the seventh-best left-handed pitcher in the state by Prep Baseball Report Illinois. The lefty played his summer ball for Chicago Elite and head coach Brian Forystek.
 
Kelly is also a three-year letterwinner as a member of the wrestling program, ranking third in the state as a freshman and helping his team to a second-place finish. Academically, he has achieved high honors with distinction since his sophomore year. The son of Michael and Jennifer Kelly, he plans to study Business or Mechanical Engineering at Western Michigan.
 
Coach Gernon on Kelly:
"Michael is a good athlete with a strong, wiry, projectable pitcher's frame. He was an elite wrestler, which also brings a toughness and attitude we want on the mound. Michael has a solid arsenal which includes a fastball that sits in the upper 80's and touches low 90's. We are very excited to see how this multi-sport athlete develops once he gets here and only has to focus on baseball."



Luke Kerrins • OF • 5-10 • 180 • Mattawan, Mich. • Mattawan High School
Kerrins has been a starter every year of his career at Mattawan High School under head coach Brett Vaughn. In 2021, he hit .385 and swiped 32 bases in 34 attempts on his way to being named the centerfielder for the All-Conference First Team and a spot on the Kalamazoo Gazette First Team. He also earned the Defensive MVP award after sporting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage last spring. For his career, he is 54-of-58 stealing bases. Kerrins played summer ball for the prestigious Kalamazoo Maroons and coaches Mike Hinga and Don Ampersee.
 
In addition to baseball, Kerrins is a three-year letterwinner on the basketball team and was voted the team's Most Improved Player as he helped Mattawan to a district championship. Academically, he has made the honor roll every semester and is also a member of the National Honor Society. The son of Chris and Trena Kerrins, he plans to enter the Haworth College of Business.
 
Coach Gernon on Kerrins:
"Luke is an athletic centerfielder that runs well and plays with a high-energy motor and aggressiveness. He has good range in the outfield and displayed a high IQ on the bases throughout his career. Luke is another multi-sport athlete and we are excited to see him develop as he continues to add strength to his athletic frame."



Connor Ostrander • MIF • 5-11 • 175 • Granger, Ind. • Edwardsburg High School
Ostrander is set to head into his fourth year as a starter for head coach A.J. Gaideski at Edwardsburg High School. As a junior, he led his team offensively with a .533 batting average, 16 doubles, four homers and 40 runs batted in on his way to First Team All-Conference, All-District and All-Region honors. Ostrander was also First Team All-State and was named to the MCHSBCA Dream Team MIF for all divisions. He also earned All-Conference, All-District and All-Region honors following his freshman season. Ostrander plays summer ball for USA Arsenal Baseball Organization (Indiana) and head coach Jeff Cleckner.
 
Also a three-year starter at both running back and linebacker on the football team at Edwardsburg, Ostrander was an All-Conference linebacker as a sophomore. As a freshman, he played an important role on special teams for a team that won the state championship.

Academically, Ostrander is a two-year Academic Excellence Award recipient and has made the honor roll each of his six semesters. He was also an All-District Division 2 Academic Baseball Team member. The son of Brad and Leslie Ostrander, he plans to enter the Haworth College of Business at Western Michigan.
 
Coach Gernon on Ostrander:
"Multi-sport athletes are a commodity and Connor has played and succeeded in many sports. He's been an outstanding football player in high school and has been an impact bat in the Edwardsburg lineup since his freshman year. We like the pop and potential of his left-handed bat and his athleticism is on display every time he steps on the field. When he commits to just one sport on a year-round basis, his game will most certainly go to another level."



Avery Thielman • 3B/1B • 6-5 • 200 • Kalamazoo, Mich. • Kalamazoo Central High School
Thielman is a fourth-year returning starter at Kalamazoo Central High School under head coach and Western Michigan alum Scott Spada. Last season, he paced the Giants' offense, hitting over .425 with 16 doubles and four triples. During the summer of 2020, he earned a spot on the Perfect Game Coastal Series All-Tournament Team. As a sophomore, Thielman carried a .493 batting average while playing against some of the strongest competition in the Midwest. He plays his summer ball for the prestigious Kalamazoo Maroons and coaches Mike Hinga and Don Ampersee.
 
In addition to his baseball exploits, Thielman is also a three-year letterwinner and key contributor for the Kalamazoo Central hockey program. He has also earned high honors academically and is a member of the National Honor Society. The son of Jeffrey and Gena Thielman, he plans on entering the Haworth College of Business at WMU.
 
Coach Gernon on Thielman:
"It's not hard to be excited about Avery's size and potential. He is another multi-sport athlete with tremendous upside and could easily develop into a power bat in our league. He could fit in well at either corner position in the infield and has an impressive defensive skill set to go along with his 6'5" frame that is still maturing."



DJ Thompson • RHP • 6-0 • 180 • Alma, Mich. • Alma High School
Thompson has been the ace of the pitching staff for coach Dennis Kreiner at Alma High School since his freshman year. He has led the team in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP and batting average in each of his first three seasons at Alma and was named a First Team All-District performer after his junior campaign. The righty was also the winning pitcher in the district championship games in both 2018 and 2020. Thompson played summer ball for coach Dan Cronkright at Midland Berryhill Legion, helping guide them to a district, state and regional championship and a fifth-place finish in the country.
 
He is also a two-year letterwinner for the wrestling program and was a key part of the school's seventh-place finish at the state wrestling tournament in 2018. The son of James and Katey Thompson, he carries a 3.3 GPA and plans to study Sports Management at Western Michigan.
 
Coach Gernon on Thompson:
"There is nothing I like more than competitors and DJ is a competitor. He also has great feel for all three pitches and can attack hitters in a variety of different ways with his command and pitchability. He has tremendous mound presence and understands the game well. We look forward to having him balance playing both sides of the baseball as his bat has potential as well."