Eight sign for diamond Mules
The Central Missouri State University Mules coaching staff signed eight players to letters of intent for the 2006 season just before the start of this past season.
Joining the Mules next year will be William Feil (St. Charles, Mo.), Christopher Fessler (Perscott Valley, Ariz.), Jeff Hoffner (Phoenix, Ariz.), Scott Houin (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Jonathan Nagel (Springfield, Mo.), Brent Robison (Broken Arrow, Okla.), Kyle Smith (Columbia, Mo.), and Kevin Turmail (Florissant, Mo.).
Feil, a 6-foot-2, 175 pound outfielder, is a 2005 graduate of Francis Howell North High School. The son of Bill and Gail Feil, he has lettered four years in baseball and twice in basketball. He was chosen first-team all-conference and all-district, and honorable mention all-metro as a junior, and this past season was selected AP 2nd Team All State in basketball, plus first team baseball All GAC South Conference, All District, All St. Louis Metro, and MHSBCA All State. In 2002 he helped Francis Howell to a runner-up finish at the state tournament, and in 2001 he was selected Most Valuable Player of the St. Louis Area Baseball Association All-Star Game after going 2-for-2 with three runs scored. For the past three summers he has played summer baseball with the Rawlings Midwest Prospects.
Fessler is currently enrolled at Yavapai Community College, where he was once named Eastern Arizona League Player of the Week and once as Pitcher of the Week. The 6-foot-3, 195 pound Fessler also was chosen National Junior College Athletic Association Pitcher of the Week once. The son of Taire Fessler, he graduated from Bradshaw Mountain High School, where he lettered on the diamond and appeared in the Arizona High School All-Star Game, going 2-for-3 and striking out a pair. He will be a junior when he enrolls at CMSU.
A 6-foot-1, 175 pound pitcher, Hoffner is the son of Mike and Stacy Hoffner. A sophomore at Yavapai Junior College, he went 7-3 with a 4.84 earned run average, 58 strikeouts, and 24 walks in 67 innings pitched. He was chosen in the 45th round of the Major League Draft by the Texas Ranges. Hoffner graduated from Cactus High School in Glendale, Ariz.
Houin, the son of Keith and Cathy Houin, is in his second year at Seward County Community College, where he was a second-team Kansas Jayhawk League selection last year. Selected in the 44th round by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2003 Major League Draft, he helped Seward County to a conference championship and the NJCAA World Series last year. A graduate of Rampant High School, Houis lettered three years in baseball and added three more in football.
Kollmeyer is also a sophomore at Seward County. A 6-foot-3, 215 pound first baseman/third baseman, he is the son of Rocky and Peggy Kollmeyer. A graduate of Derby High School, he lettered three years in baseball and twice in football. Kollmeyer was a three-time first-team all-conference selection (twice at third base and once at first), and was a second-team all-state selection as a junior designated hitter. He also helped lead Derby to the 2001 6A State Championship.
Nagel, a 6-3, 215 pound pitcher/first baseman, was an all-district and all-state selection as both a pitcher and first baseman at Kickapoo High School. Also an American Legion All-Star, he tied the school record for most home runs as a junior last year.
A 6-foot-5, 205 pound utility player, Paul could show up at first base, outfield, or pitcher. The son of Michael and Deborah Paul, he too is a sophomore at Seward County, where he was second-team all-conference last year. A graduate of Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colo., Paul lettered all four years on the baseball diamond. He was a three-time all-conference pick, and as a senior earned second-team all-state honors. He helped lead Regis Jesuit to three straight conference titles and to a pair of state tournament berths, finishing third in 2000 and second in 2003.
Robison is the son of Darrell and Brenda Robison and is a senior at Union High School in Tulsa, Okla. A 6-foot-1, 205 pound pitcher, he has earned three letters on the diamond, and last year was chosen conference Pitcher of the Year after going 9-0.
Turmail is a 6-foot-5, 200 pound pitcher and the son of James and Susan Turmail. Last season he was selected a Metro All-Star and NABF College World Series All-Star as a freshman at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park. Turmail was also selected in the 35th round by the Florida Marlins last spring. A 2003 graduate of Hazelwood Central High School, he lettered three years and was twice named all-conference.
Smith, a pitcher and shortstop, is expected to be a top starter at Columbia Hickman this season. The 6-foot-3 righthander, was a key to Columbia American Legion Post 202’s runner-up finish in the state tournament last season.
The Mules open their 2005 campaign February 4 at Houston, Texas, when they play a doubleheader vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville. On February 5, the will face Rice University in a single nine-inning game. Their first home game is scheduled for February 17 when CMSU plays host to Bacone (Okla.) University at 1:00 p.m.“Our entire staff did a great job of scouring the country for the best fit for Central Missouri State University,” Mules head coach Darin Hendrickson said. “We added a mix of freshmen and transfers who should have immediate impacts across the diamond. We have signed three players under control with professional teams, in addition to freshmen who can help us immediately. That will always help us continue the outstanding tradition at CMSU.”
Central Missouri State finished third in NCAA Division II last year after establishing a new school record for wins in going 57-8