The Central Missouri State Mules have added nine more student-athletes to compete in the 2007 baseball season. The latest class includes four pitchers and five field players.
Joining the Mules 2007 class are:
Balin Bergman - 1B
6-2 * 205 * R/R * Junior
Hutchinson C.C. * Omaha, Neb.
A second team all-conference performer, Bergman led Hutchinson C.C. to back-to-back conference titles and a Region XI Championship. He hit .348 with 47 hits in 44 games as he helped coach Kyle Crookes to a Junior College World Series appearance last year. Bergman played for Millard North High School in Omaha, Neb. He was a two-time all-metro player, guiding his team to a couple district titles and a state championship. He also played in the Colin-Orcott All-Star Game.
Chris Brown - C
6-0 * 185 * R/R * Junior
Feather River C.C. * Henderson, Nev.
Brown led Feather River C.C. and was eighth in the state of California with a .428 average in the 2006 season. He had 12 doubles and stole 20 bases while earning Golden Valley Conference Most Valuable Player honors. Also a junior college All-American, Brown hit an outstanding .512 in conference action for coach Reed Peters. He was an award-winning athlete at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nev. as well, playing both baseball and basketball.
Bryan Collins - RHP
6-2 * 210 * R/R * Junior
Alvin (Texas) C.C. * Corpus Christi, Texas
A 31st round pick of the Chicago Cubs, Collins threw for head coach Brian Alexander at Alvin Community College. He played at Richard King High School in Corpus Christi, where he earned all-district and all-metro honors.
Iain Dykins – 3B
6-2 * 190 * R/R * Junior
Feather River C.C. * Reno, Nev.
A first-team all-conference performer at Feather River Community College, Dykins was invited to the Northern California All-Star Showcase last year. He also helped head coach Reed Peters squad to the Golden Valley Conference title in 2005. At Wooster High School in Reno, he was a first-team all-conference pick at third base and an honorable mention selection at shortstop, helping the squad to a state title in 2002. He was also a second-team all-conference quarterback for the football team and was voted offensive most valuable player. Dykins was a national High School Heisman nominee.
Seth Gilleland - RHP
6-3 * 230 * R/R * Senior
University of Northern Colorado * Moriarty, N.M.
Played at Northern Colorado last season and posted a 5.36 ERA in 82.1 innings pitched. He earned All-Tournament team honors at the Division I Independent Invitational. Had his best outing of the year against Texas A&M, allowing only six hits and two runs in eight innings of work. Gilleland transferred to Northern Colorado after playing two seasons at Lamar Community College. In his sophomore season there, he struck out 117 and walked only 27 in 84 innings of action to earn first-team all-region honors. He also posted a 9-1 record and a 2.36 ERA for the two-time regional champion Running Lopes. At Moriarty High School, he was first-team all-conference as a pitcher and second-team as an outfielder, batting over .400 his senior year. Gilleland also led his team to a second place finish in the state.
Brendan Higgins - RHP
6-0 * 190 * R/R * Junior
Cloud County C.C. * Kansas City, Kan.
Higgins logged 43 strikeouts last season at Cloud County with a 5.47 ERA. He made 11 starts and notched a 3-7 record with one save. At Bishop Ward High School, he posted a 24-3 overall record and helped them to Kansas state titles as a junior and a senior.
Matt Michals - RHP
6-3 * 195 * R/R * Junior
Oakton (Ill.) C.C. * Rolling Meadows, Ill.
Michals helped Oakton to a 42-17-1 overall record and a Skyway Conference championship last season. He posted a 1.53 ERA with 71 strikeouts and only 12 walks in 47 innings of action. He was also a first-team all-conference performer for head coach Bill Fratto. He attended Rolling Meadows High School.
Blaine Rutledge – 2B/3B
6-0 * 200 * L/R * Junior
Madison Area Technical College * Chaska, Minn.
Rutledge led the Wolfpack in nearly every offensive category, hitting .423 with an outstanding .551 on base percentage. He scored 57 runs in 57 games and tallied 74 hits for head coach Mike Davenport’s squad, earning the distinction of second-team NJCAA All-American. He also helped MATC to a conference title and an appearance in the Region XIII championship game. He attended Chaska High School.
Jonathan Wegener - OF
6-1 * 185 * R/R * Freshman
Raytown High School * Raytown, Mo.
A two-time first-team all-conference and second-team all-area performer in the outfield, Wegener also earned honorable mention all-conference and all-area as a pitcher. He lettered three years for head coach James Oyler and also earned honorable mention all-conference three times in football. Wegener also garnered all-star honors in American Legion play.
Mules baseball continued its winning ways with a 44-16 record and their seventh consecutive MIAA Tournament Championship in 2006. They also made their 13th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.
These signees join Peter Davenport, Luis Perez, Alex Kent, Ronnie Martin, Brett Nightingale, Daniel Potje, Clay Weatherford, and Kris Webber, who all inked in the early period.