by Namur Angels, www.namur-angels.be
Namur, who reached the Belgian Series last season have made a pitch to another strong season by adding NCAA standouts Greg Van Sickler and Jake Hummel.
Greg Van Sickler from Shenandoah University (Virginia) started four years for his school, helping it to consecutive D3 World Series appearances. A two-way player, he appeared in the individual categories rankings of NCAA in both pitching (strikeouts, victories, walks allowed) and hitting (doubles, total bases, batting average…). On the mound he sported a 3,15 career ERA, with a career-best 1,81 and a 8,3 strikeout to walk ratio in his senior year. Offensively, he is a 0,411 career hitter, with 22 homeruns and 190 RBIs in 177 at bats. His stellar senior campaign earned him a All American 1st team selection, an elite group of the very best NCAA D3 players.
Jake Hummel, who comes from Peoria (Arizona), started his college career as a two-way player (P/OF) at Scottsdale Community College and was a part of the team that finished second at the NJCAA World Series. He then transferred to the University of the Pacific (Big West Conference, with Fullerton, Long Beach, UC Irvine..) where he focused on pitching. Used as a starter as well as a reliever, he posted an overall 12-9 record with 3 saves, and a 4,65 ERA. In 2 years in the Big West Conference, he struck out 127 batters walking only 53 over 191 innings.
Both players have been recruited for their baseball abilities but also fit very well the «Namur Angels profile» that aims to recruit good role models and teachers. Greg will be in charge of the U15 team while Jake will coach the junior team. Both players have coaching experience with youth in the US.