Three Pitchers Among Wolverines' Five Early Signees
11/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan head baseball coach Rich Maloney announced Friday (Nov. 14) commitments from five players during the November early signing period (Nov. 12-19). The five players include RHP Chris Fetter (Carmel, Ind./Carmel HS), RHP David Nykerk (Holland, Mich./West Ottawa HS), OF/C Doug Pickens (West Bloomfield, Mich./Brother Rice HS), RHP Michael Powers (St. Clair Shores, Mich./South Lake HS) and 1B/3B Derek Van Buskirk (St. Clair, Mich./St. Clair HS).
"I'm very excited about our second group of early signees, and I think these players will complement our returning team members for the 2005 season," said Maloney, who has now signed 11 players in his first two early signing periods. Ten of Maloney's 11 early signing players have been from Michigan.
"As most of my recruiting classes have been, this class is filled with top-notch student-athletes who have enjoyed success both on the field and in the classroom," Maloney continued. "They will play an important role in the continued success of the program. They are student-athletes who will make the Michigan family proud."
Fetter is a three-time letterman for the Carmel High School Greyhounds, pitching for coaches Tom Linkmeyer and Eric Lentz. He has eight wins and has recorded 133 strikeouts in 113 innings while earning all-conference honors in each of the last two seasons. "Chris is an outstanding athlete playing in a highly ranked high school basketball program. He has a good fastball and is a late bloomer with a great upside in baseball," said Maloney.
Nykerk tossed a complete game to lead the Panthers in the state championship game victory over Brother Rice, facing future Wolverine teammate Matt Petry (Farmington Hills, Mich./Brother Rice HS). "David has a fastball in the upper 80s and has the makings of a good curve ball," said Maloney.
Pickens, who has led coach Al Fracassa's Brother Rice football team into the regional finals, recently broke the school record for career touchdown passes (40). Last season he hit .465 with 11 homers. "Doug is a talented athlete playing quarterback on the football team and he is a star hockey player. He has outstanding bat speed and power and he looks to be an impact player," said Maloney.
Powers earned first team all-state honors in baseball with an 11-1 record in 2003 for coach Ray Buccilli, and he has earned academic honors for basketball and baseball with the Cavaliers. "Mike throws in the upper 80s with a good hammer. He shows excellent poise and he is an outstanding student," said Maloney.
An honor roll student, Van Buskirk hit .500 as a junior, scoring 24 runs and driving in 20 in 21 games played for coach Richard Mallwitz at St. Clair High School. "Derek is a multi-sport athlete with excellent potential as a late bloomer," said Maloney.
The Wolverines open the 2004 season with two games at the University of Florida (Feb. 24-25) and open the home season in Ray Fisher Stadium vs. Oakland University on March 26. Michigan hosts Minnesota in the Big Ten-opening series April 2-4.
Michigan Baseball Early Signees (as of 11/14/03)
| Name | Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown (High School) |
| Chris Fetter | RHP | R-R | 6-8 | 205 | Carmel, Ind. (Carmel) |
| David Nykerk | RHP | R-R | 6-3 | 186 | Holland, Mich. (West Ottawa) |
| Doug Pickens | OF/C | R-R | 6-0 | 180 | West Bloomfield, Mich. (Brother Rice) |
| Michael Powers | RHP | R-R | 6-3 | 160 | St. Clair Shores, Mich. (South Lake) |
| Derek Van Buskirk | 1B/3B | R-R | 6-5 | 175 | St. Clair, Mich. (St. Clair) |
N O T E S
Chris Fetter joins the Wolverines from the same high school that produced current Wolverine RHP Jim Brauer (Carmel, Ind./Carmel HS). Fetter is a forward on Carmel High's basketball team that is ranked third in Indiana.
David Nykerk has earned three varsity letters in baseball and earned second team all-state honors as a junior after helping lead his West Ottawa team, coached by Jim Caserta, to the state title. Nykerk was 10-1 with a 1.26 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 79 innings as a junior.
Doug Pickens rejoins former Brother Rice teammates and current Wolverine freshmen IF Dan Lentz (Farmington Hills, Mich./Brother Rice HS) and LHP Matt Petry. Pickens launched a long home run at Fisher Stadium last spring when Birmingham Brother Rice met Chicago's Brother Rice in Ann Arbor.
Michael Powers was 11-1 with a save as a junior and he fanned 140 and walked just nine in 83.1 innings of work. He also hit .526 with 38 RBI. Powers fanned 16 in a no-hitter vs. Hazel Park as a junior.
Derek Van Buskirk joins former St. Clair High teammate Brad Seddon (St. Clair, Mich./St. Clair HS) at Michigan. Van Buskirk has earned varsity letters in baseball, basketball and golf. Derek's brother Ryan is a pro hockey player and was drafted by Washington in the fourth round of the 2000 National Hockey League entry draft.
Contact: Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
