Nov. 13, 2008

Chicago, Ill.- UIC head baseball coach Mike Dee announced on Thursday, Nov. 13 that right-handed pitchers Joey Begel (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South H.S.), Jake Powers (Cottleville, Mo./Howell Central H.S.) and Charlie Weinberg (Eagan, Minn./Eagan H.S.) and left-handed pitcher Tim Suminski (Milwaukee, Wis./Parkway Christian H.S.) have signed National Letters of Intent to throw for the Flames beginning in the 2010 season.

"I'm really excited about this group," said Dee. "I think that [assistant coach/recruiting coordinator] Mike [Nall] did a phenomenal job of not only identifying these players, but then doing an extensive amount of analysis regarding whether or not they were a great fit for our program in terms of what we're trying to accomplish and how we go about our business.

"I think all four of them fit in perfectly," Dee said. "They're all great kids, they're good students, they're all sincere, they truly want to be great players and they want to be part of a team that is successful.

"We're excited about the future for those four and for the future of the program with them in it."

Begel is a 6-foot-3, 180-pound right-hander who pitches for coach Kraig Conyer at Hinsdale South.

"Joey mixes a good fastball with a swing-and-miss splitter," said Nall. "He has a lot of confidence and will go right at hitters. He has the kind of ability that will allow him to compete for innings on the mound right now, but he also has some room to grow. I think his best days are still to come."

Powers is a 5-foot-10, 165-pound right-handed hurler out of Francis Howell Central in St. Charles, Mo., where he pitches for coach Ray Howard.

"Jake is an outstanding athlete," Nall said. "He has an above-average fastball and complements that with a hard curveball and good feel for a changeup. He has great mound presence and loves to compete. I like his enthusiasm and passion, and I am looking forward to it rubbing off on our entire program. I believe he will be a contributor very early in his career at UIC."

Weinberg is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound righty from Eagan High in Eagan, Minn. His prep coach is Rob Walsh.

"Charlie throws a fastball with good velocity and movement," said Nall. "His best off-speed pitch is a sharp slider. He is a strike-thrower with both pitches and attacks hitters. He likes to learn, and I can see him being a good leader in our program. Charlie is another guy that loves to compete. I can see him playing a big role on our staff, both on the mound and in the clubhouse."

Suminski is a 6-foot-4, 195-pound left-hander who pitches for the Racine Hitters travel ball organization that is coached by RJ Fergus.

"Tim is the lone lefty in the group and has a three-pitch mix of a fastball, a curveball and a changeup," said Nall. "He can throw all three for strikes and has good downward tilt to all of his pitches. On the field and in the classroom Tim is very intelligent and mature beyond his years. He is a great fit for UIC and our program. He will make an impact on our staff sooner rather than later."

With senior starters Derrick Miramontes and Mike Kool anchoring a 2009 pitching corps full of upperclassmen, the Flames' crop of early signees restocks the staff for the following year and beyond.

"We are going to lose some key members of our pitching staff after this spring, and their contributions to this program will be missed in a lot of ways," said Nall. "Looking ahead, I think each of these signees brings some unique strengths to the table that will help us build our pitching staff for the future.

"Most importantly, they are good people and will represent our program well. As a whole I could not be more pleased with the group of young men we have signed."