"USI Baseball's Future Stars Set to Shine"

Outfielder Dane DeWees

Dane DeWees, an outfielder from Sellersburg, Indiana, is in his second season at Southwestern Illinois College. As a freshman, he showcased exceptional skills, batting at a remarkable.369 with 64 runs scored, 38 RBIs, 22 stolen bases, and even one home run in 55 games. His right-handed hitting and throwing abilities make him a standout on the field. DeWees was a key member of the Silver Creek High School's state championship team in 2023.

Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich had high praise for DeWees, stating, "Dane is an absolute spark plug. He has game-changing speed and uses it on the bases and in the outfield. He is an elite athlete who has great bat-to-ball skills. Dane can create momentum quickly by making exciting plays on both sides of the ball. We look forward to getting Dane into our program."

Infielder/Pitcher Ryan Skwarek

Ryan Skwarek from Crystal Lake, Illinois, played a crucial role in helping the McHenry County College conference and regional championship team in 2024. He was named All-Conference and All-Region after hitting a.384 batting average and producing a 4.91 ERA with two saves in just five appearances on the mound. Skwarek was a two-time All-State, All-Area, and All-Conference performer at Crystal Lake South High School, batting.430 as a junior and.400 as a senior.

Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich emphasized Skwarek's abilities, saying, "Ryan is a plus athlete that can play all over the infield, really handle the bat in the box and step on the mound and be a difference maker as well. With the changing rosters, Ryan is going to be a huge addition to our program, allowing us to do a lot of different things with him. We are excited to get him in our program and watch him continue to develop."

Pitcher Jared Eckstein

Jared Eckstein, a pitcher from Cincinnati, Ohio, is in his second season at Wabash Valley College. As a freshman, he had a solid 3.38 ERA in 10 games, striking out 18 in 10.2 innings of work. In his senior year at Elder High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, he had a 1.47 ERA and 38 strikeouts.

Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich had this to say about Eckstein, "Jared comes from a winning program in Wabash Valley. He has a big-time arm and the ability to strike out a lot of hitters. He has pitched in big games and is not afraid of the situation. We are looking forward to getting Jared into our program and seeing him continue to develop."

Pitcher Konner Quinn

Konner Quinn, from South Bend, Indiana, is in his second season at Wabash Valley College. As a freshman in 2024, he had a 4.50 ERA and nine strikeouts. In his senior year at LaVille High School in 2023, he was 4-1 with a 1.06 ERA and 59 strikeouts. He also struck out 14 batters versus Oregon-Davis High School.

Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich commented on Quinn, saying, "Konner comes from up the road at Wabash Valley. Quinn is a big body with a big-time arm up to 94 miles per hour. He is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential, and we are excited to watch him continue to grow."

Pitcher Trey O’Neil

Trey O’Neil, entering his second season at Southeastern Community College, was 5-0 with three saves as a freshman, finishing with a 3.90 ERA and 25 strikeouts. He was an all-around athlete at Williamsburg High School, lettering in baseball, basketball, cross country, and track & field.

Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich praised O’Neil, stating, "Trey is a competitor on the mound. His pitch ability is off the charts. He can start or close a game out. O’Neil comes from a winning program in Southeastern, pitching in the NJCAA World Series as a freshman. Coming from Southeastern, we know he will be prepared for anything that is thrown his way."

Pitcher Jacob Barrett

Jacob Barrett, who originally started his career at Murray State University, appeared in 11 games at Kirkwood Community College last spring, making one start and compiling a 0-1 record with three saves. He had a 4.26 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 12.2 innings of work. Barrett lettered in baseball at Castle High School (Newburgh, Indiana).

Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich had high hopes for Barrett, saying, "Jacob, who comes from a winning program, is a local kid who we are excited to get back to Evansville. He can close games out with one of the best-breaking balls in the country. He has pitched in big spots, and we look for him to continue to do that at USI to help us bring home an OVC championship."

Outfielder Gavyn Boyle

Gavyn Boyle, an All-American in 2024, batted.395 during his first collegiate season at Niagara County Community College with 57 RBIs, 55 runs scored, and eight home runs in 57 games. He was a multi-sport athlete at Royalton Hartland High School in Middleport, New York, lettering in baseball, soccer, and basketball before originally signing with Virginia Commonwealth University.

Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich was excited about Boyle, stating, "Gavyn is a big-time power bat with the ability to make any park look small. On top of his power, he is a plus athlete with the ability to steal bases. Gavyn was an All-American as a freshman and is playing for Niagara, which is one of the winningest programs in NJCAA baseball over the last 10 years. We can’t wait to get his bat on campus."

Infielder Allen Hernandez

Allen Hernandez started his collegiate career at Howard Community College before transferring to Mineral Area College this spring. As a freshman, he had a.352 batting average in 32 games with six home runs, 22 RBIs, and 24 runs scored. Hernandez lettered in Don Bosco Prep before starting his collegiate career.

Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich had this to say about Hernandez, "Allen is an advanced hitter who had good power numbers as a freshman. He can play multiple positions across the infield. We are excited to get Allen in our program and watch him to continue to grow."

Pitcher Lars Dabrowiak

Lars Dabrowiak is in his senior season at Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville, Tennessee).

Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich had high expectations for Dabrowiak, saying, "Lars is a big body with a power arm and his ceiling is through the roof. He pitched well this summer in the Area Code games against the top players in the country. Lars is going to continue to get better and become a big part of our program. We are looking forward to getting Lars on campus and watching him become a household name in Evansville over the next few years."