Sheriff announces seven new faces.

By Press release submission

Dec 2, 2022

Interim Head Coach Tayler Sheriff announced his 2023 signing class Wednesday afternoon. Sheriff welcomes four incoming first-year students and will also welcome three incoming transfers.

"First and foremost, I'm very proud of our coaching staff for the work they put in on the recruiting trail so far in this cycle. They worked their tails over the last four months since we've all gotten here, and we really put together a nice early signing class. We're very excited about the seven guys who have signed so far," said Coach Sheriff. "We were able to identify several outstanding young men that fit the mold of what we want Leatherneck baseball to look like. They believe in the direction of the program, and they are excited about being a part of the Western Illinois baseball tradition. We couldn't be more excited to get this group on campus next fall."

Owen Sullivan heads south to join the Western Illinois Baseball team. A native of Oak Creek, WI, Sullivan plays travel baseball for the Midwest Halos. As an outfielder, Sullivan has earned three varsity letters and all-conference honors in 2022.

Sullivan, who has been a part of the Oak Creek High School baseball program that has won 20 or more games each of the last 20 years, says, "I am excited about the direction of the Western Illinois baseball program and it definitely feels like I am going to be a part of something special."

Coach Sheriff is just as excited to bring a guy like Sullivan into the program. "Owen is a very good athlete that can play all three outfield positions and handles the bat well. He committed to us early in the cycle and has been a bought in as anyone."

Jack Duncan makes the short trip across town. The Macomb High School graduate who has set records for career throwing yards and touchdowns on the football field will put down the pigskin and devote his time to the diamond. Duncan, a right-handed pitcher, has earned first-team all-conference honors and helped Macomb High win a regional championship in his sophomore year.

Duncan highlighted how great an opportunity it is to play at WIU. "It is a great opportunity to play at a high-level while being so close to home. I love the enthusiasm that Coach Sheriff is bringing to the program and the overall baseball environment."

Joining both Sullivan and Duncan, Jackson Rodgers joins WIU as another right-handed pitcher. Rodgers, who comes from Glen Carbon, Ill, played his travel ball with Gators Baseball Academy. Rodgers has had a successful prep career earning First Team All-Conference honors twice in basketball and baseball, Gateway Metro Conference Player of the Year (2022), and two-time Metro East Small School MVP.

Rodgers said the connection made him realize WIU was the perfect spot. "Immediate connection with the coaching staff, the attitude around the program is great and I feel it's a place where I can go and continue to keep getter better and better." Coach Sheriff also knew the fit was right. "He is a guy that has a chip on his shoulder that will fit in great with our blue-collar type of approach."

Colton Kachinsky is the final freshman in the 2023 class. Kachinsky comes from Lincoln-Way West High School as a left-handed pitcher. Kachinsky, who has earned all-conference honors, credits his parents to his success. "They have always pushed me to be the best person I could be and gave me all the tools to be the best ball player I could be"

"We had the chance to follow Colton on the recruiting trail a lot this fall. He is another guy that competes really hard," said Sheriff. "He's got a polished arsenal and we expect him to be a big contributor from the jump."

Jason Buhl comes to WIU after playing at Heartland Community College. The first-team all-American went 9-0 on the mound last year for the hawks helping them reach the juco world series. The left-handed pitcher originally from Rockford, Ill wanted to compete at a high level and win and felt like WIU was the place to do it.

Coach Sheriff likes the established ability to win. "Jason is a Heartland product who has done an awful lot of winning. He went 9-0 last year on the mound for a juco world series team."

Utility man Grant Palmer transfers into Western Illinois University from Lincoln Trail Community College. A High School Regional Champion, Palmer earned all-conference and all-area honors. The four-time academic all-conference player knew the culture around WIU made it feel like home. "The culture of the coaching staff was another thing I loved, as their goals and vision for the program matched what I was hoping to find. It just felt like home."

"We're very excited about the versatility that Grant is going to bring to our program. He is a tremendous athlete that can really handle the bat. He has already played multiple positions in his collegiate career," said Sheriff. "We're excited to have Grant running around making an impact in a multitude of ways in 2023-2024."

NJCAA National Gold Glove Award winner Maxton Polad makes the 45-minute trip from Southeastern Community College to Western Illinois. Polad, who won the Gold Glove in the outfield as a freshman, also contributed 25 extra-base hits last year. "Maxton is a physical outfielder that comes from a very good junior college program just up the road," said Sheriff. "He is a guy we expect to fit in nicely in the middle of our lineup."

Polad came from a winning JUCO and said that was a part of coming to WIU. "I chose Western because I believe in the new coaching staff. Coming from a winning Junior College, I care a lot about being part of a competitive program, and I believe the coaches are in it for the right reasons while also wanting to win lots of ball games!"