Schmitz, Heili Lead Group of First Signees
Posted: March 13, 2016
The A’s have announced the first player signees of the 2016 season, lead by the return of pitcher Eric Schmitz and pitcher-infielder Nate Heili. Four new recruits have also signed on to play with the club this summer.
While at UW-Whitewater, Schmitz was a first team all-WIAC choice and the iron-arm righthander still holds the Whitewater career record for appearances. Schmitz was 5-0 with a 1.88 earned run average last year. Employed by Kohler Co., Schmitz helps coach pitchers at Sheboygan North High School and with the city’s American Legion team.
Heili, a Sheboygan Falls High School grad, emerged as the A’s starting shortstop until an injury ended his season. He finished with a .329 batting average. He is currently playing at UW La Crosse where he will be working as a pitcher-infielder this spring. He is projected to fill both of those roles with the A’s this summer as well.
The four newcomers are infielders Trevor Cho and Mitchell Sutton who were Homestead High School teammates, and Mitchell McConnell, and pitcher Dan Behlke.
Cho, a first team all-stater, is a redshirt freshman at St. Cloud State University (NCAA Division Two) where he is the projected starting shortstop next season. He hit .360 with 35 RBI and six home runs at Homestead High School last season.
Sutton, a teammate of Heili’s at UW-La Crosse (NCAA Division Three), works mostly at first and third base. He joined Cho in the Wisconsin State Coaches Association All-Star game last summer.
McConnell, from Belgium, plays second base and hit .357 and .369 for Ozaukee High School. He is at Upper Iowa University (NCAA Division Two).
Behlke is at Scranton, PA’s Lackawanna College (NJCAA Division Two). He played his high school ball for Fond du Lac in the Fox Valley Association.
The A’s will open the season May 21 against the Appleton Legends in the annual Project G.R.I.L.L. game. The game will be a non-league game, although the Legends are a Northeastern Wisconsin Baseball League opponent.
Season tickets are available now for the 2016 season. Groups looking to book outings and get more information by contacting the A’s at info@sheboyganbaseball.org.
The Sheboygan A's are members of the Wisconsin State League and Northeastern Wisconsin Baseball League. The A's have helped develop more than 43 players that have reached professional baseball, including 2002 World Series Champion Jarrod Washburn (Anaheim Angels). All Sheboygan A's home games are played at Wildwood Baseball Park in Sheboygan. Connect with the A's on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
