Kenneth Avila, a 4 year starter at shortstop for nationally ranked W.B. Ray High School, has committed to play for Northwestern University of the Big 10.

Chad Noble, catcher for Rockwall who made it to the class 5a state championship last year, has also committed to play at Northwestern.

These two will bring a lot of talent to the Northwestern team and best of luck to them.

Joe Muraski, LHP, DC Everest High School in Wausau, Wisconsin also signed with Northwestern this morning. Joe is a 3 yr starter who has pitched and played 1st base on a team who competed in the Wis state tournament in 2004 and the Legion state tourney last summer.

Go Cats!

Tx...How did they choose Northwestern with all of the quality baseball programs in Texas and the South?

...Especially interested in knowing why a Texas kid heads North.

Been


Perhaps for the education and the opportunity to play

Cole Livermore from St. Charles East has signed with Northwestern

Congratulations to Kenneth Avila and the Avila family!!! Ken played on my son's summer team and he is a tremendous player who is one of the fastest players in the state of Texas this year. He will be very successful at Northwestern and there couldn't be a more deserving player out there with his work ethic and attitude.

IMO -- and I have no first-hand knowledge -- TR hit the nail on the head. Choosing Northwestern is no different than selecting other out-of-state schools. Yes, Texas has a myriad of opportunities for baseball players -- several top-level D1, numerous D2 and D2 schools, and some of the best baseball JUCOS in the nation. But this Big 10 school offers outstanding educational opportunities. Also, I think northern schools that sign kids from Texas consider it a boost for recruiting -- especially kids that have other baseball choices.

Beenthere - Why would you ask that question when your son went to play in New Jersey? Wouldn't the same apply that they were looking for the best education that was a good fit for them? The truth is that Northwestern should be quite good this year and the recruiting class from what I hear is outstanding. Not just the kids from Texas, but other great players as well.

how is there recruiting class looking? what players besides avila and noble

Bench....My son went from Chicago (cold) to Princeton (cold).

These kids are going from Texas (hot) to Chicago (cold).

My question had nothing to do with academics.

I hope Northwestern wins the Big Ten/11 and goes to the NCAA tournament.

From what I know...I know that they've stuggled for the past 15 years or so.

Been - According to your profile your older son went to Mississippi (hot) and your younger son is going to New Jersey (cold) and your younger son is the better player of the two. Your question has nothing to do with acedemics but perhaps the answer does. For both situations.

Dynasty - From what I know they signed the top lefty from Illinois, a top righty from Illinois and a top lefty from Wisconsin who may be better than both of them. They also signed a solid outfielder from Illinois. These are six impact players coming into their system where they have a smaller roster than most schools. Not only is this a real positive for Northwestern, but for these kids for they should all have a good opportunity to play right away. As I stated earlier, this is in addition to what should be their strongest season in quite some time.

Benchwarmer- How does Northwestern stack up with some of the other top tier teams in the Big 10. I know that with another talented recruiting class to match this one, next year, Northwestern should be battling for the top spot.

?????

NU has a pretty good coach as he was an assistant on my Full Time Travel team from age 9-14. He knos his game and with limited incoming talent do to grades, he has done pretty well.

NU is one of my son's picks due to their Journalism school. There is life after baseball.

Congrats to the signees! Here is the link
http://nusports.collegesports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/020806aac.html

Congrats to the Texas boys! We met Chad Noble and his family over the fall and aside from being an excellent player, he is also one of the nicest young men around. Northwestern is lucky to get two great athletes from Texas. Although having lived near Evanston prior to moving to Texas, my son would never go back to play in the cold!

It was great to read about my son's future teammates. Sounds like a great group of players -congratulations to all. I'm sure you're all as proud as we are.

And, who says it's cold in Chicago? The southern flatlanders come up to our neck of the woods to find snow!

Mom of Joe Muraski, LHP/1B
D.C. Everest HS, Rothschild, WI

Northwestern has also picked up an outstanding MIF from NW Indiana named Tommy Finn...3-sport athlete who QB his team to a state championship, point guard on a semi-state basketball team, 3 year starter at SS who led baseball team to state championship Sr year and state runner-up Jr year and was named MVP of championship game his Sr year