Ten recruits sign with BYU baseball

Sons of former Cougar players are among the 10 baseball players who signed November letters of intent with BYU.

Bryan Call, an infielder from Mission Viejo, California, and Clay Sisler from Valley Center, California, are not only sons of former Cougars, but their fathers Burt and Ron are also their high school coaches.

Joining Call and Sisler at BYU are also Daniel Gelalich of La Verne, California, Casey Jacobsen of Flower Mound, Texas and Utahns Keaton Kringlen and Easton Walker, all of whom had brothers or an uncle play Division I baseball.

Rounding out the list of 10 BYU signees are Zach Brinkerhoff from Cedar City, Utah; Triston Busse from Portland, Texas; Noah Hill also from Flower Mound; and Daniel Schneemann from Chula Vista, California.

“ This signing class is full of athletic guys who know how to play the game, and maybe most importantly, they have a strong desire to compete at the highest level,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said.

Call’s father Burt (1985-90) and Uncle Nate (1987-92) played baseball and basketball, respectively, for BYU. And his sister Brittany plays for BYU softball.

Sisler’s father Ron was a centerfielder for BYU in 1987-88 and his great-great grandfather George Sisler is a Hall of Famer in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Jacobsen’s brother Mackay played baseball last season before going on a mission to Louisville, Kentucky, and his father Travis was a pole-vaulter at BYU.

Gelalich’s brother Jeff plays for the Cincinnati Reds organization and was an All-American at  UCLA, and his brother Matt plays baseball at Pepperdine, having served a mission to Chile.

Kringlen’s uncle Blaine Milne played for the St. Louis Cardinals organization and for BYU (1990-91).

Walker’s older brothers Braden and Devin played baseball at UNLV and Utah, respectively.

Listed below is more information on each player.

Zach Brinkerhoff, 5-10, 190, RHP, Canyon View HS, Cedar City, Utah

He was first team all-state for both the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News. He was all-region and a captain who also lettered in basketball. Had a 9-3 record and 0.43 earned run average last year with 175 career strikeouts and a 22-6 record with three saves. He was recruited by Kentucky, Dixie State and SLCC.

Coach Littlewood on Brinkerhoff – “Zach is an extreme competitor who really knows how to pitch. We look for him to come in and make an immediate impact on our pitching staff.”

Triston Busse, 6-0, 180, RHP, Gregory-Portland HS, Portland, Texas

Second team Top Texas and all-district. Had an 8-3 record last season with a 1.13 ERA in 85.2 innings including 87 strikeouts. He was 7-3 as a sophomore with 63 strikeouts. Summer league team Houston Banditos won the Perfect Game World Series in Arizona. Is an outside linebacker and kicker for his football team. Recruited by Texas Tech, Tulane, West Virginia, Pan American and Abilene Christian University.

Coach Littlewood on Busse – “Triston is a unique guy throwing from a low ¾ arm slot with good velocity. He has great experience and is a tough competitor having played for the Houston Banditos and should help us as soon as he gets on campus.”

Bryan Call, 5-9, 165, 2B, SS, Mater Dei HS, Mission Viejo, California

He was All-Trinity League and team defensive MVP. His team was ranked No. 1 in 2013 and won the National High School Invitational and the Boras Championship. He batted .275 with 18 RBI as a junior. He was recruited by Cal State Northridge and Portland.

Coach Littlewood on Call – “Bryan comes to us from one the best high school baseball programs in the country in Mater Dei, where he is coached by his dad,  former Cougar Burt Call. He is a solid second baseman with a really high baseball IQ who can really swing it from the left side.”

Danny Gelalich, 6-3, 180, OF, Bonita HS, La Verne, California

He was two-time All-Hacienda League, batted .333 and was 12 of 17 in stolen bases in 2014. He was academic all-league and  team defensive player of the year last year in baseball.  He was all league in football as a defensive back and wide receiver. He was recruited by UC Irvine and UCLA.

Coach Littlewood on Gelalich – “Danny is a big physical outfielder from Southern California that was a standout in football as well. He is a tremendous athlete and I believe that he has the potential to be an all-conference player very quickly here at BYU.”

Noah Hill, 5-9, 180, C/Inf, Flower Mound HS, Flower Mound, Texas

He was all-district and batted .334. He was recruited by Army and Dallas Baptist University.

Coach Littlewood on Hill – “Noah comes to us from Flower Mound High School, the reigning 5A Texas state champions. Noah is a very versatile player as he can play anywhere in the infield including catcher. His summer team, D-Bat Gallegos, also won the Connie Mack World Series.”

Casey Jacobsen, 6-0, 185, SS, Flower Mound HS, Flower Mound, Texas

He was all-area, all-district, all-state tournament, newcomer of the year and batted .315. He was recruited by Texas Arlington, Dallas Baptist University and Arkansas.

Coach Littlewood on Jacobsen – “Casey is the younger brother of MacKay that played for us last season and is currently serving a mission in Louisville, Kentucky. He is also from the 5A Texas state champion Flower Mound team where he led the team as the everyday shortstop. We expect Casey to come in and make a significant contribution here his freshman year.”

Keaton Kringlen, 5-10, 200, OF, Canyon View HS, Cedar City, Utah

He was three-time all-state by both Salt Lake City newspapers. He led 3A in doubles while his team finished fifth in state. He was a team captain who batted .390 with 17 doubles, three homers and a triple in 2014. Lettered four times in baseball, three times in basketball and twice in football. Father played for UC Santa Barbara. Recruited by San Diego, Utah, Utah Valley, University of Nevada, Dixie State and SLCC.

Coach Littlewood on Kringlen – “Keaton is one of the most pure hitters I have seen in the state for quite some time.  Not only can he flat out hit, his passion for the game is infectious.”

Daniel Schneemann, 6-1, 165, SS, Bonita Vista HS, Chula Vista, California

He was team captain for Division II CIF champions. He was recruited by Loyola Marymount, Arizona, West Virginia, Fresno State, Dartmouth and Nevada.

Coach Littlewood on Schneemann – “Daniel is a slick-fielding shortstop from San Diego who plays for CBA Marrucci, one of the top teams in the country. He is a left- handed hitter that we are very excited about.”

Clay Sisler, 6-3, 185, OF, RHP, Valley Center HS, Valley Center, California

He was three-time All-Valley League. Captain for his team where he batted .385, had 17 RBI and 12 stolen bases. He was recruited by Navy, Dartmouth and UC Davis.

Coach Littlewood on Sisler – “Clay is a two way player from San Diego that has tremendous ability with his bat as well as on the mound. He is coached by his dad who is also a former Cougar.”

Easton Walker, 5-9, 155, 2B/RHP, Pleasant Grove HS, Pleasant Grove, Utah

He was 5A MVP and first team all-state. He batted .489 and had a 6-0 record as a pitcher in state tournaments. He captained the team that placed second in state in 2014. Recruited by Utah Valley.

Coach Littlewood on Walker – “Easton is a local product out of Pleasant Grove where he helped lead his team to the 5A state championship game last year. He is a two-way guy who is a bulldog on the mound and scrappy in the box. We love the way he competes.”