Wichita State baseball targets high school recruits in 2015 class

After two full recruiting classes and one season on the field, Wichita State baseball coach Todd Butler can see the long-range view for his program.

Butler signed 16 players in the November signing period, 13 from high schools, who are scheduled to play for the Shockers in 2016. That composition differs significantly from his first full swing at recruiting from the class of 2014 — there are 27 newcomers on the 2015 roster, 10 from junior colleges.

WSU’s goal with this group is to build a roster of three- and four-year players that can withstand the one-and-done likelihood of juco transfers.

“We’re trying to get a foundation of players that will be here," Butler said. "This will give us some stability.”

Butler expects to battle the pros for several of the recruits after the June draft. Pittsburgh drafted Wabash Valley (Ill.) College pitcher Zach Lewis in the 33rd after his freshman season, before he decided to return for another season in junior college. Central Arizona College lefty Justin Seiwald and Seminole (Okla.) State pitcher Tyler Gibson, who spent his freshman season at Oklahoma, are also likely draft prospects. Numerous high school players are regulars on the high-profile exposure camps circuits and scouts will watch them closely in the spring. Louisiana outfielder Dayton Dugas and DeSoto two-way player Greyson Jenista might top that list.

Major-league teams drafted seven Shockers last June and six made it to campus, which led to Collegiate Baseball ranking WSU’s 2014 class No. 2 nationally. Baseball America ranked it No. 21. That success rate is unusual and it won’t surprise Butler if the 2015 draft plays out differently for WSU.

“All three of those junior-college guys, we would anticipate them being drafted,” Butler said. “They’re kind of high-risk guys.”

Like all coaches, Butler and his assistants target their neighborhood first. If scouting service rankings matter, WSU held its own in Kansas. Perfect Game ranks Jenista the state’s top prospect. Noah Croft, from Olathe South, is ranked the No. 1 catcher in Kansas by Perfect Game. Heights pitcher Keyllan Kilgore is ranked the state’s No. 1 lefty and Maize’s Connor Lungwitz the state’s No. 3 right-handed pitcher.

“(Kilgore) is another projectable left-hander … and he has an upside to him,” Butler said. “(Lungwitz) is very projectable … he has a chance to be a draft pick next spring.”

Jenista (6-foot-4), who hits left-handed and throws with his right, plays first base and may fit as a reliever in college.

“He’s a guy that has great size and strength for a high school player,” Butler said. “(Croft) is 6-3 and can run. He could possibly play outfield. He’s another guy that’s traveled quite a bit to play (summer) baseball.”

Off the gridiron — Lungwitz wanted to finish his football season at Maize before choosing his sport. He committed to WSU for baseball around a year ago, while keeping his options open to play football.

Lungwitz, a quarterback, discussed putting off his signing until the spring and WSU coaches were willing to wait. After further reflection, he decided to go with baseball and signed with WSU last week. He earned Eagle All-Metro football honors as a junior.

“It was extremely hard,” he said. “I love both.”

His potential to play professional baseball and injury concerns swayed him.

“In 20 years, being able to walk without hurting…,” Lungwitz said.

WSU coaches like his size (6-5) and his smooth arm action. Pitching coach Brent Kemnitz expects his draft profile to rise as scouts see him more and see that he is serious about baseball.

Lungwitz grew up in a family of Shocker fans. Staying home to play for WSU appealed to him. His family loved the idea of watching him play at Eck Stadium, even though they tried to stay out of the decision.

“I knew what they wanted, but they wouldn’t let me know,” he said. “It was really hard for them not to try to persuade me to make that decision.”

Lungwitz considered playing both sports at Northwest Missouri State or Pittsburg State. Missouri State was a football option. He knew that higher-profile schools might enter the picture as the football signing day in February approaches. He decided being WSU’s priority trumped late interest from a football program.

“I was WSU’s guy, and I liked the feeling of being wanted,” he said.

From the south — Dugas (pronounced Do-gah) and infielder Lenni Kunert are rare forays into Louisiana for WSU.

Dugas, from Lake Charles, shares a hometown with Butler and his father is old friends with Butler. He committed to WSU in August. Kunert, from Denham Springs, played travel baseball with Dugas and that connection led him to the Shockers.

Kunert committed to LSU as a sophomore before deciding the infield picture was too crowded. He opened his recruiting and Dugas tipped off the Shockers to Kunert’s availability on his visit. Kunert considers third base his best spot, but is working at second base to prepare for college.

Dugas (6-3) is ranked No. 168 nationally by Perfect Game and the No. 1 outfielder in Louisiana.

“He looks like a junior coming in,” Butler said. “He is a special player with his size and strength.”

Variety is a plus — Butler is in favor of high school athletes playing multiple sports. Rockhurst (Mo.) infielder Luke Ritter is a linebacker for one of Missouri’s top teams. Lungwitz played quarterback for the Eagles, although he is giving up basketball as a senior to let his body heal and prepare for baseball.

“I think playing sports and being competitive, it helps with each one,” Lungwitz said. “In our (football) offense, you’re making reads and that helps making reads in basketball. Your mind never gets a break, and that gets your mind ready for baseball.”

Athletes, in Butler’s mind, benefit from the demands and tactics used by different coaches for different sports. Football, in particular, helps with its expectations in the weight room.

“Love it,” Butler said. "The more sports you play, the more challenges you have for your skill as an athlete in different facets of sports. A lot of those guys who play football and baseball are more physically strong coming out of high school.”

Remember the ’80s — Saturday’s men’s basketball game against Tulsa is designated the MTXE Shocker Classic and the Shockers will wear throwback jerseys.

“They will not be in short shorts,” WSU associate athletic director John Brewer said. “There will be regular-length shorts.”

The jerseys, featuring the MTXE logo and the old West font used during the coach Gene Smithson era, will be auctioned off after the game. It is uncertain when they will be delivered, because Brewer said the players loved the look and may want to wear them more than once.

WSU ordered MTXE stickers for the court and will play 80s music and promote the game with retro-looking social media (Brewer does realize social media didn’t exist in 1983). Tulsa, then a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, was WSU’s biggest rival in the 1980s. The teams combined to win MVC titles in 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1987.

This story was originally published November 22, 2014 at 4:37 PM with the headline "Wichita State baseball targets high school recruits in 2015 class."