Porter Inks Five for 2017-18 Signing Class
Nov 19, 2016 | Baseball
OMAHA, Neb. – Interim head baseball coach Evan Porter announced Saturday that Thomas DeBonville, Spencer Koelewyn, Ben Palensky, Tyler Phillips and Tommy Steier have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Omaha baseball program in 2017-18.
"We're very excited for this signing class for 2017-18," Porter said. "They all bring a great sense of competitiveness and will bolster our pitching staff and outfield. Their addition to the roster will create healthy competition within our team, which will result in stronger depth. All five are players who can contribute immediately, and they're high-character people who will fit well in the Omaha baseball family."
SPENCER KOELEWYN
LHP, 6-4, 180, L/L, Harrisburg, S.D. (Sioux Falls Christian Academy)
Koelewyn has played three years for coach Nick Cobb at Sioux Falls Christian Academy, where he has been a three-time all-region pick and a two-time all-state selection. In 2016, he went 4-0 on the mound with a 0.45 ERA over 31.1 innings pitched, totaling 63 strikeouts to earn first-team all-state recognition. As a sophomore in 2015, Koelewyn compiled a 4-1 record with 49 strikeouts over 31.0 innings pitched to garner second-team all-state plaudits.
Additionally, Koelewyn has played American Legion ball for the Post 307 Renner Royals, coached by Zach Ireland. In 2016, Koelewyn went 7-0 with a 1.47 ERA and 75 strikeouts over 62.0 innings thrown. His team had a record of 33-15 and finished as state runner-up and regional runner-up.
Koelewyn has also lettered four years in football, helping his team to a conference championship as a junior.
"Spencer is a strike-thrower who mixes speeds very well," Porter said. "He keeps hitters guessing. As a lefty, he'll give us an advantage, and we're excited for what he'll bring to our pitching staff."
THOMAS DeBONVILLE
OF, 6-0, 186, R/R, Silverthorne, Colo. (Summit/Eastern Arizona College)
DeBonville will join the Mavericks from Eastern Arizona College, where he played the 2016 season for coach Jim Bagnall. A second-team all-conference and second-team all-region pick, he hit a team-leading .380 with five triples, 13 doubles, 49 runs scored and 33 RBI. At 39-of-42 on the basepaths, he finished fifth nationally in stolen bases among Division I NJCAA players.
DeBonville was previously a four-year letterwinner for coach Tom Looby at Summit High School, where he was a first-team all-conference selection as a senior. DeBonville also lettered three years in basketball, two years in soccer and one year in football. He was a first-team all-state and all-conference honoree as well as his conference's player of the year in soccer, as well as a first-team all-conference pick in basketball. In addition, DeBonville was a first-team academic all-state selection and a member of the Dean's List.
"Thomas is a very speedy centerfielder with tremendous stolen base ability, and he's a great hitter who hits for average," Porter said. "His summer team, the Swift Current Indians, won a WMBL championship last year in Saskatchewan, where he played alongside former Maverick Alex Schultz."
TOMMY STEIER
RHP, 5-11, 160, R/R, RHP, Elkhorn, Neb. (Creighton Prep)
Steier has lettered one year for coach Pat Mooney at Creighton Prep. As a junior in 2016, his team won spring and summer state championships, as well as a regional championship en route to the American Legion World Series, where the Junior Jays finished fifth nationally. Between the spring and summer seasons, they went a combined 87-9. Steier went 10-1 on the mound with two saves and a 1.31 ERA, totaling 58.2 innings with 42 strikeouts to 16 walks.
Steier has also lettered one year in basketball at Prep.
"Tommy has a live arm and commands the zone with more than one pitch, which fits very well into our pitching philosophy," Porter said. "We feel fortunate to continue our talented pipeline from Creighton Prep, as Tommy will join two current Mavericks, Zac Zagozda and Joey Machado, who also came from their program.”
BEN PALENSKY
OF, 6-0, 190, R/R, Papillion, Neb. (Papillion-La Vista South/Southeast CC)
Palensky played the 2016 season at Southeast Community College for coach Dion Parks. In his first collegiate campaign, Palensky hit .293 with six home runs, six doubles and 24 RBI, and his team went 35-21 while qualifying for the regional championship.
Palensky was previously a three-year letterwinner for coach Bill Lynam at Papillion-La Vista South High School. As a senior, he led the Titans in slugging percentage, RBI and extra-base hits, and his American Legion team finished as state runner-up. In Palensky's junior year, he hit .411, and his squad qualified for the state tournament.
Palensky also lettered four years in tennis and was a standout academically, earning a spot on the honor roll and an All-Metro Academic Award.
Palensky's brother Caleb lettered four years in baseball at Omaha (2011-14), while his brother Sam is a current member of the Maverick program. His father, Jim, was also a two-year baseball letterwinner at UNO (1984-85).
"Ben comes from a long line of Palensky Mavericks, and we're thrilled to have him join our program," Porter said. "The Palenskys are an incredible family, and Ben is a person of high character who is an outstanding teammate. He'll add a solid bat in the lineup and ability in the outfield for us at Omaha."
TYLER PHILLIPS
RHP, 5-11, 165, R/R, Arvada, Colo. (Ralston Valley)
Phillips has been a three-year letterwinner for coach Steve Falconi at Ralston Valley High School. As a junior, he went 5-2 on the mound with a 1.70 ERA, throwing two complete-game shutouts against top-10 teams. For his performance, he was tabbed first-team all-conference and was an all-academic honorable mention selection.
Phillips also played for coach Derek Hines with the Premier West Baseball Club. In 2016, he compiled a record of 6-3 with a program-record seven complete games, including four shutouts. Phillips also batted .333 with seven doubles and a triple.
"Tyler has a live arm and is a true competitor on the mound," Porter said. "He has pitched in the same organization that former Maverick Tyler Fox came from, and we look forward to getting him in the mix as soon as he arrives on campus."
"We're very excited for this signing class for 2017-18," Porter said. "They all bring a great sense of competitiveness and will bolster our pitching staff and outfield. Their addition to the roster will create healthy competition within our team, which will result in stronger depth. All five are players who can contribute immediately, and they're high-character people who will fit well in the Omaha baseball family."
SPENCER KOELEWYN
LHP, 6-4, 180, L/L, Harrisburg, S.D. (Sioux Falls Christian Academy)
Koelewyn has played three years for coach Nick Cobb at Sioux Falls Christian Academy, where he has been a three-time all-region pick and a two-time all-state selection. In 2016, he went 4-0 on the mound with a 0.45 ERA over 31.1 innings pitched, totaling 63 strikeouts to earn first-team all-state recognition. As a sophomore in 2015, Koelewyn compiled a 4-1 record with 49 strikeouts over 31.0 innings pitched to garner second-team all-state plaudits.
Additionally, Koelewyn has played American Legion ball for the Post 307 Renner Royals, coached by Zach Ireland. In 2016, Koelewyn went 7-0 with a 1.47 ERA and 75 strikeouts over 62.0 innings thrown. His team had a record of 33-15 and finished as state runner-up and regional runner-up.
Koelewyn has also lettered four years in football, helping his team to a conference championship as a junior.
"Spencer is a strike-thrower who mixes speeds very well," Porter said. "He keeps hitters guessing. As a lefty, he'll give us an advantage, and we're excited for what he'll bring to our pitching staff."
THOMAS DeBONVILLE
OF, 6-0, 186, R/R, Silverthorne, Colo. (Summit/Eastern Arizona College)
DeBonville will join the Mavericks from Eastern Arizona College, where he played the 2016 season for coach Jim Bagnall. A second-team all-conference and second-team all-region pick, he hit a team-leading .380 with five triples, 13 doubles, 49 runs scored and 33 RBI. At 39-of-42 on the basepaths, he finished fifth nationally in stolen bases among Division I NJCAA players.
DeBonville was previously a four-year letterwinner for coach Tom Looby at Summit High School, where he was a first-team all-conference selection as a senior. DeBonville also lettered three years in basketball, two years in soccer and one year in football. He was a first-team all-state and all-conference honoree as well as his conference's player of the year in soccer, as well as a first-team all-conference pick in basketball. In addition, DeBonville was a first-team academic all-state selection and a member of the Dean's List.
"Thomas is a very speedy centerfielder with tremendous stolen base ability, and he's a great hitter who hits for average," Porter said. "His summer team, the Swift Current Indians, won a WMBL championship last year in Saskatchewan, where he played alongside former Maverick Alex Schultz."
TOMMY STEIER
RHP, 5-11, 160, R/R, RHP, Elkhorn, Neb. (Creighton Prep)
Steier has lettered one year for coach Pat Mooney at Creighton Prep. As a junior in 2016, his team won spring and summer state championships, as well as a regional championship en route to the American Legion World Series, where the Junior Jays finished fifth nationally. Between the spring and summer seasons, they went a combined 87-9. Steier went 10-1 on the mound with two saves and a 1.31 ERA, totaling 58.2 innings with 42 strikeouts to 16 walks.
Steier has also lettered one year in basketball at Prep.
"Tommy has a live arm and commands the zone with more than one pitch, which fits very well into our pitching philosophy," Porter said. "We feel fortunate to continue our talented pipeline from Creighton Prep, as Tommy will join two current Mavericks, Zac Zagozda and Joey Machado, who also came from their program.”
BEN PALENSKY
OF, 6-0, 190, R/R, Papillion, Neb. (Papillion-La Vista South/Southeast CC)
Palensky played the 2016 season at Southeast Community College for coach Dion Parks. In his first collegiate campaign, Palensky hit .293 with six home runs, six doubles and 24 RBI, and his team went 35-21 while qualifying for the regional championship.
Palensky was previously a three-year letterwinner for coach Bill Lynam at Papillion-La Vista South High School. As a senior, he led the Titans in slugging percentage, RBI and extra-base hits, and his American Legion team finished as state runner-up. In Palensky's junior year, he hit .411, and his squad qualified for the state tournament.
Palensky also lettered four years in tennis and was a standout academically, earning a spot on the honor roll and an All-Metro Academic Award.
Palensky's brother Caleb lettered four years in baseball at Omaha (2011-14), while his brother Sam is a current member of the Maverick program. His father, Jim, was also a two-year baseball letterwinner at UNO (1984-85).
"Ben comes from a long line of Palensky Mavericks, and we're thrilled to have him join our program," Porter said. "The Palenskys are an incredible family, and Ben is a person of high character who is an outstanding teammate. He'll add a solid bat in the lineup and ability in the outfield for us at Omaha."
TYLER PHILLIPS
RHP, 5-11, 165, R/R, Arvada, Colo. (Ralston Valley)
Phillips has been a three-year letterwinner for coach Steve Falconi at Ralston Valley High School. As a junior, he went 5-2 on the mound with a 1.70 ERA, throwing two complete-game shutouts against top-10 teams. For his performance, he was tabbed first-team all-conference and was an all-academic honorable mention selection.
Phillips also played for coach Derek Hines with the Premier West Baseball Club. In 2016, he compiled a record of 6-3 with a program-record seven complete games, including four shutouts. Phillips also batted .333 with seven doubles and a triple.
"Tyler has a live arm and is a true competitor on the mound," Porter said. "He has pitched in the same organization that former Maverick Tyler Fox came from, and we look forward to getting him in the mix as soon as he arrives on campus."
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