ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Lewis University head baseball coach Mike Vucsko announced on Monday (August 23) that Brian Adams, David Ascencio, Chad Cwik, Thomas Fox, Brady Friend, Cain Headrick, Matt Helwig, Kyle Hussey, Mason Huisman, Jason Krol, Ian Nguyen, Aidan Padilla, Max Peters, Ben Schleeper, Logan Schwarting and Anthony Sorrentino will join the Flyers for the 2022 season.
 
"The thing that sticks out to me in the 2022 class is character," Vucsko said. "We brought in 16 guys who can do the little things both on and off the field. These 16 young men all bring a skillset that will help us win games in the future. I would like to thank Zach Pych, Zach Teegen (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge), and Tim McDonough for their efforts in helping with this recruiting class. We are very excited to get this group together in the fall."
 
Brian Adams (Utl. – 6'2" – Lincoln Trail Community College – Sandburg HS)
Adams was limited this past Spring battling injuries. During his time at Sandburg HS, he batted .372 as a junior helping Sandburg place fourth in state. He hit .337 as a senior leading the Eagles to a Regional Championship. Adams intends to major in sports management, and his father Mark played baseball at Lewis from 1983-1985.
 
"Brian is a switch hitter with good speed," Vucsko said. "He can bunt and move the ball around. He can play both infield and outfield, and he will fit in well with what we do both offensively and defensively."
 
David Ascencio (INF – 6'0" – Parkland Community College – Plainfield Central HS)
Ascencio, an intended finance major, helped Parkland to a 36-17 overall record and a 23-9 conference record, good enough to finish 16^th in the final NJCAA D2 poll. He posted an .832 OPS with nine extra base hits while starting 40 games at third base for the Cobras. He collected nine multi-hit games.
 
"David is a local product who can pick it with the best of them at third and is a bat-to-ball hitter," Vucsko said. "He has the ability to consistently drive balls into the gap. I'm excited to watch him grow as a person and player over the next few years."
 
Chad Cwik (LHP – 6'4" – Mercyhurst University – Oak Lawn HS)
Cwik is a graduate transfer that comes from Mercyhurst University where he spent three seasons. This past spring, Cwik punched out 11 guys in eight innings out of the bullpen. In five of his six outings, he allowed no runs. He allowed just four hits all season.
 
"Chad is a guy who has yet to reach his full potential and we are excited to help bring that out of him," Vucsko said. "He can run it up there in the upper 80's and has plus secondary pitches. He should come in and have an immediate impact."
 
Thomas Fox (INF – 6'1" – Camp Community College – Norfolk Christian)
A native of Virginia, Fox attended Norfolk Christian HS. He helped Camp Community College finish third in conference and was named to the 2nd Team All-Region Team by hitting .366 with eight home runs and 12 stolen bases.
 
"Thomas is going to bring offense and energy to our ballclub this season," Vucsko said. "He plays with an edge that I think our guys will feed off of.  He is a great kid, and we expect him to come in and contribute right away."
 
Brady Friend (Utl. – 5'11" – Shawnee Mission East – Impact Athletes of Kansas City)
Friend, a native of Kansas, plans to major in flight technology this Fall. He helped guide Shawnee Mission East to a 6A Regional Runner-Up. Over the summer, Friend posted a 2.64 ERA and reached base at a .475 clip. His aunt and uncle (Dan and Lorelee) are the Head Men's and Women Volleyball Coach at Lewis.
 
"Brady can do a little bit of everything," Vucsko said. "On the bump, he mixes his pitches well and pounds the zone. Defensively, he can bounce around and play a few different positions. He comes from a great family and we are excited to have Brady be a part of the program."
 
Cain Headrick (C/OF – 6'0" – Providence Catholic HS – Chicago White Elite)
Headrick plans to major in aviation at Lewis. He was a mainstay in Providence's lineup where he hit .378 and had a 1.039 OPS and drove in 33 runs, helping Providence capture a 4A Sectional Championship. His biggest hit of the year came in the Sectional Semifinal where he blasted a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning.
 
"Cain had a monster senior season and when he gets hot, he can change a game offensively," Vucsko said. "He can hit for average and power and should make a big impact in our lineup over the next few years."
 
Matt Helwig (RHP – 5'11" – Lincoln Way Central – University of Wisconsin Parkside)
Helwig, a local product, plans to major in economics this fall. He punched out 28 batters this past spring in 31 innings. He struck out a season high 6 batters in 2.2 innings pitched vs GLVC rival Mckendree on March 7^th.
 
"Matt has the arm talent and stuff to be a high leverage bullpen arm. We hope we can help him reach his potential."
 
Kyle Hussey (INF/RHP – 5'11" – Providence Catholic HS – Chicago Elite)
An intended finance major, Hussey helped Providence win a 4A Sectional Championship by collecting six wins on the mound this season. Hussey's biggest win of the year came in the sectional Semifinals tossing six innings of one-run ball.
 
"Kyle is a two-way prospect and comes from one the winningest high school programs in the state over the last 10 years," Vucsko said. "He pitches in the mid 80's and has a good breaking ball. He should be able to help us on the mound as a freshman."
 
Mason Huisman (RHP – 5'8" – Holland Christian HS – 84^th Street Sliders)
Huisman, a Michigan native, went 6-3 this past spring posting a 1.99 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 52 innings pitched while only yielding 15 walks. His statistics earned him All-Conference and All-District honors. Huisman plans to major in business administration. His family is no stranger to Lewis as his two cousins Nick and Jake Huisman (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East) are members of the team. His father Rick played baseball at Lewis from 1988-1990 and was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 1990 MLB Draft.
 
"Mason comes from a great bloodline," Vucsko said. "He is a strike-thrower who creates good downward angles with his fastball that sits in the mid to low 80's. He mixes his pitches well and knows who he is as a pitcher."
 
Jason Krol (C – 6'0" – St. Laurence HS – Xposure)
Krol had a stellar spring helping St. Laurence finish third in the state. Batting in the middle of the order all season, he drove in 30 runs for the Vikings with nine extra base hits and only struck out six times in over 120 plate appearances.
 
"Jason is as good as a defensive catcher as I've seen at the high school level in a long time," Vucsko said. "He is a baseball rat and comes from a great high school program. We are excited to watch him develop over the next few seasons."
 
Ian Nguyen (OF – 5'8" Coon Rapids HS – Minnesota Icemen)
Nguyen a native from Minnesota, plans to major in aviation maintenance. He finished his senior year hitting .333 with a .441 on base percentage and 16 stolen bases. This summer for the Icemen Nguyen hit .397 and swiped 27 bases. He was selected First Team Northwest Suburban All-Conference and was a representative of the Metro North All-Star team.
 
"Ian is a left-handed speedy outfielder with exceptional bat to ball skills. He should be able to create havoc on the bases and create us runs."
 
Aidan Padilla (RHP – 5'10" – Reavis HS – Top Tier)
Padilla helped Reavis capture a conference championship by going 15-4 and 19-10 overall. He won team MVP and was named Conference Pitcher of the Year as well as earning All-Conference. He plans to major in secondary education.
 
"Aidan is a guy we identified early in the recruiting process," Vucsko said. "His ability to have a legit swing and miss pitch is what stuck out to us. He has a bulldog mentality on the mound, and we love his makeup. We believe he can get us big outs whether that be as a starter or reliever."
 
Max Peters (LHP – 6'3" – Plainfield South – RBI Baseball Academy)
An intended biology major, Peters helped Plainfield South capture a Regional Championship this past spring posting a 3.50 ERA in 15.1 innings pitched while striking out 24.
 
"Max battled some injuries at the end of his senior year, but he is a lefty who mixes his pitches well and can command the fastball in the mid to low 80's," Vucsko said. "I am excited to watch him grow over the next few years, and he should be able to help us finish games out of the bullpen."
 
Ben Schleeper (INF – Viera HS – Freshwater Storm)
A native of Florida, Schleeper plans to major in aviation. He batted .350 and drove in 24 runs helping Viera reach the Final Four of the Florida State tournament.
 
"Ben comes from a great family," Vuckso said. "He can bounce around and play a few different infield positions. His swing plays at this level and we are excited to see what he brings to the table over the next few years."
 
Logan Schwarting (RHP – 6'3" – Joliet West – Illinois Hawks)
Schwarting, who is the son of Lewis men's and women's track and field head coach Dana Schwarting will begin his collegiate career after taking a gap year. His senior year at Joliet West was cut short due to the pandemic. He posted a 2.40 ERA as a junior and finished with a 7-2 record.
 
"We are excited to see what Logan can become in a year or two. He has the work ethic, and the motivation you need to be successful. He has the potential to throw much harder. Logan has a bright future."
 
Anthony Sorrentino (RHP – Height – Lyons Township HS – Rake City)
Sorrentino plans to major in business administration and minor in biology. Sorrentino was forced to sit out his senior season due an injury, but posted big time numbers in the summer of 2020. He pitched Rake City to multiple summer league tournament championships, collecting six wins over the summer. 
 
"Anthony is coming off an injury that sidelined him for his senior season," Vucsko said. "However, Anthony's work ethic is very strong, and he should come back even stronger. He is a part of good high school and travel programs, both of which have prepared him well for college. He comes from a great family and should have an impact in the rotation over the next few seasons."
 
The Flyers finished the 2021 season with a record of 24-18 and were 18-14 in the GLVC and advanced to the GLVC Tournament for the second straight year.