June 26, 2006

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State head baseball coach Steve Lyon announced the signing of five student-athletes to attend and play baseball for the Lakers beginning in the fall of 2006. GVSU has now signed 11 recruits for the 2007 season, six of which will enter GVSU after stellar high school careers and five that will come from the junior college ranks. RHP Nick Beach (Muskegon, Mich./Muskegon Community College), RHP Ken Murkowski (Jackson, Mich./Kellogg Community College), P/DH Steve Strutz (Orland Park, South Suburban College), RHP Brandon Dickinson (Durand, Mich.) and RHP Eric Snyder (Elburn, Ill./Waubonsee Community College) have pledged to continue their baseball careers for the Lakers.

Beach prepped at Muskegon Catholic Central High School before taking his talents to Muskegon Community College. Beach earned all-league, all-area, all-district, all-regional and all-state honors during his final prep campaign. Beach also was a key contributor as the Crusaders advanced to the state semifinals his senior season. Murkowski turned in a stellar two seasons at Kellogg C.C., recording a combined 11-3 record for the Bruins. Murkowski was 7-1 as a freshman and led the nation in strikeouts per inning (1.619). Ken was 4-2 as a sophomore with a 2.17 ERA.

Strutz, who played with current Laker Jeff Carrero at South Suburban his freshman campaign, was a standout pitcher/DH the last two years. Strutz hit .409 with 21 doubles and five home runs from the plate, while also notching a team-high nine saves. South Suburban advanced to the Division I Junior College World Series Strutz's sophomore season. Dickinson was 18-5 during his final two prep campaigns at Durand. Brandon was 9-3 with 97 strikeouts his junior season, followed by a 9-2 mark with a 1.7 ERA and 138 strikeouts his senior season. Snyder spent one year at Waubonsee (Ill.) Community College where he earned All-Skyway Community College Conference honors. Snyder was a three-time, all-league honoree at Kaneland High School.

"I am excited about these five young men joining our baseball program," said Lyon. "We have needs at the pitching position and all five are capable of helping us fill those needs," added Lyon.