Sept. 4, 2006
DeKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois University's baseball team announced its incoming class of seven signees for the 2007 season. Head coach Ed Mathey inked five players in November 2005 during the early signing period and added two more over the summer. This talented group of Huskies joins of a pair of nationally-ranked classes that placed 60th in Collegiate Baseball's rankings a year ago and 70th in 2005.
Joining the Huskies for the upcoming 2007 campaign are: Cody Beck (Hanover Park, Ill./Bartlett), Joe Buonavolanto (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale South), Jordin Hood (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Lake Zurich), Sam Kapacinskas (DeBery, Fla./ St. Johns River C.C.), Anthony Maziur (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest), Danny Reed (Lindstrom, Minn./North Iowa Area C.C.), and Dave Reynolds (Orland Park, IL/Carl Sandburg).
"I am happy with this recruiting class and once again (assistant coach) Tim McDonough did an outstanding job," said Mathey. "We did not have a lot of openings but we filled our needs with some guys who could push for time. This is a quality class that will make its mark at NIU."
The group of seven incoming players includes a junior college All-American and three Illinois all-state selections. Overall, five newcomers are coming to DeKalb from the prep ranks and two are JUCO transfers. Geographically, the class represents the "Land of Lincoln" with five players with one each hailing from Minnesota and Florida.
Below are bios on each of the seven signees including a scouting report from Mathey.
Cody Beck
Pitcher
Fr - L/L
5-11, 180
Hanover Park, IL (Bartlett)
High School: Named first-team All-Fox Valley Region and first-team All-Upstate 8 Conference as senior ... Earned team MVP and Fireman Award ... Posted 6-2 record with two saves and 1.14 ERA while striking out 97 and allowing only 23 hits in 57 innings pitched ... Batted .381 and slugged .702 with three home runs and 22 RBI while collecting 32 hits and scoring 26 runs ... First-team All-Fox Valley Region, honorable mention All-Upstate 8 Conference and earned team's Fireman Award after posting 5-3 record with 2.66 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 50 innings during junior ... Also batted .318 with 21 hits and was named varsity team's Rookie of the Year as junior ... Academic all-conference selection after both junior and sophomore seasons ... Earned team's pitching award and squad won conference during sophomore campaign.
Personal: Son of Michael and Jody Beck ... Born April 4, 1988 in Montgomery, Alabama ... Majoring in Liberal Arts and Sciences ... Hobbies include rock climbing.
Coach Mathey: "Cody is a very intriguing and interesting player. He comes from a local program but was injured during the summer after his junior season and fell off the recruiting radar. He is a plus runner and a left-handed pitcher/outfielder who is very gifted. We looking at him as a pitcher, but he could be in the outfield once he gets some more pop in his bat. On the mound, he has a plus arm and just need to throw strikes more consistently."
Joe Buonavolanto
Infielder
Fr - R/R
5-8, 175
Willowbrook, IL (Hinsdale South)
High School: First-team all-state by Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association and second-team by Chicago Sun-Times as senior ... All-regional, all-suburban, and first-team All-West Suburban Conference honoree in 2006 ... Set school season home run record with 10 round-trippers and was named team's most valuable player and most valuable hitter after batting .427 and slugging .779 with 56 hits, 15 doubles and 40 RBI while scoring 43 runs and swiping 17 bases during senior season ... Helped lead team to regional championship during final campaign ... Named first-team all-conference and All-Suburban after hitting .410 with 47 hits, four home runs, 35 RBI, 40 runs scored and 21 stolen bases as junior ... Batted .405 with two home runs as sophomore ... Earned two varsity letters and was captain as senior ... Named first-team all-state for hockey during senior and junior years ... Made Dean's list during all semesters in high school.
Personal: Son of Joe and Debbie Buonavolanto ... Born May 2, 1988 ... Majoring in Accounting and minoring in Business Administration ... Parents own Buono Beef restaurant in Chicago area ... Nicknamed "Beef" ... Aspires to be a sports agent.
Coach Mathey: "Joe was a first-team all-state selection in one team and a second-team choice on another. He is from Hinsdale South, a program that has provided a good run of players for NIU the past few years. His high school coach said that his bat is as good as any of those if not better. He is a good solid infielder and a great kid and great student off the field."
Jordin Hood
Infielder
Fr - R/R
6-0, 180
Hawthorn Woods, IL (Lake Zurich)
High School: Ranked as No. 18 senior player in Illinois and second-team all-state by Prep Baseball Report ... Named to Illinois Great Northwest Baseball Team and was second-team all-state by Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times, first-team all-area by Daily Herald, and earned All-North Suburban Conference recognition as senior ... First-team all-conference after hitting .419 with nine home runs and 41 RBI while slugging .762, scoring 43 runs and stealing 11 bases during final campaign ... Finished first in IHSA Class AA Sectional Hitting Derby and placed fourth in ISHA State Tournament Hitting Derby in 2006 ... Honored as all-area captain and all-area selection by Daily Herald, all-area by Northwest Herald, and All-Lake County by Suburban Chicago News as junior ... Hit .444 and slugged .758 with 56 hits, seven home runs and 37 RBI and added 15 stolen bases as team captured regional championship during junior season ... Named to Great Northwest Baseball Team by Pioneer Press and all-conference by Fox Valley News in 2005 ... Earned all-area honorable mention by Daily Herald after batting .412 with 42 hits as sophomore ... Was three-time letterman and Team MVP and two-time captain during prep career ... Earned squad's leadership award as senior.
Personal: Son of Bill and Kim Hood ... Born May 31, 1987 in Carrollton, Texas ... Majoring in Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Coach Mathey:"Jordin was an all-state player as a high school junior and the Fox Valley Player of the Year. During his senior season he was pitched around quite a bit and as a result his numbers were down. He is a solid athlete who can play the infield or the outfield. His bat is probably the most "college-ready" and he could have an early impact for us. He is a player who is strong, runs well, and shows a lot of versatility."
Sam Kapacinskas
Catcher
So - R/R
6-0, 200
DeBary, FL (St. Johns River C.C.)
Junior College: Played one season at St. Johns River Community College in Palatka, Fla. ... Known as an excellent defensive catcher and split time throughout season as team's starting backstop ... Also made appearances on the mound as a reliever late in the season.
High School: Three-year letterman and two-time captain of baseball team ... Named team's best defensive player and was ranked No. 22 in Team One's top catchers of 2005 as senior ... Earned team MVP and was named second-team All-Volusia County and top-15 in county by the Daytona Beach News-Journal during junior year ... Named honorable mention all-area as sophomore ... Captained junior varsity team and earned coach's award for leadership during first year as prep ... Four-year varsity letterwinner in football ... Named Florida's Class 1A Player of the Year team defensive MVP and Central Florida All-Star as senior on the gridiron ... All-area selection by News-Journal during both junior and sophomore seasons ... Earned Green Wave Award for leadership on varsity team as sophomore ... Air Force Academy nominee by Congressman Mica ... Crest of Wave Award recipient at graduation for athletics, leadership, character and service.
Personal: Son of Leonard and Holly Kapacinskas ... Born May 22, 1987 in Winfield, Ill. ... Majoring in Education and minoring in Political Science ... Grandfather, Glen Van Proyen, won three letters in basketball and three in baseball at Western Illinois before signing a professional contract with the St. Louis Browns.
Coach Mathey: "Sam is our most recent addition to this class. He was recommended to us by coaches in Florida and it is not often that we get players to come up here from that state. He is strong kid and mainly a catcher, but can play third base and the outfield. At the plate, he can hit to all fields and has some power. Off the field, Sam is a great student."
Anthony Maziur
Outfielder/Pitcher
Fr - L/L
6-0, 185
Oak Forest, IL (Oak Forest)
High School: Earned all-area and All-SICA Central honors and was named to IHSA Regional All-Area Team as senior ... Hit .355 with four home runs and 21 RBI and totaled 33 runs scored, 32 hits, and was 32-for-32 in stolen base attempts as during final campaign ... Posted 7-1 record and one save with 2.79 ERA while throwing 42.2 innings and striking out 36 during senior year ... Captained conference championship teams as senior and junior ... Named all-conference after batting .440 and slugging .651 with five home runs and 42 RBI on 48 hits while scoring 34 runs and stealing 18 bases during junior season ... Went 5-1 with 3.38 ERA and completed five of seven starts while fanning 34 in 34.2 innings as junior ... Hit .395 with three home runs as sophomore ... Honor roll member all four years of high school and member of National Honor Society as senior.
Personal: Son of Peter and Jill Maziur ... Born Sept. 8, 1987 ... Majoring in Business.
Coach Mathey: "Anthony is a very good physical specimen, a strong kid. He is more of an outfielder than a pitcher, but has some potential on the mound. He is a good runner and might be one of the fastest guys on the team. With some work on his swing, he can push for playing time. He is a great student as well."
Danny Reed
Outfielder
Jr-Tr - R/R
6-0, 180
Lindstrom, MN (North Iowa Area C.C.)
Junior College: First-team JUCO All-America, all-region, and Iowa Community College Athletic Conference Player of the Year as sophomore ... Set school record with 80 hits and four triples and hit .432 with five home runs, 63 RBI, 17 doubles, and 16 stolen bases during second year campaign ... Batted .404 with three home runs and 41 RBI during freshman season ... Totaled 55 hits, 36 runs scored, 10 doubles, six triples and 16 stolen bases during first year as collegian ... Owns school record for career batting average, hits, RBI and triples ... Only player from North Iowa Area C.C. to receive conference player of the year honor and first-team All-America honor ... Junior college teammate of current Huskie Jesse Seykora.
High School: Hit .419 during senior season to earn first-team Rum River Conference Honors and team's most valuable player award ... Senior captain for conference and section champions ... Batted .338 with five home runs, 21 RBI, and nine stolen bases to go along with 2-0 record, five saves, and 0.84 ERA as junior ... First-team all-conference selection and team captain as junior ... Played for conference champions as sophomore and freshman ... Was four-year varsity letterwinner in baseball ... Became first player to compete on varsity team while in the eighth grade ... Named all-state in football during senior year as both running back and defensive back while also garnering all-conference honors ... Honorable mention all-conference on gridiron as junior ... Owns school's career rushing yardage record.
Personal: Son of David and Kathy Reed ... Father competed in track at the University of Minnesota and was a national qualifier in 1979 and 1980 ... Born March 6, 1986 ... Majoring in Business Administration.
Coach Mathey: "Danny was a first-team junior college All-American and is a great kid and a great player. He can run and has the ability to play all three outfield positions. He is a solid all around baseball player and a veteran playing who can hopefully step in and replace what Brian Toner gave us."
Dave Reynolds
Pitcher/Infielder
Fr - L/L
6-1, 170
Orland Park, IL (Carl Sandburg)
High School: Earned first-team All-Southwest Suburban Conference and was named all-area by Illinois High School Coaches Association, all-regional, and all-area by Star Newspapers, and Daily Southtown as senior ... Named third-team all-state by Chicago Sun-Times and special mention all-state by Chicago Tribune in 2006 ... Posted 8-1 record with 0.59 ERA in 10 starts and four complete games while striking out 63 in 59 innings on the mound as senior ... Batted .416 with 42 hits, 28 runs scored, three home runs, and 11 stolen bases during final prep campaign ... Helped team capture regional championship during senior year ... Named All-SICA West Conference, all-regional, all-area Star Newspapers following junior season ... Went 1-0 with three saves and 1.03 ERA and batted .417 with 55 hits, 44 runs, 32 RBI, and two home runs as a junior ... Part of sectional championship team during junior year ... Played on Southwest Suburban Conference All-Star Team after junior season.
Personal: Son of Jim and Lori Reynolds ... Born July 2, 1988 ... Majoring in Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Coach Mathey: "Dave had a lot of high school accomplishments and played for a great team. We liked him as a first baseman with his great glove and instincts. He is a gap to gap hitter who could develop some pop. He started pitched more late in his high school career and had success as his team's number one starter, so he could see more mound time for us."
