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UIC Baseball Welcomes Strong Incoming Class for Fall 2027

Reigning MVC champions add prospects from Illinois, Wisconsin and North Dakota

11/13/2026 6:13:00 PM

CHICAGO (Nov. 13, 2026) – Fresh off its 2026 Missouri Valley Conference championship and latest NCAA Tournament appearance, the UIC baseball program has announced the addition of 10 student-athletes who have committed to continue their academic and athletic careers with the Flames. The incoming class features a blend of position players and pitchers from Illinois, Wisconsin and North Dakota, with all 10 ranked among the top prospects in their respective states by Prep Baseball Report (PBR).
 
"We are ecstatic about this group of high school players that decided to make UIC Baseball their home for the next four years," said UIC associate head coach/recruiting coordinator Mitch Mormann. "Our coaching staff did an outstanding job of bringing in not only talented players, but high-character guys as well. This is a deep group that will come in and compete right away while helping us continue to compete for championships."
 
Lincoln Boersma | RHP/INF | Lockport, Ill. | Providence Catholic
 

 
UIC head coach Sean McDermott on Boersma: "Lincoln comes from a great family and is a highly competitive kid with the potential to be a two-way player. He's Chicago born and raised and has the potential to develop into a big-time arm for us, while also bringing the ability to contribute offensively. We're thrilled to welcome a young man of his character into our program."
 
Before UIC: Ranked No. 66 overall and No. 20 among right-handed pitchers in Illinois by Prep Baseball Report … selected to the Perfect Game WWBA North All-Tournament Team … helped his Rhino Baseball travel team capture the Perfect Game Battle for the Midwest Tournament championship … served as a senior team captain at Providence Catholic … a member of the National Honor Society and Augustinian Youth Ministry, and participated in Habitat for Humanity … plans to major in business and minor in psychology.
 

Cole Clarke | LHP | Oshkosh, Wis. | Oshkosh West
 

 
McDermott on Clarke: "Cole is a really good arm coming out of Wisconsin and a high-character kid. We're excited to continue our tradition of recruiting quality young men from Wisconsin. He has a chance to get on the mound early in his career here at UIC, and we're looking forward to seeing what he can accomplish."
 
Before UIC: Ranked No. 17 overall and No. 4 among left-handed pitchers in Wisconsin by Prep Baseball Report … named Most Valuable Pitcher at the 2026 PBR Wisconsin State Games … participated in the PBR Wisconsin State Games, where he recorded five strikeouts across two innings.

 
Landon Clements | SS | McHenry, Ill. | McHenry
 

 
McDermott on Clements: "Landon is a blue-collar, tough-minded kid who knows how to win. He's gritty, competitive and embodies the kind of Chicago toughness we love. You couldn't ask for a better fit for our program, and we can't wait to have him become a part of the Flames family."
 
Before UIC: Ranked No. 37 overall and No. 9 among shortstops in Illinois by Prep Baseball Report … earned all-conference and all-area honors and has been a three-year varsity player at McHenry, where he owns the school's career stolen-base record … was selected to multiple all-tournament teams at Perfect Game national events … helped lead McHenry to the 2025 Illinois state championship game.

 
Michael Garner | RHP | Villa Park, Ill. | Willowbrook
 

 
McDermott on Garner: "Michael is a high-energy kid with a solid arm and exactly the type of young man we want in our program. He has a lot of ties to the city of Chicago and takes tremendous pride in how he approaches his business. We're eager to add another quality Chicagoland arm to our pitching staff."
 
Before UIC: Ranked No. 68 overall and No. 21 among right-handed pitchers in Illinois by Prep Baseball Report … went 4-0 with 40 strikeouts in 30 innings during the summer of 2026 with his Top Tier travel team, posting a 1.90 ERA and 1.19 WHIP.

 
Russell Hengels | RHP | Park Ridge, Ill. | Maine South
 

 
McDermott on Hengels: "Russ is an exciting addition for us. His parents are UIC graduates, so it's extra special to welcome the son of UIC alumni back to campus to play for the Flames. He's got a big-time arm and an opportunity to develop into something special. We expect big things from him this spring during his final high school season and are thrilled to have him and his family become part of our program."
 
Before UIC: Ranked No. 69 overall and No. 22 among right-handed pitchers in Illinois by Prep Baseball Report … led the PBR National Championship Tournament with 18 strikeouts over nine innings … Perfect Game recorded a 10-strikeout outing over 6.1 innings in October 2025 … carries a 3.88 weighted GPA and 3.59 unweighted GPA.

 
Ethan Miller | C | Slinger, Wis. | Slinger
 

 
McDermott on Miller: "Ethan is a winner. He loves to compete, plays with tremendous energy and holds himself and those around him to a high standard. He's all about competing and finding a way to get to the finish line first. He's a high-character individual who will bring a lot of energy and a positive attitude to our program. We're looking forward to what he will bring to our catching group."
 
Before UIC: Ranked No. 20 overall and No. 3 among catchers in Wisconsin by Prep Baseball Report … earned all-conference recognition in both 2025 and 2026 … participated in the 2026 PBR Senior Future Games.

 
Jack Tooke | 3B/RHP | Mandan, N.D. | Mandan
 

 
McDermott on Tooke: "Jack is our guy from the north, and we're excited about what he brings to our program. He's a very talented left-handed bat who can play the corner positions and has the potential to become an impact bat for us early in his career. The fact that he's willing to come down from North Dakota to Chicago speaks to his confidence and his willingness to embrace challenges. We believe he's going to help us win a lot of games."
 
Before UIC: Ranked No. 4 overall in the Dakotas and No. 1 among third basemen in the Dakotas by Prep Baseball Report … led Mandan High in home runs and extra-base hits during the 2026 season … participated in the 2025 PBR Future Games … earned all-tournament team recognition at three Perfect Game tournaments … was part of three Perfect Game WWBA team tournament championship squads with GRB National and the Cincinnati Reds Scout Team.

 
Mikey Watson | SS | Flossmoor, Ill. | Homewood-Flossmoor
 

 
McDermott on Watson: "Mikey was born and raised on the South Side, so having him choose UIC means a lot to us. He's an incredibly athletic kid with the potential to be a dynamic difference-maker on both sides of the ball. He's an elite-speed guy who can impact the game in the infield or outfield, be a terror on the basepaths and provide 'plus-plus' defensive ability. He comes from a very athletic family, and we're so pleased to have him representing his hometown."
 
Before UIC: Ranked No. 49 overall and No. 10 among shortstops in Illinois by Prep Baseball Report … earned All-Southwest Suburban Conference honors … holds Homewood-Flossmoor's single-season stolen-base record … named to the Perfect Game WWBA Top Prospect list and selected to participate in the Double Duty Classic at Rate Field (home of the Chicago White Sox) … named to the Perfect Game WWBA Workout Showcase Top Prospect List.

 
Austin Winge | RHP | Homer Glen, Ill. | Lockport Township East
 

 
McDermott on Winge: "Austin is a talented arm who has the opportunity to come in as a true freshman and contribute in some important, high-leverage situations. He's a confident young man coming from the southwest suburbs of Chicago, and we're excited about his willingness to embrace the challenge of becoming a UIC Flame while earning a great education."
 
Before UIC: Ranked No. 36 overall and No. 12 among right-handed pitchers in Illinois by Prep Baseball Report … named all-conference following the 2025 high school season … selected as a 2026 Perfect Game Underclass All-American … participated in the 2025 PBR Future Games.

 
Chase Wolter | RHP | Whitefish Bay, Wis. | Whitefish Bay


 
McDermott on Wolter: "Chase was a high school quarterback and is the son of a coach, so leadership and accountability are already part of who he is. When you play quarterback, you learn to hold yourself and others to a high standard, and we see those qualities in Chase. He's a high-character kid from a great family, and we believe he'll develop into a terrific leader for our program. He also has the chance to help us on the mound early in his career. We're thrilled to welcome Chase and his family to UIC."
 
Before UIC: Ranked No. 29 overall and No. 7 among right-handed pitchers in Wisconsin by Prep Baseball Report … has earned nine varsity letters across baseball, football and basketball … four-year varsity baseball player and three-year starter … earned second-team all-conference honors as a sophomore and first-team all-conference recognition as a junior … participated in the 2025 PBR Future Games … also excelled in football, earning first-team all-conference, Conference Player of the Year and Back of the Year honors as a senior.
 
 
For more information on UIC baseball, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_Baseball and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uicbaseball and @uicflames).
 
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