Baseball Announces Eight Signees on Monday
11/27/2023 10:33:00 AM | Baseball
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri baseball announced the addition of eight signees for the 2024-25 season as Caden Kickhaefer, Kolton Lyman, Jackson Kranawetter, Tank Sims, Demitri Shakotko, Kayden Kohlberg, Caleb Champion, and Cameron Marchi will all sign with Southeast Missouri, Head Coach Andy Sawyers announced on Monday.
Caden Kickhaefer
Caden Kickhaefer will come to Southeast Missouri after playing junior-college baseball for Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas last season.
A native of Salina, Kan., Caden is a right-handed pitcher that started 13 games posting a 10-1 record, over 82.1 innings pitched, a 2.95 ERA, 75 strikeouts to just 23 walks, and had a 1.13 WHIP during his freshman year of juco.
Kickhaefer was selected to the KJCCC 2nd Team All-Conference list, was a KJCCC Gold Glove Recipient, and won the Rawlings & ABCA NJCAA DI Gold Glove Award during his time with the Grizzlies.
His team finished 39-23 overall a season ago, posting a 21-11 conference record, and led the nation in double plays turned at the junior college level.
The son of Darin and Teresa Kickhaefer, Caden graduated from Salina Central High School in 2021 starting and lettering for 3 years under coach Dee Kolzow.
For his high school career, Kickhaefer accumulated a 3.26 ERA, four wins, 43 innings pitched, and 56 strikeouts.
In the classroom, Kickhaefer excelled as he won the 2021 National Leadership Award and was an Honor Roll Student from 2018-2021.
Caden intends to major in Sports Management at Southeast Missouri.
Kolton Lyman
A native of Rockford, Iowa, Kolton Lyman will join SEMO after playing a season of junior college at Kirkwood Community College.
Lyman, a right-handed pitcher, finished the 2022-23 with seven appearances for head coach Todd Rima and the Eagles.
A native of Rockford, Iowa., Lyman graduated from Rockford Senior High School in 2022 where he started and lettered varsity all four years.
Over his high school career, he started and played in 89 games and was a two-way player for RHS as he garnered 227 at-bats, 97 runs scored, 95 hits, 56 singles, 13 doubles, three triples, 23 bombs, and 95 RBIs at the plate over his career.
He had a career high school batting average of .419 and an on-base plus slugging percentage of .585.
On the mound, Lyman made 33 appearances, 25 starts, for RHS. He pitched in 131.1 innings and held opponents to just a .143 batting average against him.
His 2022 senior season, Lyman was named to the IHSBCA All-District Class 1A Central District Team and was a 1st Team Third Baseman. He was also an IHSBCA All-State Class 1A 2nd Team Selection.
Lyman is a multi-sport athlete that has competed in basketball, football, and golf as he was a 1st team all-conference selection on the basketball court his senior year of high school.
For academics, Lyman has been on the honor roll since 2019 and was selected to National Honor Society in May of '21 & '22.
The son of Russ and Erin Lyman, Kolton plans to major in accounting at Southeast Missouri.
Jackson Kranawetter
The son of John and Jessica Kranawetter, Jackson comes to SEMO by way of Campbell Hill, Ill. and has spent the last season at John A. Logan College in Carterville, Ill.
For the Volunteers, the left-handed pitcher Kranawetter pitched 18.2 innings, recorded 13 strikeouts, and did most of his work in relief, making just one start a season ago.
In high school, Jackson played at Trico High School for head coach Ben Koehn where he started and lettered all four years on both the mound and in the field.
Jackson's career high school stats at the plate include a .300 batting average, a .392 on-base percentage, and 30 RBIs.
On the mound, Kranawetter recorded 78.1 innings-pitched, posting a 1.81 ERA with 135 strikeouts to just 28 walks.
An All-Conference selection both his junior and senior seasons, Kranawetter also received All-South Region honors in both seasons as well.
Kranawetter was an honor roll student for the duration of high school, and he intends to major in Criminal Justice at Southeast Missouri.
Tank Sims
Tank Sims will join the Redhawks by way of West Plains, Mo. after he graduates from West Plains High School in 2024.
The son of Brandon and Heather Sims, Tank will come to Southeast Missouri after having started and lettered the past three seasons at catcher for coach James Sharp.
During his junior season, Tank finished the year with a .429 batting-average and was selected to Missouri Class 5 All-State, All-District, and All-Conference honors.
He was also selected to the same teams his freshman and sophomore season(s), making him a three-time selection for All-State, All-District, and All-Conference during his time in West Plains.
He intends to major in business at Southeast Missouri.
Demitri Shakotko
Outfielder Demitri Shakotko will come to SEMO from Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada and will join LHP Haden Dow as the second Canadian on the squad.
Shakotko spent last season at Cloud County Community College and was a standout hitter for head coach Eric Gilliland.
Shakotko has a JUCO career batting average of .413, a slugging-percentage of .678, and an on-base percentage of .506 in just one season at Cloud County.
Demitri was a NJCAA Player of the Week, an All-KJCAA West First Team All-Conference selections, and an All-Region 2nd Teamer for his performance in 2023.
Shakotko intends to major in kinesiology at Southeast Missouri.
Kayden Kohlberg
Missouri native Kayden Kohlberg will join the Redhawks from Imperial, Mo. and will graduate from Seckman High School in 2024.
Kohlberg, a right-handed pitcher, has started and lettered the past three seasons for Seckman and head coach Bradley Hagedorn.
In his last two seasons, Kohlberg has accumulated a 10-3 record on the mound over 66 innings pitched. He has registered 90 strikeouts in just two seasons and has given up just 27 earned runs over that time.
His junior season, Kohlberg finished with an impressive 2.60 earned-run-average and was awarded 1st Team All-Conference and 2nd Team All-District. Seckman also won the conference championship a season ago.
Kayden is a three-sport athlete who also played football and soccer for Seckman.
The son of Kyle and Charity Kohlberg, Kayden intends to major in Business at Southeast Missouri.
Caleb Champion
Caleb Champion will join the Redhawks in 2024 after graduating from Rogers High School in Rogers, Arkansas.
The son of Corey and Itsy Champion, Caleb will come to SEMO as an outfielder who has started and lettered the last two seasons for head coach Matt Melson.
Thus far, Champion's team has accumulated a 27-3 overall record heading into his senior season, including a 15-1 conference record, and is coming off the winningest season in 6-A West Conference history from a season ago.
Champion played in all 30 games for Rogers, registering 119 at-bats and finished the year with a .344 batting average. He came across to score 38 runs during his junior season.
He was selected as a 1st Team All-Conference selection and was invited to the Xtra-innings Underclass Games following his junior year.
He is a member of National Honor Society and intends to major in International Business at Southeast Missouri.
Cameron Marchi
A native of nearby Jackson, Mo., Cameron Marchi will join Southeast Missouri after spending the last season at St. Charles Community College.
The right-handed pitcher compiled 30.2 innings pitched a season ago for coach Jeff Bolen at St. Charles CC. He finished the season with 38 strikeouts and just 17 walks and recorded a 1.50 WHIP on the mound for the Cougars.
During his high school career, Marchi was an All-State Academic selection in both his junior and senior seasons, lettering in three seasons while starting in both his junior and senior seasons at Jackson High School.
Marchi was also an All-State quarterback on the football field where he threw for 50 touchdowns and 3,000 total yards.
The son of Chris and Andrea Marchi, Cameron intends to major in kinesiology at Southeast Missouri.
Caden Kickhaefer
Caden Kickhaefer will come to Southeast Missouri after playing junior-college baseball for Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas last season.
A native of Salina, Kan., Caden is a right-handed pitcher that started 13 games posting a 10-1 record, over 82.1 innings pitched, a 2.95 ERA, 75 strikeouts to just 23 walks, and had a 1.13 WHIP during his freshman year of juco.
Kickhaefer was selected to the KJCCC 2nd Team All-Conference list, was a KJCCC Gold Glove Recipient, and won the Rawlings & ABCA NJCAA DI Gold Glove Award during his time with the Grizzlies.
His team finished 39-23 overall a season ago, posting a 21-11 conference record, and led the nation in double plays turned at the junior college level.
The son of Darin and Teresa Kickhaefer, Caden graduated from Salina Central High School in 2021 starting and lettering for 3 years under coach Dee Kolzow.
For his high school career, Kickhaefer accumulated a 3.26 ERA, four wins, 43 innings pitched, and 56 strikeouts.
In the classroom, Kickhaefer excelled as he won the 2021 National Leadership Award and was an Honor Roll Student from 2018-2021.
Caden intends to major in Sports Management at Southeast Missouri.
Kolton Lyman
A native of Rockford, Iowa, Kolton Lyman will join SEMO after playing a season of junior college at Kirkwood Community College.
Lyman, a right-handed pitcher, finished the 2022-23 with seven appearances for head coach Todd Rima and the Eagles.
A native of Rockford, Iowa., Lyman graduated from Rockford Senior High School in 2022 where he started and lettered varsity all four years.
Over his high school career, he started and played in 89 games and was a two-way player for RHS as he garnered 227 at-bats, 97 runs scored, 95 hits, 56 singles, 13 doubles, three triples, 23 bombs, and 95 RBIs at the plate over his career.
He had a career high school batting average of .419 and an on-base plus slugging percentage of .585.
On the mound, Lyman made 33 appearances, 25 starts, for RHS. He pitched in 131.1 innings and held opponents to just a .143 batting average against him.
His 2022 senior season, Lyman was named to the IHSBCA All-District Class 1A Central District Team and was a 1st Team Third Baseman. He was also an IHSBCA All-State Class 1A 2nd Team Selection.
Lyman is a multi-sport athlete that has competed in basketball, football, and golf as he was a 1st team all-conference selection on the basketball court his senior year of high school.
For academics, Lyman has been on the honor roll since 2019 and was selected to National Honor Society in May of '21 & '22.
The son of Russ and Erin Lyman, Kolton plans to major in accounting at Southeast Missouri.
Jackson Kranawetter
The son of John and Jessica Kranawetter, Jackson comes to SEMO by way of Campbell Hill, Ill. and has spent the last season at John A. Logan College in Carterville, Ill.
For the Volunteers, the left-handed pitcher Kranawetter pitched 18.2 innings, recorded 13 strikeouts, and did most of his work in relief, making just one start a season ago.
In high school, Jackson played at Trico High School for head coach Ben Koehn where he started and lettered all four years on both the mound and in the field.
Jackson's career high school stats at the plate include a .300 batting average, a .392 on-base percentage, and 30 RBIs.
On the mound, Kranawetter recorded 78.1 innings-pitched, posting a 1.81 ERA with 135 strikeouts to just 28 walks.
An All-Conference selection both his junior and senior seasons, Kranawetter also received All-South Region honors in both seasons as well.
Kranawetter was an honor roll student for the duration of high school, and he intends to major in Criminal Justice at Southeast Missouri.
Tank Sims
Tank Sims will join the Redhawks by way of West Plains, Mo. after he graduates from West Plains High School in 2024.
The son of Brandon and Heather Sims, Tank will come to Southeast Missouri after having started and lettered the past three seasons at catcher for coach James Sharp.
During his junior season, Tank finished the year with a .429 batting-average and was selected to Missouri Class 5 All-State, All-District, and All-Conference honors.
He was also selected to the same teams his freshman and sophomore season(s), making him a three-time selection for All-State, All-District, and All-Conference during his time in West Plains.
He intends to major in business at Southeast Missouri.
Demitri Shakotko
Outfielder Demitri Shakotko will come to SEMO from Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada and will join LHP Haden Dow as the second Canadian on the squad.
Shakotko spent last season at Cloud County Community College and was a standout hitter for head coach Eric Gilliland.
Shakotko has a JUCO career batting average of .413, a slugging-percentage of .678, and an on-base percentage of .506 in just one season at Cloud County.
Demitri was a NJCAA Player of the Week, an All-KJCAA West First Team All-Conference selections, and an All-Region 2nd Teamer for his performance in 2023.
Shakotko intends to major in kinesiology at Southeast Missouri.
Kayden Kohlberg
Missouri native Kayden Kohlberg will join the Redhawks from Imperial, Mo. and will graduate from Seckman High School in 2024.
Kohlberg, a right-handed pitcher, has started and lettered the past three seasons for Seckman and head coach Bradley Hagedorn.
In his last two seasons, Kohlberg has accumulated a 10-3 record on the mound over 66 innings pitched. He has registered 90 strikeouts in just two seasons and has given up just 27 earned runs over that time.
His junior season, Kohlberg finished with an impressive 2.60 earned-run-average and was awarded 1st Team All-Conference and 2nd Team All-District. Seckman also won the conference championship a season ago.
Kayden is a three-sport athlete who also played football and soccer for Seckman.
The son of Kyle and Charity Kohlberg, Kayden intends to major in Business at Southeast Missouri.
Caleb Champion
Caleb Champion will join the Redhawks in 2024 after graduating from Rogers High School in Rogers, Arkansas.
The son of Corey and Itsy Champion, Caleb will come to SEMO as an outfielder who has started and lettered the last two seasons for head coach Matt Melson.
Thus far, Champion's team has accumulated a 27-3 overall record heading into his senior season, including a 15-1 conference record, and is coming off the winningest season in 6-A West Conference history from a season ago.
Champion played in all 30 games for Rogers, registering 119 at-bats and finished the year with a .344 batting average. He came across to score 38 runs during his junior season.
He was selected as a 1st Team All-Conference selection and was invited to the Xtra-innings Underclass Games following his junior year.
He is a member of National Honor Society and intends to major in International Business at Southeast Missouri.
Cameron Marchi
A native of nearby Jackson, Mo., Cameron Marchi will join Southeast Missouri after spending the last season at St. Charles Community College.
The right-handed pitcher compiled 30.2 innings pitched a season ago for coach Jeff Bolen at St. Charles CC. He finished the season with 38 strikeouts and just 17 walks and recorded a 1.50 WHIP on the mound for the Cougars.
During his high school career, Marchi was an All-State Academic selection in both his junior and senior seasons, lettering in three seasons while starting in both his junior and senior seasons at Jackson High School.
Marchi was also an All-State quarterback on the football field where he threw for 50 touchdowns and 3,000 total yards.
The son of Chris and Andrea Marchi, Cameron intends to major in kinesiology at Southeast Missouri.
Players Mentioned
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