Three Eastern teams have acquired new athletes with intentions to refresh their teams and strive for an Ohio Valley Conference championship.

The baseball, women’s soccer, and tennis teams have incorporated new elements to their squads.

Baseball

The baseball team, currently managed by coach Jim Schmitz, will have ten new ball players.

Considering pitchers Mike Recchia and Josh Mueller are no longer on the team, bringing in pitchers was a priority before the recruiting process started.

Right-hander Luke Bushur, from Teutopolis, and left-hander Adam Clark, from Robinson, will take the mound next season.

Schmitz said he is impressed with Bushur’s pitching speed, which ranges between 85 and 95 mph.

Other new players fans should follow are first basement TJ McManus, from Glenview, and catcher Jacob Reese, from Chatham-Glenwood.

Schmitz selected the players on his own. He said he only brought quality players to the team and is excited for next season.

“I keep saying it-I’m always excited about each season,” he said.

Even though the baseball team had a complicated last season, Schmitz wants to win the OVC championship.

“Fall ball is the most important time of the year,” he said. “We already flushed last season down the drain; we are ready to start fresh.”

The baseball team will start practicing on Tuesday, Sept. 7.

Soccer

Coach Summer Perala, of the women’s soccer team, has recruited nine new players as well.

This recruiting process was the first one for coach Perala.

Her search for new talent consisted of looking for players with speed, agility, ball control and technique.

Perala said forwards Jenna Wampler, from Bloomington; Samantha Rall, from Phoenix Ariz.; and Nicole Hutchinson from San Antonio, Texas will bring positive things to her offensive line.

Perala said she has talked to several of her players over the summer and all are doing some type of conditioning to come back in good shape next fall.

Perala’s goals for next season are to finish top three in the conference and win the conference championship.

Tennis

John Blackburn, the head coach of the men and women’s tennis teams, said he recruited four new players.

Kevin Bauman from Naperville and Vova Zevekovsky from Nikes will join the men’s tennis team.

Janelle Prisner, from St. Johns, Mich., and Jennifer Kim, from Granite City, will join the women’s tennis team.

Blackburn’s goal for next season is to finish ranking the top half in the OVC.

The coach said he recruits players who will not only be good athletes but good students.

Pablo Rodriguez can be reached at 581 7942 or at [email protected].