Hammond, Ind. – May 23, 2023 – The Southland Vikings begin their 2023 Northern League season in one week. The team is in the process of announcing its 2023 roster, starting with the pitchers.
Adan Abarca (Olive Harvey College) RHP/UTIL – Abarca is a right-handed pitcher and utility player from Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep in Chicago. He is committed to Olive Harvey College, an NJCAA Division I school in Chicago. As a pitcher with Gwendolyn Brooks this spring, Abarca struck out 20 batters in 15 innings across eight regular season appearances. Abarca also played in the White Sox A.C.E. program.
Ty Chaney Jr. (Mississippi Valley State University) RHP/1B/3B – Chaney is a right-handed pitcher and corner infielder committed to Mississippi Valley State University, an NCAA Division I school in Itta Bena, Miss. Chaney played for Olive Harvey this spring and pitched 44 innings across 10 appearances, including nine starts. This is Chaney’s second season in the Northern League. Last summer, as a member of the Crestwood Panthers, he struck out seven batters across 9 1/3 innings.
Jacob Cook (Missouri S&T) RHP – Cook is a right-handed pitcher at Missouri University of Science & Technology, an NCAA Division II school in Rolla, Mo. An electrical engineering major, Cook struck out 15 hitters in 11 2/3 innings this spring. At Minooka Community High School, Cook was a four-time Scholar-Athlete Award winner and graduated in the top four percent of his class.
Guershon Exi (Alcorn State University) RHP – Exi is a right-handed pitcher committed to Alcorn State University, an NCAA Division I school in Lorman, Miss. A team captain with Olive Harvey this spring, Exi compiled 20 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings. He spent time in the outfield in addition to pitching in 2022 before focusing on pitching full-time in 2023. Exi led Olive Harvey in appearances (12) and strikeouts (25) in 2022.
Shemar Harris (Jackson State University) RHP/UTIL – Harris is a right-handed pitcher committed to Jackson State University, an NCAA Division I school in Jackson, Miss. He was a member of the White Sox A.C.E. and helped the team win the PBR Mid-American Classic 17U Championship. Harris is capable of reaching 90 mph on his fastball. The Thornwood High School 2023 graduate has experience playing the middle infield positions in addition to pitching.
Mike Kelly (Western Michigan University) LHP – Kelly is a left-handed pitcher from Western Michigan University, an NCAA Division I school in Kalamazoo, Mich. Kelly was ranked as the seventh best left-handed high school pitcher in Illinois in 2022 by Prep Baseball Report Illinois. During his time at Mt. Carmel High School, Kelly threw a no-hitter and also had a 15-strikeout game, the second highest single game strikeout total in school history.
Jack Kienzle (Indiana University South Bend) RHP – Kienzle is a right-handed pitcher from Indiana University South Bend, an NAIA school in South Bend, Ind. In 24 relief appearances across the last two seasons with the Titans, Kienzle has a 3.48 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings.
Charlie Lazo (Alabama A&M University) RHP – Lazo is a right-handed pitcher from De La Salle Institute in Chicago. He is committed to Alabama A&M University, an NCAA Division I school in Normal, Ala. With De La Salle this spring, Lazo threw 31 1/3 innings across eight appearances while striking out 21. Lazo also played in the White Sox A.C.E. program.
Jackson Lisle (Cornell College) RHP – Lisle is a right-handed pitcher that is committed to Cornell College, an NCAA Division III school in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. Lisle played for Olive Harvey this spring where he was recognized as one of just three athletes graduating with a 4.0 GPA. Lisle is a returning face to the Northern League after playing with the Crestwood Panthers last summer. In his only start last summer, Lisle had a quality start going seven innings while allowing just two runs.
Matt Maloney (Illinois Wesleyan) RHP – Maloney is a right-handed pitcher at Illinois Wesleyan University, an NCAA Division III school in Bloomington, Ill. He was a three-sport athlete in high school, playing baseball, basketball and golf. Maloney returns to the league for his third consecutive summer, having spent the past two seasons with the Crestwood Panthers.
Will Moell (Johns Hopkins University) RHP – Moell is a right-handed pitcher from Johns Hopkins University, an NCAA Division III school in Baltimore, Md. Moell spent the 2022 Northern League season as a member of the Crestwood Panthers. He was named Academic All-State and All-Conference Second Team at Munster High School while compiling a 5-1 record with four saves during his senior year. As a Freshman with Johns Hopkins this spring, Moell appeared in two games, striking out a pair over two innings of work.
Michael Morowski (Grand Valley State University) LHP/OF – Morowski is a left-handed pitcher and outfielder with Grand Valley State University, an NCAA Division II school in Allendale, Mich. He pitched in seven games in 2023, compiling a 3-1 record with 13 strikeouts in 27 innings. Morowski was a multisport athlete in high school and was named All-Conference in both baseball and basketball during his senior year attending Victor J. Andrew High School.
Lucas Pajeau (University of Illinois – Springfield) RHP/OF – Pajeau is a right-handed pitcher and outfielder with University of Illinois – Springfield, an NCAA Division II school. As a senior at Lockport Township High School East Campus in 2022, Pajeau posted a 2.80 ERA in three innings over three relief appearances. He was also named to the 2022 Herald News First-Team All-Area during his senior year.
Aramis Salmeron (Olive Harvey College) RHP – Salmeron is a right-handed pitcher for Olive Harvey College, an NJCAA Division I school in Chicago. Salmeron was the 2023 opening day starter for Olive Harvey and led the team with 43 strikeouts this spring. In his opening day start against Moraine Valley, Salmeron went three innings, striking out six and allowing just one unearned run on one hit and two walks.
Stephen Schwartz (Illinois Wesleyan University) RHP – Schwartz is a right-handed pitcher at Illinois Wesleyan University, an NCAA Division III school in Bloomington, Ill. He is pursuing a degree in data science. During his senior season at St. Charles North High School, Schwartz combined on a no-hitter with two teammates, tossing two innings with a pair of strikeouts.
Jorgie Vazquez (Triton College) RHP/INF – Vazquez is a right-handed pitcher and infielder with Triton College, an NJCAA Division I school in River Grove, Ill. His best start of the spring came on March 26, when he went five shutout innings, allowing just two hits enroute to his first win with Triton. Vazquez played in the Northern League last summer with the Joliet Generals, but did not appear on the mound, instead being used solely as an infielder.
Mateo Villagomez (Joliet Junior College) RHP – Villagomez is a right-handed pitcher at Joliet Junior College, an NJCCA Division III school in Joliet, Ill. After graduating from St. Laurence High School in 2022, Villagomez has tossed 2 2/3 innings with JJC this spring, striking out three without allowing a run.
Nolan Vlcek (Western Michigan University) RHP – Vlcek returns this summer for his third season with the Vikings. The right-handed pitcher plays baseball at Western Michigan University, an NCAA Division I school in Kalamazoo, Mich. Vlcek is a two-time Northern League All-Star who compiled a 2.13 ERA in six starts last season with the Vikings.
Brandon West (Harper College) LHP – West is a left-handed pitcher from Harper College, an NJCAA Division III school in Palatine, Ill. West combined on a no-hitter against Olive Harvey with Harper teammate Jermaine Salcedo on April 4, 2023. West earned the win pitching 2 2/3 innings in relief. In high school, he was primarily used as a center fielder and was a team captain at Lake View High School his senior year.
Jorge Zavala (Olive Harvey College) RHP – Zavala is a right-handed pitcher from Olive Harvey College, an NJCAA Division I school in Chicago. He appeared in eight games this spring (five starts), compiling 18 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings. In his last two starts combined this spring, Zavala tossed 5 2/3 innings, allowing just two earned runs on three hits with 10 strikeouts.
