Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Baseball Inks Six In Early Signing Period

Nov. 22, 1999

The University of Notre Dame baseball team has signed four promising righthanded pitchers and two position players to national letters of intent, sixth-year head coach Paul Mainieri announced today. The signees include outfielder Steve Sollmann (Cincinnati, Ohio)-the brother of former Irish standout Scott Sollmann-lefthanded-hitting first baseman/pitcher Joe Thaman (St. Louis, Mo.) and righthanders Aaron Edwards (Chambersburg, Pa.), Brian Kaplan (Ormand Beach, Fla.), Bob Keppel (Chesterfield, Mo.) and Michael Morgalis (Cincinnati, Ohio).

“We had a strong need to sign some quality pitching, in addition to adding some position players who can come in and compete for playing time as freshmen,” said Mainieri, whose 1999 Irish squad won the BIG EAST Conference regular-season title en route to a 43-18 overall record and a spot as an NCAA Tournament regional host.

The current Notre Dame squad includes six seniors, led by starting pitcher Scott Cavey, top closer John Corbin and three starting position players: first baseman Jeff Felker, second baseman Jeff Perconte and leftfielder Matt Nussbaum. “We also probably will lose junior pitcher Aaron Heilman to the pro draft, but we have addressed a lot of our needs with the current freshman class and these signees,” said Mainieri.

Thaman is expected to compete for starting time at first base in the 2001 season while the speedy Sollmann could join current sophomore centerfielder Steve Stanley and freshman rightfielder Brian Stavisky to form a talented Irish outfield when the 2001 season rolls around.

“Adding a player of Sollmann’s ability gives us two centerfielders in the same outfield and it’s hard to imagine there being a better outfield-both offensively and defensively-than what we potentially could have with Sollmann, Stanley and Stavisky,” said Mainieri.

Sollmann’s danger on the basepaths also should boost Notre Dame’s offensive strategy. “With the changes in the bat standards, there will continue to be more of a premium on having balance in your offense,” said Mainieri. “Sollmann has some pop in his bat and also will give us another threat on the bases,” said Mainieri.

All four of the recently-signed pitchers will have the chance to play important roles on the 2001 staff, with Keppel and Edwards receiving mention on Baseball America’s annual list of top high school prospects. “We will have a big gap in our pitching staff for the 2001 season, with the loss of Cavey and Corbin and the likely loss of Heilman. But we are excited to give the players that will be returning, and these signees, the chance to play key roles on the mound in 2001.”

Edwards is a promising prospect who led his 1999 Chambersburg High School team to the state title, with a 10-1 record and 1.67 ERA, plus 95 strikeouts, 37 walks and 34 hits allowed in 71 innings. The 6-2, 190-pounder Edwards was the winning pitcher in the state title game and helped his team earn a 27-2 final record and a No. 21 national ranking by USA Today.

Kaplan, known for a strong arm and a tough curveball, received the Rick Roden Pitching Award as a junior at Father Lopez High School, after posting a 7-4 record and 1.45 ERA, with 106 strikeouts and a .169 opponent batting average in 77 innings. A third team all-state selection, the 6-0, 170-pounder led the Green Wave to the regional title while tossing a no-hitter and two one-hitters.

Keppel-who has extensive family ties to Notre Dame-made an Aug. 21 verbal commitment to the Irish, despite scholarship offers from several Division I schools in both baseball and basketball. A longtime summer-league Midwest Prospects teammate of fellow Notre Dame signee Thaman, the 6-5, 190-pound Keppel can touch the low 90s with his fastball and was listed 131st on Baseball America’s list of the nation’s top high school players (first in the state of Missouri). Keppel owns an 11-1 career record at De Smet Jesuit High School and has a career ERA below 2.00 (De Smet does not keep complete stats). Keppel’s all-around athleticism has seen him play every position but catcher with the Spartans while his nine home runs as a junior set a De Smet record. A three-year starting point guard, he led the Spartans to the state basketball title in 1998-99 while breaking the school’s 20-year-old assist record (with 216) and posting a 5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Morgalis is coming off a strong summer season with the Midland Braves, posting an 8-1 record and 2.53 ERA on a team that went 42-15 and won the Dizzy Dean World Series title in Elkton, Md. The 6-4, 195-pound Morgalis also posted a 2.98 ERA as a junior at Sycamore High School.

Sollmann is one of the most successful high school athletes in Cincinnati, excelling in baseball, football and basketball. The 5-11, 180-pounder hit .429 as a junior at St. Xavier High School, with five home runs, 18 stolen bases and 20 RBI on a team that went 20-4 and advanced to the sectional finals (he also plays for one of the nation’s top summer teams, the Midland Redskins). Sollmann’s football exploits include setting school records for career rushing yards (nearly 4,000), points (364) and touchdowns (60, besting his brother Steve’s record of 58), plus a single-season record of 1,450 rushing yards in 1998 and single-game records for rushing yards (316) and TDs (6). He also is a four-year starting point guard on the Bombers basketball team, earning all-league honors as a sophomore and junior.

Thaman has proven himself as a first baseman and pitcher at St. Louis University High School (the rival school of Keppler’s De Smet Jesuit). Known for his strong all-around game, Thaman’s junior season included a .568 batting average, a conference-leading 42 hits, 34 RBI, 11 doubles, three triples, one home run and just one fielding error during a 20-5 season. On the mound, the 6-4, 200-pounder posted a 3-1 record and 2.44 ERA, with 17 strikeouts and just eight walks.

Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Bats Hometown Previous School
Aaron Edwards RHP 6-2 190 Chambersburg, PA Chambersburg HS
Brian Kaplan RHP 6-0 170 Ormand Beach, FL Father Lopez HS
Bob Keppel RHP 6-5 190 Chesterfield, MO De Smet Jesuit HS
Michael Morgalis RHP 6-4 195 Cincinnati, OH Sycamore HS
Steve Sollmann OF 5-11 180 R Cincinnati, OH Saint Xavier HS
Joe Thaman 1B/LHP 6-4 200 L St. Louis, MO St. Louis University HS

Additional Edwards Notes:

  • Played key role in 4-3 win over Schaler to give Chambersburg the 1999 state title, with the go-ahead RBI in the top of the seventh and a strong complete-game effort (7 IP, 10 Ks, 6 H, 3 BB, 1 earned run) …
  • named all-conference and all-state as a junior while receiving invites to the Team One Showcase (at Clemson), the Area Code Games and he NABF World Series …
  • named to American Legion all-star team, after hitting .580 with 25 runs, six doubles, four triples, seven home runs, 23 RBI, 18 walks and a 1.280 slugging pct. on Chambersburg American Legion team that posted 10-9 record …
  • posted a 3-0 record as a sophomore …
  • a three-year starter on the Trojans football team, with 2,500-plus career rushing yards and 30 TDs …
  • named team MVO all-conference as a sophomore and junior, after serving as a running back, punter and kicker …
  • averaged 41 yards per punt, with 23 of 56 kickoffs going into the end zone …
  • owns a career-best field goal of 45 yards (he has kicked 60-yarders in practice) …
  • led conference in scoring as a junior while ranking 10th in midstate area with 1,362 rushing yard in 1998 …
  • played three seasons of basketball (he is not playing in 1999-2000), earning honorable mention all-conference as a junior guard, with 15 points per game on a 17-10 Trojans team …
  • an honor roll student with a 3.6 GPA …
  • born Feb. 13, 1982 …
  • son of Chester and Linda Edwards.

Mainieri on Edwards:
“We’re really excited about Aaron coming to Notre Dame, because he has great makeup as a pitcher. He pitched his high school team to the state championship last year as a junior. He wants the ball and he’s a real competitor. He has a good arm and will get better all the time. We’re looking forward to Aaron working with (pitching coach) Brian O’Connor and seeing him progress over the next few years.”

Edwardson his Decision:
“I didn’t know a lot about Notre Dame but I found out how strong the baseball program is. When I visited, the combination of the campus, the coaches and the academics made the decision easy for me. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get such a great education and to be part of a baseball program that has been one of the nation’s most successful teams during the 1990s.”

Additional Kaplan Notes:

  • His 7-4, 1.45 ERA season as a junior included a no-hitter vs. rival Trinity Prep, leaving with the score 0-0 after seven innings (he lost a perfect game in the seventh, when the catcher dropped a third strike on the second batter of the inning) …
  • led team to 22-9 record and the round of 16 in the 1999 state tournament …
  • pitched 20 relief innings on 29-5 team as a sophomore …
  • named co-captain for the 2000 baseball season …
  • selected to the East Florida Scout Team …
  • led Lopez summer team to third-place finish in the state Legion team, pitching every week with no losses …
  • tossed a shutout in state Legion tournament win over Gainesville-Buckholtz …
  • also swam freestyle and breaststroke for the Green Wave as a sophomore …
  • member of the National Honor Society, with a 3.86 GPA …
  • born March 8, 198 …
  • son of Marshall and Linda Kaplan.

Mainieri on Kaplan:
“Brian attended our fall camp and immediately caught our attention with his strong arm and command of his curveball. He can throw the ball as hard as 90 miles per hour but seems to pitch better when he’s in the mid 80’s with movement and command. He really showed a good feel for pitching. He’s going to continually improve as he gets bigger and stronger. He should be ready to pitch a lot of innings as a freshman.”

Kaplan on His Decision:
“I had the chance to stay with John Corbin during my visit. He and the other Florida guys told me that you get used to the different weather and get so wrapped up in meeting new people and playing baseball that you never even think about it. This is a great opportunity for me and I’m not worried about it being far from home. My mom first got me interested in Notre Dame and I came up to the Notre Dame Baseball Camp in the fall, so the coaches had a chance to see me play. When I came on my visit, you could tell that there is a lot of unity on the baseball team and everyone had great things to say. Back here at home, people who I’ve never met before are coming up and congratulating me for going to Notre Dame. That sort of caught me off-guard but it’s great to see how well-respected the school is.”

Additional Keppel Notes:

  • Made verbal commitment to Notre Dame on Aug. 21, the earliest commitment of the six-year Mainieri era …
  • led De Smet baseball team to its best finishes ever in the state tournament (second in 1998, third in ’99) …
  • hit school-record nine home runs as a junior …
  • named all-district, all-confernce and all-state while becoming only junior named first team all-metro …
  • attended national Area Code Games (in California) during summer of ’99 …
  • posted 5-1 record and 1.13 ERA as a junior, with 30 strikeouts, eight walk and a.198 opponent batting avg. …
  • helped Spartans post 19-12 season in 1999, setting a state finals record with 11 Ks in third-place game vs. Francis Hollow (4-3 win) …
  • went 4-0 as a sophomore, with a 1.69 ERA on 21-9 Spartans team that lost to Chaminade (6-0) in state title game …
  • posted a 2-0 record and three saves as a freshman, on 17-11 team that lost in district title game …
  • played with Thaman on St. Louis Comets summer team from 6th-9th grade and during summer of ’99, after 11th grade (the team’s name changed to the Midwest Prospects, under a new head coach) …
  • named basketball co-captain for 1999-2000 season, after earning first team all-conference, first team all-district and second team all-state honors in 1998-99 …
  • his junior season included school-record 216 assists, 5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and nine points per game …
  • led ’98-’99 basketball team to 30-2 season and state title victory over Vashon (70-64) …
  • in that title game, he made all eight of his first-half shots (including three 3-pointers) while his season stats include a 53 pct. on field goals and 40 pct. from 3-point range …
  • also played AAU summer basketball in AAU from sixth grade through the summer of 1997, when he had to focus solely on summer baseball …
  • voted De Smet scholar-athlete of the year as a junior while also receiving the Princeton Book Award …
  • member of the National Honor Society and Senior Leaders Program …
  • ranks fifth in a class of 300 with a 4.8 GPA (4.0 scale) …
  • his sister Erin is currently a senior at Notre Dame while his sister Patricia is a freshman at ND …
  • his father Curt is a 1972 Notre Dame graduate while his mother Denise is a 1975 graduate of nearly St. Mary’s College …
  • Keppel also has two uncles who graduated from Notre Dame and an aunt who is a St. Mary’s graduate …
  • three of his cousins currently attend Notre Dame while another, Jim Keppel, is the starting fullback for Yale as a sophomore …
  • born June 11, 1982 …
  • son of Curt and Denise Keppel

Mainieri on Keppel:
“Bob is a legitimate candidate to one day be the ace of our staff. He has a great arm and already can throw in the low 90’s. He has the perfect pitcher’s body at 6’5″ and with additional strength should throw even harder as time goes by. He also is a great athlete and has the ability to be a Division I basketball player. Bob could have gone to any other great baseball program in the country but he always has loved Notre Dame and he gave us the earliest verbal commitment we’ve ever received. The sky’s the limit for what Bob can accomplish at Notre Dame.”

Keppel on His Decision:
“I always have wanted to go to Notre Dame and it was a great feeling when they first called me on July 1st. Baseball is closest to my heart but I’d love to keep playing basketball, if it can work out. I went to the Notre Dame-Florida State football game in 1993 and have wanted to go to Notre Dame ever since. It’s a big family tradition and my sisters both feel it was great decisions for them. I stayed with Aaron Heilman on my official visit and I like to see myself having a career like him. Notre Dame was close to the College World Series last year and I’m excited to be a part of the program.”

Additional Morgalis Notes:

  • His junior season at Sycamore HS included a 4-2 record and 2.98 ERA on 14-13 Aviators squad that lost to Moeller in first round of the state tournament …
  • twice named to All-League Academic team …
  • helped beat Hamilton Badin as a sophomore, with five strong innings in a 5-4 win …
  • has spent past five seasons as member of the Midlands Braves summer team …
  • also a two-time letterwinner in water polo, starting in the goal on team that placed third in state during 1997 season (15-6 record) …
  • a three-year honor student and three-year member of student council, in addition to serving as sophomore class president …
  • born Sept. 18, 1981 …
  • son of James and Bonnie Morgalis.

Mainieri on Morgalis:
“We are very excited about Mike and what he can develop into. With Mike, we have a young man that has the size and arm strength to become a dominant pitcher at the collegiate level. He has a great attitude and wants to do well. He comes from a great high school baseball area and has competed against other outstanding players. We expect Mike to quickly become a big influence on our pitching staff.”

Morgalis on his Decision:
“When I came up on my visit in October, everyone spoke so highly about the school and I got the chance to live it. I was really taken by the campus and the facilities. I had the chance to see the ND-USC football game and overall it was a great experience.”

Additional Sollmann Notes:

  • Named MVP of 1999 St. Xavier baseball team while also earning all-city honors …
  • his 1998 baseball stats include a .301 batting average and eight stolen bases on team that reached sectional finals …
  • also drew interest from college football recruiters …
  • named first team all-league three times in football, earning all-city honors, league player of the year and honorable mention all-Southwest Ohio as a junior …
  • captained ’99 football team to 10-1 season, a spot in the state tournament round of 16 and a No. 12 national ranking by USA Today…
  • totaled 260 rushing yards, two rushing TDs and a passing TD in first round of 1999 state playoffs, vs. Moeller (a 49-32 win) …
  • his record-setting games included 316 rushing yards vs. Colerain in the 1998 regional final (a 40-14 win) and six TDs vs. Cleveland St. Ignatius in the eighth game of the 1999 season …
  • led Bombers to 1998 state title game, losing to Canton McKinley …
  • led Bombers basketball team to league titles during his sophomore and junior seasons, highlighted by two victories over eventual state champ Moeller and current Irish freshman basketball player Mike Monserez …
  • played in prestigious Team One National Showcase, held in St. Petersburg, Fla. during June of 1999 …
  • his brother Scott just completed his fourth season in professional baseball, as a member of the Huntsville Stars (AA affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers) …
  • the elder Sollmann holds Notre Dame records for stolen bases in a season (52, 1996) and career (101, 1994-96) and triples in season (11, in 1995) and career (24) while his .372 career batting average ranks third …
  • born April 1, 1982 …
  • . son of Rickey and Kathleen Sollmann

Mainieri on Sollmann:
“We saw a lot of players during the summer and Steve Sollmann stood out to more than anyone else. He’s a tremendously exciting player who can do a lot of things. Offensively, he can really run and will be a great base stealer. He has an outstanding swing, very compact and level, and is capable of hitting any kind of pitching-hard throwers or off-speed pitchers. He can bunt and he’ll use the whole field swinging the bat. Eventually, he’ll hit some home runs, too. Defensively, he is a super outfielder who can really go get the ball. Most importantly, Steve is simply a winner. Whatever team Steve plays for is destined to win a lot of games, so I’m glad he’ll be on our side. He will make a major impact on Notre Dame baseball for the next few years.”

Sollmann on his Decision:
“I knew I could get a great education at Notre Dame and it was the place where I felt most comfortable on my visit. I talked to my brother about my decision but he didn’t want to be a big influence …

  • but he’s really happy that I’m going to Notre Dame. I watched him go through his career at Notre Dame and know what a great experience it was for him. “

Additional Thaman Notes:

  • Named first team all-confernce as a junior, after leading team to 20-5 record …
  • three-year member of conference all-academic baseball team …
  • started at first base and pitcher as a sophomore, hitting .300 with 20 RBI on team that went 17-5 and reached the state quarterfinals …
  • named honorable mention all-conference as a sophomore …
  • hit .370 as a freshman starter at first base, with 15 RBI on team that advanced to NCAA semi-finals and posted a 14-9 season …
  • named second team all-conference as a freshman …
  • received SLUHS freshman scholar-athlete award …
  • led St. Louis Comets to fifth-place finish at 1997 AAU national tournament, batting .467 with a 3.92 ERA and no errors in 35-5 season …
  • an all-star pitcher with Crestwood Junior Legion team in summer of 1998 …
  • played for Midwest Prospects during summer of 1999, hitting .370 with one home run and 35 RBI on team that finished third at AAU national tournament in Norman, Okla. …
  • also a starting wire receiver and punter on the Junior Billikens football team, setting school record with 175 receiving yards in a game vs. McCluer HS as a junior …
  • his junior-year football stats included 655 receiving yards and 12 TDs …
  • named first team all-confernce in football as a junior …
  • led 1999 football team to state semi-finals (19-14 loss to Melville) and an 11-2 final record …
  • totaled 35 receptions for 500 yards and 10 TDs in 1999 football season while serving as co-captain (postseason honors TBA) …
  • owns a 3.52 GPA …
  • member of student council …
  • born Nov. 1, 1981 …
  • son of Joseph and Karen Thamen.

Mainieri on Thaman:
“Joe attended our fall camp and stood out to the coaching staff because of his athleticism and his outstanding glove work at first base. He has a chance to be one of the really outstanding defensive first basemen ever to attend Notre Dame. He also has a great swing and has good bat speed. With some work in our strength program, he has a chance to become a good power hitter, too. Joe can also pitch, and being lefthanded, he can add depth to our pitching staff.”

Thaman on his Decision:
“I’ve always wanted to go to Notre Dame. It’s my dream school. I’ve been there for baseball camps and football games. I just love the campus atmosphere and the mystique. They have a good coaching staff and a pretty strong team-one of the best in the Midwest-and they have nice facilities. It definitely was the best choice for me.”