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KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan baseball has announced that Patrick Borlik (RHP), A.J. Dokey (INF/OF), Steve Laudicina (LHP) and Jared Theisen (INF/OF) have signed National Letters of Intent to attend Western Michigan University and compete for the Broncos in 2010-11.

“I am happy to announce the four new players who have signed the National Letter of Intent to join our Bronco family,” WMU head coach Randy Ford said. “One team need was to add to our pitching staff and we did that with the addition of Patrick Borlik and Steve Laudicina. Other team needs have been met with the additions of Jared Theisen and A.J. Dokey. These two position players will help us in the future at shortstop and in the outfield.” 

Borlik (RHP, 6-3, 180 lbs.) is from South Bend, Ind., and South Bend Washington High School. Last year as a junior, he had a 5-1 record with a 2.33 ERA, throwing 36 innings. Borlik struck out 39 to lead the Northern Indiana Conference and held opponents to a .171 batting average. He was ranked as the 19th best player in the state by Indiana Prep Baseball Report and was an all-conference selection. He is the son of Mark and Gail Borlik.

The final three signees all hail from Michigan - Dokey (Howell, Mich./Brighton HS), Laudicina  (Sterling Heights, Mich./Warren DeLaSalle HS) and Theisen (Weidman, Mich./ Beal City HS).

Dokey (INF/OF, 6-0, 185 lbs.) batted .487 with 57 hits last year, belting out 10 home runs and 16 doubles. He also tallied up 41 RBIs. He was an all-conference, all-district and all-region selection and made the Ann Arbor News All-Area Team. He was named Livingston County Area Player of the Year as Brighton totaled an overall record of 31-3. He is the son of Randy and Jill Dokey.

Laudicina (LHP, 5-10, 170 lbs.) will be a nice addition to a pitching staff that currently features four left-handed pitchers. Laudicina closed out last year with a perfect 10-0 record and a 1.45 ERA, leading Warren DeLaSalle to a Division I State Championship. He struck out better than a batter and inning with 72 Ks in 62 innings pitched on his way to First Team All-State and All-State Dream Team honors. He is the son of Mark and Nancy Laudicina.

Theisen (INF/OF, 6-1, 175 lbs.) batted .395 with five home runs, eight doubles and six triples in 2009. He had 55 runs scored and 48 RBIs, earning First Team All-Highland Conference as well as all-district and all-region honors. He is the son of Doug and Mary Theisen.

An athletically versatile class, Borlik, Laudicina and Theisen have all played quarterback on their high school football teams. All four are standouts in the classroom, each with GPAs of 3.0 or better - the highest coming in at 3.90.

“I expect all four players to contribute early in their Bronco careers,” Ford said. “I thoroughly enjoyed the recruiting process with all four families because they understand the importance of a college education. It’s a thrill for me, and my staff, to have these players call us with excitement in their voices, announcing that they want to become Broncos. I look forward to working with each one of them.”