July 20, 2004
IOWA CITY –
University of Iowa baseball coach Jack Dahm announced the signing of five new recruits today. Brian Burmester, Ryan Considine, Nate Price, Luke O’Loughlin and Dan Starken will all join the team this fall, along with the nine-man class Dahm signed last fall.
“We are very excited about the editions of Brian Burmester, Ryan Considine, Luke O’Loughlin, Nate Price and Dan Starken,” Dahm said. “We feel very fortunate that they were all available after the early signing period. Not only do we feel good about these gentlemen athletically, but we feel they are a good fit with the group we signed in the fall and the players we have returning. We are ecstatic about the future of Hawkeye baseball and what these men will bring to the University both on and off the field.”
Burmester is a 6-1, 190-pound 1B/catcher from Olympia, WA. Last season he was a second team all-NWAACC designated hitter for Edmonds Community College in Lynwood, WA, after hitting .266 with four home runs, 18 RBIs and five doubles in 79 at bats. In high school, he was an all-state selection as a senior after receiving all-conference and all-area laurels his junior and senior years. Burmester led his North Thurston High School team to a Washington State AAA Championship with a perfect 24-0 record as a senior and was named team MVP. He holds school single-season records in home runs (10), RBIs (41) and slugging percentage (1.000).
Considine, a 5-9, 160-pound outfielder from Byron, IL, is a three-time all-conference and Dixon Telegraph all-area selection. He holds school single-season records for stolen bases (31), triples (8) and runs scored (48), along with the Byron career record for runs scored (131). A tremendous all-around athlete, Considine was a two-time all-state selection in football and a three-time all-state honoree in basketball. He was a two-time team MVP in both football and basketball. Ryan’s brother Sean is a member of the Iowa football team.
Price is a 6-2, 175-pound outfielder from Grand Rapids, MI. Last year, Price played for Triton Community College, where he hit .460 with 87 hits, nine doubles, eight triples, four home runs and 62 RBIs. He also stole 33 bases and scored 65 runs.
“Burmester, Considine and Price give us more balance offensively because they hit lefthanded,” Dahm said. “Burmester can play outfield, first base or catch. Price and Considine will be the fastest kids on the team. They both had very good spring seasons offensively. Burmester came on late and is carrying it over into his summer in the PIL in Seattle.”
O’Loughlin, a 6-5, 205-pound hurler from Chicago, IL, also played at Triton Community College last season. He posted a 2.47 ERA in 47 1/3 innings, striking out 27 while walking 22. He allowed just five extra base hits on the year.
“Luke will give us another experienced arm,” Dahm said. “We feel good about his ability to come in and contribute on the mound for us.”
Starken is a 6-0, 170-pound southpaw from Woodbury, MN. He is 6-2 with a 1.69 ERA on the season and has struck out 63 batters in 49 2/3 innings, walking just 19. At the plate, Starken is hitting .372 with ten doubles and 19 RBIs in 86 at bats.
“Starken gives us another left-handed pitcher, which we really needed,” Dahm said. “He had an outstanding season, both on the mound and at the plate, this past spring in Minnesota.”