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By DENNIS SEMRAU Wissports.net

Verona senior Ben Neumann has signed a National Letter of Intent to play NCAA Division I baseball at Northern Illinois University beginning in 2011-12.

As a junior, Neumann was named to the Big Eight Conference second team as a pitcher while leading Verona (13-13 overall) on the mound with 6 wins, 1 save and 63 strikeouts in 51 innings.  A left-handed pitcher and first baseman, he tossed two complete games, including a no-hitter against Madison West.

“Playing DI baseball has been a goal that I’ve been striving for and Northern Illinois is a good fit,” said Neumann, who plans to study business at NIU. “I get a chance to play for a team with quality coaches and a competitive schedule, plus NIU offers great student-athlete support at a top-notch business school.”

Last summer, Neumann played for the Hitters National Summer Travel Team, which finished 31-17.  He batted .392 with a .575 slugging percentage while leading the team in doubles, home runs, and RBI.

Playing for Hitters, he saw action at first base, designated hitter and pitched primarily in relief against some of the nation’s best competition at events in Wisconsin, Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, Oklahoma, and Iowa.  Neumann was also invited and participated in the Chicago White Sox Silver & Black Games; Area Code Tryouts; and the Pitch & Hit Club Showcase.

In August, NIU invited Neumann and his parents to the DeKalb, Ill. campus for a visit and made the scholarship offer.

“Most schools wanted me only as a pitcher because I throw left-handed and my delivery comes from the side making it more difficult for opposing batters,” Neumann said. “While I am an effective pitcher, hitting the ball is also a real strength of mine and NIU seemed to recognize that.”

In addition to NIU of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), Neumann also received interest from Indiana University, Wright State, Western Illinois, Illinois State, and Miami (Ohio).

Neumann will join Hitters Coach RJ Fergus and other Hitters teammates also making commitments at an official signing ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 13 at the Hitters Baseball Academy in Racine. Beloit Memorial's Cameron Roegner (Bradley University) and Janesville Craig's Jameson Henning (Western Illinois University), played on the same Hitters summer travel team with Neumann and are also signing NLIs to play DI baseball.