INDIANAPOLIS – Butler Head Coach Dave Schrage inked five student-athletes during the early signing period. The recruiting class is comprised of two outfielders and three pitchers, however two of the pitchers are also capable of playing the field. The five newcomers will head to campus in the fall of 2018. Three of the five call Indiana home. Schrage also grabbed a player from Ohio and Georgia.
 
"Although this is a smaller class, it is a very talented one," Schrage stated. "We have really increased our speed and athleticism with this group. All these student-athletes will enable us to continue to grow our program, and they all embody The Butler Way with their success both on the field and in the classroom."
 
Alex Voss RHP/OF
South Bend, Ind./ St. Joseph
Coming off his junior year at St. Joseph, Voss will look to help his team earn another state championship. Voss aided in the school's first-ever state championship in 2017. The 6-4 team captain hit .390 with one home run and 19 RBI. On the mound, Voss finished 8-0 with a 1.44 ERA in 48 innings pitched. In addition to a state title, Voss was named second team all-conference and achieved high honors in the classroom.
 
"Voss is a two-way player in this recruiting class," Schrage added. "He can play the outfield as well as pitch for us. Voss is 6-4 with a solid frame and a loose arm. His fastball is 86 mph, but will get better once he fills out his body."
 
Benjamin Downs RHP
Terre Haute, Ind./ Terre Haute South
Downs will look to improve off of a stellar junior season where he went 5-1 on the mound with a 2.39 ERA. He helped his team win a conference championship in 2017 after finishing runner-up the year prior. The three-year varsity starter also had a successful summer, helping his team finished second in American Legion play. Downs earned all-conference honors in 2017. The 6-3 righty also excels in the classroom. He is a member of the National Honors Society and made the honor roll at Terre Haute South.
   
"Downs has a power arm that can throw three pitches for strikes," Schrage explained. "His fastball is 88-89 mph. He is a well-built athlete that knows how to pitch and compete."
 
Greg Gilbert SS/RHP
Westerville, Ohio/ Saint Francis DeSales
Gilbert posted monster numbers during his junior season both from the mound and home plate. He hit .410 with eight doubles, four triples, and one homer while stealing 18 bases. From the mound, Gilbert dominated with a 1.10 ERA, 60 Ks, and only one walk in 57.3 innings pitched. His stellar junior season earned him First Team All- Central Catholic League, First Team All-District, First Team All-Metro, and Second Team All-Ohio honors. In addition to 2016 and 2017 District Championships, Gilbert also helped his team finish runner-up in their region that past two seasons.
 
"Greg is a very versatile athlete that can play both the infield and outfield," Schrage said. "A very good shortstop in high school, Greg has tremendous speed that will put pressure on opponents. He will also pitch for us at Butler."
 
Malik Wirges OF
Fort Wayne, Ind./ Homestead
Wirges is a 5-11 outfielder with a knack for getting on base. He hit .256 last season, but ended the year with a .395 on-base percentage. A two-year starter for Homestead, Wirges helped the Spartans post a 21-8 record under the tutelage of coach Nicholas Byall. Wirges is an honor roll student that has been recognized as both the offensive and defensive player of the year for Homestead.
 
"Malik has a solid bat with a short compact swing from the right side," Schrage stated. "He's a good defender in the outfield that possesses a solid arm."
 
Caleb Ramsey OF
Conyers, Ga./ Heritage
Ramsey is a three-year varsity starter at Heritage under the guidance of head coach Shane Ramsey. He had a tremendous season at the plate in 2017 hitting .512, with a .636 on-base percentage and a .659 slugging percentage. He knocked in 16 runs during his junior campaign, and scored 32 runs. Ramsey also broke the Heritage school record by stealing 54 bases. Ramsey has helped Heritage earn a state playoff berth in each of the past two seasons. Individually, Ramsey has been First Team All-Region the past two seasons and was most recently named Second Team All-State. In the classroom, Ramsey is a three-year honor roll student.
 
"Ramsey is another player in this recruiting class that has great speed and a solid bat," Schrage said. "Caleb is a good defender in centerfield. He plays extremely hard."