BATTLE CREEK, MI – The OnStaff Group Recruiting Trail is bringing two midwesterners to Battle Creek. Less than 40 days from home opener at C.O. Brown Stadium, the Bombers have signed two from the Fighting Irish. Nick Podkul and Eric Gilgenbach of the University of Notre Dame will suit up for the red and black this summer.

Nick Podkul: 6’2’’, 195 lbs, INF, freshman, (Bats: R/Throws: R), Schererville, Indiana

After helping Andrean High School win back-to-back Indiana Class 3A state championships as a junior and senior, Podkul has stepped right in at Notre Dame, earning some playing time on the infield. The freshman has played in 19 games this season, starting 15, while batting .362 with a .479 on-base percentage and a .483 slugging percentage. In 58 at-bats, Podkul has 21 hits, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 12 runs and 9 RBIs. He’s also walked 11 times and stolen one base.

In the field Podkul has a .968 fielding percentage and has committed just one error. Coming out of high school, Podkul was named the second-best shortstop in Indiana and the 22nd–best player overall by Perfect Game. As a senior, Podkul was earned first team all-conference honors. Podkul also earned letters in basketball in high school. He is enrolled in First Year of Studies.

Eric Gilgenbach: 6’2’’, 210 lbs, OF/INF, freshman, (Bats: R/Throws: R), Rochester Hills, Michigan

Gilgenbach graduated from Stoney Creek High School in June 2015 after earning four letters in both basketball and baseball. Gilgenback was ranked the No. 1 third baseman and the No. 7 player overall in Michigan and the 36th-ranked third baseman nationally by Perfect Game. As a senior, Gilgenbach was named preseason first team all-state before hitting .400/.568/.633 with 36 hits, 10 doubles, three homers, 27 walks and 25 runs scored in 32 games played. He also posted a 7-3 record with a 2.23 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 59.2 innings of work on the mound.

Gilgenbach was named all-league, all-district and all-region and also earned academic all-district accolades. Gilgenbach is enrolled in First Year of Studies at Notre Dame.

This recruiting update is presented by OnStaff Group. OnStaff Group is the largest human resource services firm in Southwest Michigan, maintaining an exceptionally experienced and stable staff. Learn how your company can benefit from over 168 years of expertise from a vast variety of organizations and industries today! 

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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 22-year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 140 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com.