Chicago, Ill. - Roosevelt University Head Baseball Coach Steve Marchi announced on Wednesday the first signing of his 2012-13 recruiting class, as Palatine High School right-handed pitcher David Schalla committed to join the Lakers.

Schalla teamed with current Roosevelt pitcher Alex Miramontes as part of a stellar Pirates rotation that led Palatine to a 23-15 record and a Class 4 Regional Championship. He posted a 5-3 overall record as a junior in 2011 and perhaps saved his best performance of the season for last. In the regional semifinals, Schalla tossed a four-hit gem, allowing just one run as the Pirates topped Hersey High School.

"We continue to get stronger on the mound by adding another quality arm from a quality high school program," said Marchi. "With Schalla, we are getting a kid that knows how to pitch and is dedicated to getting better on a daily basis. We look forward to his contributions and seeing him progress as a student athlete at Roosevelt."

Schalla is excited about the opportunity to continue his playing career at Roosevelt.

"I look forward to being reunited with old teammates and building relationships with new ones," said Schalla. "I'm also very excited to get the chance to work with the coaches. The next four years should be great!"

The Lakers return to the diamond in March when they open the season in Lakeland, Fla., at the RussMatt Invitational.