Charlie Vercruysse Season 2026

BEFORE PURDUE
• Redshirt season at the University of Notre Dame during the 2024-25 school year
• Played summer ball for the Lima Locos of the Great Lakes League, posted a .364/.477/.420 slash line with 21 RBI and eight steals in 88 at-bats
• Represented Lima on the North Team at the GLSCL All-Star Game
• Earned GLSCL Player of the Week honors on July 7 after a 14-for-27, seven-RBI showing over a six-game span, recording a trio of three-hit games

HIGH SCHOOL
• Four-year varsity letterwinner for coach Steve Paxson at University High School in Normal, a school located about 300 yards from Illinois State’s Duffy Bass Field
• Set a school record with 137 career hits and also tied the single-season benchmark with 49 hits as a sophomore
• Three-year First Team All-Conference honoree
• Two-time team captain and starting shortstop as an upperclassman
• Career varsity stats: 38 doubles, 14 triples, 7 homers (59 XBH), 95 RBI, 66 steals
• Batted .347/.470/.644 with 13 doubles, 22 XBH, 27 RBI, 18 steals and a .970 fielding percentage as a senior
• Hit .377 with a .500 OBP as a junior, recording 15 XBH, 29 RBI and 25 steals
• Enjoyed his breakout season as a sophomore, batting .471/.536/.702 with the record 49 hits, including 13 doubles, 29 RBI and 17 steals
• Played third base as a freshman on varsity, batting .304 with 10 RBI as UHigh went 32-4 and finished third in the IHSA Class 2A state tournament
• Recognized as team MVP as a senior, defensive player of the year in 2023 and offensive player of the year as a sophomore
• Also played travel ball for the Cincinnati Reds Scout Team, USA Prime Scout (17U) and Chicago Elite (15U-17U)

PERSONAL
• Major: Communication
• Full name is Charlie Nicklas Vercruysse
• Born in Bloomington, Illinois
• Parents are Brandon and Emily Vercruysse
• Family also includes younger siblings Oliver, Lucy and Harry
• Father played DIII baseball at Millikin University in Illinois
• Grandfather Robert Vercruysse wrestled at the University of Illinois