CEDAR FALLS - As the University of Northern Iowa baseball program went through its final season this spring, head coach Rick Heller watched opposing coaches recruit his current players.

"It was stressful," Heller said. "It made it difficult to keep your team focused. That was an interesting and unique situation. It wasn't very much fun to go through."

Heller, who will become the hitting coach at Creighton next season, spent his final day in the office at UNI today. While his assistants are still looking for work, most of his players have found new places to play.

Outfielder Travis Bennett, who led the Panthers with a .338 average and .490 slugging percentage, is headed to Wichita State.

Bennett, the Missouri Valley Conference's newcomer of the year, will have just one year remaining for the Shockers.

"I think they need some hitting and Gene (Stephenson) has been hit hard by the draft, so a one-year bat for him in the situation they're in will be a great fit," Heller said. "It will be a fun experience for Travis to go down there. They've got great facilities and tradition."

Bennett, who started his career at Kirkwood Community College, also considered Missouri State, Texas-San Antonio and Tampa University.

"It's just a great program," Bennett said. "Year after year, they have a good team on the field, and the chance to play in that atmosphere pumps me up."

Five Panthers - first baseman Jason Summers, pitchers Carlos Pinedo, Chris Macek, Ivan Lopez and Josh Gibbs - will attend Western Illinois.

"They should have an opportunity to play," Heller said. "The good thing is, they can band together, hang out together and really improve that team because of their makeup."

Catcher Jeff Taliaferro will return to his home state and play at Texas-San Antonio, while shortstop Cory Ege is slated to play at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the Southland Conference.

Brian delaTorriente will pitch at Illinois, and incoming freshman Jordan Adams of Mason City Newman has signed to play at Central Michigan.

Meanwhile, thanks to a connection Anthony Galli, who redshirted this past season for UNI, had, several players will play at St. Petersburg College, a two-year school in Florida.

Galli, outfielder James Dinizo, pitchers Reggie Hochstedler and Colin Rea signed there.

"They have a tradition of sending players to the SEC and ACC," Heller said. "I don't think it's a bad dice roll for those guys. If they go down and perform well, they'll get seen by a lot of people and have a chance to play at a big-name school in a year."

Here's a look at where the players with eligibility remaining on UNI's baseball roster in 2009 will play next season:

Division I (9)

Name Position School

Travis Bennett OF Wichita State

Brian delaTorriente P Illinois

Cory Ege 2B/3B Texas A&M-CC

Josh Gibbs P Western Illinois

Ivan Lopez P Western Illinois

Chris Macek P Western Illinois

Carlos Pinedo P Western Illinois

Jason Summers 1B Western Illinois

Jeff Taliaferro C Texas-San Antonio

Division II (2)

Name Position School

David Conrad P University of Nebraska-Omaha

Gabe Schultz 2B/SS St. Cloud State

Junior college (5)

Name Position School

Drake Austin IF DMACC

James Dinizo OF St. Petersburg

Anthony Galli OF St. Petersburg

Reggie Hochstedler P St. Petersburg

Colin Rea P St. Petersburg

NAIA (1)

Name Position School

Rob Sorensen P William Woods (Mo.)

Note: Several players are still undecided. Infielder Grant Grgurich is looking at Creighton, while pitcher and Denver native Keith Worner has shown interest in Wartburg.

Incoming recruits

Jordan Adams (Mason City Newman) - Central Michigan; Mike Eckhart (Boone) - Winona State; Cody Strang (Solon) - Minnesota State-Mankato; Greg Larpenter (Johnston) - DMACC.