The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball program was picked to finish 10th in the NSIC Preseason Baseball Coaches’ Poll released Thursday morning. The Golden Eagles received 67 votes in the poll. They were 24 votes behind the University of Minnesota Duluth in ninth and were two votes ahead of University of Sioux Falls, who was slotted 11th. Augustana was picked to finish first and Minnesota State Mankato second.
In addition, UMC senior Reed Hjelle was selected as the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year. It is the first time in school history, the Golden Eagles have received a Preseason Player of the Year nod. Hjelle was the 2018 NSIC Player of the Year, also a first in program history. He was also selected as the 2018 ABCA/Rawlings Central Region Player of the Year. Hjelle was named 2018 ABCA/Rawlings All-America Third Team, and NCBWA All-America Third Team. He had an outstanding junior season, hitting .436 with 10 home runs and 50 RBI, with 19 doubles, five triples, and 38 runs scored. In league play, Hjelle led the NSIC in slugging percentage at .741, on-base percentage at .476, total bases with 80, and was tied for the league-lead in home runs with seven.
The UMC baseball team enters their fifth season under Head Coach Steve Gust in 2019. The Golden Eagles are coming off a 24-27 (10-22 NSIC) season. They struggled in NSIC play, last year going 10-22 and looking to bounce back and get back to the NSIC Tournament for the third time in four years.
Crookston is led by Hjelle at the plate. The Golden Eagles also return starters Jonathan Lund (Sr., IF, Tolna, N.D.), Wyatt Peppel (Jr., DH, Greenbush), and Ben Thoma (So., C/IF, Clearbrook) from the 2018 team. On the mound, the Golden Eagles welcome back returning starters Jayden Grover (Jr., RHP, Cooperstown, N.D.) and Zach Rustad (Sr., LHP, Blaine). Grover was 4-4 with a 5.56 ERA in 2018, while Rustad went 2-6 with a 5.98 ERA. Out of the bullpen, Louis Gerzin (Sr., RHP, Ely) leads the way after posting a 3.50 ERA in 18.0 innings as a junior. UMC also has several newcomers who look poised to contribute at the plate and on the bump. Also look for Aaron Hollcraft (Sr., LHP, Crookston) to have a major impact either starting or from the bullpen. The Crookston-native was 2-1 with a 4.00 ERA last season.
The Golden Eagles have several newcomers joining the fray that will also look to have a major impact in 2019. Some key newcomers to watch in the field are: Scott Finberg (Jr., 3B, Stillwater), Brock Reller (So., OF, Grand Forks, N.D.), Mason Ruhlman (Jr., IF, Algonac, Mich.), Landyn Swenson (Jr., OF, Devils Lake, N.D.), and Bryce Jorgenson (Jr., UT, Thunder Bay, Ontario). The Golden Eagles also several newcomers to watch on the mound, including Matt Nelson (Fr., RHP, Afton), Conner Richardson (Fr., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.), Tyler Hegg (Fr., RHP, Thompson, N.D.), among others.
The Golden Eagles open the 2019 season Feb. 15 on the road with a three-game series at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri.
Crookston opens conference play March 16 at Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska, with a three-game series with the Wildcats.
