Story by UMC Athletics –
The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team announced the signing of nine student-athletes for their 2020 recruiting class. The Golden Eagles have signed Dawson Feuillerat (C, 5-9 190, Argyle/Stephen-Argyle Central H.S.), Teddy Giefer (1B/LHP, 6-3 170, Courtland/Minnesota Valley Lutheran H.S.), Alex Koep (LHP, 5-10 160, Parkers Prairie/Parkers Prairie H.S.), Carter Mulcahy (C, 5-10 165, Perham/Perham H.S.), Broc Peterson (SS, Brainerd/Brainerd H.S.), Eric Salvesen (RHP, 6-5 190, Fergus Falls/Minnesota State Community and Technical College), Brody Sorenson (RHP/3B, Grand Forks, N.D./Red River H.S.), Matthew Thielen (SS, 5-10 150, Wheaton/Wheaton Area H.S.), and Raudel Wilson (RHP, 6-1 215, Hercules, Calif./De Anza H.S.).
“We’ve signed some really good players in the fall, but this is by far the best overall signing class that we have signed early,” said Head Coach Steve Gust. “We really worked hard identifying some of the best area student-athletes at the positions we felt are valuable to us. We signed some really projectable pitchers, guys with speed, shortstops, and catchers. More importantly, all of them are great students. I have to give my recruiting coordinator James Cullinane and assistant coach Max Casper a lot of credit. They worked hard recruiting these guys, getting them on campus, and showing them what we have to offer. They did a great job of demonstrating to our recruits what our program is all about. Our recruits believe in us both as a strong academic institution and fit, and as a fit for our baseball program.”
Dawson Feuillerat (C, 5-9 190, Argyle, Minn./Stephen-Argyle Central H.S.)
Feuillerat has been a two-time All-Conference Honorable Mention selection for Stephen-Argyle Central H.S., and a one-time All-Conference pick in baseball. In addition, he was named All-Conference for football where he played running back for the Storm. He is a SAC triple award winner. “We targeted Dawson the last two years watching him in both high school and Legion games,” Gust said. “We feel he is one of the top players in the state. He is solid defensively, but his biggest strengths are hitting for power and average. He is just an all-around great athlete and is good in the classroom.”
He is the son of Peggy and Wayne Feuillerat. Feuillerat was born Oct. 30, 2001. He plans to major in exercise science. He has had cousins play football at Bemidji State University and University of North Dakota, and a cousin who played baseball at Valley City State University.
Teddy Giefer (1B/LHP, 6-3 170, Courtland, Minn./Minnesota Valley Lutheran H.S.)
Giefer was an All-Tomahawk Conference Honorable Mention pick in 2018. He earned All-Conference Academic Team honors during the 2017-18 season. He also plays hockey for New Ulm H.S. “We’ve kept our eye on Teddy for the last couple of years,” Gust said. “New Ulm is one of the best baseball communities in Minnesota. Our coaches were impressed with Teddy’s swing. He has a chance to be a big-time hitter and can help us on the mound as a left-handed pitcher. His potential is unlimited.”
Giefer was born Nov. 9, 2001. He is the son of John and Renee Giefer. He plans to major in natural resources.
Alex Koep (LHP, 5-10 160, Parkers Prairie, Minn./Parkers Prairie H.S.)
Koep is an All-Park Region Conference and All-Section pick for baseball at Parkers Prairie H.S. He was named his high school team’s MVP and Cy Young Award winner. Koep was named MVP for his senior legion team and was selected All-Conference in senior legion. Koep was his junior legion baseball team MVP. He also plays basketball, where he was a First Team All-Conference pick. Koep was also named Mr. Hustle on his basketball team and was selected as his team’s Most Improved Player. “We were looking for left-handed pitchers and Alex fits our needs,” Gust said. “He has performed well at the high school and Legion levels, but is just starting to scratch the surface of what he is capable of on the mound. What’s really exciting about Alex is that he has a lot of room to grow and develop. He is also a fantastic student.”
He is the son of Robert and Laurie Koep. Koep was born Dec. 12, 2001. He plans to major in natural resources.
Carter Mulcahy (C, 5-10 165, Perham, Minn./Perham H.S.)
Mulcahy earned All-Conference honors as a junior, and All-Section 8AA accolades during his junior season. As a sophomore, he was named All-Conference and All-Section 8AA. He was named All-State Tournament during his junior season. “Carter has a great baseball IQ and is a pretty athletic baseball player,” Gust said. “He plays for his father at one of the top baseball programs in the area and in Minnesota. The sky is the limit for Carter. He has a deep passion and understanding for the game. He is exactly what we are looking for in a catcher and student-athlete.”
Mulcahy is the son of James Mulcahy. He plans to major in finance. Mulcahy was born Oct. 26, 2001. His father played baseball at Concordia College.
Broc Peterson (SS, Brainerd, Minn./Brainerd H.S.)
Peterson hit .312 as a junior with five runs scored, one home run, four RBIs, and five doubles for Brainerd H.S. He was 1-0 as a pitcher with a 2.33 ERA. “Broc is a great all-around athlete,” Gust said. “He has the tools we are looking for in a shortstop. He can throw, hit for average and has a little power, and can play defense. Broc fills a big need for us at shortstop. We feel he can handle the adjustment to the college game in a timely manner.”
He is the son of Dave and Kris Peterson. His brother McCale Peterson played baseball at Minnesota Duluth.
Eric Salvesen (RHP, 6-5 190, Fergus Falls, Minn./Minnesota State Community and Technical College)
Salvesen is in his second season at Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Fergus Falls, Minn. He posted a 6-3 mark in nine starts as a freshman. Salvesen posted a 5.81 ERA with 41 strikeouts and just 21 walks. He helped the Spartans to a 32-19 mark, as they competed in the Region XII Tournament in NJCAA. Salvesen competed in high school at Fergus Falls H.S., and Griggs County Central H.S., in Cooperstown, N.D. “Projectable is an understatement when describing Eric,” said Gust. “He has a great build and has progressively improved since I started watching him two years ago. He plays on one of the top teams in the Minnesota junior college system, so he has been game-tested. We feel his potential on the mound is unlimited and very projectable.”
He is the son of Lisa and Richard Salvesen. Salvesen was born Aug. 13, 1999. He plans to major in business.
Brody Sorenson (RHP/3B, 6-3 215, Grand Forks, N.D./Red River H.S.)
Sorenson was selected to the All-Eastern Dakota Conference baseball team. He had an ERA of 1.68 during legion baseball season for the Grand Forks Royals. Sorenson is a National Honor Society member. “We targeted Brody as one of the top recruits in our area,” Gust said. “We believed he is one of the top pitchers in North Dakota. What makes him so special is his projectability. He has good size and his arm is extremely loose. We feel we can help him develop into one of the top pitchers in our conference. It may take a bit of time, but he has the work ethic and desire to be a great pitcher.”
He is the son of Darin and Carmen Sorenson. Sorenson was born Sept. 16, 2001. He plans to major in exercise science and wellness.
Matthew Thielen (SS, 5-10 150, Wheaton, Minn./Wheaton Area H.S.)
Thielen earned All-Pheasant Conference honors as a junior baseball, and was named as the Conference Pitcher of the Year. He was an All-Pheasant Conference selection for basketball averaging 18.5 points per game. As a senior on the football team, he had 23 catches for 537 yards and four touchdowns. As a sophomore, Thielen was named All-Conference for baseball. In basketball, he was an All-Conference pick as a sophomore notching 17 points per game. During his freshman season, Thielen was an All-Conference Honorable Mention selection for baseball and basketball. “Matthew is one of the fastest players in the entire state of Minnesota,” Gust said. “One thing we cannot do is teach speed, and Matthew has a lot of it. He is a raw athlete who has a desire to develop into a fundamentally sound ball player. We are excited for him to join our program.”
Thielen was born July 13, 2001. He is the son of Paul and Leah Thielen. Thielen plans to major in business. His father Paul Thielen played baseball at the University of Wisconsin, and football and baseball at St. Cloud State University. His brother Sam Thielen played baseball at Minnesota State Community and Technical College, and for Mayville State University. His cousin Tricia Swaggart played basketball and ran track at Mount Mercy University.
Raudel Wilson (RHP, 6-1 215, Hercules, Calif./De Anza H.S.)
Wilson was named First Team All-Tri County Athletic League. He was named Pitcher of the Year and the Tri-County League Co-MVP. Wilson was selected Prep2Prep North Coast Section Honorable Mention. He was also named All-Bay Area News Group Honorable Mention. Wilson was the team leader for wins in strikeouts last season. He earned All-Tri County Athletic League Second Team during the 2017-18 season. Wilson was the team leader for wins and strikeouts during the 2017-18 slate. “I was lucky enough to find Raudel at a recent recruiting trip to California,” Gust said. “He performed well on the mound and was just as impressive with his personality. He also has a lot of room to grow and develop. He is another great student and fits the mold of what we are looking for in a pitcher and a person. Raudel has a chance to be really good.”
He is the son of Raudel and Grace Wilson. Wilson was born Nov. 22, 2001. He plans to major in sport and recreation management.
