UMC BASEBALL’S REED HJELLE AND DALTON GROSE NAMED ALL-NSIC

University of Minnesota Crookston baseball players Reed Hjelle (Sr., 1B, East Grand Forks) and Dalton Grose (So., LHP, Waterville) were named to the 2019 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Baseball teams, as announced Wed., May 8 by the conference office.

Hjelle was named All-NSIC First Team at first base, while Grose was an All-NSIC Second Team selection as a relief pitcher. Hjelle is a two-time All-NSIC First Team selection, garnering NSIC Player of the Year accolades as a junior in 2018. Grose is a first-time All-NSIC pick. The Golden Eagles have had four players bestowed with five All-NSIC First Team honors in the program’s history with Hjelle, Zach Seipel (2018), Aaron Johnson (2005), and Aaron Challoner (2003). Hjelle is the first player in school history to earn All-NSIC First Team honors in back-to-back seasons.

Hjelle has had a great senior season for the Golden Eagles. The native of East Grand Forks, Minn., leads the team by hitting .361 with a team-high 42 runs scored, and 11 home runs. Hjelle also has three doubles, three triples, and a league-leading 45 walks. He has showcased tremendous power with a .653 slugging percentage and has been a constant on the base paths with a .531 on-base percentage. Hjelle has also showcased his speed with 12 stolen bases for Minnesota Crookston in 2019. In addition to being a two-time All-NSIC First Team pick, he was 2018 NSIC Player of the Year, 2019 NSIC Preseason Player of the Year, 2018 NCBWA All-America Third Team, 2018 ABCA/Rawlings All-America Third Team, 2018 D2CCA All-Region First Team, 2018 NCBWA All-Region First Team, 2018 ABCA/Rawlings All-Region First Team, and 2018 ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Player of the Year.

Grose had a phenomenal sophomore season at the back end of the Minnesota Crookston bullpen. Grose picked up where his former teammate Seipel left off. Grose broke Seipel’s school record for saves in a season with 13 during the 2019 campaign. Grose posted a 2-2 mark and a 2.45 ERA with 36.2 innings pitched. He struck out 38 batters with just 21 walks on the season. Opponents were able to just hit .226 against Grose on the regular-season. He made 25 appearances out of the bullpen for the Golden Eagles this season. Grose is currently tied for second in NCAA Division II for saves with 13. He is only behind Adelphi University’s Tom Ambrosino with 14 saves.

Minnesota State University outfielder Jordan Hart was named NSIC Player of the Year. Max Steffens of Augustana University was selected as NSIC Pitcher of the Year and NSIC Newcomer of the Year. Minnesota State’s Nick Altermatt was selected as the NSIC Freshman of the Year, while Augustana Head Coach Tim Huber was named NSIC Coach of the Year.