DWU baseball adds six more names to 2013 roster
MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University baseball team’s 2012 season just wrapped up, but head coach Steve Gust already has a good chunk of his 2013 recruiting class signed. Gust, who enters his fifth season with the Tigers in 2013, added six names to his list of signees this week.
MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University baseball team's 2012 season just wrapped up, but head coach Steve Gust already has a good chunk of his 2013 recruiting class signed. Gust, who enters his fifth season with the Tigers in 2013, added six names to his list of signees this week.
Derek Wood, Kevin Hatcher, Kyle Larson and Zach Schultz are transferring to Dakota Wesleyan and Nate Jensen and Jace Goodfellow will be freshmen for DWU in the fall of 2012. The latest six signees bring Gust's 2013 recruiting class up to 21 members so far this offseason.
Jensen comes to DWU from Worthington High School in Worthington, Minn. The 5-foot-11 right-handed pitcher played two years of varsity baseball for the Trojans, and had a solid prep career. He went 4-1 as a junior with a 2.67 ERA and walked just seven batters in 27.1 innings pitched. He was named the 2011 pitcher of the year and earned honorable mention accolades. Jensen, who plans to major in athletic training, also played American Legion baseball for five years in Worthington.
"Nathan has a passion for the game," Gust said. "He has good stuff on the mound, and if he develops up to his potential, he can be a very good pitcher for us."
Goodfellow joins the Tigers from Sioux Valley High School. The Bruce, S.D., native is a 6-foot infielder who played three years of club baseball and three years of American Legion baseball. He also lettered three times and wrestling and participated in football and track for the Cossacks.
"Jace brings some athleticism to our program," Gust said. "We feel he can be a valuable member of our team for the next four years."
Wood is a transfer from Chadron State University in Chadron, Neb., where he was a member of the track team. The Green River, Wyoming, native, played American Legion baseball in high school.
"Derek brings an abundance of speed to our program," Gust said. "He is a little raw, but has unlimited potential."
Hatcher, Larson and Schultz all come to Dakota Wesleyan from Northland College, a junior college in East Grand Forks, Minn. Hatcher is a pitcher who helped the Pioneers to the regional tournament in 2012. The 6-foot-6 left-handed pitcher went to high school at Sacred Heart High School in East Grand Forks and will have junior eligibility for the Tigers next season.
"Kevin is a great find for us," Gust said. "He has all the tools to be one of the top pitchers in our league. He was a good high school and junior college pitcher, but we believe his best years are still ahead of him."
Larson is also a junior left-handed pitcher. He played high school baseball at Red Lake County High School and is originally from Red Lake Falls, Minn. He helped his high school squad to a state tournament appearance in his prep playing days.
"Kyle is a crafty left hander who knows how to pitch," Gust said. "He is another pitcher we believe can help us be successful. We expect a lot from him both on the field and in the classroom."
Schultz, who will be a junior this fall, was the Pioneers' top hitter and fielder this season. The outfielder and right-handed hitter is from Tucson, Ariz.
"Zach has unlimited potential," Gust said. "He has great desire and passion for the game. We believe he can challenge for a starting spot right from day one."
Gust's latest five recruits join a class that includes five outfielders, four infielders, seven pitchers, two catchers and three utility players. Seven of the players already signed are from within South Dakota's borders and others come from Montana, Colorado, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Nebraska.
The Tigers went 24-32 overall and 11-9 in the GPAC in 2012 and earned the fourth seed in the league's postseason tournament. DWU lost four players to graduation but returns a talented core of athletes, including seven of the team's All-GPAC selections, which were announced earlier this month.