Tiger baseball starts 2013 recruiting class with two signees
MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University baseball team announced its first signees for the 2013 season Tuesday afternoon when head coach Steve Gust announced the signing of Jake Capko and Nate Everett.
MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University baseball team announced its first signees for the 2013 season Tuesday afternoon when head coach Steve Gust announced the signing of Jake Capko and Nate Everett.
Everett, a 6-foot-1 left-handed pitcher, comes to the Tigers from Papillion LaVista South High School in Papillion, Neb. He helped the Titans to a 31-6 record and the Nebraska Class A State Championship in 2011 and looks to help his team repeat in 2012. Everett has a 20-2 record in three seasons with two no hitters and an earned-run average of 2.82.
"Nate is a great addition to our program. He has achieved great things in the classroom and on the field," Gust said. "We feel he can have an immediate impact on our program and improve into an exceptional pitcher. More importantly, he is a student-athlete of great character and integrity."
Capko comes to DWU from Corvallis High School in Corvallis, Mont. The infielder, who will likely see time at first and third base, earned four letters and started for four years for the Blue Devils. Capko helped his team to a third-place finish at the state tournament and a second-place finish in the district tournament. He had a .459 batting average as a junior to go with 11 home runs, 17 doubles, three triples and 71 RBIs.
Capko, who had an on-base percentage of .646, earned all-district honors as a third baseman in his junior season. He also played two years of American Legion baseball with the Bitterroot Red Sox. Capko also lettered four times in football and earned all-conference honors as a wide receiver as a senior. He will graduate from Corvallis High School with the highest honors.
"Jake has found success both on and off the field in Montana, excelling in the classroom and as a player," Gust said. "He has exceptional potential as a hitter and fielder, and he is one of those student-athletes where the sky is the limit. We're looking at him to challenge for playing time right from the start."
A young Dakota Wesleyan squad went 12-36 in 2011 and is looking to use its talent and experience to improve on that mark in 2012. The Tigers return several key players this season and signed a handful of key individuals in the offseason.