DWU baseball inks three recruits
MITCHELL, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan University baseball coach Steve Gust brought his 2013 recruiting class up to 15 Friday morning when he announced the addition of three more signees. Nate Brandt, Tanner Swets and Aaron Bommersbach will all be freshmen for the Tigers next spring.
MITCHELL, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan University baseball coach Steve Gust brought his 2013 recruiting class up to 15 Friday morning when he announced the addition of three more signees. Nate Brandt, Tanner Swets and Aaron Bommersbach will all be freshmen for the Tigers next spring.
Swets, a 5-foot-10 pitcher from Loveland, Colo., will add depth to the Tiger pitching staff. The lefty earned one varsity letter at Mountain View High School. He also lettered four times in hockey and three times in football and plans to major in athletic training at Dakota Wesleyan.
"Tanner should help bolster our pitching staff from day one," Gust said. "He is a talented left-handed pitcher who is passionate about the game. We believe he will make an impact on our program for the next four years."
Bommersbach joins the Tigers from Twin Valley, Minn. The 5-8 catcher earned four varsity letters at Norman County East High School – the same high school current DWU pitcher Ethan Opsahl attended. Bommersbach hit .343 as a junior and .400 as a sophomore, and batted .503 during the 2011 American Legion season. He earned all-conference honorable mention in 2010 and 2011 and was named the best defensive infielder in 2011.
Bommersbach also lettered twice in both football and basketball, and earned all-conference honors for basketball in 2012. He was named the best offensive player in 2011-12, and was a captain in both basketball and baseball as a senior. Bommersbach has been an honor student for the past three years, and plans to major in wildlife management at DWU.
"Aaron will add some depth to our catching position," Gust said. "He is a talented, well-rounded student-athlete. We're excited about his ability both in the classroom and on the field."
Brandt is a 5-8 utility player from Sturgis, S.D. He will wrap up his career with the Sturgis Titans Post 33 American Legion team this summer. Last season, he batted .296 and had a .559 on-base percentage and a .407 slugging percentage. Brandt, who is undecided on a major, is a member of the honor roll and the National Society of High School Scholars.
"We love Nathan's passion for the game," Gust said. "He is excited and committed to helping the Tiger baseball program, and his desire will only help our program."
The latest three signings bring Gust's total to 15 for 2013. The Tigers lose four players to graduation in May. Dakota Wesleyan is currently 11-19 overall and opens Great Plains Athletic Conference play Saturday, March 31 at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Neb.
The Tigers play again Sunday, April 1, at Concordia University in Seward, Neb., and were scheduled to be back at home Tuesday, April 3, for a nonconference doubleheader against Jamestown College. That game has been moved to Jamestown, N.D., due to a scheduling conflict. The doubleheader will start at 2 p.m.