SIOUX FALLS -- University of Sioux Falls Head Baseball Coach Grant Hieb has announced that 24 student-athletes have signed and will continue their athletic and academic careers at USF. All signings are contingent upon admission to USF and compliance with NCAA rules, which will include certification by the NCAA Eligibility Center.

"I am very excited about the group of student-athletes that signed to further their education and playing careers here at the University of Sioux Falls," said Hieb, a third-year head coach at USF. "They are great group of guys that should help our program succeed both on and off the field. My coaching staff and I feel like this is a great recruiting class and has the makings to be the best one that we have brought to the Coo. We're looking forward to having them on-campus this fall," he added.

The USF signees include -

 

Brennan Albert, 6-0, 185, Outfielder, Wayzata, Minn./Wayzata, Minn.
Albert, a 6-0, 185-pound outfielder from Wayzata, Minn., has had a big senior season with a .347 batting average and 1.019 OPS. He has hit eight doubles and three home runs while driving in 17 runs in 75 at bats. Albert also plays a top club team in the Minnesota Miller, He also started at middle linebacker on the Wayzata football team.  He will be an exercise science major.

Zach Andreasen, 5-10, 190, Third Baseman/Catcher, Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville HS
A 5-10, 190-pound catcher and third baseman from Burnsville, Minn., Andreasen is a two-time all state Metro South team selection. He was named a Burnsville High School distinguished athlete and a two time all district honorable mention football player. Andreasen hit .480 in 75 at-bats, with 12 extra base hits and 22 RBI. He plans to major in a physician's assistant at USF. He volunteers at Feed My Starving Children and attends Young Life and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

 

Jared Binsfeld, 6-1, 190, Outfielder, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada/Bismarck State College
A 6-1, 190-pound outfielder, Binsfield transferred from Bismarck State College after earning all-conference honors. He hit .379 with nine doubles, four home runs and 3 runs batted in for BSC. Originally of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, he was named a River Ridge League All-Star in high school after hitting. He in Helping Hands Mentorship and enjoys hunting, fishing, and canoeing. At USF he will major in business administration (finance).

Tyler Blackburn, 5-10, 175, Catcher, Gilbert, Ariz./Highland HS/College of Siskiyous
Blackburn, a 5-10, 175-pound catcher from Gilbert, Ariz., was a standout at College of the Siskiyous where he hit .280 with a fielding percentage of .986. A Gilbert, Ariz., native, he was a second team all-state selection at Gilbert HS where he was named to the 6A All Conference team and was a 6A conference all-star game nominee. From 2013-2017, he was named a Golden Scholar for his work in the classroom. At USF, he will major in communications.

 

Isaac Bonner, 5-11, 175, Infielder, Omaha, Neb./Omaha Central HS
A native of Omaha, Neb., Bonner is a 5-11, 175-pound standout infielder. A two-time varsity letter winner as an infielder at Omaha Central, he was named the teams most improved player in 2017 and was a member of the O-club which is the academic honors club for athletes. This summer he is hitting .293 with seven doubles. Off the baseball field, Bonner is in National Honor Society, Central High Chamber Orchestra, and will graduate in the top 15% of his class. At USF, he will major in sports management.

Sam Bucy, 5-10, 175, Outfielder Missoula, Mont./Missoula HS

Bucy is a 5-10, 175-pound outfielder from Missoula, Mont., who has been swinging the bat well for his summer and fall teams. Last summer he hit .286 with four triples, 10 doubles and 17 stolen bases while playing for his hometown Missoula Mavericks Legion Team. He continued the great offense into the fall season hitting .364 with two triples, two doubles and four stolen bases with the Big Sky Baseball organization. Off the field he was a National DCEA qualifier and volunteer at First Lutheran Church and Missoula Fresh Market. At USF, he will major in criminal justice.

 

Noah Buss, 6-0, 205, Catcher, Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southwest HS
Buss, a 6-0, 205-pound catcher from Lincoln, Neb., starred at Southwest High School by hitting .406 with a home run and 21 runs batted in. Buss was also a two-year letter winner in football while achieving multiple academic-athletic awards and is a member of the FCA. He has received the LPS-Scholar-Athlete award three years in a row with a 4.0 GPA and perfect attendance. In the summer he plays for Pinnacle Bank Post 3 Lincoln American Legion Baseball team. He will major in biology/pre-med at USF.

Zane Butts, 6-0, 180, Infielder/Outfielder, Glendale, Ariz./Greenway HS
Butts, a 6-0, 180-pound first baseman and outfielder will transfer to USF from Glendale Community College. Originally from Glendale, Ariz., he was a two-sport star at Greenway High School where he played wide receiver for the football team and was a member of the National Honor Society. At Glendale CC he hit .288 and was named to the All-Region team. He played to major in communications at USF.  

 

Tyler Cate, 5-10, 160, Infielder, Omaha, Neb./Omaha Burke
Cate, a 5-10, 160-pound infielder from Omaha, Neb., helped lead the T. Hurt Construction Legion Team to a state title in 2018. During the 2018 season, he held his team in batting and hits. While playing for Omaha Burke HS, he was named to the all-state honorable mention team. In 2018, he led the state of Nebraska in batting average as he had a .503 average with 74 hits while driving in 38 runs. Cate volunteers at "Fit-Ability" which is a fitness class that helps to promote physical activity for people with special needs, and he also enjoys fishing. At USF, he will study sports management and exercise science.

Alec Devall, 5-11, 160, Infielder, Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southwest HS
Devall, a 5-11, 160-pound infielder from Lincoln, Neb., was a two-time, three-sport letter winner at Lincoln Southwest HS. Devall, who has good speed and plays second base, hit .319 with 18 stolen bases and 15 RBIs this spring. In the summer he plays for Pinnacle Bank (Southwest Varsity Legion) baseball team. He is a seven-time honor roll student and participates in Young Life and youth sports camps run by his high school. At USF, he will major in business administration with a biology minor.
 

Jayden Dierenfeld, 5-10, 160, Pitcher/Outfielder/Spicer, Minn./Willmar HS
A 5-10, 160-pound two-way pitcher/outfielder from Spicer, Minn., Dierenfield was a standout for Willmar HS. Named the Central Lakes Conference Player of the Week on May 6, 2019, he hit .300 with an OPS of .709. On the mound, he was 4-0 with 21 strikeouts in 30 innings and an earned run average of 2.50. He also plays for the Legion Post 167 baseball team in the summer. Off the field he was recognized on the A-honor roll from his sophomore year through graduation and received the excellence award for Choir Ensemble. At USF, he will major in business management. 

Owen Feser, 5-9, 150, Outfielder, Yankton, S.D./Yankton HS
Feser, a 5-9, 150-pound outfielder from Yankton, S.D., was a three-sport athlete at Yankton HS. While playing guard for the basketball team, he helped lead his team to a South Dakota Class AA State Championship in 2018. A two-time winner of team MVP on his baseball team, he posted an OBP of .458 and a OPS of .922 in 2019. In the summer, Feser plays for the Yankton Post 12 Legion team. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Youth Group, volunteers at youth sports camp and is an Honor Role student. He will major in biology at USF.

Isaac Frandsen, 6-1, 190, Pitcher/Outfielder, Otsego, Minn./Monticello HS
Frandsen, a 6-1, 190-pound left-handed outfielder/pitcher from Otsego, Minn., was a standout for Monticello High School. He was named to the Mississippi 8 All-Conference team as a pitcher/outfielder as he posted big numbers on each side of the ball. He hit .325 with 25 RBI and 20 Runs in 49 at bats and had a 0.84 earned run average with 45 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.00 in 25 innings. Frandsen also plays for the Minnesota Millers baseball club and enjoys wake surfing, fishing, and traveling. He will major in business administration at USF.


Weston Gjerde, 5-9, 155, Infielder, Sunburg, Minn./Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg HS
A 5-9, 155-pound infielder from Sunburg, Minn., Gjerde was a four-year letter winner in three sports at Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg High School. He was named captain his senior year in football, basketball and baseball and was a two-time captain of the baseball team. He is a three-time All-Camden Conference

selection and was the Camden Conference MVP in 2018. Gjerde was named to the 3A All-Section team three times and was a two-time All-State performer. He was named to the Minnesota Class A All-tournament team in 2019 and is a two-time team MVP. He was also picked to the 2019 Minnesota Senior All-Star Series and represented the South team. He was named the senior Athlete of the Year at his high school and was a marching band drum major. Off the field he was named Academic All-State in 2019 and volunteers through his 4-H Club and church. At USF he will major in business administration. 
 

Nathan Hallaway, 6-0, 200, Infielder/Outfielder, Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine HS
Originally of Ham Lake, Minn., Hallaway, a 6-0, 200 pound infielder/outfielder was a standout student-athlete at Blaine HS. While playing for the Ham Lake Heat in the summer of 2018, Hallaway hit .289 with nine doubles and two triples. He will major in sports management at USF.    

Sterling Haphey, 6-1, 180, Pitcher/Outfielder, Moorhead, Minn./Moorhead HS
Haphey, a 6-1, 180-pound pitcher/outfielder from Moorhead, Minn., was captain of his baseball and cross-country teams at Moorhead HS. During his junior baseball season he hit .350 with an OBP of .491, with 12 RBI. On the mound Haphey was 3-1 with a 1.52 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched. Haphey was also a two-time academic letter winner. In the summers he plays for the Moorhead Blues Post 21 Legion team.

Zach Jakubowsky, 6-0, 185, Pitcher/Outfielder, Farmington, Minn./Farmington HS

A standout left handed pitcher and outfielder for Farmington High School, he lettered four years in baseball as a pitcher, outfielder and first baseman. A 6-0, 185-pound standout, he hit .356 as an outfielder and first baseman.  On the mound, he was dominant with a 10-2 record in 16 starts with a 2.79 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. He also spent time playing for the HTP Velo Raptors. Off the field, he was in Link Crew from 2017-2019, took Honors Freshman Courses, volunteered at youth baseball camps, and helped with freshman respect retreats and Acolyte at his church. He will major in business/sports management at USF.

Drew Kitchens, 5-6, 160, Infielder, Mitchell, S.D./Mitchell HS
A 5-6, 160-pound infielder from Mitchell, S.D., Kitchens is a three-sport star who is highly decorated for his athletic prowess. In baseball, he has been named to the all-region team and second team all-state in 2018 while also being part of a team that received the sportsmanship award at the South Dakota Class AA State Tournament. Kitchens has exhibited strong leadership and served as a six-time captain. He played center in hockey and was captain for his football team. He also earned the Burlsworth Character National Honoree Award with football. This spring he hit .320 with five doubles and 17 RBI while stealing 18 bases without being thrown out. He also stood out on the mound with a 5-0 record and 1.65 earned run average. Away from the diamond Kitchens volunteers at Special Olympics, Holy Family Church, and Love Feast. He will major in business at USF.

Alex Krout, 6-1, 160, Pitcher, Gilbert, Ariz./Highland HS/College of Siskiyous

A 6-1, 160-pound right-handed pitcher, Krout transferred to USF from the College of Siskiyous, where he is coming off a standout second season. A native of Gilbert, Ariz., he was named to the Golden Valley Conference Team as an honorable mention selection and also named All-Academic. He posted a 3.87 ERA in 58 innings pitched. He enjoys golfing and hiking. At USF he will major in sports management.

Ben Leuthner, 5-8, 150, Pitcher/Infielder, Wayzata, Minn./Wayzata HS
Leuthner, a 5-8, 150-pound pitcher from Wayzata, Minn., was a Lake Conference honorable mention selection. A two-way player in high school, he hit .259 with seven RBI and went 2-1 on the mound with a 3.63 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings. Leuthner also plays for the Minnesota Millers club team and Wayzata legion baseball squad. Off the field he participated in Student Council, works part time and volunteers at Feed My Starving Children. He will major in sports management or exercise science.

Derek Lundgren, 6-2, Pitcher/Infielder, Luverne, Minn./Luverne HS

Lundgren, a 6-2, 175-pound pitcher and infielder from Luverne, Minn., was a two-sport standout in baseball and basketball. In baseball, he was named a two-time All-Big South Conference player and a two-time 3AA All-Section selection. As a senior, he was selected to participate in the 2019 Minnesota High School Baseball All-Star Series. In basketball he earned All-Big South Conference honors and was an All-Area third team selection as a senior. As a two-way player, he batted .350 with a 4-0 record on the mound and a 1.06 earned run average with 33 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings. Off the field, he was involved in National Honor Society, Student Council, and volunteers through his church, Grace Lutheran.  

Micah Rassat, 6-2, 160, Pitcher, Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS
 A 6-2, 160-pound pitcher from Buffalo, Minn., he played both baseball and basketball at Buffalo HS. He also plays for the Minnesota Millers Baseball Club. Away from the field he enjoys working on cars, fishing, and disc golf. At USF, he will major in Entrepreneurial Studies.

Riley Schimmel, 5-8, 160, Infielder, Rosemount, Minn./Rosemount HS

Schimmel, a 5-8, 160-pound infielder, was a captain and standout for Rosemount HS (MInn.). He was also recognized as the Outstanding Academic Athlete for Baseball and Academic All-State. As a senior, he hit .350 with an OBP of .409. He also plays for the Minnesota Mash Baseball Club. Off the field, he is a member of the National Honor Society. He will major in pre-med at USF.

Brian Zurich, 5-9, 165, Outfielder, Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview HS
A 5-9, 165-pound outfielder from Eastview HS in Apple Valley, Minn., he was a two-sport standout. He starred in baseball in the outfield and played wide receiver on the football team. As a junior, he hit .411 with 12 doubles, two triples, and 29 RBI in 85 at bats. Zurich also plays for the Minnesota Mash club baseball team. Off the field, he was a DECA state qualifier, teaches vacation Bible school and enjoys boating. At USF, Zurich will major in business (marketing).