SIOUX FALLS -- University of Sioux Falls Head Baseball Coach Grant Hieb has announced that nine student-athletes have signed and will continue their athletic and academic careers at USF.  
 
"I am glad to announce these nine student-athletes will further their educations and baseball careers here at the University of Sioux Falls," said fourth-year USF Head Coach Grant Hieb. "We filled some of our program needs with these signings and are happy with the start of our 2020 recruiting class.  We have added some high quality ballplayers that are also excellent students and should be a great addition here at the Coo.  We are looking forward to having them on-campus next fall and getting the chance to work with them," said Hieb.
 
The signings include: Logan Anderson, shortstop, LaVista, Neb.; Maklain Briggs, pitcher/outfielder, Saint George, Utah; Noah Christenson, infielder, Buffalo, Minn.; Drew Clouse, catcher, West Fargo, N.D.; Andrew Duncan, third baseman/pitcher, Lincoln, Neb.; John Gray, pitcher, Stillwater, Minn.; Garrett Peikert, pitcher, Glendale, Ariz.; Hunter Scruggs, first baseman, Papillion, Neb.; and Ben Serie, Luverne, Minn.
 
Logan Anderson, 5-11, 160, Shortstop, LaVista, Neb./Papillion-LaVista HS

Anderson, a standout from LaVista, Neb., will play shortstop at USF. At Papillion-LaVista HS, he was a three-sport standout in football, baseball and basketball. While playing shortstop, he hit .324 and also had a 4.13 ERA on the mound. He received the X Award (competing in 10 or more athletic seasons), and was involved in the Open Door Mission while earning STEM Academy certification. The son of Kevin and Karen Anderson, he plans to major in applied science at USF.

 Maklain Briggs, 5-10, 155, Pitcher/Outfielder, Saint George, Utah/Pine View HS

A standout pitcher and outfielder from St. George, Utah, he played for Pine View HS. Briggs hit .265 with a .350 on-base percentage, six RBIs, eight runs and .864 fielding percentage last year. He is a member of the NorCal Baseball Club Team. The son of Nicole Briggs and Reed Briggs, he has three siblings, Makayli, Mason and Maloree. He plans to major in psychology and graphic arts at USF.

 

Noah Christenson, 5-11, 175, Middle Infield, Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS
Christenson has starred in the middle infield for Buffalo HS, where he was also a varsity swimmer. He was named All-Mississippi Academic All-Conference from his freshman through junior seasons. Named All-Section as a freshman, he was All-Mississippi 8 Conference as a sophomore and junior when he led his team to the Section 8AAAA runner-up. As a freshman he hit .407 with a .493 OBP while scoring 17 runs with 14 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. During his sophomore season, he hit .316 with a .400 OBP, 18 runs scored, 10 RBIs, and five stolen bases while registering a 3-2 record on the mound with a 3.5 earned run average. As a junior, he hit .426 with a .473 OBP, 15 runs scored, 15 RBIs, five steals and a 7-1 record with a 1.60 earned run average. Christenson, who played for the Minnesota S.W.A.T. club team, is a member of the National Honor Society. The son of Lloyd and Melissa Christenson, he plans to major in education or business.


 

Drew Clouse, 5-8, 185, Catcher, West Fargo, N.D./Sheyenne HS
A standout catcher and infielder for the Sheyenne Mustangs in West Fargo, N.D., Clouse was selected All-EDC as a catcher in 2019. He also plays hockey in high school. He has done community service work at the food pantry and with hockey youth camps. The son of Ryan and Noelle Clouse, he has a brother, Ben. Clouse plans to major in exercise science at USF.

 Andrew Duncan, 6-1, 160, Third Base/Pitcher, Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southeast HS
A standout infielder and pitcher at Lincoln (Neb.) Southeast HS, he was a three-year letter winner who hit .250 with 22 RBI, 25 runs scored, seven doubles and a triple and had a 3.16 earned run average with 40 strikeouts on the mound as a junior. Duncan, who plays for the Nebraska Prospects Club Team, was involved with the Ambassadors, Leadership Cadre, DFA, and Southeast Pals. He has been involved in community service including Meals on Wheels while volunteering at Southeast Baseball Camps and with his church. The son of Duncan and Jennifer Bass, he has a brother, Chandler Duncan. He played to major in psychology at USF.
 
John (Jack) Gray, 6-0, 175, Pitcher, Stillwater, Minn./Totino-Grace HS

A three-sport standout at Stillwater (Minn.) HS, he was a pitcher and first baseman for the baseball team. He also played center/forward in hockey and quarterback on the football team. In baseball, he had eight appearances with 29 innings and allowed seven earned runs for a 1.69 earned run average with 43 strikeouts. He allowed 24 hits and had a 1.52 WHIP and 0.333 OBP while allowing only a .207 opponent batting average. He was on the A-Honor Roll, member of the bowling team, engineering program and made mission trips to Montana and Minnesota. He also volunteered to help in community service with Sharing and Caring Hands, Feed My Starting Children and Second Hand Harvest. The son of Mary and Shawn Gray, he plans to major in business (sports management) at USF. Gray has five siblings, Hannah, Zach, Haley, Cash and Adi.

 

Garrett Peikert, 6-0, 175, Pitcher, Glendale, Ariz./Ironwood HS
At Ironwood HS in Glendale, Ariz., Peikert was a standout left-handed pitcher, outfielder and first baseman. He played for the Wilson Sandlot club team. He has been involved in Church groups & Honors Engineering.  The son of Laura and Kenneth Peikert, he has a sibling, Kassidy. Peikert plans to major in business administration at USF.
 
Hunter Scruggs, 6-0, 210, First Base-Catcher, Papillion, Neb./Papillion-LaVista HS

At Papillion-LaVista HS, Scruggs was a two-sport standout. In baseball, he was a first baseman/catcher and played middle linebacker/defensive end in football. From 2017 through 2019 in spring and American Legion baseball, he hit .333 with a .529 slugging mark, .488 OBP, 140 hits, 35 doubles, 16 home runs, three triples, 122 RBIs and 116 runs scored. He has been named to the 2018 All-ITG Baseball Team, 2018 Nebraska Class A High School Honorable Mention squad, and was a Perfect Game 2018 WWBA Midwest Underclass Qualifier. Scruggs led his American Legion team to a state championship in 2017. He played for the Nebraska Prospects club team. In high school, he was named to the National Honor Society, and received the Academic Excellence Award in 2018 and 2919.  The son of Herb and Christine Scruggs, he has a sister, Summer. At USF, he plans to major in criminal justice or

mathematics.

Ben Serie, 6-2, 185, Shortstop, Luverne, Minn./Luverne HS
Serie was a three-sport standout at Luverne HS where he played quarterback in football, center in hockey and shortstop in baseball. Twice he earned All-Big South Conference and All-Section honors. A shortstop, he hit .389 with 25 RBIs, 13 doubles and two triples. He was also named All-Big South Conference in hockey The son of Dan and Christal Serie, he has three siblings including Carly, Will and Tori. Serie will major in business administration at USF.