Minot State Baseball Commitments - 2009-2010

Beavers sign DI transfer Lorenz

MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University head baseball coach Brock Weppler announced Wednesday that former Harvey High School standout pitcher Tanner Lorenz has decided to transfer to MSU for his senior season.

“This is a real big signing for us,” Weppler said. “We think we have been a big arm away – we have some good arms, but not quite the level we need. I hope that Tanner is the type of kid you give the ball to in a big game and almost expect a win.”

Lorenz, who starred for two years at powerhouse Iowa Western Community College, spent this past season pitching for Southeastern Louisiana University. He posted a 4.94 earned runs average in 10 appearances for the Lions, going 2-0. He pitched 31 innings, giving up 27 hits while striking out 26 batters.

“I have played two seasons at a top 5 junior college in the nation and went to a Division I school that won 40 games this year and I think we have a chance at the same thing here,” Lorenz said of the move to Minot State. “It will be nice to be back in North Dakota and have my parents and grandparents be about to watch games. I have some good friends on this team like (MSU senior pitcher Bryan Krahler) and wanted to be comfortable with (being back in North Dakota).”

Lorenz, a 6-foot-7, 240 pound righty, helped Iowa Western to the 2008 and 2009 NJCAA World Series going 5-6 over the two seasons. He struck out 72 batters in two years. He was 11-1 with a .50 ERA in 65 innings as a senior at Harvey High School where he was named the North Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year in 2006-07.

“Tanner has definitely thrown in big games. He was at one of the top junior colleges in the nation and played Division I ball,” Weppler said. “He is definitely not going to be intimidated on the mound. He’s a big, power arm.”

Lorenz said he was impressed with how far MSU baseball has come since he was in high school.

“I can remember back in the day when Minot State won two or three game or whatever,” he said. “But to come out and win 21 last year was great. We have some great recruits and hopefully I can help us win seven or eight more games. We hope to make it a special senior season.”

Beavers add two solid prospects

MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University head baseball coach Brock Weppler has signed two British Columbia Premier League Baseball players to his 2011 roster.

Connor Moughtin, from Victoria, British Columbia, and Levi Kerns, from Victoria, have signed Dakota Athletic Conference letters of intent to join the Beavers in the fall.

“The BC Premier League is the top league in Canada and one of the top leagues in North America,” Weppler said. “They have 38 players in major and minor leagues including Justin Morneau (Minnesota Twins), Rich Harden (Texas Rangers) and Jeff Francis (Colorado Rockies) and they have had four guys drafted so far this year. We have tried for a couple of years to get kids from this league and are excited about the two we signed this year.”

Moughtin will help the Beavers depth at catcher. He is currently batting .261 in 17 games, racking up 12 hits and nine RBIs with the Victoria Mariners.

“He is going to be a good player for us. He’s a catcher who can hit and played defense – both aspects very well,” Weppler said. “He has good size and should add depth to our catching rotation. I think this is a great pick up for us.”

Kerns could fill multiple roles for MSU and could fill those roles right away as he is slotted in at first base and designated hitter. MSU lost both its first baseman and DH to graduation this past season. Kerns is batting .378 with 17 hits in 17 games. He also has five doubles and 15 runs batted in so far this season.

“He is going to be a solid bat to add to our lineup,” Weppler said. “He plays first and is a DH and we lost both of those positions. Both guys are in the wood bat league and I think when we get aluminum back in Levi’s hands, his power numbers will go up. He’s going to be fun to watch.”

Minot State baseball inks transfer Chatwood

MINOT, N.D. - Minot State University head baseball coach Brock Weppler has added depth to the catcher position as he signed transfer student-athlete Jaret Chatwood to a Dakota Athletic Conference letter of intent.

Chatwood comes to Minot with just one year of eligibility remaining. He played two seasons for Colby Community College in Kansas and a season with MSU-Billings.

At MSU-B, he batted .333 with four home runs and 31 runs batted in, setting a record for RBIs in a season for Billings. He also finished with 13 doubles and a triple earning all conference honorable mention this past season. At Colby, he batted .400 and was named honorable mention all conference at catcher and third base.

Beavers sign two more recruits

MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University head coach Brock Weppler announced Tuesday that junior college transfer Shane Seddon and incoming freshman Andrew Roach have signed Dakota Athletic Conference letters of intent to play for the Beavers starting next season.

Seddon, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, played two seasons at Dakota College at Bottineau after a stellar prep career. He was a member of the Team Manitoba in the 2007 Canada Cup with now teammate Andrew Lochhead, Scott Peters and Paul Thompson and was a member of Team Manitoba in the 2009 Canada Games. Seddon will be a pitcher for Minot State.

“Shane will come in and throw strikes for us – he can throw multiple pitches for strikes – and he get ahead in the count,” Weppler said. “Will probably use him in middle relief, an area we struggled in this year. We need somebody to come in and pitch the 5th, 6th and 7th and get us to the close and he should do a good job in that role.”

Roach, from Gilbert, Ariz., graduated from Highley High School a year ago, but went to Chandler Gilbert Community College for one year where he did not compete in baseball. He will come to MSU as a freshman. During his senior year of high school, he was named 4A East Sky First Team All-Region. Roach will play outfield and pitch for the Beavers.

“He will be a two way player for us and is a really good athlete,” Weppler said. On the mound, he doesn’t throw overly hard, but again, throws strikes. He is a competitor who knows how to pitch. In the outfield, he really surprised when he came to work out for us. He has a great swing and has a legitimate chance to fight for a spot in right field. Andrew is excited to be coming to Minot State.”