St. Cloud State baseball announces recruits for 2017-18

St. Cloud State University baseball coach Pat Dolan has announced that a group of eight student-athletes have indicated that they will attend the University and begin playing baseball for the Huskies during the 2018 season.

This group includes: catcher Reid Conlee (Ham Lake, Minn.), right handed pitcher Ricky Garcia (Miramar, Fla.), shortstop Erik Holloman (Shoreview, Minn.), left handed pitcher Trevor Koenig (St. Cloud, Minn.), left handed pitcher/centerfielder Sam Martinson (Lake Nebagamon, Wisc.), left handed pitcher Matt Osterberg (Coleman, Wisc.), left handed pitcher John Vanderploeg (Sheboygan Falls, Wisc.) and pitcher Zach Walz (White Bear Lake, Minn.).

"Coach (Brett) DeGagne and Coach (Rob) Swendra did an outstanding job of matching our team's needs with some quality student-athletes. I would also like to offer a special thanks to Coach (Scott) Eul, who was our recruiting coordinator before he left to become the head coach at Minot State University.

"It was kind of an unique year, as we really weren't needing to many position players as we have solid depth in our freshmen, redshirt freshmen and sophomore classes. But with losing five senior pitchers and having four junior left handed pitchers we knew we needed to bring in a solid group of arms. This group of recruits is a very talented group of players. We have also added more quality student athletes.

"I would also like to thank everyone involved in the recruiting process. It really takes a total team effort. Our administration, admissions office, academic advising, faculty, media relations and financial aid office all worked together to help us bring in a great recruiting class."

The Huskies finished their 2016 season with a 43-10 overall record and a third place finish in the always rugged NSIC at 23-8. SCSU won the NSIC tournament in 2016 and also gained the number one seed and hosted the 2016 NCAA Division II Central Region tournament this spring. SCSU was ranked among the nation's top NCAA Division II teams throughout much of the 2016 season.

The following is a rundown of this year's early recruit group for St. Cloud State baseball.

Reid Conlee, catcher, Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine H.S. 2016 HS Stats: .328 BA, 14 RBI, 1 HR 2016 American Legion stats: .401 BA 26 RBI and 6 HR Parents: Jim and Becky Conlee Coach: Eric Feigum Why I chose St. Cloud State University: "I chose St. Cloud because it's a good school close to home, with a great baseball program." Quote from SCSU Head Coach, Pat Dolan: "Reid is big body, big potential type of guy. He came to a few of our camps the past few years and just really caught our eye with his bat speed. His bat exit velocity went from mid 80's to mid 90's! At our last camp in September, I think he hit about 10 homeruns in BP. We think he has the potential to be a big power guy, which is very difficult to find."	Reid Conlee
Ricky Garcia, RHP, Miramar, Fla. 2016 JUCO Stats: 4-0 record with 83 K's in 59 innings 2015 HS stats: 4-1 with 65 K's in 42 innings Parent: Jackeline Alonso HS Coach: Jose Lopez JUCO Coach: Jason Fischer Why I chose St. Cloud State University: "I chose St. Cloud State University because it is what I was looking for both academically and athletically in a school after my two years in junior college. St. Cloud State is the perfect fit for me." Quote from SCSU Head Coach, Pat Dolan: "Ricky has the look of a power arm at 6'4" 220 and he has shown the ability to get a lot of strikeouts. He loves it in St. Cloud playing for the Tech College so it is a nice transition."	Ricky Garcia
Erik Holloman, SS, Shoreview, MN/Moundsview H.S. 2014 and 2015 Varsity baseball letter winner 2014, 2015 and 2016 Varsity football letter winner Two-time Perfect Game All-Tournament Team 2014 winning pitcher in MN Consolation Championship game at Siebert Field 2014 and 2015 Tri-City Red team member 6 years with the Minnsota Blizzard; Perfect Game All-Tournament team and had a .909 SLG% Why I chose St. Cloud State University: "I chose St. Cloud State because I like the campus and coaching staff, and it seems like a great fit for me academically, socially and athletically." Quote from SCSU Head Coach, Pat Dolan: "Erik is a very athletic player. He reminds me a lot of Brandon Arnold and Jackson Goplen. Both were high school shortstops with great speed and great arms. Erik has both! At our camp this summer he ran a 6.75 and threw 85 across the infield. He's also played in great baseball programs at Moundsview, Tri City and the Blizzard."	Erik Holloman
Trevor Koenig, LHP, St. Cloud, Minn./Tech H.S. 2016 JR Stats: 6-0 record with 0.68 ERA and 57 K's, 14 walks in 41 innings Coach: Steve Taylor Parents: Sue and Gerald Koenig Why I chose St. Cloud State University: "I chose St. Cloud State because it is a good school with a very good baseball team that is close to home so my family can still watch me play." Quote from SCSU Head Coach, Pat Dolan: "I don't think in my 25 years of coaching I've not only have not seen a 6'10" high school pitcher, but one that has the control Trevor has. He reminds me a lot of Sheldon Miks, plus a half of foot! He's a strike thrower who strikes guys out. His stats speak for themselves, but watching him pitch over the course of his junior year there is no doubt he is going to be a great college pitcher as well."	Trevor Koenig
Sam Martinson, LHP/CF, Lake Nebagamon, Wisc. 2016 High School pitching stats: 4-0 record with a 2.15 ERA with 48 K's in 35 innings 2016 High School Season Hitting Stats: .365 batting average, .581 SLG%, 11 extra base hits with 3 homeruns Coach- David Crail Parents: Renee Spangler and Dale Martinson Why I chose St. Cloud State University: "I chose SCSU because it not only has an amazing winning baseball program that is ranking in the top 5 in the country but it also has a great engineering department." Quote from SCSU Head Coach, Pat Dolan: "We are always looking for potential two-way players and Sam is definitely one of them. We love his athletic ability and most importantly his close-to-90 mph arm speed. He has the potential to be a dominant left-handed pitcher."	Sam Martinson
Matt Osterberg, LHP, Coleman, Wisc./Coleman H.S. 2016 JR. HS stats: 11-1 record, 0.53 ERA with 105 K's, 29 walks, 29 hits allowed, 66.1 innings 2016 American Legion stats: 6-0 record, 1.02 ERA with 64 K's and 11 walks, 48 innings Coleman Team MVP M & O Conference Player of the Year M & O Conference First Team Pitcher WBCA All-District 1st Team Pitcher WBCA All-State Academic Team WBCA All-State Honorable Mention Pitcher Wisconsin Baseball Central Second Team All-Wisconsin Pitcher Green Bay Press Gazette All-Area Second Team Pitcher 2015 Baseball Awards M & O Conference First Team Pitcher WBCA All-District Honorable Mention Pitcher Fox River Valley Legion All-Star Parents: Leah and Brian Osterberg High School Coach: Kent Casper Why I chose St. Cloud State University: "I chose St. Cloud State because of the engineering program and the various engineering opportunities it provides, as well as their outstanding baseball program. Quote from SCSU Head Coach, Pat Dolan: "I'm not usually much of a stat guy, but wow! 17-1 last year and with so many strikeouts and so few walks gets us really excited. We think Matt will be a huge impact to our pitching rotation!"	Matt Osterberg
John Vanderploeg, LHP Sheboygan Falls, Wisc. 2016 Junior HS stats: 5-2 record, 1.40 ERA with 95 K's and 29 walks in 54.1/3 innings 2015 So HS stats: 5-5 record, 2.51 ERA in 55 innings with a no-hitter 2015 and 2016 1^st Team all-conference two years in a row 2016 Honorable mention all-state 2016 1st team all-state academic Coaches: Lance Smith- Sheboygan Falls Falcons Rick Caviani- Appleton panthers Sean Smith- Stiks Academy Parents: Tom and Michele Vanderploeg Why I chose St. Cloud State University: "On my visit to St. Cloud State I was reminded of how similar it is to my hometown. I know this is a great opportunity to grow as a person and I feel blessed to have it." Quote from SCSU Head Coach, Pat Dolan: "We've had some good success with Wisconsin players in the past and John has come as highly recommended of any of our past players. And he just seems like our type of guy that will fit in great with our Huskie Baseball Family!"	John Vanderploeg
Zach Walz, White Bear Lake, Minn./Grand Forks Central H.S. 2014 HS hitting stats; .415 BA, 3^rd in state and lead state in HR and 4^th in hits 2014 HS pitching stats; lead state in saves and 2^nd in innings pitched 1^st Team All-EDC Conference selection 1^st Team All-state selection 2014 American Legion hitting stats: .343 BA with 30 runs, 20 rbi 2014 American Legion pitching stats: 25 innings pitched with a 2.61 ERA Parents: Mike Walz and Rochelle Walz Coaches: Gene Larkin and Kyle Beckstead Why I chose St. Cloud State University: "Having the ability to get a very good education while also being able to play for a very good baseball team made the decision very easy." Quote from SCSU Head Coach, Pat Dolan: "We looked at Zach out of high school and thought JUCO was his best route. He's at a great JC in Century. Their coaching staff has said how much he has improved as a player. He will be a two way player for them, but probably more just pitch for us."	Zach Walz

Saint Cloud State University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Brandon Arnold

Jackson Goplen

Sheldon Miks

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