SCSU Baseball Alumni return for one more game at Faber Field
10/3/2017 10:10:00 PM | Baseball
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The St. Cloud State University baseball team celebrated another "Alumni Day" at Joe Faber Field on Sept. 30. The day featured a game between the current SCSU baseball players and a large group of former SCSU baseball players.Â
The group of returning alumni included several Huskies who have gone on to play professional baseball along with SCSU All-American Jordan Smith, who just finished another season in the Cleveland organziation with the Class AAA Columbus Clippers.
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SCSUÂ Baseball Alumni Day 2017
"This was another fantastic day celebrating the great tradition of Husky baseball," SCSU baseball coach Pat Dolan said. "For starters, we would like to thank Tim and Brunsy at the MAC for getting Faber Field looking so great for the event...and to have over 20 former Huskies come back to play in the game is awesome."
A special thanks to Tim and Brunsy at the MAC for getting Faber Field looking so great. And to have over 20 alums that have played for me the past 10 years come back is awesome!"
"It was just great to see proud Husky alumni from the 1950's, 1980's, 1990's, 2000's and all of the players from the 2010's decade along with some of our supporters like Don Watkins, Pat Schumer and Craig Briekrietz at the game and post-game social."
Here is a rundown of some of the SCSU baseball alumni who attended the game and what they are up to now:
Nick Anderson, 2011
What He is Doing Now:Â This past year Nick played for the Minnesota Twins AA affiliate in ChattanoogaÂ
Alumni Quote: "If you want to learn how to win, play at St. Cloud State. Coach Dolan and Coach Pratt have a passion for the game and they make you better and teach you how to win."
Logan Birr, 2012
What He is Doing Now: He is currently working as a construction sales rep for Lindus Construction, and just bought a home in St. Bonifacius with Michelle LeBlanc and the couple have a 5-month old baby girl.
Alumni Quote: "My most memorable experience was the 'team.' Being able to make such good relationships with the guys. It was more of a brotherhood to me, people that I continue to be lifelong friends with. It was very easy to play for Coach Dolan at SCSU because of how we were held accountable for our actions, worked our tails off in academics and on the field...but were able to have a fun time in the process. He helped shape me as a ball player, a student and the guy I am today. It's good to see how far this program has come along and a big part of it was because of Coach Dolan."
Sean Borman, 2014
What He Is Doing Now: After a two-year professional baseball career in the Frontier league he is currently working for Dahl Consulting and living in St. Louis Park.
Alumni Quote: "SCSU was the best decision for me as I have met some of my best friends and continue those relationships. Playing for Coach Dolan was an amazing experience because he made us have that winning mentality, but more importantly we did it with a great group of guys while having fun."
Kyle Fischer, 2014
What He is Doing Now: After being drafted by the Florida Marlins organization and spending three years in professional baseball he retired after reaching the AA level. He is currently working at Konik/PrimeStaff, which is a Technical Staffing agency focused on Engineering and Architecture. Wedding date is set for Dec. 2, 2017 to Courtney Kral.
Alumni Quote: "I didn't start out at SCSU, but deciding to transfer was one of the best decisions of my life. I will always have great memories of my time at SCSU, from my first day on campus and getting to know Scott Sanderson all to well, (he's now in my upcoming wedding) to our trip to Hawaii and bringing home some souvenirs, to the long list of guys that I had the privilege of playing with and that I'd do anything for.  Coach Dolan has done a great job of bringing in talented players and getting them to buy into the system. I wish the current team nothing but the best, and to remind them that it is over in the blink of an eye. Make the most of your time, and take a second to appreciate the friendships that you've gained at SCSU!"Â
What He is Doing Now: He just finished his second year of professional baseball in the Frontier League playing with the River City Rascals.
Alumni Quote: "Playing at St. Cloud State is an experience that I will never forget, we had so many unbelievable moments over the course of my four years, trying to think of just one is impossible - from us winning the conference tournament to playing at Minute Maid Park or even our Halloween costume practices - I will always remember these moments. 'Once a Husky, always a Husky' is something that we have been saying over the years and it could not be any more right, we weren't just teammates we will always be brothers and Coach is the one who brought us all together as a family. Keeping things loose and fun like baseball should be...allowing us to succeed both on the field and in the classroom."Â
Jeff Heuer, 2010
What He Is Doing Now: Currently lives on Lake Calhoun in Uptown in Minneapolis. Majored in Hydrology at SCSU. Currently work for an engineering consulting company Westwood Professional Services as a Construction Stormwater Specialist.
Alumni Quote: "At SCSU, I appreciated being able to be away from home but still close enough to go back easily. For playing ball, I appreciated traveling to different ballparks across the country, being able to make some good buddies on the team and being able to play for a winning team...and of course quoting "Dolanisms" with all the guys...ha!"Â
Tyler Horning, 2010
What He Is Doing Now: Currently a QA Analyst at Olson in downtown Minneapolis, using degree in information systems. Resides in Brooklyn Park and plays town ball for St. Louis Park, runners up this year.
Alumni Quote: "The 2010 regional down in New Mexico would easily be my highlight when playing for Coach Dolan at St. Cloud State. I remember watching the NCAA baseball selection show for each region with other teammates and thankfully we got in, it was a little nerveracking but a cool experience. We then took down the #1 seed not once but twice and were one out away from a possible World Series berth. As for getting this far in the playoffs, it took a great freshman recruiting class and a few of us seniors to put it all together. It was a constant grind with workouts and team practices, but Coach Dolan knew what it took to take the next step."Â
Michael Jurgella, 2015
What He is Doing Now: He just finished his third year playing professional baseball in the Frontier League for the River City Rascals, where he was named to the league All-Star team and voted the top defensive catcher.
 Alumni Quote: "I really enjoyed my time and experience playing for Coach Dolan and the Huskies. The atmosphere he created is one of success, accountability, and brotherhood. He put us in a position in which we could be successful on the field and in the classroom. He helped us grow as men by teaching us the importance of accountability within our team and relying on one another, and with how hard we worked. We knew that the man to our right and left was our brother and would do anything for us. What I will cherish forever are the relationships I made with the guys that went to battle with me everyday. I'm very grateful for my time at St. Cloud State and Coach Dolan for giving me that opportunity."
What He Is Doing Now:Â Majoring in business management and will graduate this spring.
Alumni Quote: "I had the most fun ever in my two years at SCSU. My most memorable moment was us going into extra innings against Emporia State and getting to catch both of (Brandon) Arnold's throws at the plate for outs to end innings. It was a great experience playing with y'all. This is the greatest brotherhood I could ever ask for. Definitely the most of fun I've had on a baseball field."
Alex Naaz, 2016
What He Is Doing Now: Living in Maple Grove and currently on the job hunt after just recently earning my college degree.
Alumni Quote: "I would say that our trips to AZ we're pretty memorable for me...and playing for the Huskies has taught me a lot about accepting roles, being held accountable, and working towards a goal. The many friendships I have made over the years will last a lifetime."Â
Scott Sanderson, 2014
What He is Doing Nows: Currently living in St. Louis Park, MN. Working as a Project Manager for Epicor software. Leading and assisting our customers during their implementation of software.Â
Alumni Quote: "The alumni game provided a flashback to the past with the large group of guys that came back...and although the result of the game may have been different, once we stepped into the dugout the jokes, ribbing, and laughs were all the same."
Pat Schumer, 1985
What He is Doing Now: Graduated from SCSU in 1985 with a BS in teaching. Currently lives in Shoreview and works in Eagan as a work comp claims adjuster for Farm Bureau and 30+ veteran umpire and official in baseball, basketball and football.
Alumni Quote: "I have known Pat since he was a high school sophomore. As the manager for the SCSU men's basketball team, one of my summer jobs was to work at the basketball summer camp. Pat, being the 3 sport all-star that he was, was at those camps and we got to know each other from those. Pat was already savvy enough then to know that its better to have the ump with you, as opposed to against you, and I never met a conversation I didn't like, so we got along extremely well. When he was out on the east coast, we kind of lost touch, but when he was up for the SCSU job, I made sure to get back in touch with him as I knew he was the man for the job. He's obviously done a wonderful job with the baseball program and it was a lot of fun coming out Saturday to umpire the alumni game!"Â
Jordan Smith, 2010
What He is Doing Now: He just finished his sixth year playing professional baseball with the Cleveland organization playing for the Columbus Clippers, the AAA affiliate. He has been married for three years to his wife Ashley and they have a one month baby boy named Talon Ray.
Alumni Quote: "St. Cloud State means a lot to me! I met a lot of my lifelong friends and I had a great experience playing for Coach Dolan and the Huskies for two years."
 Don Watkins, 1958
What He is Doing Now: Currently enjoying the retired life between St. Cloud and Arizona spoiling his 12 grandkids!
Alumni Quote: "St. Cloud State athletics means a lot to me. I am a proud supporter of Pat Dolan and his baseball program and all of the other athletic teams in Huskyland."Â
What He is Doing Now: He will graduate this spring 2018 with a degree in Mass Communication with a Television Broadcast Journalism emphasis and a minor in Communication Studies
Alumni Quote: "During my senior season, MSU Mankato knocked us off in the conference championship game. We knew we would get to face them again in the regional down in Emporia Kansas, where we did beat them. That bus ride back to the hotel where we were doing the Mankato chant was awesome. Everybody was on cloud nine and I'll never forget that feeling and how proud I was to be a Husky. Being a part of the St. Cloud State baseball team was a great experience for me! We were not only a well oiled machine, but more like a family. Coach Dolan had a winning attitude that was absolutely contagious to us players. Every time we put the red and black on we felt like we owed it to each other to get a W, which only enhanced my competitive nature and will to succeed!"
Craig Breitkreutz, Played in 1988, 1989
What He is Doing Now: Currently living in Big Lake, Minnesota and working at Best Jets International
Alumni Quote: Playing baseball and going to college at St. Cloud State we're some of my most fond memories of my younger years. After living there for two or three years and playing summer baseball for the local town team, I felt like part of the community. I got to know Pat Dolan one summer where we ended up living together through mutual friends and got to know him even better after playing a few years of baseball against each other...what great times. It's been exciting seeing the job that Pat has done with the baseball team here at SCSU not only emphasizing hard work on the baseball field but also in the classroom. The players are lucky to have a coach like Pat Dolan.
Brian Hansen, 2013
What He is Doing Now: What He is Doing Now: After being drafted by Cleveland his sophomore year and then playing three years of professional baseball he retired in 2015. He is now working at Sysco out of St. Cloud and living in Sartell.Â
Alumni Quote: "My most memorable experience would be the Hawaii trip we took as a team and then gently just all the friendships we all developed over the years. It was an awesome experience playing for the Huskies and Coach Dolan!"
Max Ditty, 2016
What He is Doing Now: Working for Coyote Logistics down in Minneapolis and living in St. Louis Park.Â
Alumni Quote: "Hansen stole my favorite experience but you can't top going 50-4 on the season."
