Name: Dakota State University
City and State: Madison, SD
2022 Season Results: 33-18 Overall, 15-9 Conference
Head Coach
Derrion Hardie
Assistant Coaches
Alec DeMaria and Myles Comeau
Who are some key returning position players and what do you hope to see from them this year?
Ryan McDaniel (JR/C) 2022 2nd Team All-NSAA and NSAA Gold Glove 2021 1st Team All-NSAA
Mason Macaluso (JR/OF) 2022 1st Team All-NSAA 2021 2nd Team All-NSAA
Kameron Bryant (SO/OF) 2022 1st Team All-NSAA
Chris Burke (SR/SS) 2022 2nd Team All-NSAA 2021 Honorable Mention All-NSAA
Walker Hultgren (JR/OF) 2022 Honorable Mention All-NSAA
Jace Pribyl (SR/1B) Returning 3-year starter 2021 Honorable Mention All-NSAA
Seth Altwine (SO/UT) Starter in 2022
We return a veteran group of core position players. This group has led us to be one of the top offensive and defensive teams in the conference for the past two seasons. We hope to see them match or improve their production in 2023.
Who are your key returning pitchers and why?
Mitsuki Shimonishi (SR/RHP) 2022 2nd Team All-NSAA
JD Kirchner (JR/RHP) 2022 2nd Team All-NSAA
Will Clair (SO/RHP) 2022 2nd Team All-NSAA
Cole Westerlund (SO/RHP) 2022 2nd Team All-NSAA
Grant Svikulis (SR/RHP) Returning pitcher that has spent time in our starting rotation or as a key bullpen arm.
Nicholai Arbach (SO/RHP) Returning pitcher that has spent time in our starting rotation or as a key bullpen arm.
We return 298.9 of the 394.1 innings pitched and the entire starting rotation from 2022. This core group led the way to becoming one of the top two pitching staffs in the conference and finished 16th in the nation K/9. These key returning pitchers were vital to our success last season and will be again in 2023.
Do you have an incoming impact freshman or transfers that will help the team in 2023?
Johan Freudenburg (JR/RHP) Coppin State University
Sam Tyrpa (JR/RHP) Marshalltown Community College
Luke Guest (SO/RHP) Neosho County Community College
Alex Swack (JR/LHP) Morton Community College
Aiden Rocha (SO/RHP) West Hills Community College
Matt Thurman (JR/LHP) Northeastern Community College
Dalton Nelson (JR/OF) Western Nebraska Community College
Hakeem Yatim (Grad/INF) Lyon College
We really like the recruiting class we brought in this year. We addressed needs and several newcomers will have an immediate impact. We have other first year players that are not listed that will be competing for time as well.
What was the focus and what things did you see from the team in the fall?
This fall, we focused on team culture-building, competing, individual training, and leadership development. Since we had more upper classmen this fall compared to the previous two falls and a core group of returning starters, the coaching staff saw a veteran approach and established leadership. This is a fun team to be around. They work extremely hard, and they care about the program and for each other.
What are the expectations and goals for the team entering the season?
The expectation and goal for the team entering this season is to continue to build upon the growth we have experienced the past two seasons. The program went from 3 to 33 wins in two seasons. The program is continuing focus on high standards. We are working for a standard of performance. Once the standards are fully there, performance will rise. Once performance rises, we will annually compete for a conference championship. We believe we are positioning the program for that type of expectation and goal.