Team: Dakota State Trojans
Conference: NSAA
College Level: NAIA
2021 Overall Record: 20-25
Location: Madison, SD
Head Coach: Derrion Hardie
Assistant Coaches: Alec DeMaria, Myles Comeau, and Trey Randel
Key Returning Position Players
Ryan McDaniel (SO/C) – returning starter and 1st Team All-Conference Catcher.
Mason Macaluso (SO/OF-DH) – returning starter and 2nd Team All-Conference DH.
Jace Pribyl (SO/1B) – returning starter and Honorable Mention All-Conference.
Chris Burke (JR/SS) – returning starter and Honorable Mention All-Conference.
Jackson O’Neal (SR/OF) – returning starter.
Josh Van Beek (SO/3B) – returning starter.
Josh Addington (SO/2B) – returning starter.
Walker Hultgren (SO/OF) – returning starter.
Key Returning Pitchers
Grant Svikulis (JR/RHP) – will be in starting rotation.
Devin DeBoer (SR/RHP) – returning starter that will compete to remain in the rotation or be one of our top bullpen arms.
Kahlil Tilbury (SO/RHP) – returning starter that will compete to remain in the rotation or be one of our top bullpen arms.
Carver Hultgren (SR/RHP) – returning starter that will compete to remain in the rotation be or one of our top bullpen arms
JD Kirchner (SO/RHP) – returning key bullpen arm that may join our starting rotation or continue as one of our top bullpen arms.
David Kirby (SR/RHP) – returning key bullpen arm.
Impact Freshman/Transfers
Mitsuki Shimonishi (RHP) – Monterey Peninsula College
Noah Daugherty (RHP) – Lansing Community College
Cole Westerlund (RHP) – Gateway Community College
Isaac Toledo (RHP) – Luna Community College
Landry Knight (RHP) – Minnesota State Community & Technical College
Aiden Urbom (RHP) – Dordt College
Will Clair (RHP) – Mt. Hood Community College
Noah Angstadt (SS/3B) – Camden County College
Bennett Osborn (OF) – Century College
What things did you see from the team in the fall?
The top thing the coaching staff saw from the team in the fall was healthy competition. We are a young team both positionally and on the mound. Although we return several positional starters that were freshmen and a good portion of our pitching staff from last year, the coaching staff has made it clear that all positions/roles are wide open and will be won, not lost.
What was the focus during the fall for the team?
With a relatively young roster, the focus during the fall for the team was based around team development/concepts and competing. We used the fall to challenge, fail, learn, and improve as a team before transitioning into our heavy individual player development phase.
What are the expectations and goals for the team entering the season?
The expectation and goal for the team entering this season is to build upon the significant growth we experienced last year as a program. The team won 20 games last year under new head baseball coach, Derrion Hardie. Prior to Coach Hardie taking over, the program won just 3 games the full season prior and won a total of 9 games the previous 3 seasons combined. The program is focused 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 start talking about winning a conference championship. We feel we are getting closer to that type of expectation and goal.