ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Northern State University baseball team has announced the signing of six players for the 2010-2011 season. Matt Ebersole (Elizabethtown, Pa.), Trent Hairston (Woodland, Calif.), Andrew Marohl (Shakopee, Minn.), Evan Nolte (Aberdeen, S.D.), Derrick Rathe (Polson, Mont.), and Christian Wolfgang (Sioux Falls, S.D.) will all be true freshman starting in the fall of 2010.
Matt Ebersole 5-10 160 INF/OF Elizabethtown,Pa.
Ebersole attended the same high school (Lower Dauphin) as current Wolves outfielder Dillon Talley. Matt lettered all four years in basketball and baseball and as a junior hit .393 and was a Mid-Penn All Star and named Big 11 Honorable Mention in 2009. He is an active member of FCA and has volunteered with several organizations.
Coach Matt Sisk on Ebersole: "His versatility and athleticism will help us a lot. His attitude and work ethic have been praised by previous coaches and teammates."
Trent Hairston 5-10 175 CF Woodland, Calif.
Hairston is a speedy outfielder for the Pioneer High School Patriots. He led the league in stolen bases his junior season with 18. He was named Team Captain as a senior, and through 17 games he was batting .333 with six stolen bases, three doubles and a triple.
Coach Mark Gulseth on Hairston: "Trent will be one the faster guys on the team. He will also compete for an outfield spot. He is an excellent student with good baseball knowledge."
Andrew Marohl 6-4 160 P Shakopee, Minn.
Marohl is a tall right-hander that will add depth to the pitching staff next season. Marohl also lettered in cross country during all four years of his time at Shakopee High School.
Coach Sisk on Marohl: "Andrew has a good arm, and his body will get bigger and stronger as he matures. If he works hard and makes adjustments to his game, he could become a good contributor to our pitching staff."
Evan Nolte 5-9 195 OF Aberdeen, S.D.
Nolte earned three letters in football and one in track at Aberdeen Central High School. He was an All-State kicker and All-ESD running back in football. In Legion baseball, he was a two-time All-State outfielder and as a junior in 2009 he hit .447 in 123 at-bats with 12 doubles, two home-runs, and nine stolen bases. He posted a .531 OB% and a .593 SLG% in 2009.
Coach Gulseth on Nolte: "He played for me for three years in the summer. He has great speed and is an outstanding hitter. We look for him to add depth to our outfield."
Derrick Rathe 6-2 210 P/OF Polson, Mont.
Rathe is an experienced athlete that was a two-time baseball captain, and two-time All-Conference selection on offense (OT) and defense (DE) as a football player at Polson High School and was named All-State at outside linebacker his senior year. Rathe recorded 17 doubles, seven home-runs, and 45 RBI during the 2009 baseball season.
Coach Gulseth on Rathe: "He is a big, athletic, kid that is a three-sport athlete from Montana. He will come in and fight for spot in the pitching rotation and as an outfielder."
Christian Wolfgang 5-11 160 3B/SS Sioux Falls, S.D.
Wolfgang is primarily an infielder that can be considered a utility player because of his above average skills. He swings from the left side of the plate, and also played basketball for Roosevelt High School. Christian will play for Sioux Falls Post #15 West in the summer of 2010.
Coach Sisk on Wolfgang: "I had the opportunity to work with Christian several years ago in Sioux Falls. He has great baseball instincts. He made the 3rd base position look easy defensively, and he found ways to get on base at the plate. If he shows determination, he will become a solid college player."
Northern State University is an NCAA Division II affiliated school participating in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and is located in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
**GO WOLVES**