May 2, 2000

Northern State knocked in three runs in the first inning and never let up, defeating Dakota Wesleyan 10-5 Tuesday in what was the home season finale for the Wolves.

Sophomore centerfielder Jeff Joosten (Lakeville, Minn.) led NSU at the plate, going 3-for-4 with 3 RBI, 3 runs scored and a home run. Freshman hurler Nate Krier (Mitchell) picked up the win against his hometown college team. Fellow freshman pitcher James Arneson (Aberdeen) stepped in for relief duty, using his sidearm delivery to go the last 2 2/3 innings and allow just one hit and no earned runs.

The game marked the last time NSU's two seniors -- shortstop Jeremy Schmidt (Appleton, Minn.) and outfielder Damian Lampl (Ellendale, N.D.) -- would play for NSU in Aberdeen's Fossum Field. Lampl has seen starting duty in the outfield for the past two seasons, while Schmidt is a four-year starter possessing one of the stickiest gloves Northern has seen at shortstop. Schmidt also leads the team in batting average, swinging .353 with 17 RBI.

 NORTHERN WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTED BY UPSET WIN OVER SOUTHWEST

April 30, 2000

Northern State University proved it can more than compete with the conference elite this weekend, defeating Southwest State (Marshall, Minn.) 7-4 in the nightcap of a doubleheader April 28 at Fossum Field.

SSU won the first game 12-3, but the Wolves suffered much bigger losses after losing two starters during the game. Sophomore third baseman Chad Pflipsen (St. Cloud, Minn.) suffered a knee injury during the first game and didn't play the rest of the weekend. Sophomore outfielder Eric Borge (Melette) was lost for the season due to a horrific crash into the centerfield wall. Borge broke his left arm in three places on the play and was carted off on an ambulance.  NSU's second-game comeback was made even more sweet when a heavily casted and wincing Borge returned to support his team and took to the field for the post-game handshake lines between the clubs.

Junior pitcher Jake Foslien (Benson, Minn.) was a bulldog on the mound in the second game, tossing his second complete game conference win of the season. On the season, Foslien has a 3.30 ERA in conference play.

A four-run fifth inning keyed NSU's win. Freshman outfielder Owen Olson (Denver, Colo.) drove in the last of those runs to break a 4-4 tie and give NSU the lead for good.

Sophomore outfielder  Jeff Joosten (Lakeville, Minn.) led NSU at the plate this week, batting .462 through seven games (12-of-26). Joosten had 8 RBI, 5 runs scored, 3 doubles and a home run this week. Senior fourth-year starting shortstop Jeremy Schmidt (Appleton, Minn.) was right behind, batting .407 with 3 RBI, four doubles and a home run.

PROSSER NAMED INTERIM MEN'S BASEBALL COACH

Jan. 19, 2000

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University's athletic department announced today that Tim Prosser has been named Northern State University's interim head baseball coach.

Prosser replaces Nate Gibbs, who served as head baseball coach and offensive line coach for NSU's football team since the summer of 1998. Gibbs accepted the offensive coordinator job for University of Minnesota-Duluth's football team earlier this month.

Prosser, a native of Scapposse, Ore., spent the past two seasons as Northern's pitching coach. He's currently in the guidance and counseling graduate program at NSU and plans to graduate in the spring of 2001.

"I'm looking forward to the opportunity to get this program back to playing great baseball," Prosser said. "Northern hasn't won a conference title in baseball since 1993 and I'd like to help move us toward competing for one in the near future."

BASEBALL PROGRAM ADDS 19 RECRUITS TO ROSTER

August 25, 1999

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University's baseball program announced the addition of 19 athletes to its roster for this spring. The Wolves will begin fall practices Thursday, Sept. 2.

"We really feel we've added depth at all positions going into fall practice," NSU coach Tim Prosser said. "We want to develop competition on the practice field that will carry over into the regular season in 2000."

Prosser's recruiting effort drew from seven states. Eight of the 19 recruits come from South Dakota, with five hailing from Minnesota, two from Oregon, and one from Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado.

Here is a positional breakdown of NSU's new players:

Pitching
Northern added five new faces to the pitching staff. Nate Krier, Mitchell, comes to the Wolves after redshirting on a strong Wayne State (Neb.) squad last year. Krier posted a 1.35 ERA during his legion career. Derrick Dinger, Hecla, will compete for a starting role on NSU's pitching staff. Dinger helped the 1998 Groton Legion team to the Class B title with his arm and his bat. Brian Buechler, Aberdeen, helped the local Smitty Legion squad to a state tournament appearance this summer. Shawn Young, St. Paul, Minn., posted a miniscule .70 ERA for Concordia Academy during 1999 en route to a 3-0 record and four-save season. Dave Nelson, Billings, Mont., who posted a 6-5 record for the Billings Scarlets Legion team.

Catching
The Wolves added three players who will compete for time behind the plate. Alex Long, Helens, Ore., was a two-time all-conference selection and received third-team all-state honors as a senior. He batted .443 in leading his team to a second-place finish in the state tournament. Travis Hata, Ontario, Ore., is also an all-conference performer and received all-state honorable mention laurels in Oregon while batting .357. He will also compete for time at first base. Steve Rixen, Mott, N.D., rounds out the group of young catchers. He earned all-conference honorable mention honors as a senior.

Infield
Northern added seven players to the infield. Jeff Anderson, Rapid City, was named to the 1999 South Dakota All-State Team as a first baseman, hitting an outlandish .611 with 14 home runs and 56 RBI. Chad Hoffman, Staples, Minn., is a two-time all-conference shortstop, batting .351 his senior season. Ryan Bauer, Ipswich, was a 1998 South Dakota State B All Star at second base. Johnny Kalkman, Faulkton, will compete for time at shortstop for the Wolves. Joseph Skallerud, Madison, Minn., will also provide quality depth at middle infield and is a legitimate base-stealing threat. Jeremy Ohm, Bellingham, Minn., will compete for the starting third base job at NSU. Ohm, who returns after taking a year off for the National Guard, is coming off an amateur season in which he .438 and received all-conference laurels. Levi Coon, Lusk, Wyo., hit .480 in legion ball last season being used as a utility player.

Outfield
The Wolves added four newcomers to the outfield. Owen Olsen, Denver, Colo., will add power and depth to the outfield lineup. He is also a member of the NSU football team as a kicker/punter. Jeff Joosten, Lakeville, Minn., will join the Wolves as a transfer from Wisconsin-River Falls. Adam Chapman, Rapid City, will compete for time at right field. During the 1999 season, he hit .390 while also compiling a 4-2 record on the mound. Ethan Skoblic, Big Stone, joins NSU after spending a year in the National Guard. He was a South Dakota State B All-Star in 1998.