UMC Baseball Signs Four Players

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball program announced the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent in the Early Signing Period. The Golden Eagles signed Eli Jung (OF, 6-1 185, Dickinson, N.D./Dickinson H.S.), Brandon Kankelfritz (SS/2B, 5-7 155, Fargo, N.D./Fargo South H.S.), Zach Rustad (LHP, 5-10 190, Blaine, Minn./Century College) and Ben Thoma (C, 5-10 200, Clearbrook, Minn./Bagley H.S.) to National Letters of Intent.

“We are very happy with the student-athletes we signed early,” said Head Coach Steve Gust. “We were able to secure some recruits on top of our recruiting board at some key positions. In addition to being quality baseball players, these four young men are quality students. We feel very fortunate to sign these young men early.”

The four early signees will help the Golden Eagles continue to build on what they have been able to do in Gust’s short time in Crookston. In two years, Gust and Minnesota Crookston have gone from a program that won just two games in two years to a program-best 25 wins and an NSIC Tournament berth in 2016. The Golden Eagles will look to continue their success as they head into the 2017 season. Minnesota Crookston has one of their largest rosters in program history with 48 players.

The Golden Eagles will have to replace nine seniors heading into the 2018 season. Minnesota Crookston will lose Patrick Amerson (IF, Eloy, Ariz.), Patrick Higgins (OF, Eagan, Minn.), Skyler Carlson (LHP, Thompson, N.D.), Cayden Barta (RHP, Fargo, N.D.), David Olson (C, Stillwater, Minn.), Zac Carrillo (RHP, Stockton, Calif.), Cody Pamperin (RHP, Shakopee, Minn.), Matthew Dallas (RHP, Boise, Idaho) and Brandon Kresl (1B, Crookston, Minn.).

Minnesota Crookston baseball continues to try to build their program on players from the area. These four players all come from the region and help fill major needs for the program moving forward.

Eli Jung (OF, 6-1 185, Dickinson, N.D./Dickinson H.S.)

As a junior, Jung helped the Midgets to a Class A State Championship in the spring. Jung hit .336 with two home runs, 18 RBI’s and 23 runs scored for the Dickinson Roughriders Legion baseball team. Jung also played basketball at Dickinson H.S.

Jung is the son of Lori and Jon Jung. He was born Nov. 16, 1998. Jung plans to major in health sciences.

“Eli impressed us on his visit to campus,” Gust said. “He is athletic with a natural left-handed swing. He needs time to develop and mature, but we feel he can be a real fundamentally sound player for us in the future.”

Brandon Kankelfritz (SS/2B, Fargo, N.D./Fargo South H.S.)

He has been a three-year letter winner for Fargo South H.S.

Kankelfritz is the son of Daylon and Darcy Kankelfritz. He was born Oct. 6, 1998. He plans to major in software engineering. He was a member of National Honor Society and was a two-time Academics letter winner and one-time DECA letter winner.

“Brandon has been a mainstay in our camps and showcases,” Gust said. “His passion for the game and our campus, along with his work ethic, is something you cannot measure. We are excited to bring his energy to our program next fall.”

Zach Rustad (LHP, 5-10 190, Blaine, Minn./Century College)

Rustad appeared in 10 games, mostly out of the bullpen as a freshman at Century College. He was 5-2 with a 4.57 ERA in 41.1 innings pitched. Rustad had 50 strikeouts on the season with 31 walks and 21 earned runs on the year. He helped Century College to the NJCAA World Series in Kinston, N.C. In high school, he played for Blaine H.S. Rustad was an All-Conference and All-Section pick as a senior. As a junior, he was All-Conference, while as a sophomore he was All-Conference Honorable Mention.

Rustad is the son of Tom and Dawn Rustad. He was born Oct. 16, 1996. Rustad plans to major in sports and recreation management.  

“We are very fortunate to secure one of the top pitchers from one of the top D-3 junior college programs in the country,” Gust said. “Zach is a proven winner, who is only going to improve his final year at Century College. We signed Zach with the idea he is going to compete for a starting spot from day one.”

Ben Thoma (C, 5-10 200, Clearbrook, Minn./Bagley H.S.

Thoma played hockey, baseball and football for Bagley H.S. He was a First Team All-Conference pick as a junior. Thoma helped lead Bagley H.S. to third place in the conference and third place in the section. As a sophomore, Thoma was Second Team All-Conference. He plays amateur baseball for the Bemidji Blue Ox. He was Second Team All-Conference in football and led the team in tackles. As a member of the hockey team, he earned the team Character Award.

Thoma is the cousin of former Golden Eagle Luke Thoma.

“Ben is an outstanding player, student and person,” Gust said. “We’ve always felt he is not only one of the top recruits in Northwest Minnesota but the entire state. He has some great tools and isn’t afraid to work. We expect Ben to help us continue to grow our program.”

All signees are contingent upon admission to UMC and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Eligibility Center. Everyone released today has signed their National Letter of Intent prior to release of information.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

The University of Minnesota Crookston is a NCAA Division II university located in the Red River Valley of Northwest Minnesota. UMC sponsors 11 intercollegiate athletic teams with membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate conference (NSIC) and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The NSIC is a 16-team conference with schools situated in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.