2006 Montana State-Billings Baseball Preview

BILLINGS, MT – The boys of spring are back at Montana State University-Billings.  After a three decades absence, college baseball will return to Montana in just a few short weeks when the Yellowjackets kick off their 2006 campaign in Denver, Colo.

MSU Billings announced the addition of baseball as its thirteenth NCAA intercollegiate sport on February 9, 2005.  On March 8, after a nationwide search, the school announced Chris Brown as its first head baseball coach since 1975 when Stan Kondracki was the skipper.  Kondracki’s Yellowjackets played in the NAIA, and the school was Eastern Montana College.

“I am excited to not only get the first ever Yellowjacket Baseball season underway, but to play in the Heartland Conference,” said Brown.  “It is definitely one of the toughest baseball conferences across the country.  I look forward to the challenge of competing with the likes of St. Edward’s, St. Mary’s, and Incarnate Word.  All three programs are always strong and we’ll have to bring our “A” game to the field every day to give them a run for their money.  I know that baseball is big in Texas, and it should be fun to get a taste of that atmosphere.”

MSU Billings moved all of its intercollegiate sports to the Heartland Conference beginning with the 2005-2006 academic year.  It just coincidentally happened to be the same year the school added baseball, placing the Yellowjacket baseball team in an elite baseball conference.  The Yellowjackets were picked to finish sixth in the six-team league in a poll of coaches and sports information directors.  But that didn’t come as a surprise to Brown since Incarnate Word and St. Edward’s are each ranked in the top 35 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball Magazine and St. Mary’s won a national championship as recently as 2001.

“As for the Heartland Schools, we don’t know a lot about them except that St. Edward’s, St. Mary’s, and Incarnate Word are always nationally competitive,” he said.  “Both Panhandle and Lincoln have new coaches who have their programs pointed in the right direction.  Needless to say, there are no ‘gimme’ games in this conference.  We will need to be ready to play every time we step on the field.  All in all, our entire schedule this season will be challenging and will test us every game.”

The Yellowjackets won’t have much of an early non-conference season since 40 of the team’s 54 games are scheduled by the conference.  First pitch for the new baseball program will come February 18 when the Yellowjackets meet Colorado Christian University in Denver.  MSU Billings will face Nebraska-Kearney in a neutral site doubleheader in Denver on February 19.  The Jackets’ final non-conference games before the Heartland schedule starts will come February 24 and 25 at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Ida.  The Crusaders will make a return trip to Billings March 17 and 18.

“Our early season schedule should get us ready for that first southern swing against the Texas schools,” said Brown.  “Colorado Christian is a new program like us, so should give us a comparable opponent to start the year.  Nebraska-Kearney is always competitive in the RMAC, so should present a challenge right out of the gate.  Northwest Nazarene is also a team that will give us a good idea of where we are.  Both NNU and UNK are competitive teams year in and year out, so should be a good early season measuring stick.”

The Yellowjackets kick off the Heartland Conference schedule against St. Mary’s in San Antonio on March 2.  MSU Billings will play a dozen conference games in Texas between March 2 and March 13, all 12 against the top three teams in the league.  After that tough spring break trip, the Jackets will make their home debut on March 17 in a non-conference game against Northwest Nazarene.

Following the two-day set against the Crusaders at Cobb Field, the Yellowjackets will take to the road for one more week.  They will play at Oklahoma Panhandle State and at Lincoln University (MO) between March 24 and March 30.  The Jackets’ final 22 games of the season—20 of them conference games—will be at Cobb Field.  MSU Billings will play two doubleheaders every weekend starting April 7 and ending May 6.

The schedule is the easiest part of the Yellowjackets’ season to assess.  What kind of product a first year program will put on the field is always an uncertainty, but Brown thinks building around a mix of freshmen and junior college transfers will help the Yellowjackets be competitive out of the gate.

“The strength of our team will be balance in all areas: defense, pitching, hitting, and base running,” said Brown.  “Defensively, we have guys at every position that will be able to consistently make the routine plays, but also have the ability to make the spectacular plays that change the momentum in our favor.  Around the infield we have great depth and several guys that we can plug in anywhere.  In the outfield we have numerous guys that are able to cover a lot of ground, but also have strong enough arms to keep base runners from going first to third on a single.  Pitching-wise, we should be a very consistent team.  All of our pitchers have collegiate experience and know what it takes to win.  We will have a good mix of guys that should give us a chance to win every time they are on the hill.  Behind the plate we have a very strong group of catchers that all call a good game, receive the ball well, and all throw the ball very well.  The core of our defense will be our catching and infield play.

“Offensively, we should be very consistent top to bottom.  We won’t strike out a lot, and should be able to put the ball in play on a consistent basis.  I expect us to be a good situational hitting team.  This also carries over to the base paths; we have good team speed and should be able to create opportunities to score and put pressure on the other team to make the plays a little quicker than they would probably like to.”

One of the unique factors of a first year program is the fact that there will be no top returning players to count on.  Everybody is new to the program, and almost everybody is new to NCAA Division II baseball.  However, 22 of the 25 Yellowjackets listed on the active roster have played college baseball either in junior college or another four year university.  Only three freshmen are scheduled to suit up this season.

So, who will be the impact players for the Yellowjackets in their inaugural season?  Brown thinks there are six players to pay particular attention to.

Willie Crtalic - Jr. Outfielder - Billings, MT (College of Southern Idaho)
“Will is a big strong kid that runs well, has a very strong arm, can cover ground in the outfield, and drives the ball gap to gap on a consistent basis.  He is also a very talented all-round athlete, which fits our philosophy.  It’s always good to get a player that can play all three outfield positions and bats in the middle of the line-up.  Willie brings a great work ethic and leadership abilities to the table as well.  We look for big things from him on and off the field.”

Nick Hoskyn - Jr. Utility - Oelwein, IA (North Iowa Area CC)
“Nick really solidifies our team defensively and our lineup offensively.  He comes to us from a successful program and has done extremely well there the last two years.  Nick is a very talented all-round athlete that has the ability to play pretty much anywhere.  He has a strong arm, runs very well, drives the ball gap to gap, and has the ability to cover a lot of ground defensively.  We expect him to be a major impact guy on and off the field.”

Nate Herbig - Jr. RHP - Noxon, MT (Miles CC)
“Nate is very exciting player in that it’s not very often you get an All-American on your team.  He is a guy that has the ability to dominate a game on the mound.  He is a proven winner with the heart of a champion that will always keep you in the game and give you a chance to win.  Nate is also a great person that is a leader on and off the field.  He will be an immediate impact guy that really solidifies our pitching rotation.”

Kyle McBride - Jr. RHP - Billings, MT (Miles CC)
“Kyle gives us another talented pitcher that brings leadership, competitiveness, and experience to our baseball team.  Kyle should give us a chance to compete immediately.  He has succeeded at the Legion level and the junior college level and has proven that he is a big time pitcher capable of winning big time games.  He is one of those guys you go to the ballpark to watch pitch.”    

Mike Wardell - So. Utility - Billings, MT (Dawson CC)
“Mike gives us a versatile athlete capable of playing all outfield positions, first base, as well as pitch.  He gives us a left handed bat and arm, which is a plus as well.  Mike has very good speed that will create opportunities on the bases and allow him to cover a lot of ground in the outfield.  He is an older kid, so he is physically and mentally mature for a sophomore.”

Jake Samuelson - Jr. Catcher - Helena, MT (Miles CC)
“Jake is a very talented baseball player that is a leader and a field general.  We expect that out of our catchers and Jake fits the mold perfectly.  I know Jake will be a big time contributor and an impact player.  He is very good defensively, receives the ball well, and has a strong arm.  The fact that Jake can hit for average is kind of a cherry on top.”

Click here for the 2006 baseball schedule

Click here for the 2006 baseball roster