FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Monday, August 17, 2015
Bishop wraps up 2016 recruiting class with 4 more signees
Adding the final pieces to his recruiting class for the 2016 season, MSUB baseball head coach Rob Bishop announces the signing of four more players on Monday. BILLINGS, Mont. – Completing his recruiting class for the 2016 season, Montana State University Billings baseball head coach Rob Bishop announced the signing of four more players on Monday who will join the Yellowjackets next season. Matt Hape, Jake McGovern, Corbin Smith and Beau Thomas have each signed letters of intent to join MSUB’s baseball team in the spring. “These four guys will round out what we think is a really nice recruiting class,” Bishop commented on his final signings for next season. “All four are great kids who will fit nicely into our program.” Matt Hape Bozeman, Montana Salt Lake Community College 6’4” – Right-Handed Pitcher
Hape will join the Yellowjackets after pitching for Salt Lake Community College in Taylorsville, Utah. He totaled a record of 8-0 with an earned run average of 3.20 during his time with the Bruins, and was an honorable mention allSouthwestern Athletic Conference pick. During his prep career, Hape was an all-state outfielder and pitcher for Bozeman High School, and earned five letters in baseball and basketball. In his best high school season, Hape went 6-1 on the mound and struck out 98 batters in 72 innings with an ERA of 3.00. He also batted .443 with five home runs. Coach Bishop on Hape: “We have big expectations for Matt. He comes off of a great community college career at Salt Lake CC. We see him as a difference maker for us on the mound. At his best, Matt can be a dominant starter in the GNAC.” Hape on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB because it is close to home, we get to play on a beautiful field, and the program is becoming more successful every year.” Jake McGovern Billings, Montana Billings West High School 6’1” – First Baseman A Billings native, McGovern will join the Yellowjackets fresh off of helping the Billings Scarlets capture the American Legion baseball state title in the summer of 2015. A two-year starter with the Scarlets, McGovern helped his team to a 52-15 record under head coach Adam Hust. He was the team captain and earned honor roll all four years of his prep career. As a senior, McGovern batted .435 and hit six home runs. Coach Bishop on McGovern: “Jake was a sleeper in the Scarlets’ program and really had a great summer all the way around. He shows really good power and has a mature approach at the plate for a high school guy. We are excited to have him in the program.” McGovern on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB because I wanted to continue playing baseball on a winning team with a great coaching staff. I look forward to winning the next four years for Coach Bishop and the school.” Corbin Smith Boise, Idaho Spokane Falls Community College 5’11” – Right-Handed Pitcher Smith will transfer to MSUB after spending his first two collegiate seasons at Spokane Falls Community College. Playing for the Bigfoot, Smith struck out 38 batters in 60 2/3 innings over 11 starts in 2015. His best start of the season came against Columbia Basin as he struck out three and tossed seven scoreless frames. A prep standout at Capital High School, Smith was a first-team all-state pitcher and played in a top-40 showcase during his time with the Eagles. He was also a first-team infielder in the Southern Idaho Conference, and received academic honors as well.
Coach Bishop on Smith: “Corbin is another really good arm from the community college ranks. He was in the rotation for Spokane this past year and we see him as a guy who should get a lot of innings for us this year.” Smith on choosing MSUB: “A lot of my passion and interests lie in outdoors and wildlife. MSUB is a perfect fit for this, as it has majors that fit right into this category. I wanted to play somewhere that not only has a good reputation for baseball, but also where I had the best chance to get quality playing time. The fact that MSUB won the GNAC last year makes me feel pretty confident about the team. I am excited to come into the new program not only to take on some bigger responsibilities, but also to learn new things from players who have been in the program.” Beau Thomas Billings, Montana Billings Senior High School 5’11” – Left-Handed Pitcher Thomas spent his prep career pitching for the Billings Royals, where he posted an earned run average of 1.67 as a junior in 2014. He also earned three letters in football, and one each in basketball and track and field at Senior High. Thomas was an honorable mention all-conference pick in football, and was an all-state selection in the long jump and javelin in the spring. He was also an academic all-state selection on his football team. Coach Bishop on Thomas: “Beau is an athletic kid with a lot of potential on the mound. We believe with a few adjustments that he can compete at a high level in college baseball. He had a good career with the Billings Royals and we are excited to have him in the Yellowjacket program.” Thomas on choosing MSUB: “The reason why I chose MSUB is because it is a great school, and I’m fortunate to play baseball while getting an education in the town I grew up in.” The quartet of new players will join MSUB’s overall class for 2016, which includes 16 total players. Name Steen Fredrickson Matt Hape Josh Harrington Max Hartgraves Daniel Hollins Keil Krumwiede Alec Leighton Jake McGovern Kai Ohmae Zach Robinson Corbin Smith Brock Theilen Jason Thibault Beau Thomas Ben Tinnell Dakota Tompkins
MSUB Baseball 2016 Recruiting Class Hometown Previous School Position Ashland, OR Ashland High Right-Handed Pitcher Bozeman, MT Salt Lake CC Right-Handed Pitcher Missoula, MT Big Sky High Right-Handed Pitcher Tempe, AZ McClintock High Infielder/Right-Handed Pitcher Surrey, BC Lord Tweedsmuir Shortstop Glasgow, MT Glasgow High Right-Handed Pitcher/Infielder Sparks, NV Reed High Infielder Billings, MT Billings West High First Baseman Salem, OR South Salem High Infielder/Catcher Cedar Hills, UT Miles CC Outfielder Boise, ID Spokane Falls CC Right-Handed Pitcher Santa Cruz, CA Santa Cruz High Left-Handed Pitcher/First Baseman Glasgow, MT Glasgow High Right-Handed Pitcher/Infielder Billings, MT Billings Senior High Left-Handed Pitcher Salem, OR Sprague High Right-Handed Pitcher/Outfielder Sparks, NV Reed High Catcher/First Baseman/Third Baseman --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--