Baseball | 1/13/2025 9:10:00 AM
CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team is set to open the 2025 season February 14 at Stanislaus State in Turlock, Calif. The Golden Eagles are looking to build on their recent successes, coming off the most successful two-year stretch in program history. Minnesota Crookston has posted a 73-36 in the last two seasons. The Golden Eagles made it to the NSIC Tournament in 2024, winning one game. In 2023, Minnesota Crookston won two games at the NSIC Tournament. The Golden Eagles have made the NSIC Tournament seven times since the 2016 season. Head Coach Steve Gust is entering his 11th season in the dugout for the Golden Eagles. He is the all-time winningest coach in any sport for Minnesota Crookston, posting 240 all-time victories.The Golden Eagles have had seven 20-win seasons since 2016.
Minnesota Crookston returns five starters in their batting order lifted by Sawyer Satrom (Sr., IF, Portland, N.D.), who hit .326 as a junior, with 43 runs scored, seven doubles, one triple, two home runs, and 26 RBIs. Two-way player Josh Dykhoff (Jr., RHP/DH, Wadena, Minn.) is back after hitting .301, with 50 runs scored, 13 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, and 45 RBIs. Kobe Senn (Jr., IF, Fargo, N.D.) returns after swinging .275, with 35 runs scored, seven doubles, one triple, two home runs, and 22 RBIs. Danny Wensloff (R-Sr., OF/C, Roseau, Minn.) returns after hitting .271, with 35 runs scored, nine doubles, two triples, seven home runs, and 40 RBIs. Kodi Miller (Sr., C, Grand Rapids, Minn.) is back after swinging .291, with 24 runs scored, seven doubles, eight home runs, and 28 RBIs.
Catcher
Miller leads the way at catcher after starting 30 games, and playing 32 as the backstop in 2024. Brock Larsen (R-Jr., C, Blaine, Minn.) redshirted last season, but hit .333 as a sophomore at Century College, with five home runs, and 45 RBIs. Danny Wensloff has played both in the outfield and at catcher over his time in the maroon and gold, and will provide depth at catcher for the Golden Eagles. Jonah Norman (R-So., C, Winnipeg, Manitoba) played one game for the Golden Eagles in 2024.
First Base
The Golden Eagles have three main players who will battle for the first base position in 2024. Cole Hebl (So., 1B/OF, Hillsboro, N.D.) hit .367 in 23 games, with 16 runs scored, two doubles, two home runs, and nine RBIs. Larsen will be a major factor at first base, as will Aaron Wensloff (So., IF, Roseau, Minn.), who hit .200 in eight games, with a run scored, and an RBI.
Second Base
Senn returns as the starting second baseman for the Golden Eagles, and will be a key player in 2025 for Minnesota Crookston. Kyler Miller (Fr., IF, Grand Rapids, Minn.) should see some time as a true freshman in the infield for the Golden Eagles.
Third Base
The starting third baseman role will be between Satrom, who has a lot of experience in the infield for the Golden Eagles, and Caden Kappes (So., IF, Wahpeton, N.D.), who played in 12 games in 2024, mostly as a pinch-runner, with six runs scored. Aaron Wensloff could also see time at third base.
Short Stop
Satrom or Kappes will start at shortstop for Minnesota Crookston. Satrom won a Gold Glove from the NSIC in 2024. Jaiden Smith (R-Fr., IF, Aberdeen, S.D.) could see time in the infield, as could Derek Carpenter (Fr., IF/RHP, Hatton, N.D.).
Outfield
Danny Wensloff leads the way in the outfield for Minnesota Crookston, as the most experienced player. Angelo Pacyga (R-Jr., OF, Sunfish Lake, Minn.) played 15 games in 2024, batting .222, with eight runs scored, one home run, and four RBIs. Hebl could see time in the outfield, like he did last season. Americo Sculati (R-Jr., OF, Golden Valley, Minn.) had a strong fall ball. He played in three games, with a run scored, and two RBIs in 2024. Connor Bushbaum (R-Jr., OF, Saginaw, Minn.) should see time, after appearing in 10 games in 2024. Newcomers Landon Hanson (Fr., OF, Bemidji, Minn.), and Dylan Debilzen (Fr., OF, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) also look to factor into the equation in the outfield.
Designated Hitter
Dykhoff returns as the main designated hitter for the Golden Eagles.
Starting Pitcher
Dykhoff leads the way after earning All-NSIC Second Team accolades as a sophomore. He went 3-3, with a 5.74 ERA in 62.2 innings pitched. He struck out 57, with 22 walks during the 2024 season. Nate Benning (So., LHP, Browerville, Minn.) returns after starting 11 games as a freshman. He went 4-1, with a 5.37 ERA in 52 innings of work. Benning struck out 34, and walked 28 in 2024. Isaac Wensloff (Jr., RHP, Roseau, Minn.) is back after posting a 5-2 mark, and a 6.30 ERA in five starts, and 40 innings pitched. Isaac Wensloff struck out 35, and walked 12. Isaac Roers (R-Jr., RHP, Stacy, Minn.) could see time as a starter. The experienced pitcher went 2-2 in 19 appearances in 2024, striking out 25, and walked 14. Max Weber (Sr., RHP, St. Paul, Minn.) could also see time as a starter, after going 3-1, with a 3.48 ERA in 10.1 innings in 2024. Weber struck out 10, and walked five.
Bullpen
The bullpen looks to be anchored at the back end by Caden Edwards (R-Sr., LHP, Duluth, Minn.) and Nate Grafsgaard (R-Sr., RHP, Devils Lake, N.D.). Edwards went 2-0, with a 4.96 ERA in 16.1 innings pitched, with 25 strikeouts. Grafsgaard posted a 2.18 ERA, with four saves, in 20.2 innings.
Jacob Mathiason (R-Sr., RHP, Rockford, Minn.) returns after making 11 appearances, and pitching 11.2 innings last season. Carsen Barta (So., RHP, Fargo, N.D.) is back after posting a 2.38 ERA in 11.1 innings. Joey Connelly (Jr., LHP, Eden Prairie, Minn.) returns after making 10 appearances in 2024. Aaron Bennett (R-So., RHP, Saginaw, Minn.) is back after making four appearances, while his twin brother Jaxson Bennett (R-So., RHP, Saginaw, Minn.) looks to factor in after not appearing last season. Eli Denisen (R-So., LHP, Winona, Minn.) also returns after appearing in 0.2 innings.
The Golden Eagles have two junior college players that look to factor in with Kyle Odenbach (Jr., LHP, Thompson, N.D.), and Kayden Camacho (Jr., RHP, Glyndon, Minn.). Odenbach, a lefty, went 5-2 in nine starts for Bismarck State College, posting a 4.75 ERA. Camacho posted a 3.43 ERA in 42 innings pitched, with eight starts for Bismarck State.
Minnesota Crookston also has several freshmen who could play roles in 2025, with Kaylor Chamberlain (Fr., RHP, Mankato, Minn.), Jake Jaroszewski (Fr., LHP, Fargo, N.D.), Sean Felker (Fr., RHP, Audubon, Minn.), and Carpenter.
