Baseball | 8/6/2026 9:01:00 AM

CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team rounded out their signing class with seven signees in addition to their five signees in the early signing period. The Golden Eagles added Chase Blanchard (RHP/C, 6-0 170, Ceresco, Neb./Southeast Community College), Payton Hochhalter (RHP, 6-1 200, Jamestown, N.D./University of Jamestown), Aiden Keranen (RHP, 6-1 190, Eden Prairie, Minn./Century College), Dakota Kruse (OF, 5-11 223, Aurora, Minn./Dakota County Tech), Brendan Koester (C, 6-0 190, Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley H.S.), Shayne Pellin (LHP, 6-1 210, St. Lazare, Quebec/Century College (Minn.), and Matthew Willmets (1B/RHP, 6-7 240, St. Albert, Alberta/St. Albert Cardinals).

 

The seven late signees join Drew Ellingson (P, 6-1 188, Dent, Minn./Perham H.S.), Marek Hall (C/UT, 6-0 185, Missoula, Mont./Sentinel H.S.), Carter Nelson (RHP, 6-5 215, Bayport, Minn./Stillwater H.S.), Isaac Porter (RHP, 6-3 210, Park River, N.D./Park River Area H.S.), and Thomas Vekich (3B, 6-3 185, Coleraine, Minn./Minnesota North College-Itasca). Minnesota Crookston has 12 total signees, continuing the program's attention to find the top talent within Minnesota, North Dakota, and the surrounding region. The Golden Eagles added two high school recruits, and five junior college talents to their signing class. Overall, six signees are from Minnesota, two from North Dakota, two from Canada, one from Montana, and one from Nebraska. 

 

"These latest recruits fit our immediate needs coming into the fall season," said Head Coach Steve Gust. "They have experience and are proven performers at their respective levels. They each have some elite tools that will play well at our level. Most importantly, they have good character and have a strong desire to achieve success for our program." 

 

The signees who are reported in this release either signed an Athletic Aid Agreement or an Institutional Declaration of Intent (IDI). All signees released by the University of Minnesota Crookston have been verified by the compliance office that all documents have been properly signed and dated, and have been authorized for release.
  

Chase Blanchard (RHP/C, 6-0 170, Ceresco, Neb./Southeast Community College)

Blanchard spent two seasons at Southeast Community College in Beatrice. He helped his squad to 32 wins as a sophomore. Blanchard made eight appearances with six innings pitched, he struck out seven and walked eight. As a freshman, he made seven appearances with 7.1 innings pitched and one win. He struck out eight, and walked eight. Blanchard attended Lincoln Northeast High School and earned All-State and All-District accolades. He helped the Rockets to the 2023 State Baseball Tournament, where they finished as runners up. Blanchard set the school record for triples and bases stolen, and was the youngest starter in team history. He was named to the PBR Nebraska Elite 50 and played for the Lincoln Blackhawks and led the Nebraska 12 A Gold State Champion team in 2018. Blanchard helped his team to the USSSA Baseball World Series Championship in 2016, 2017, and 2018. 

He is the son of Matt and Holly Blanchard, and plans to major in health sciences with a minor in business. 

"Chase is fairly new to pitching, but has shown some elite stuff," Gust said. "He transitioned to pitcher at his junior college and made great strides. He comes from a winning junior college program so he knows what it takes to be successful. We feel like he will continue to make strides and become a big piece of our pitching staff."

Payton Hochhalter (RHP, 6-1 200, Jamestown, N.D./University of Jamestown)
Hochhalter led the Jamestown Jimmies pitching staff in 2026, going 1-4 with a 3.62 ERA in 64.2 innings pitched. He tossed three complete games, made 16 appearances and six starts. Hochhalter struck out 42, and walked 24. He held opponents to a .267 batting average. Hochhalter struck out eight and had no walks in 6.1 innings against Winona State. He struck out seven, with two walks in seven frames versus Southwest Minnesota State. Hochhalter struck out six versus Wayne State in his season finale. As a freshman, he was 1-0 in seven appearances with 7.1 innings pitched. He picked up one save for the Jimmies, and struck out seven. He played for Jamestown High School and was All-State for football and baseball, earning Player of the Year honors for Jamestown High School football. He led his football team to two State Championships. 

He is the son of Marty and Jan Hochhalter. He has a brother Marcus, and sisters Kayla and Kauri. Hochhalter plans to major in business at Minnesota Crookston. 

"Payton has proven he can excel at this level and he's only touched the surface of what he can accomplish," Gust stated. "He is nursing a shoulder injury right now but we feel he will come back stronger than ever. When healthy, he has a chance to be a top tier pitcher in this league."

Aiden Keranen (RHP, 6-1 190, Eden Prairie, Minn./Century College)

Keranen made seven starts in seven appearances for Century College. He posted a 3.52 ERA in 23 innings pitched, with 21 strikeouts. Keranen went 3-0 as a sophomore. He struck out five in five innings versus Western Technical College April 25. As a freshman, he posted a 2-2 mark with a 4.60 ERA in 29.1 innings pitched with 31 strikeouts. Keranen started two games as a freshman. He played for Eden Prairie Senior High School as a prep, graduating in 2024.

He is the son of Mary Keranen and Jason Phillips. Keranen plans to major in finance at Minnesota Crookston. 

"We are excited to add a quality pitcher like Aiden to our staff," Gust remarked. "He had a good junior college career at one of the top two-year schools in Minnesota. Once he gets in our program, we expect him to flourish. He has the work ethic, desire and stuff to be an elite arm."

Dakota Kruse (OF, 5-11 223, Aurora, Minn./Dakota County Technical College)

Kruse hit .380 as a sophomore at Dakota County Technical College, in 22 games played. He had 14 runs scored, two home runs, 13 RBI, and seven stolen bases for the Blue Knights. Kruse hit three RBIs in a 7-4 win over Alexandria Technical and Community College March 30. He notched three RBI in an 11-6 win over the Gustavus Adolphus junior varsity squad April 24. As a freshman, Kruse hit .255 with one home run, nine runs scored, nine RBI, and four stolen bases. He earned All-Iron Range Conference four-times at Mesabi East High School. 

Kruse is the son of Paul Kruse and Rena Pugleasa. He plans to major in manufacturing management.

"Dakota has the ability to be a top hitter for us," Gust said. "He can hit for power and average at our level. He's one of those recruits that if he puts it all together, he has some chance to be a special player."

Brendan Koester (C, 6-0 190, Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley H.S.)

Koester helped Simley High School to their first State Tournament appearance in school history in 2025. He is a two-time All-Metro East Conference pick, and a former Team MVP. Koester has been a four-time varsity letterwinner. Koester played for the Minnesota Blizzard. 

He is the son of Nick and Jillian Koester, and plans to major in business management. 

"Brenden gives us more depth at the catcher position and can pitch at a high level," Gust remarked. "He's just a good all-around athlete that we look to recruit to our program. He has enough tools to compete from day one."

Shayne Pellin (LHP, 6-1 210, St. Lazare, Quebec/Century College (Minn.)

Pellin made 16 appearances as a sophomore, with two starts. He went 3-4, and notched three saves. Pellin posted a 3.48 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 41.1 innings pitched. He struck out five in five innings against Ridgewater College. He struck out seven in 4.1 frames against Dakota County Technical College. Pellin had five strikeouts in 3.2 frames in a win over Western Technical College. As a freshman, Pellin made 13 appearances with a 2-0 mark, and four saves for Century College. He posted a 1.64 ERA in 33 frames, with 31 strikeouts. An All-Conference and All-MCAC pick. 

Pellin is the son of Pamela Trottier and John Pellin. He plans to major in business. An uncle, Gabriele "Gaby" Mancini was a Canadian featherweight boxer who competed at the 1960 Rome Olympics. 

"Shayne has pitched big innings for Century the past couple of years and helped them to a second place finish in the World Series," Gust stated. "He has stuff that is just hard to hit. We expect him to continue to develop and grow and help us reach our goals."

Matthew Willmets (1B/RHP, 6-7 240, St. Albert, Alberta/St. Albert Cardinals)

Willmets competed for the St. Albert Cardinals in 18U AAA team in the Baseball Alberta Elite League (BAEL). He attended Bellerose Composite High School. 

"Matt is a very projectable player," Gust said. "He needs to continue to develop, and if he does, he has a chance to be a really solid player. We are excited to see how he grows as a player."