“The second half of the pitcher-catcher battery is important and we’re going to have some guys that really impact the game on the defensive side but just as importantly on the offensive side of the plate,” Weidemaier said. “These are guys that can hit, apply pressure and force mistakes from the opposition.”

Leading the charge behind the plate are five exceptional catchers:

• • Blaise Anthony Priester (Louisiana State University) –  Priester’s most enticing tool is his raw power with an aggressive approach and he is more athletic than most catchers. The right-handed power hitter and pro prospect previously played in the Northwoods League for the La Crosse Loggers proving his good defense and power at the plate.  He is a transfer from Meridian Community College. 
  • Kyle Hvidsteen (Iowa Western Community College) – Hvidsteen is a native of Jordan, Minnesota and is having a breakout spring for the Reivers. He is hitting .450 with 11 home runs, 11 RBI’s and 8 stolen bases in 27 games for one of the top JUCO programs (27-5 record) in the country. He previously played in the Prospect League last summer where he batted .347 with 43 hits and 29 RBI’s in 34 games for the Quincy Gems.
  • Isaac Huettl (Northern Iowa Area Community College) – Huettl is currently crushing baseballs this spring season – he is batting .308 through 28 games with 18 RBI’s on 28 hits with the NIACC Trojans. He is a Mandan native and formerly played for the Badlands Big Sticks and Mandan Chiefs AA American Legion team growing up. He was top five in nearly every offensive production category last season. Weidemaier, chose Huettl to reinforce his recruiting ideology of attacking opposing pitchers and applying pressure on the basepaths. Huettl is signed to a first-half season contract.
  • Mack Higuchi (California Polytechnic State University) – Higuchi started at Mid-Pacific Institute where he was a two-time All-League honoree before transferring to Feather River College where he hit .272 on 28 hits with 23 RBI’s. The Hawaii native has played four games this season being perfect in the field and and collected one RBI on two hits.
  • Will Millard (Hillsdale College) – The freshman has three home runs through 22 games at Hillsdale College in 2024. Millard is an exciting young player who is already a pro prospect. The catcher from southern Illinois helped lead O’Fallon to a third-place finish in the Class 4A State Tournament as a sophomore in 2021 and graduated in 2023 as a two-time team MVP and three-time All-Southwestern Conference honoree. Millard is signed to a temporary contract and will join the team mid-season.

The outfield lineup for the upcoming 2024 season features four guys batting over .340 in the 2024 season, a son of a former MLB player, and one local player currently leading the offense at Bismarck State College.

• CJ Richmond (Western Michigan University) – Richmond is one of the biggest power bats expected to be key near the top of the lineup at 6’3” 240 pounds. He is currently crushing pitchers this season with a .355 batting average, 7 home runs and 37 RBI’s through just 32 games at the University of Western Michigan.
• Tye Wood (University of New Mexico) – The switch hitter fits Manager Weidemaier’s team built around speed. Wood’s ability to play consistent defense and cover a lot of ground in Bismarck’s big outfield will be crucial for the team’s success on defense.
• Andrew Ivy Jr. (Arizona Christian University) – Ivy Jr. is another player whose speed and offensive success puts pressure on opposing pitchers in every facet. His impressive stats include .277 batting average, 52 hits, 34 RBI’s and 12 stolen bases in 2024.
• Erick Dessens (Paradise Valley Community College) – Dessens is a son of former MLB pitcher Elmer Dessens (1996-2010) and currently plays in a wood bat league making his stats even more impressive before joining the wood bat Northwoods League. The left handed hitter is currently batting .342 with 38 hits, 18 RBI’s and 21 runs scored through 39 games at Paradise Valley.
• Andrew Niaves (Bismarck State College) – Niaves has signed a temporary contract to join the Bismarck Larks in 2024. The switch hitting outfielder and catcher has put up impressive numbers as a freshman batting .386 with 14 RBI’s, 31 runs scored and 22 hits through 25 games.

The infielders are highlighted by a first baseman hitting over .500 with 12 home runs this season, a shortstop from France that is transferring to Arizona State University, a pair of teammates at the University of Pennsylvania, a future Nebraska Cornhusker infielder and a top hitter from the University of Jamestown among others.

• Brady Krzciok (Macomb Community College) – The lefty power hitting is crushing baseballs in 2024. Through 36 games, the sophomore is batting .509 with 47 RBI’s, 12 home runs and was named the MCCAA Player of the Week of April 2. Krzciok transferred from Madonna University after a stellar 2023 season where he hit .339 with 12 home runs, 49 RBI’s in 52 games.
• Mathis Muerant (Cochise College) – The freshman from France is about to transfer to University of Arizona after his stellar 2024 spring season where he was just named First Team All-ACCAC and All-Region 1 Honors. The switch hitting shortstop hit .374 with 73 hits and 49 RBI’s in just 55 games with Cochise College.
• Davis Baker (University of Pennsylvania) – The 6’2 sophomore shortstop is having another stellar spring putting up .304 with 55 hits, 37 RBI’s and 12 stolen bases in just 42 games. The 3x Ivy League Rookie of the Week started all but two of his 50 appearances and more than 40 of them at shortstop a year ago.
• Jarrett Pokrovsky (University of Pennsylvania) – The corner infielder can also play the outfield and is solid in the field with just two errors in 82 chances this spring. He also has 10 stolen bases in 2024 – up from two a year ago. At the plate, he’s hitting .273 with 38 hits, 26 RBI’s and 10 stolen bases.
• Alexander Alva (University of Jamestown) – The Colorado native and UJ utility player is having another great season to follow up his stellar 2023 season. His 60 hits lead the team, .330 batting average is third and 33 RBI’s is second-most on the team lead.
• Jaron Cotton (Barton Community College) – The 6’4” 185lb sophomore from Texas will be transferring to Nebraska after this season. Cotton is having another breakthrough spring batting .353 on 66 hits, 10 home runs, 58 RBI’s and adding 10 stolen bases on top.
• Jaylen Edmonds (Arizona Christian University) – Edmonds joins the Larks in 2024 following his transfer to ACU for the spring 2024 season where he is hitting .298 with 54 hits, 44 RBI’s and 11 stolen bases. The junior previously played at Contra Costa College where he recorded a .389 batting average and was named All-Conference.
• Michael Davinni (University of Utah) – Michael Davinni had two great years at Saddleback before transferring to the University of Utah for the 2024 spring season. There he was named All-Orange Empire First Team in 2023 after leading the Bobcats in at-bats (223), runs (60) and hits (83) in addition to his .372 batting average ranked fourth on the team.
• Zachary Daudet (California State Polytechnic University) – Daudet previously played at Regis University where he posted a .345 batting average 46 RBIs 67 hits and 64 runs in 2023. The 6’3” 200lb junior has added 20 lbs of weight since being named to the All-Conference Team his freshman and sophomore year.

• Jamal Allen (Union College) – The 6’5 Senior from Birmingham, AL was a workhorse out of the pen for the Bulldogs of Union University. Allen in his first season at Union made an immediate impact as the Bulldogs closer, recording 1 win on 5 saves while appearing in 16 games. In his 2024 campaign, Allen pitched 21.1 IP with 15 K’s, allowing just 4 home runs.
• Scott Borgmann (Wilmington College) – Parkton, Maryland’s dual-threat pitcher and third baseman has an incredible 2024 season with the Wildcats of Wilmington University. The true freshman started 7 games and appeared in 12. In 2024, he threw 29.1 IP, only allowing 3 home runs, and posted a 5.83 K per 9. In his prior 2023 season, Borgmann posted a .353 batting average in 17 games played.
• Corey Braun (Ole Miss) – The lefty Junior from Seminole, FL did not play during the 2024 season for Ole Miss. In his prior year at Santa Fe College, Braun was a special part of the rotation during the 2023 season. Braun was unstoppable in 13 appearances and 12 starts, posting a record of 7-1 with one complete game. In his 64.1 innings pitched, he struck out a team-high 76 batters. Braun finished with a 3.78 ERA, allowing 16 walks and one home run against him. The lefty went on to receive All Mid-Florida Conference First Team Honors.
• Lucas Burgum (Alexandria Tech C.C.) – The hometown kid hailing proudly from Mandan, ND was a strikeout artist for the Legends of Alexandria College. The workhorse right-hander started in 7 games, appearing in 8 posting a record of 3-1 with 2 complete games. Burgum was dominant during his 2024 campaign, with a 13.61 K per 9 throughout the season. He was named the MCAC Central Division Baseball Athlete of the Week for March 25-31, 2024. Burgum threw a complete game six innings, giving up only four hits and one earned run in his win. The 6’3 right-hander struck out 12 batters and walked two, compiling a 1.00 ERA for the week.
• David Chase (Iowa Western) – The 6’2 right-hander from Manhattan Beach, CA did not play during the 2024 season. Before to playing for the Reivers of Iowa Western, Chase played his first college season at Loyola Marymount University. In four games, Chase allowed only 3 hits and 3 runs in two innings of work.
• Haldon Craig (Doane College) – The 6’2 righty specialist from Victoria, B.C. played a key role in the success of the Tigers of Doane College. Appearing in 12 IP, Craig was lights out, posting a 12.41 K per 9 with a 1.70 WHIP. During his 2024 campaign, the freshman posted a record of 1-1 allowing 7 hits and striking out 17 batters.
• Matthew Donnison (Illinois State) – This right-hander uses a crafty, four-pitch arsenal to attack hitters and give his team quality innings. Donnison has been heating up towards the end of the season for the Illinois State Redbirds, posting his best outings in each of his last three appearances. In 35.2 innings, he has a 5.55 ERA, along with 33 K’s. 
• Turner Doran (Western Michigan) – The Junior from Mokena, Illinois, has been extremely accurate on the mound, posting a ridiculous 34-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 26 innings. His stellar outings are a big reason why the Western Michigan Broncos have a winning record in 2024.  
• Luke Zimmer (Jamestown) – The tall righty and North Dakota native, Luke Zimmer, has been excelling on the mound in his sophomore season with the Jamestown Jimmies. Zimmer’s 8-2 record is indicative of his game-changing ability. In 15 appearances he has a 3.84 ERA and 65 K’s in 70.1 innings. 
• Cade Torgerson (Jamestown) – Cade Torgerson makes his return to Bismarck after a stellar summer in 2023 for the Larks. The multisport athlete has shined in his senior season on the mound for the Jamestown Jimmies. In 20.1 innings the 6’2 southpaw has 24 K’s and a 4.87 ERA, along with a 2-0 record. 
• Kai Taylor (Augustana) – The Junior from Chandler, AZ had his best season for the Vikings of Augustana University. Taylor was the top reliever out of the pen for the back-to-back, 2022-2023 NSIC conference champions. The right-hander had his best college season to date, posting a 2.08 ERA, allowing only 8 hits on 17 K’s in 17.1 IP for the Vikings. Taylor played a vital role in helping Augustana advance to the D II College World Series in 2023, pitching 23.1 IP with a record of 4-0.
• Riley Roskopf (Paradise Valley CC) – The 6’4, left-handed Arizona native makes a 90-minute trip south from his hometown of Chino Valley to play for Paradise Valley CC. In 13 appearances in 2024, he’s racked up 40.1 innings, with a 6.02 ERA. He’s been exceptional at keeping the ball in the yard, only allowing 2 home runs in the entire season.
• Matthew Porter (Pitt) – The southpaw from Crystal Lake, IL had an impressive 2024 campaign in his first season with the Panthers of the University of Pittsburgh. Porter posted a 4.22 ERA in 10 IP with 15 K’s amongst one of the toughest conferences in all of college baseball, the ACC. Porter, a junior lefty, was a two-year starter before joining Pitt at Lake Land College, where he amassed 86 innings of work with a record of 7-4, striking out 123 batters and made All-Conference selection.
• Kai Mayfield (Alexandria Tech CC) – The left-hand starter for the Legends of Alexandria Tech put up an impressive 2024 campaign for head coach Jason Fischer’s ballclub. In Mayfield’s second year with the squad, he posted a 4.71 ERA among 36.1 IP. As a starter, Mayfield was perfect with a record of 3-0 on the season, punching out 51 batters with a K per 9 of 12.63.
• Kyle Lane (Harding) – The right-hander bullpen specialist from Xenai, OH has been stellar in his two seasons with the Bisons of Harding University. During his two seasons, he’s been dominant out of the pen with an impressive 3.13 ERA over 37.1 innings. Lane helped pitch his squad to a 36-15 record, securing the Bisons as Great American Conference Regular Season Champions.
• Jackson Hohensee (Arizona Christian) – Hohensee has been nothing short of a workhorse two-year starter for the Firestorm of Arizona Christian. The right-hander has appeared in 107 innings of work, amassing 121 strikeouts with a record of 6-5, while appearing in 33 games. Hailing from the desert of Anthem, AZ, Hohensee led head coach Joe McDonald’s ballclub to a 33-19 record, giving the Firestorm a bid into the 2024 NAIA Baseball Opening Round.
• Blake Davidson (Arizona Christian) – The Canadian from Calgary, AB played in his first season with the Firestorm of Arizona Christian. In 2 games, Davidson posted a 4.50 ERA, allowing only 3 hits and 1 ER during his 2024 campaign. Before playing for ACU, Davidson played for two years under coach Eric Stein for Iowa Central CC. The right-hander pitched in 17.2 innings with a record of 0-2.