By: Sam Boender
GOLDEN, Colo. – Colorado School of Mines first-year head baseball coach
Robby Bales unveiled his first signing class as skipper of the Orediggers featuring eight total incoming freshman for the fall of 2019.
Bales' first group of signees reflects a focus on infielders, pitchers and two-way players. Seven of the eight new Orediggers identify as right-handed pitchers with six of the eight claiming two-way capability. The group also provides geographical diversity with five individuals from Colorado and a trio representing Washington, Nevada and New Mexico.
"The coaching staff and I are really excited about this class," said Bales. "We feel that each of these individuals are our type of guy and will be the next class to continue moving our program forward. We are looking forward to getting to work with each one of these talented, high-character young men."
Below is a snapshot of the newest Orediggers:
| Jackson Bakovich |
6-0 |
190 |
RHP/3B |
Fort Collins, Colo. / Loveland HS |
| I-Ly Hsue |
5-11 |
165 |
INF |
Kirkland, Wash. / Lake Washington HS |
| Zachary Kriethe |
6-1 |
180 |
RHP/1B |
Las Vegas, Nev. / Southwest CTA |
| Collin Kringlen |
6-5 |
205 |
RHP/1B |
Broomfield, Colo. / Holy Family HS |
| Marcus Lee |
6-6 |
190 |
RHP/INF |
Fruita, Colo. / Fruita Monument HS |
| Ben Schoneman |
6-1 |
175 |
RHP/INF |
Albuquerque, N.M. / La Cueva HS |
| Jacob Schope |
5-10 |
175 |
RHP/2B |
Littleton, Colo. / Heritage HS |
| Weston Siefken |
6-0 |
175 |
RHP |
Broomfield, Colo. / Holy Family HS |
Jackson Bakovich – RHP/3B – 6-0 – 190
Fort Collins, Colo. – Loveland HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-sport athlete at Loveland High School playing baseball and football … Pitcher and third baseman on the baseball team and a lineman on the football team … On the mound in 2017-18 tossed 48.2 innings with 50 strikeouts and 15 walks … At the plate in 2017-18 hit .261 with one home run in 20 games … Named second-team all-conference, academic all-state twice, Coloradoan Make Athlete of the Week with six total varsity letters … Played club ball for NoCo Roughnecks, Loveland Aces, Team Colorado and ProSwing … Four-year, 4.0 honor roll honoree … Student Council Officer and 2018-19 Student Body Vice President … Member of the National Honor Society and commissioner for the City of Loveland Youth Advisory Committee … Plans to major in mechanical engineering at Mines.
COACH'S COMMENTS: "Jackson is a multi-talented player who has a chance to contribute at the plate and on the mound as part of our program."
I-Ly Hsue – INF – 5-11 – 165
Kirkland, Wash. – Lake Washington HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Shortstop and second baseman at Lake Washington High School in Kirkland, Wash. … Earned three varsity letters playing baseball … Named 2018 Kingco 3A Second-Team at second base … Played club ball for the Washington Athletics … Club batting average of .321 with five home runs … Plans to major in chemical engineering at Mines.
COACH'S COMMENTS: "Hsue is athletic with solid actions in the infield. He has all the tools and should be able to contribute right away on the infield."
Zachary Kriethe – RHP/1B – 6-1 – 180
Las Vegas, Nev. – Southwest Career & Technical Academy
HIGH SCHOOL: Right-handed pitcher and first baseman at Sierra Vista High School … Starting shortstop as a freshman and starting first baseman as a sophomore … Named team captain as a senior … Scored 15 runs as a freshman and earned 27 walks his sophomore year … Named scholar athlete as a freshman and sophomore … Claimed all-state academic team honors first two years … Played club ball for Southern Nevada Baseballl … Went 5-1 in 44 innings with 69 strikeouts and just 11 walks with a 2.58 ERA for his club team … Selected to USA Southwest Region team and Junior Fall Classic All-Academic game … Named Engineering Program Senior of the Year … Member of the National Honor Society … Put up straight A's as a freshman and sophomore … Plans to major in civil engineering at Mines.
COACH'S COMMENTS: "Zach was a highly recruited right-handed pitcher who came on our radar late. He brings a solid fastball and intelligence to the mound. We are eager to see who he can become."
Collin Kringlen – RHP/1B – 6-5 – 205
Broomfield, Colo. – Holy Family HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Pitcher and first baseman at Holy Family High School …Junior season ERA of 1.83 with two wins and two saves while hitting ..418 with 17 RBI … Earned three varsity letters playing baseball … Named 2018 4A All-State Honorable Mention, 2018 Tri-Valley All-Conference and 2018 First-Team Academic All-State … Named academic all-state as a sophomore as well … Played club ball for the slammers … Named 2017 and 2018 Perfect Game Underclass Honorable Mention … Member of the National Honor Society and A Honor Roll student 2016-18 … Plans to major in chemical engineering at Mines.
COACH'S COMMENTS: "Collin is a long, lean, right-handed pitcher with room to grow and develop. He's a competitive kid boasting a great work ethic and is only going to continue getting better."
Marcus Lee – RHP/INF – 6-6 – 190
Fruita, Colo. – Fruita Monument HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-sport athlete at Fruita Monument High School playing baseball, basketball and golf … Pitcher and infielder on the baseball team … Batting average of .354 while slugging .541 with a .922 fielding percentage … Helped team to SWL League Championship three straight years … Earned two varsity letters in baseball and two in basketball … Played club ball for Rocky Mountain … Named All-Academic at the Arizona fall classic while pitching 28 innings with a 1.72 ERA … Honored as First-Team All-Academic and academic letter winner … An AP Scholar with Honor award and in the top five percent of his class … Deciding between mechanical or petroleum engineering at Mines.
COACH'S COMMENTS: "He has been on our radar since he was a sophomore in high school. Marcus has been to all of our camps over the years and it's been fun to watch him develop. We expect big things from this Western Slope talent."
Ben Schoneman – RHP/INF – 6-1 – 175
Albuquerque, N.M. – La Cueva HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Varsity letter winner playing baseball at La Cueva High School in New Mexico … Pitcher and infielder hitting .382 with 11 doubles and 29 RBI his junior season … Named 2018 New Mexico 6A player of the Year, 2018 First-Team All-State Pitcher, 2018 First-Team All-State First Base, 2018 Frist-Team All-District at pitcher and first base … Honored as 2017 Max Preps Sophomore All-American … Back-to-back state, district and metro championships in 2017 and 2018 … Played club ball for Team California … Academically honored with an academic letter junior and senior year … Named to All-Academic team for baseball as a junior … Member of the National Spanich Honors Society … Plans to major in mechanical engineering at Mines.
COACH'S COMMENTS: "Ben is a competitive right-handed pitcher from a nationally-recognized program with a track record of mound dominance and a slew of prep accolades. We expect Ben to be an immediate contributor."
Jacob Schope – RHP/2B – 5-10 – 175
Littleton, Colo. – Heritage HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Pitcher and second baseman at Heritage High School … Junior season pitched 16.2 innings with a 3.24 ERA, 25 strikeouts and just 14 hits allowed … Helped Heritage High School to a runner-up finish in the 5A Colorado State Playoffs … Played club ball for Colorado Khaos … Named Rawlings Honorable Mention All-America … Claimed honor roll distinction all four years of high school.
COACH'S COMMENTS: "Jacob is a right-handed pitcher from Heritage High School. He has had a fruitful prep career, and we look forward to watching him develop in our program."
Weston Siefken – RHP – 6-0 – 175
Broomfield, Colo. – Holy Family HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-sport athlete at Holy Family High School playing baseball and football … Right-handed pitcher with 95 innings pitched, 107 strikeouts and a 12-4 record boasting a 3.00 ERA through three seasons … Two-time Colorado Class 4A Honorable Mention Baseball team … First-Team All-Tri Valley Conference in 2017 and 2018 … Honorable Mention All-Region in 2017 … First-team All-Region in 2018 … Holds three varsity letters in baseball and one in football … Played club ball for Slammers Baseball … Earned Perfect Game Underclassman Honorable Mention All-America … Named to Colorado Sun Belt Junior Team in 2018 … Two-time Honorable Mention Academic All-State … Plans to major in mechanical engineering at Mines.
COACH'S COMMENTS: "Weston was a highly recruited right-handed pitcher who is a projectable high-character player with a high ceiling."
Fans can keep up with Mines baseball on Twitter at @OrediggersBSB. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.
