GOLDEN, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines Baseball coaching staff of Robby Bales and Bryan King announced the addition of nine Orediggers as part of their second signing class as a staff.
 
The group started signing on Nov. 13, which marks the earliest possible date to ink with a program in NCAA Division II Baseball. Over half hail from the Lone Star State with five Texans, two Californians, one from Iowa and one Colorado commit. The position breakdown features mostly utility players who can both pitch and hit with a trio of catchers as well. Two outfielders and one infield specialist round out the group.
 
Below is a snapshot of the newest Orediggers:
 

Mason Andrews	6-0	185	OF	McKinney, Texas / McKinney North HS
Grant Badstebner	5-8	180	C	Highland Village, Texas / Lake Dallas HS
Chandler Cole	6-3	175	UTIL	Spring Branch, Texas / Smithson Valley HS
Torin Diffey	6-0	215	C	Palm Desert, Calif. / La Quinta HS
Luke Folsom	6-2	195	UTIL	Littleton, Colo. / Columbine HS
Adam Houghtaling	5-11	205	UTIL	Manvel, Texas / San Jacinto College
Wayne Moeck	6-2	185	OF	San Diego, Calif. / Rancho Bernardo HS
Ryan Vermeer	6-1	185	C	Ankeny, Iowa / Centennial HS
Jack Walton	6-0	165	INF	Carrollton, Texas / Prestonwood Christian

 

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Mason Andrews – OF – 6-0 – 185
McKinney, Texas – McKinney North HS
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Played center field, earning four varsity letters at McKinney North High School in McKinney, Texas … Named First-Team All-District as a junior behind seven doubles, two triples and three home runs … Stole 21 bases in 2019 and fielded 1.000 on defense … Received the district-wide award for athletic achievement in baseball as voted on by district coaches … Played club ball for Phenom Texas and Frozen Ropes … Three-time Academic Excellence Cord award winner and two-time Academic All-District athlete … Member of the National Honor Society … Plans to major in civil engineering at Mines.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS: "Mason is our third export from McKinney North High School, joining Tyler Blomster and Caden Bonds who all played for coach Jim Gatewood. Mason is an outfielder who hits and throws lefty. He can run throw and hit. We are pleased to continue the tradition with another Bulldog in our program."
 

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Grant Badstebner – C – 5-8 – 180
Highland Village, Texas – Lake Dallas HS
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Varsity letter winner at catcher and in the outfield for Lake Dallas High School … Played club ball for DBAT Elite … Standing 5-8 and weighing in at 180 pounds, looks to compete at catcher for the Orediggers … Member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta … Plans to major in chemical engineering at Mines.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS: "Grant is a gritty catcher with advanced defensive skills. He also has a knack for making things happen with the bat."
 

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Chandler Cole – UTIL – 6-3 – 175
Spring Branch, Texas – Smithson Valley HS
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-sport athlete at Smithson Valley High School playing football and baseball with five total varsity letters … Appeared at catcher, outfield, first base and the mound on the diamond … Featured at tight end, wide receiver and long snapper on the football team … Career stats include .335 batting average and a .429 on-base percentage with 22 strikeouts on the mound over 20.0 innings of work … Also threw out eight baserunners from behind the plate … Played club ball for Lobos Baseball where he won the Texas Premier State Championship and earned all-tournament honors … Earned pitcher of the game and player of the game in club ball as well … Member of the National Honor Society and two-time Comal ISD Student of the Month … Also named Academic All-District … Plans to major in mechanical engineering at Mines.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS: "Chandler is a very versatile player who can hit, catch, pitch and play both the infield and the outfield. We're excited to be getting this Swiss Army knife."
 

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Torin Diffey – C – 6-0 – 215
Palm Desert, Calif. – La Quinta HS
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-time letter winner playing catcher at La Quinta High School … Led team to CIF Div. 4 title in 2018 … Earned CIF league honors in 2019 … Touts five runs on 18 hits with a 11 RBI, hitting .295 with a .462 on-base percentage and .344 slugging percentage … Plays club ball for So Cal Birds … Earned Academic Honor Roll distinction every year since freshman year … Plans to major in petroleum engineering at Mines.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS: "Torin is a strong defensive catcher from a great program in Southern California. He has a strong arm and shows the ability to develop into a power bat from the left side."
 

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Luke Folsom – UTIL – 6-2 – 195
Littleton, Colo. – Columbine HS
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-sport athlete at Columbine High School competing in baseball and football with five varsity letters … Appeared at shortstop, center field and pitcher for the baseball team and played linebacker and wing for the football team … As a sophomore, hit .395 with 25 hits and 20 RBI including six home runs … On the mound, tossed 36 innings with a 3.89 ERA and 40 strikeouts … Named Second-Team Jeffco All-Conference in baseball and First-Team Jeffco All-Conference in football … Played club ball for Cherry Creek and coach Marc Johnson … Academic All-State honoree with High Honors Distinction and a member of the National Honor Society … Plans to major in mechanical engineering at Mines with hopes to minor in computer science.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS: "Luke comes to us via Columbine High School where he was a multi-sport star. He has the ability to pitch, hit and play defense. We're excited to have this local Rebel in our program."
 

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Adam Houghtaling – UTIL – 5-11 – 205
Manvel, Texas – San Jacinto College
 
SAN JACINTO (2019-20): Appeared on the mound, at the plate and in the field at San Jacinto College in Texas … As a freshman, hit .270 with three doubles, three triples and two home runs for 23 RBI … Tossed 15 innings for a 1.20 ERA and 0.80 WHIP while surrendering just six hits and two earned runs with 19 strikeouts.
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Played first base and outfield while also pitching at Glenda Dawson High School in the Houston, Texas, area … Crowned the 2018 District MVP and 2017 First-Team All-District … Earned Dawons High School offensive and defensive MVP honors … Named 2018 Houston Area All-Star and 2018 Texas All-State … Played in the 2018 Texas High School All-Star game … As a senior, hit .480 with 14 doubles and 16 RBI while tossing 55 innings and boasting a 1.27 ERA behind 65 strikeouts … Played club ball for Mizuno Baseball USA, earning three Perfect Game All-Tournament honors … Graduated Cum Laude and earned the PCA Triple Impact Competitor Scholarship … Nominated by Dawson High School of the Wendy's High School Heisman Award … Graduated in the top 12 percent of his class and took home the Dawson High School Baseball Academic Award … Plans to major in electrical engineering at Mines.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS: "Adam comes to us from one of the premier junior college programs in the nation where he was a key contributor on the mound and at the plate. He has a chance to be a major contributor in both aspects as an Oredigger as well."
 

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Wayne Moeck – OF – 6-2 – 185
San Diego, Calif. – Rancho Bernardo HS
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-time letter winner at Rancho Bernardo High School where he played outfield and first base … As a junior, batted .255 with an OBP of .345 thanks to 13 hits including four doubles and one home run … Named to the San Diego Union Tribune All-Academic team in 2019 … Named 2018 Offensive Player of the Year for his junior varsity team … Played club ball for CBA … Boasts six Silver Star awards for his grade-point average … AP Scholar with honor … Plans to major in civil engineering at Mines.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS: "Wayne comes to us via a great high school program in San Diego. He is a big physical outfielder who can run, throw and hit for power. We expect Wayne to compete for innings immediately."
 

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Ryan Vermeer – C – 6-1 – 185
Ankeny, Iowa – Centennial HS
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Played catcher at Ankeny Centennial High School in Iowa, boasting three varsity letters … Two-time First-Team All-Conference and Two-time First-Team All-District … Named Second-Team Class 4A All-State as a junior … Hit .344 as a sophomore with 16 RBI … As a junior, hit .439 with 11 doubles, 25 RBI and caught 21 runners stealing … Played club ball for the Iowa Sticks … Three-time Academic All-Conference award winner and a National Merit Semifinalist … Plans to major in mechanical engineering at Mines.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS: "Ryan is a left-handed hitting catcher who can hit for average and power. He can also control a game defensively. We see big things for Ryan in our program."
 

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Jack Walton – INF – 6-0 – 165
Carrollton, Texas – Prestonwood Christian Academy
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-time letter winner playing baseball at Prestonwood Christian Academy in Texas … Played shortstop, second base and third base with some action on the mound … Played club ball for the Dallas Mustangs … Named JV Offensive Player of the Year … Member of the Academic Honor Roll, Principal's Honor Roll and the National Honor Society … Plans to major in civil engineering at Mines.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS: "Jack is a smooth infielder who hits from the left side. He displays and advanced baseball IQ and leadership qualities. We are excited Jack is an Oredigger."


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.