Mines (0-0) at Fort Hays State (0-0) – Saturday, 1 p.m. (CT) – Hays, Kan. [Live Stats] [MIAA Network]
Mines (0-0) at Fort Hays State (0-0) – Sunday, 12 p.m. (CT) – DH – Hays, Kan. [Live Stats] [MIAA Network]
Mines (0-0) at Fort Hays State (0-0) – Monday, 1 p.m. (CT) – Hays, Kan. [Live Stats] [MIAA Network]

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THERE WILL BE BASEBALL
While bigheads at the major-league level continue to argue and potentially delay that level of baseball, the Colorado School of Mines Baseball team is set to open its 2022 campaign this weekend. It will be a four-game series at Fort Hays State out of the MIAA conference. While it was supposed to be a home opener for the Orediggers, Colorado weather had other plans and the series was flipped to Larks Park in Hays, America. It'll be Mines' first February game in 708 days after hosting Colorado Christian on Feb. 29, 2020. It also marks the Orediggers' first action against a non-RMAC team since facing MSU Billings in Montana on Feb. 23, 2020 – nearly two years ago.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
This weekend's series will include live stats as linked above and video on The MIAA Network. There is a fee for the video with choices of $10 for a day pass and $25 for the month. Additionally, all of Mines' home games and ever conference game will air live, and for free, on the the RMAC Network with Miles Dunklin providing play-by-play commentary for home games all season long.
 
FAN INFORMATION
According to FHSUAthletics.com, admission is free once again at Larks Park. Use that information as you will.
 
CLIFF NOTES FOR 2021
Last season felt the heavy hand of the COVID-19 pandemic as Mines saw its schedule reduced to 30 games only against RMAC opponents. The Orediggers finished the impacted campaign with a record of 10-20 and just missed the conference tournament on a tiebreaker with Colorado Christian. Highlights from the season included Ben Schoneman's selection as a Honorable Mention All-RMAC pitcher after going 2-2 with 38 strikeouts in 33.0 innings of work. Redshirt freshman Rodney Gregg also stood out on the mound as he went 1-1 and boasted a 3.57 ERA in 11 appearances including one start while striking out 19 in 22.2 innings. At the plate, Luke Folsom, I-Ly Hsue and Danny McDermott all proved notable as each hit over .300. Folsom came on strong as a true freshman with nine doubles, two triples and three home runs. Hsue popped off 11 doubles and one home run. McDermott led the team with 21 runs and 25 RBI on six home runs while adding five doubles.
 
SCOUTING FORT HAYS STATE
The hosts welcome Mines to Hays, Kan., after going 11-26 overall and 11-22 in MIAA action in 2021. The Tigers return 25 players from their 2021 roster and added 15 to the 2022 squad including four transfers and 10 freshmen. Notable returners are all-conference honorees Jacob Ensz and Grant Schmidt. Ensz came out of the bullpen for FHSU and notched six saves which ranked #14 in the nation while striking out 31 batters in 30.1 frames. Schmidt led the Tigers at the plate with 11 home runs, 12 doubles, two triples, 37 runs and 29 RBI while slugging .408. Fort Hays State was picked to finish 10th out of 12 teams in the 2022 MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
SERIES HISTORY
While building out the full history of Mines baseball is an ongoing process, there is data from recent history fans might find helpful. The Orediggers last played the Tigers Feb. 8-9 in a four-game series at Larks Park that was also supposed to be played in Golden, Colo., if not for the weather. Mines dropped the first game, 11-9, before winning three straight to take the series. Highlighting that weekend was Caden Bonds who hit .700 in the doubleheader on the second day while racking up seven runs on seven hits with five RBI thanks to one double and two home runs. Prior to the 2020 meeting, Mines and FHSU played four games in 2016. The series finale came on Feb. 21, 2016, when the Orediggers rolled to a 16-1 win at Jim Darden Field behind Nate Olinger's 4-for-4 day with three runs and two RBI on two doubles. According to the Tigers' homepage, they lead the all-time series by a margin of 69-15.
 
HEY, WE KNOW HIM
Those even vaguely familiar with Mines baseball likely know this weekend marks an Oredigger reunion – of sorts. Fort Hays State Head Coach Jerod Goodale joined the Tigers after serving as the head coach at Colorado School of Mines from 2012-18. He guided Mines to an overall record of 180-160 while bringing the Orediggers to their first-ever NCAA Tournament in 2018. Goodale helped Mines rake in numerous accolades including a total of nine all-America awards between Bobby Egeberg, Nate Olinger, Mikey Gangwish and Trevor Kehe. The later became the most decorated player in the history of Oredigger baseball and the first MLB Draft Pick since Marshall Schuler in 2010. Speaking of the name Kehe, fans might notice it pop up on the FHSU roster. It is not by consequence. Trevor's younger brother Jenner Kehe joined the Tigers this summer as a transfer from NCAA Division I Virginia Tech. After going to the Hokies as a pitcher, Jenner Kehe will serve as an infielder and pitcher in Hays.
 
FAMILIAR FACES
In total, Mines baseball returns 30 letter winners from the 2021 roster. Apologies for not listing all 30 names. That being said, some of the notable returners include a majority of the Oredigger infield with the likes of third baseman Danny McDermott, middle-infielder I-Ly Hsue, shortstop Caden Bonds and pitcher turned first baseman Toby Scoles. On the mound, fans will recognize all-RMAC honoree Ben Schoneman and seven-footer Brayden Weyer. However, arguably the most notable return across the board is starting pitcher Tyler Blomster. We'll have more on him in a bit. Sincere apologies to those not mentioned. It's not personal, but the fans are only going to read so much.
 
WHO'S NEW?
During the offseason, Head Coach Robby Bales and recruiting coordinator Bryan King bolstered their roster by signing seven true freshmen and two transfers. Making up the very fresh faces are Carter Gorling, Gray St. Amant, Jackson Woolwine, Caden Yorek, Kevin Luna, Ethan Yatson and Nicholas Spidel. Included in the transfers are graduate student Taylor White out of Wisconsin-Whitewater and junior college product Reece Noel from Iowa Western Community College.
 
BLOMSTER'S BACK
The return of starting, right-handed pitcher Tyler Blomster is notable for multiple reasons. When he steps on the mound in a NCAA Division II game this season, it will break a hiatus of more than 700 days. Blomster's last collegiate outing was March 6, 2020, in an 11-3 win at New Mexico Highlands. In that appearance he tossed 5.2 innings of three-run, five-hit baseball while striking out four and walking one on his way to the win. Other newsworthy reasons for his return include his name appearing 13 times in the program record book. The six-foot, seven-inch Texan is Mines' all-time leader in wins (27), strikeouts (254) and single-season wins (10). He has also overtaken or is quickly approaching many of the RMAC's all-time marks as well. After 700 days away, it will be exciting to see what the big righty brings to the mound.
 
IN THE PROS
Over the last four years, four Orediggers have entered baseball's professional ranks. Mikey Gangwish (2016-19) was the first as he played professionally in Australia before returning to a contract with the Evansville Otters of the independent Frontier League. He has since retired and returned to pursue a master's degree at Mines. The second was Trevor Kehe (2017-19) who was drafted in the 36th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Baltimore Orioles. He worked in the Orioles organization for three years and advanced as far as High-A ball with the Aberdeen IronBirds before retiring this last summer. Rounding out the trio is Walter Pennington (2017-20). The left-handed hurler signed a free-agent contract with the Kansas City Royals in the summer of 2020 and played the 2021 season with the organization's Low-A affiliate, the Columbia Fireflies. Pennington currently remains under contract with the Royals amid the MLB lockout.
 
BALES' FOURTH SEASON
The 2022 campaign marks Mines' fourth season with Robby Bales as head coach. During his tenure as the Oredigger skipper, Bales holds an overall record of 62-41 with a mark of 41-29 in RMAC play. He has coached seven All-RMAC players, six all-region players, one All-American, five CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, one MLB Draft Pick and had one player signed as a free agent in the MLB. Under Bales' leadership, the Orediggers have broken or tied 32 program records including most wins in a season in 2019. Additionally, Bales has guided Mines to the NCAA Tournament and RMAC Tournament, advancing to the regional and conference tournament final in 2019. Bales' teams have also performed in the classroom as the squad brought home the RMAC Brechler Award in 2020 and 2021 as the team boasting the highest combined GPA in the conference.
 
IN THE POLLS
The head baseball coaches from around the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference put Mines in a tie for #5 in the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll released earlier this year. The ballots from all nine head coaches provided the Orediggers 32 points which tied Mines with CSU Pueblo for the fifth slot on the list. Colorado Mesa took the top spot with 64 points and eight first-place votes. In second was UCCS with the ninth first-place vote and 53 points. MSU Denver was right behind with 52 points and Regis rounded out the top four with 41 points. Coaches could not vote for their own team.
 
2022 RMAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Colorado Mesa – 64 (8)
2. UCCS – 53 (1)
3. MSU Denver – 52
4. Regis – 41
t5. Mines – 32
t5. CSU Pueblo – 32
7. Colorado Christian – 23
8. New Mexico Highlands – 18
9. Adams State – 9
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Mines' next action is a four-game series at Rogers State in Claremore, Okla., starting Feb. 11 and closing Feb. 13. Live stats and video of all four games will be available at www.minesathletics.com.
 
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.