By: Sam Boender
GOLDEN, Colo. – Colorado School of Mines Head Baseball Coach
Robby Bales announced his 2022 signing class with the addition of 13 Orediggers to the 2023 roster.
The class breakdown includes 11 true freshman and a pair of NCAA Division I transfers who also happen to be brothers. States represented include California, Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon, Tennessee and Texas. The most popular intended major was mechanical engineering. Also notable is one of the transfers coming to Mines from the University of California Berkeley to pursue his master's degree in engineering & technology management.
Below is a snapshot of the newest Orediggers:
| Dillon Alcouffe |
6-3 |
185 |
UTIL |
Erie, Colo./Erie HS |
| Evan Bilter |
6-1 |
190 |
RHP |
Pleasanton, Calif./Foothill HS |
| Andrew Brady |
5-10 |
170 |
UTIL |
Lakewood, Colo./Mullen HS |
| Alex Dunagan |
5-10 |
160 |
INF |
Cypress, Texas/Cy-Fair HS |
| Brooks Gerig |
6-3 |
190 |
RHP |
Lone Tree, Colo./Regis Jesuit HS |
| Preston Hodges |
6-0 |
180 |
INF |
Cleveland, Tenn./Walker Valley HS |
| Alex Honeyman |
6-0 |
215 |
LHP |
San Antonio, Texas/Winston Churchill HS |
| Tyler Hummel |
6-1 |
190 |
INF |
Nolensville, Tenn./Nolensville HS |
| Garret Nielsen |
6-3 |
220 |
OF |
Carlsbad, Calif./Cal Berkeley |
| Trent Nielsen |
6-4 |
225 |
OF |
Carlsbad, Calif./San Jose State |
| Tyler Pina |
6-0 |
185 |
C |
Morgan Hill, Calif./Ann Sobrato HS |
| Joe Reitz |
5-7 |
155 |
UTL |
Hood River, Ore./Hood River Valley HS |
| Ryan Semin |
6-0 |
185 |
RHP |
Lincoln, Neb./Southwest HS |
Dillon Alcouffe – UTIL – 6-3 – 185
Erie, Colo. – Erie HS
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Varsity letter winner as a baseball player at Erie High School in Erie, Colo., playing both in the outfield and as a right-handed pitcher … High school statistics include a .373 average with 19 RBI on six doubles, one triple and 12 walks … Named Honorable Mention All-Conference … Academically earned dean's list status all semesters of high school … Also crowned Academic All-State … Plans to major in mechanical engineering at Mines.
COACH'S COMMENT: "Dillon is a young, raw talent that we are looking forward to developing."
Evan Bilter – UTIL – 6-1 – 190
Pleasanton, Calif. – Foothill HS
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Two-sport athlete at Foothill High School in Pleasanton, Calif., competing as part of the baseball and football teams earning three varsity letters … Served as a right-handed pitcher, outfielder and first baseman for the baseball team while playing defensive end and linebacker on the football team … As a junior, hit .358 with a .570 on-base percentage while racking up 12 RBI on 19 hits and 21 walks … Also recorded 15 strikeouts on the mound and held opposing hitters to .130 at the plate … Named All-League as a utility player thanks to his efforts his junior season … Helped guide his team to a league championship for the first time since 1988 … Served as a senior captain on the baseball team … Played four years of club ball for NorCal Baseball … Academically received the Freshman Scholar Athlete Award thanks to an unblemished GPA … Was a member of the National Honor Society and served as president of the Veterans Appreciate Club … Plans to major in civil engineering at Mines.
COACH'S COMMENT: "We're very excited to add this right-handed pitcher from Northern California to our staff. Evan has developed himself into a quality pitcher and might have a chance to hit as well."
Andrew Brady – UTIL – 5-10 – 170
Lakewood, Colo. – Mullen HS
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Three-sport athlete at Mullen High School in Denver, Colo., competing as part of the baseball, basketball and golf teams … Accumulated three varsity letters through his junior season … Appeared as a middle infielder, third baseman and outfielder on the baseball team … As a junior hit .466 with 27 hits including nine doubles to produce 19 RBI … Named First-Team All-Conference … Played club baller for Slammers and hit .472 during the summer of 2021 … Academically earned honor roll status all four years … Won the Torch Award as a junior … Plans to major in engineering at Mines.
COACH'S COMMENT: "Andrew is an athletic player who can really swing the bat. His versatility will add valuable depth to our roster."
Alex Dunagan – INF – 5-10 – 160
Cypress, Texas – Cy-Fair HS
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Two-sport athlete at Cy-Fair High School in Texas, playing football and baseball … Focused mainly on the infield for the baseball team and lined up at safety, corner, wide receiver and kicker on the football team … Earned a total of five varsity letters … Named 2021 First-Team All-District as he helped his team win the district 17-6A title … Hit .480 in district action … Played club ball for Marucci Elite Texas … Named a 2021 Perfect Game Preseason Honorable Mention All-American in 2021 and 2020 … Also named an Under Armour Preseason All-American in 2020 and a Southwest All-Region player … Named Academic All-District three teams … Selected for Texas Boys State … Claimed Distinguished Honor Roll distinction … Member of the National Honor Society … Attended the National Student Leadership Conference … Looking at a major featuring business engineering at management science at Mines.
COACH'S COMMENT: "Alex is a very athletic and versatile player. He's quick-twitch and a true competitor. We're excited to see him develop.
Brooks Gerig – RHP – 6-3 – 190
Lone Tree, Colo. – Regis Jesuit HS
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Earned five varsity letters playing baseball and football at Regis Jesuit High School in Colorado … Started as a right-handed pitcher for the baseball team and line up at safety in football … Helped guide his team to the 2022 5A Colorado State Championships … Played club ball for Salmmers Holzemer … In his senior season, according to MaxPreps, posted a 2.05 ERA with seven wins and 44 strikeouts over the course of 44.1 innings … Plans to major in petroleum engineering or mechanical engineering at Mines.
COACH'S COMMENT: "Brooks is a polished right-handed pitcher that we are very excited to have on board. We expect Brooks to compete for innings immediately, and eventually be an ace on our staff."
Preston Hodges – INF – 6-0 – 180
Cleveland, Tenn. – Walker Valley HS
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Earned four varsity letters playing baseball at Walker Valley High School in Tennessee … Mostly played in the middle infield and also took the mound as a right-handed pitcher … Served as a team captain for his sophomore, junior and senior seasons … As a junior, hit .334 with a 1.020 OPS while fielding .970 … Member of the National Honor Society and the Math Team, ranked third in his class … Plans to major in mechanical engineering at Mines.
COACH'S COMMENT: "Preston is an infielder from Tennessee who should make an immediate impact on our lineup. He has all the makings of an Oredigger.
Alex Honeyman – LHP – 6-0 – 215
San Antonio, Texas – Winston Churchill HS
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Claimed four varsity letters as a left-handed pitcher for Winston Churchill High School in Texas … In his junior season, tossed 61.1 innings on the way to an 8-4 record with 61 strikeouts compared to 33 walks while posting a 2.397 ERA and a 60.4 strikeout percentage … Unanimous selection for First-Team All-District … Played club ball for the South Texas Sliders … Ranked in the top-20 percent of his class and a member of the National Honor Society … Plans to major in mechanical engineering at Mines.
COACH'S COMMENT: "This left-handed pitcher from Texas is going to contribute immediately to our pitching staff. We are very excited to add Alex to our program."
Tyler Hummel – INF – 6-1 – 190
Nolensville, Tenn. – Nolensville HS
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Three-sport athlete at Nolensville High School in Tennessee earning a total of 10 varsity letters competing in baseball golf and basketball … Lined up mostly in the infield for the baseball team … In 2021, he hit .395 with a .479 on-base percentage thanks to 47 hits including 12 doubles and four home runs with 27 RBI and 19 walks … Named 2019 Freshman of the Year … Was a 2021 All-District infielder … Helped team to the state semifinals in 2019 and 2021 … Played club ball for MAD Mavericks 17U … Honored as AP Human Geography Student of the Year in 2019 and AP Calculus AB Student of the Year in 2021 … Put his name on the honor roll in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
COACH'S COMMENT: "Tyler is another versatile infielder from Tennessee who can play anywhere. He has also shown the ability to swing the bat at a high level."
Garret Nielsen – OF – 6-3 – 220
Carlsbad, Calif. – University of California Berkeley (Christian HS)
CAL (2019-22): Began playing for the University of California Berkeley in 2019 and appeared in 21 games with 15 starts … Finished his time as a Golden Bear with five runs on nine hits including four doubles and one home run with eight RBI .. Also walked five times and fielded 1.000 on defense … Also named to the Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll in 2021 … Doubled in three straight games running April 14 at Arizona to April 18-19 at UCLA.
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Three-sport athlete at Christian High School in California, competing in baseball, basketball and football … Lined up in the outfield for the baseball team, at power forward on the court and at tight end and defensive end on the gridiron … Earned a total of eight varsity letters … Career high school line including a .395 average in 86 games with 102 hits, 56 RBI and 66 runs on 15 home runs … named All-San Diego County in 2017 and 2018 … Selected to the 2018 San Diego All-Star team … Pursuing his master's in engineering & technology management at Mines.
COACH'S COMMENT: "Garret is a big, physical hitter who should add some thump to our lineup immediately. We also expect his experience to be invaluable to our club."
Trent Nielsen – OF – 6-4 – 225
Carlsbad, Calif. – San Jose State (Carlsbad HS)
SAN JOSE STATE (2022): Redshirted the season … Earned Dean's Scholar honors.
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Claimed six varsity letters playing baseball, basketball and football at Carlsbad High School in California … Lined up at defensive tackle on the gridiron, power forward on the court and outfield and first base on the diamond … As a senior, hit .353 with five home runs and 28 RBI … Named First-Team All-league for his efforts … Played club ball for the So Cal Giants, San Diego Show and Team Keenan Allen Basketball … Earned honor roll status and All-Academic team in 2021 … Plans to major in business engineering and management science at Mines.
COACH'S COMMENT: "Trent is a physically advanced athlete that should add immediate depth to our outfield as well as our lineup."
Tyler Pina – C – 6-0 – 185
Morgan Hill, Calif. – Ann Sobrato HS
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Four-time varsity letter winner as a baseball player at Ann Sobrato High School in California … Lined up at catcher and in the outfield … Hit .301 with a .358 on-base percentage and notched 17 hits for extra bases including two home runs while fielding .991 … Two-time First-Team All-League BVAL in 2019 and 2021 … Played his club ball for Show California … National Merit Scholarship winner … Earned AP Scholar status with distinction … Plans to major in computer science at Mines.
COACH'S COMMENT: "Tyler is an athletic catcher who hits from the left side. He has shown the ability to compete at a high level. Tyler will develop quickly into a quality backstop in our program."
Joe Reitz – UTL – 5-7 – 155
Hood River, Ore. – Hood River Valley HS
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Two-sport athlete at Hood River Valley High School in Oregon, competing in baseball and football … Played at catcher and on the infield for the baseball team … Earned a total of six varsity letters … Two-time First-Team All-Conference catcher … Hit .450 with 36 hits including 15 doubles, three triples and one home run … Caught 11 runners stealing on the base paths … Played club ball for Bend Bucks … Four-year honor roll member … Voted class president … Member of the National Honor Society … Plans to major in mechanical engineering at Mines.
COACH'S COMMENT: "Joe is a switch-hitting utility player who will bring some toughness and scrappiness to our program. We are looking forward to watching him develop."
Ryan Semin – RHP – 6-0 – 185
Lincoln, Neb. – Southwest HS
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Played baseball and tennis at Lincoln Southwest High School in Nebraska … Earned a varsity letter and pin for baseball … Pitched, played second and in the outfield … In 18.2 innings of action, he struck out 22 batters compared to 11 walks and gave up just 13 hits and five earned runs … Played club ball for Midland National 17U … Named Academic All-State and brought home the student scholar award … Also claimed an academic letter and two academic pins.
COACH'S COMMENT: "Ryan is a power arm from the great state of Nebraska. He has the ability to really develop in our program. We are very excited Ryan chose Mines."
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.
