University of St. Thomas Athletics
Busy summer for nine players from Tommie Baseball
7/29/2021 11:00:00 AM | Baseball
When classes resume in just six weeks, fall baseball action returns to Koch Diamond at the University of St. Thomas. Coach Chris Olean's Tommies will become just the second Division-I baseball program in the state of Minnesota.
The Purple are riding the momentum of a 37-10 record and an NCAA runner-up finish in 2021, their final Division III season.
And nine of their returning and newcomer players for the 2022 season are getting valuable summer experience in three different collegiate summer leagues: the Northwoods League; Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League; and the Old North State League.
With the fall fast approaching, here's an update on the progress these nine Tommies are making, with their 2022 year of eligibility listed:
Jack Blesch, RHP, Rising Soph/Willmar Stingers (NWL)
Blesch made 11 appearances in his freshman campaign for the Tommies in 2021. Over 37.2 innings pitched he recorded 28 strikeouts while holding a 4.54 ERA. He's been impressive for the Stingers this summer in four outings to date, with a 2.87 ERA while striking out 17 batters over 15.2 innings of work.
Leo Bustos, RHP, Redshirt Freshman/Saugerties Stallions (PGCBL)
A 2020 graduate of Mahtomedi High, Bustos spent the last year at Iowa Western Community College. The physical righthander (6-4, 220) has been hitting the high 80 mph with his fastball. He's made two appearances for Saugerties thus far allowing one earned run in three innings while striking out three.
Carl Cano, RHP-IF, Freshman/Green Bay Booyah (NWL)
An incoming freshman this fall, Cano is coming off a stellar season for Bay Port (Wis.) High with spring 2021 success on both sides of the ball. He hit .434 on the season helping Bay Port set a school record with a 26-2 record. He was named Honorable Mention All-State by Wisconsin Baseball Central. Cano has made two summer appearances, throwing 6.0 innings since joining the Booyah on July 22 while working his fastball up to 92 mph.
Duke Coborn, RHP, Rising Redshirt Soph/Willmar Stingers (NWL)
Coborn made eight starts on the mound for Olean's staff in 2021 and finished 5-1 ith a 3.13 ERA and 48 Ks in 55 innings. Through three starts thus far with Willmar, the righthander has been solid, logging 15.0 innings pitched with a 3.00 ERA.
Matthew Enck, SS, Rising Redshirt Soph/Willmar Stingers (NWL)
Enck started all 47 games at shortstop for the Tommies in 2021, helping the Purple to the sixth best fielding percentage in Division III (.975) and contributing many clutch hits and runs. So far at Willmar it's been more of the same. Enck has started all eight games at shortstop.
Kolby Gartner, RHP, Rising Soph/Mankato MoonDogs (NWL)
Gartner was given the ball six times in 2021 at St. Thomas. After not pitching for over a month dating back to April 3, he got the chance to start on May 11. Kolby showed quickly that he belonged in the Tommie rotation down the stretch. The freshman righthander then surrendered only two earned runs in 18.0 postseason innings in three outings. This summer in six mound appearances, Gartner holds a 3-2 record with a 4.86 ERA over 16.2 innings for the MoonDogs.
Jeremy Klick, RHP, Rising Redshirt Soph/Willmar Stingers (NWL)
After a steady season out of the bullpen for the Tommies last spring, Klick recently joined the Stingers roster for his second consecutive summer in the NWL (Rochester Honkers). He's made one appearance thus far, giving up one earned run in a two-inning outing.
Max Moris, C-Utility, Rising Soph/Saugerties Stallions (PGCBL)
Named the 2021 MIAC Rookie of the Year, utilityman Max Moris started in all 47 games for the Tommies during his freshman campaign. In Saugerties, Moris has picked up right where he left off, hitting .280 with a .321 on-base percentage and 10 RBI in eight games played. He has been behind the plate in all eight contests for the Stallions.
Kirby Pieri, C-Utility, Rising Redshirt Freshman/Swepsonville Sweepers (ONSL)
After playing baseball at both the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Dakota County Technical College, the 2019 graduate of Coon Rapids High will transfer to St. Thomas for 2021-2022. Another utilityman, Pieri has spent the summer in the Old North State League in North Carolina, seeing action primarily as a catcher. Through 21 games he has collected 10 hits, a pair of home runs and seven RBI.
The Purple are riding the momentum of a 37-10 record and an NCAA runner-up finish in 2021, their final Division III season.
And nine of their returning and newcomer players for the 2022 season are getting valuable summer experience in three different collegiate summer leagues: the Northwoods League; Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League; and the Old North State League.
With the fall fast approaching, here's an update on the progress these nine Tommies are making, with their 2022 year of eligibility listed:
Jack Blesch, RHP, Rising Soph/Willmar Stingers (NWL)
Blesch made 11 appearances in his freshman campaign for the Tommies in 2021. Over 37.2 innings pitched he recorded 28 strikeouts while holding a 4.54 ERA. He's been impressive for the Stingers this summer in four outings to date, with a 2.87 ERA while striking out 17 batters over 15.2 innings of work.
Leo Bustos, RHP, Redshirt Freshman/Saugerties Stallions (PGCBL)
A 2020 graduate of Mahtomedi High, Bustos spent the last year at Iowa Western Community College. The physical righthander (6-4, 220) has been hitting the high 80 mph with his fastball. He's made two appearances for Saugerties thus far allowing one earned run in three innings while striking out three.
Carl Cano, RHP-IF, Freshman/Green Bay Booyah (NWL)
An incoming freshman this fall, Cano is coming off a stellar season for Bay Port (Wis.) High with spring 2021 success on both sides of the ball. He hit .434 on the season helping Bay Port set a school record with a 26-2 record. He was named Honorable Mention All-State by Wisconsin Baseball Central. Cano has made two summer appearances, throwing 6.0 innings since joining the Booyah on July 22 while working his fastball up to 92 mph.
Duke Coborn, RHP, Rising Redshirt Soph/Willmar Stingers (NWL)
Coborn made eight starts on the mound for Olean's staff in 2021 and finished 5-1 ith a 3.13 ERA and 48 Ks in 55 innings. Through three starts thus far with Willmar, the righthander has been solid, logging 15.0 innings pitched with a 3.00 ERA.
Matthew Enck, SS, Rising Redshirt Soph/Willmar Stingers (NWL)
Enck started all 47 games at shortstop for the Tommies in 2021, helping the Purple to the sixth best fielding percentage in Division III (.975) and contributing many clutch hits and runs. So far at Willmar it's been more of the same. Enck has started all eight games at shortstop.
Kolby Gartner, RHP, Rising Soph/Mankato MoonDogs (NWL)
Gartner was given the ball six times in 2021 at St. Thomas. After not pitching for over a month dating back to April 3, he got the chance to start on May 11. Kolby showed quickly that he belonged in the Tommie rotation down the stretch. The freshman righthander then surrendered only two earned runs in 18.0 postseason innings in three outings. This summer in six mound appearances, Gartner holds a 3-2 record with a 4.86 ERA over 16.2 innings for the MoonDogs.
Jeremy Klick, RHP, Rising Redshirt Soph/Willmar Stingers (NWL)
After a steady season out of the bullpen for the Tommies last spring, Klick recently joined the Stingers roster for his second consecutive summer in the NWL (Rochester Honkers). He's made one appearance thus far, giving up one earned run in a two-inning outing.
Max Moris, C-Utility, Rising Soph/Saugerties Stallions (PGCBL)
Named the 2021 MIAC Rookie of the Year, utilityman Max Moris started in all 47 games for the Tommies during his freshman campaign. In Saugerties, Moris has picked up right where he left off, hitting .280 with a .321 on-base percentage and 10 RBI in eight games played. He has been behind the plate in all eight contests for the Stallions.
Kirby Pieri, C-Utility, Rising Redshirt Freshman/Swepsonville Sweepers (ONSL)
After playing baseball at both the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Dakota County Technical College, the 2019 graduate of Coon Rapids High will transfer to St. Thomas for 2021-2022. Another utilityman, Pieri has spent the summer in the Old North State League in North Carolina, seeing action primarily as a catcher. Through 21 games he has collected 10 hits, a pair of home runs and seven RBI.
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