University of St. Thomas Athletics
Photo by: Kylie Macziewski
Baseball picked second as 2025 Summit League Preseason Coaches’ Poll released
2/12/2025 9:57:00 AM | Baseball
Esch and Richartz named Summit League Players to Watch
Sioux Falls, S.D. -- St. Thomas Baseball was selected to finish second as the 2025 Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll was released Wednesday.
The 2024 Summit League Tournament Champions Oral Roberts were selected to finish first with 22 points and three first-place votes while regular season champion St. Thomas was picked to finish second with 19 points and one first-place vote.
The senior duo of Brigs Richartz and Evan Esch were selected as the St. Thomas Players to Watch.
Richartz, an outfielder from Menomonie, Wis. appeared and started in all in 46 games for the Tommies last season. Richartz was named to the All-Summit League first team in 2024 after leading the Tommies with 63 hits, 13 doubles and finished campaign with a .337 batting average. The senior posted 18 multiple-hit games and eight multiple-RBI games a season ago.
Esch, a left-handed pitcher from Woodbury, Minn. appeared in nine games with eight starts on the mound last season. Esch was named to the All-Summit League second team in 2024. The senior struck out 35 batters in 32.1 innings of work in Summit play, posting a 4-1 record in six starts. Esch owned a 5-2 record overall, tying for third among Summit hurlers in victories
St. Thomas opens the 2025 campaign Feb. 14-17 with a four-game series against New Mexico State in Las Cruces, N.M.
* Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team
2025 Summit League Players and Pitchers to Watch
Jake Schaffner | North Dakota State | So. | IF
Nolan Johnson | North Dakota State | RJr. | LHP
Kai Wagner | Northern Colorado | RSo. | IF
Jake Storey | Northern Colorado | Jr. | RHP
Cardel Dick | Omaha | So. | C
Brayden Curtis | Omaha | Jr. | RHP
Makani Tanaka | Oral Roberts | Jr. | OF
Weston Rouse | Oral Roberts | RFr. | LHP
Brigs Richartz | St. Thomas | Sr. | OF
Evan Esch | St. Thomas | Sr. | LHP
Carter Sintek | South Dakota State | So. | IF
Dylan Driessen | South Dakota State | Jr. | RHP
* Note: Players to Watch selected by league's head coaches
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Baseball, follow along on Twitter @tommiebase and Instagram @tommiebaseball
The 2024 Summit League Tournament Champions Oral Roberts were selected to finish first with 22 points and three first-place votes while regular season champion St. Thomas was picked to finish second with 19 points and one first-place vote.
The senior duo of Brigs Richartz and Evan Esch were selected as the St. Thomas Players to Watch.
Richartz, an outfielder from Menomonie, Wis. appeared and started in all in 46 games for the Tommies last season. Richartz was named to the All-Summit League first team in 2024 after leading the Tommies with 63 hits, 13 doubles and finished campaign with a .337 batting average. The senior posted 18 multiple-hit games and eight multiple-RBI games a season ago.
Esch, a left-handed pitcher from Woodbury, Minn. appeared in nine games with eight starts on the mound last season. Esch was named to the All-Summit League second team in 2024. The senior struck out 35 batters in 32.1 innings of work in Summit play, posting a 4-1 record in six starts. Esch owned a 5-2 record overall, tying for third among Summit hurlers in victories
St. Thomas opens the 2025 campaign Feb. 14-17 with a four-game series against New Mexico State in Las Cruces, N.M.
| 2025 Summit League Baseball Preseason Poll | |||
| Place | Team | Points (1st) | 2024 Record |
| 1. | Oral Roberts | 22 (3) | 27-32-1 (13-15-1) |
| 2. | St. Thomas | 19 (1) | 22-24 (16-10) |
| 3. | Omaha | 18 (1) | 18-32-1 (16-13-1) |
| 4. | North Dakota State | 17 (1) | 20-30-1 (14-12-1) |
| 5. | South Dakota State | 8 | 20-29 (11-17) |
| 6. | Northern Colorado | 6 | 16-38-1 (13-16-1) |
2025 Summit League Players and Pitchers to Watch
Jake Schaffner | North Dakota State | So. | IF
Nolan Johnson | North Dakota State | RJr. | LHP
Kai Wagner | Northern Colorado | RSo. | IF
Jake Storey | Northern Colorado | Jr. | RHP
Cardel Dick | Omaha | So. | C
Brayden Curtis | Omaha | Jr. | RHP
Makani Tanaka | Oral Roberts | Jr. | OF
Weston Rouse | Oral Roberts | RFr. | LHP
Brigs Richartz | St. Thomas | Sr. | OF
Evan Esch | St. Thomas | Sr. | LHP
Carter Sintek | South Dakota State | So. | IF
Dylan Driessen | South Dakota State | Jr. | RHP
* Note: Players to Watch selected by league's head coaches
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Baseball, follow along on Twitter @tommiebase and Instagram @tommiebaseball
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