SIX ADDED TO JACKRABBIT BASEBALL PROGRAM

Five high school standouts signed National Letters of Intent Wednesday, indicating they will enroll at South Dakota State University next fall and compete for the Jackrabbit baseball team.

"We are excited to add this outstanding group of student-athletes to the Jackrabbit baseball program, head coach Rob Bishop said. "Our coaching staff has worked hard to find guys who are a great fit for our baseball program and South Dakota State University as a whole. Each of these young men has the ability to make an immediate impact in our program and on our campus. The future of Jackrabbit baseball is bright."

The signees are:

Luke Christensen 6-1, 190, outfielder/pitcher, Norwalk, Iowa (West Des Moines Valley High School);
Cohen Henry, 6-2, 185, outfielder, Sioux Falls (Jefferson High School);
Andrew Phillips, 5-10, 190, outfielder, Hartland, Minn. (NRHEG High School);
Bryce Ronken 5-10, 185, infielder, Sioux Falls (Washington High School);
Tyus Smith, 6-5, 185, pitcher, Prior Lake, Minnesota (Prior Lake High School).

Luke Christensen
Christensen has served a dual role for the West Des Moines Valley High School program as an outfielder and pitcher. He went 3-0 on the mound with a 1.51 earned run average to go along with 39 strikeouts in 41.2 innings pitched during his junior season, while posting a .370 on-base percentage at the plate.

Christensen also has played with the Iowa Sticks travel team.

Coach Bishop's Comments: "Luke is a very talented two-way player as a right-handed pitcher and outfielder who swings from the left side. He has a tremendous upside in both areas."

Cohen Henry
Henry earned first-team all-conference recognition for Jefferson High School last spring after posting a .425 batting average and a .701 slugging percentage. He recorded 14 extra-base hits, including two home runs, and drove in 29 runs while hitting in the middle of the lineup.

During the summer months, Henry played for the Sioux Falls Cyclones travel team. He plans to pursue a major in business.

Coach Bishop's Comments: "Cohen is a left-handed-hitting outfielder with good overall athleticism. His advanced approach and power will help him transition quickly to the collegiate level."

Andrew Phillips
Phillips has been a two-time all-conference selection at New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva High School and was the Owatonna People's Press Player of the Year in 2022. He has batted .365 or better each of the past two seasons and combined for 44 hits, 55 runs scored and 44 stolen bases during the 2021 and 2022 campaigns. He spent this past summer playing with the Minnesota Blizzard travel team.

In addition to baseball, Phillips has served as a team captain in football. An honor roll student, he plans to major in precision agriculture.

Coach Bishop's Comments: "Andrew is a left-handed-hitting center fielder with terrific speed and strength. He has shown flashes of power, but his speed and athleticism will help him make an impact for us."

Bryce Ronken
Ronken earned first-team all-state honors for Washington High School last spring and also excelled on the diamond as a member of the Sioux Falls Cyclones travel team during the summer. Primarily a third baseman, Ronken batted .486 during the summer campaign, posting an .874 slugging percentage as 24 of his 54 hits went for extra bases (8 doubles, 13 triples, 3 home runs). He also stole 16 bases.

Coach Bishop's Comments: "Bryce is a left-handed hitter with good overall athleticism and strength. He also has an advanced hitting approach and his defensive skills are ready to make an impact immediately."

Tyus Smith
Smith put together a breakthrough season at Prior Lake High School in the spring of 2022, notching a 0.58 earned run average en route to all-conference accolades. He plans to major in economics at SDSU.

Coach Bishop's Comments: "Tyus is a tall, projectable right-handed pitcher who fills up the strike zone. We are excited about his ability to compete on our pitching staff from the first day he steps on campus."

Mason Lang
Also set to join the Jackrabbit baseball program in the fall of 2023 is catcher Mason Lang, who has been accepted for admission to SDSU. A native of Chaska, Minnesota, Lang was a key member of Chanhassen High School's baseball team that finished third at state in 2022 and also played football.

A member of the National Honor Society and the student council president, Lang intends to major in business economics.

Coach Bishop's Comments: "Mason is a left-handed-hitting catcher with good power to all fields. He is another multi-sport standout who really knows how to compete."

South Dakota State finished 22-23 overall during the 2022 season, including a 13-9 mark in The Summit League.

-GoJacks.com-

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SIX ADDED TO JACKRABBIT BASEBALL PROGRAM

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