GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Assistant coaches Brian Devillers and J.C. Field have drafted the squads and laid out their strategies for the University of North Dakota baseball team's annual Blue Moose Classic, which will feature a five-game format this time around. It all begins on Saturday at Kraft Field with first pitch set for 1:30 p.m.
Field's Green team swept Deviller's Black squad in a three-game series last season in what was the former Sioux third baseman's first series loss at the helm of one of the intrasquad units. For Field, it was the first time his squad was triumphant in three cracks at the title.
With 15 freshman on the 28-man roster, both squads are littered with young talent. Each team does have a balance of veteran leadership as the Green and Black squads come equipped with five upperclassmen per side.
Field's Green team boasts the top overall returning hitter in utility player Kris Kwak (Maple Grove, Minn.). Kwak hit .339 a season ago en route to earning All-Great West second team honors as the team's primary second baseman in 2010.
Deviller's Black squad features nine newcomers and will rely on the youth movement as its top hitter, catcher Zack Trygstad (Wayzata, Minn.) is sidelined for the classic. Trygstad hit .277 with a home run and 24 RBI during his first collegiate season in 2010.
Blue Moose Classic Schedule
Saturday, Oct. 1 - 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 2 - 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 5 - TBD
Friday, Oct. 7 - TBD
Saturday, Oct. 8 - TBD
Deviller's Black Team
9 Zac Salfer, RHP (Sleepy Eye, Minn.)
3 Riley Beck, RHP/OF (Munich, N.D.)
2 Pete Gagne, LHP (Bloomington, Minn.)
10 Zack Trygstad, C (Wayzata, Minn.)
23 Brock Johnson, RHP (Detroit Lake, Minn.)
8 Dan Ross, IF (Brooklyn Park, Minn.)
20 Andrew Thome, RHP/1B (St. Cloud, Minn.)
Brett DaGagne, RHP (Sauk Rapids, Minn.)
1 Tyler Ruemmele, RHP/IF (Eden Prairie, Minn.)
28 Alex Twenge, RHP/C (Minnetonka, Minn.)|
12 Sam Alt, OF (Lino Lakes, Minn.)
Tyler Follis, IF (Bemidji, Minn.)
Derek Hovick, RHP (Rochester, Minn.)
15 Gage Salquist, IF (Grand Forks, N.D.)
13 Reid Jungling, OF/LHP (Mandan, N.D.)
Field's Green Team
31 Jeffrey Campbell, 1B/RHP (Clearwater, Fla.)
