Coach Bishop Pre-Season Interview                     Robison and Rue Interview

 
Billings, Mont. – Montana State Billings baseball team is coming off their best season since the 2007 campaign. Head coach Rob Bishop enters his third season at the helm for the Yellowjackets, and he is accompanied by a very talented 2013 cast.
 
MSUB finished third in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in 2012 with a 13-19 record, 22-24 overall. From last year's group MSUB returns 16 letter winners, seven of which are starters, with five earning All-GNAC honors.
 
The Yellowjackets also have 15 newcomers joining the program, who coach Bishop and assistant coach Chris Martin anticipate will have an immediate impact on the team.
 
In the 2013 Pre-season GNAC Coaches' Poll, MSUB was picked to finish fourth, earning 12 points; two points fewer than Northwest Nazarene University who was picked to finish third.
 
While injuries played a major role in the slow start MSUB had in 2012, the team's talent and chemistry allowed them to climb back and finish the season strong. The 2013 senior class of: Justin Harcharik, Devon Hedin, Kole Mickolio, Samuel Paterson, Orrin Pyrah, Colby Robison, Austin Rue, Mack Unruh and Travis Vincent will dawn the responsibility of building off last year's momentum and leading this year's cast to new heights.
 
Including the nine seniors, the Jackets will have a total of 19 upperclassmen.
 
On the mound, MSUB brings back Brady Muller, Paterson and Bobby Ragasa all of which earned GNAC All-Conference honors in 2012. Muller, a sophomore left-handed hurler, earned honorable mention honors for his 5-3 overall record, 4.84 earned run average and 53 strikeouts in 10 total starts.
 
Paterson, also a lefty, brought home second team All-GNAC honors finishing statistically as the fourth best pitcher in the GNAC. He recorded 11 starts while pitching a total of 66.1 innings; finishing with a 4.21 earned run average, 50 strikeouts and one complete game. Paterson also earned the team's Pitcher-of-the-Year Award.
 
Ragasa, an All-GNAC honorable mention selection last season, made a team high 15 appearances in 2012 and pitched a total of 34 innings. He recorded the best record on the team at 4-1 with a 2.91 earned run average. Ragasa struck out 37 batters, recorded four saves and only allowed 29 hits and 12 runs. He also won the team's Fireman of the Year award.
 
At the plate and in the field the Jackets return Blake Loran, Robison and Rue. Loran earned All-GNAC honorable mentions honors, GNAC All-Academic honors and Capitol One NCAA Division II Academic All-District Eight Team honors in 2012. He started 32 games out of the 37 appearances, finishing with a .333 batting average, .425 slugging percentage and a .455 on base percentage. Loran posted 29 hits, 10 runs, five doubles, one home run, 21 runs batted in and 37 total bases last season.
 
Robison, the senior infielder, earned second team All-GNAC honors last season. In his 40 starts he tallied a .302 batting average, .443 slugging percentage and .367 on base percentage. Robison finished with 45 hits, 26 runs, eight doubles, two triples, three home runs, 15 stolen bases and 25 runs batted in. He also earned the team's Yellowjacket Award and Most Valuable Defensive Player Award in 2012.
 
Rue returns to strengthen MSUB's defense. The senior infielder finished with 53 putouts and a .965 fielding percentage last season. Offensively, Rue posted a .228 batting average, .344 slugging percentage and .349 on base percentage; with 29 hits, 25 runs, eight doubles, nine runs batted in, one home run, and 10 stolen bases.
 
The returners will be aided by a great 2013 recruiting class. Several key newcomers that Yellowjacket fans should keep their eye out for are: Kole Mickolio, Steven DeYoung, Drew Fosnes and Bryce Todd. Mickolio, a right-handed pitcher, joins MSUB's program after spending three years with Utah Valley University (Division I - Orem, Utah). He has a 5.2 career earned run average in 71 innings pitched.
 
DeYoung, a junior catcher/outfielder, spent the previous two seasons at Southwestern Oregon Community College (Coos Bay, Ore.) where he recorded a .306 batting avg., 37 hits, seven doubles and 11 Runs batted in. Fosnes joins the Yellowjackets' program after two years at Green River Community College (Auburn, Wash.). The junior catcher/outfielder earned 2012 and 2011 second team all-west region honors in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges.
 
Todd's combination of speed and power brings a well-rounded game to the Jackets. The junior outfielder spent the previous two seasons at Big Bend Community College (Moses Lake, Wash.). In his last season at Big Bend he helped the team to a 24-16 overall record and was third on the team in batting average (.319). Todd also had 46 hits, 10 runs batted in, four stolen bases and scored 22 runs. Defensively, he finished with a .958 fielding percentage with 45 put outs and one assist.
 
The Yellowjackets have a tough 2013 schedule, not playing a home contest until their March 15 matchup against GNAC opponent Northwest Nazarene University. MSUB kicks there season off with a trip to the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn. where they will play six games in three days against Dakota Wesleyan University and Missouri Southern State University.

MSU Billings will play their double-header against Dakota Wesleyan on Friday, Feb. 8 starting at 4:30 p.m. (Central Time). The Tigers posted a 24-32 overall record in 2012.
 
The Jackets will then play back-to-back double-headers against Missouri Southern on Saturday, Feb. 9 and Sunday, Feb. 10. Last season, the Lions went 32-19 overall and 23-17 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.