BILLINGS, Mont.- With the 2025 season on the horizon, the Montana State University Billings baseball team is eager to showcase their capabilities with a healthy mix of incoming talent, and a powerhouse senior class. MSUB will open their season with a four-game series against the Cal State East Bay Pioneers starting on January 31^st in Hayward, CA.
 
The 'Jackets are looking to improve upon their 2024 season, finishing 4^th in the GNAC and falling just short of another conference tournament appearance. Completing their spring campaign with a 17-33 record, 11-21 in GNAC play, the Yellowjackets look to lean on their veteran senior class with a mixture of incoming talent. Returning 25 total players, a 16 deep senior class, and 10 starters, experience is the key factor in their efforts to earn a playoff berth. MSUB will return the vast majority of their offense from last season, which saw them rank second in team batting average, second in runs scored, second in doubles, first in home runs, and first in slugging percentage within the conference.
 
Heading into his sixth season, head coach Derek Waddoups not only looked to reload the roster but also added Brian Greisman to the coaching staff. Greisman spent the 2023-24 season as the pitching coach at Southwestern Assemblies of God University which is now known as Nelson University. Greisman also was a pitching coach in the Cape Cod League during the summers, sending off 11 of his pitchers to the MLB Draft. Coach Waddoups also added the biggest loss to the Yellowjackets roster from 2024 to his coaching staff, Payton Flynn. In his career, Flynn was a two-time All-West Region selection, a two-time First Team All-GNAC selection, a two-time Academic All-GNAC recipient, and was named a Preseason All-American heading into the 2024 season.
 
"We have a mature group that has really come together, having many of our senior class playing their third and fourth season together at MSUB", said head coach Derek Waddoups. "I am proud of the men they are becoming and how they are a force for good on campus and in the community. Along with being amazing humans, they can really play the game. We expect to compete for a GNAC title this year and believe that we have the talent and ability to advance in the post season. I love coaching this group and love working with our coaching staff. Brian Greisman, Matt Geoffrion, and Payton Flynn have all done a nice job in developing our student athletes, and we are chomping at the bit to get to California to compete. The 2025 should be a special year for Jackets Baseball."
 
Preseason Accolades: Released earlier today, Kaden Kirshenbaum earned NCBWA Preseason All-West Region honors heading into the 2025 season.
 

Best in the West🏆

Congratulations to Kaden Kirshenbaum on being named NCBWA Preseason All-West Region❗️#msubsports | #msubbaseball pic.twitter.com/mKDzwTC2f9

— MSUB Baseball (@MSUBBaseball) January 28, 2025

• Senior Kaden Kirshenbaum keeps adding to his accolades, most recently being named to the Preseason All-West Region team heading into the 2025 season, Kirshenbaum looks to finish out his final season as one of the most recognized Yellowjackets. A season ago, Kirshenbaum was named First Team NCBWA All-West Region, First Team All-GNAC, and was named GNAC Player of the Week twice. In 2023 he was also named NCBWA All-West Region Honorable Mention, GNAC Newcomer of the Year, Second Team All-GNAC, and a GNAC Player of the Week.

 
Experience in the Infield: The Yellowjackets project to return four starters in the infield, including first baseman Jack Nehler, second baseman Bodee Wright, shortstop Zack Blaszak, and third baseman Parker Bleggi.
 

• Junior Jack Nehler was the driving force behind the MSUB offensive production. Nehler earned his way onto the NCBWA and CCA All-West Region Second Team, All-GNAC First Team, and was a GNAC Player of the Week selection in 2024 after ranking second in the conference in batting average (.397), fifth in slugging (.589), third in on base percentage (.438), and sixth in doubles (14). Nehler also ranked 10^th in the conference in fielding percentage (.987), and fourth in putouts (286).
• Senior Bodee Wright was one of the four Yellowjacket Second Team All-GNAC selections after ranking fourth in the GNAC in batting average (.358), fifth in on base percentage (.424), third in triples (4), seventh in doubles (13), eighth in hits (63); and 10^th in runs scored (38). Wright also came in second in the conference in double plays (32), and 7^th in assists (95).
• Senior Zack Blaszak also earned his way onto the All-GNAC Second Team after a breakout season for the shortstop. Blaszak ranked 10^th in the conference in batting average (.330), sixth in on base percentage (.423), eight in triples (2), ninth in home runs (5), ninth in hits (62), and ninth in runs (39). Blaszak also topped the GNAC leaderboard in assists (176) and now sits in fifth place in the MSUB history books for career assists (294).
• Senior Parker Bleggi comes off his hottest season in an MSUB uniform, earning his way into a starting role and an All-GNAC Honorable Mention selection. The Driggs, ID native came alive in the second half of the season, ending his 2024 campaign slashing .290/.407/.364 and locking down the third base position. Bleggi also tallied 15 runs, 10 runs batted in, and eight doubles.

 
"We return the majority of our high-powered offense from last spring", said coach Waddoups. "Nehler leads the way for the offense and will be surrounded by proven contributors Bodee Wright, Zack Blaszak, and Kaden Kirshenbaum. Having Wright, Blaszak, Nehler and fellow senior Parker Bleggi on the infield gives us great maturity moving into the season. We look to continue to build our brand of scoring runs with this group."
 
Returning Starters on the Mound: The 'Jackets return three players that saw multiple starts in 2024, two of which also made starts in 2023, and one who has started multiple games in three straight seasons.
 

• Senior Jackson Betancourt returns for his fourth season and is not only the powerhouse of the Yellowjacket staff but is building a historic career in the MSUB history books. The lefty currently sits tied for eighth all-time in career wins (8), fourth in career starts (35), seventh in innings pitched (175), and fifth in strikeouts (143). Just a season ago, Betancourt ranked second in the GNAC in starts (13), and seventh in strikeouts (53).
• Senior Cy Miller returns with 11 starts and 30 total appearances under his belt as a Yellowjacket. In 2024 Miller ranked second on the team in starts (9), third on the team in innings pitched (39.1), fifth on the team in strikeouts (26), and fourth on the team in wins (2).
• Senior Andy Evans heads into the 2025 season with 14 career starts and 23 career appearances with 13 of them coming from last season. The power righty ranked fourth on the team in appearances, seventh on the team in innings pitched (31), and tallied 22 strikeouts.

 
"Betancourt will lead the staff as a 4-year rotation arm", said coach Waddoups. "He will be an anchor we can lean on as he consistently gives us quality starts, and it will be fun to watch him climb the all-time leader boards for MSUB baseball this spring.  Having Andy Evans as a back-end arm with experience will be a game changer for our pitching staff, and Cy Miller will be in the rotation for us and has the ability to dominate games."
 
From the Bullpen: MSUB returns three players who threw over 15 innings in 2024 with all of them making over nine appearances.
 

• Junior Lance Schaaf made the most appearances amongst the three contributors out of the pen, ranking second on the team with 16 total appearances. The crafty lefty threw a total of 18.1 innings with 12 strikeouts while allowing just nine walks.
• Senior Cole Bertram held the best-earned run average on the team a season ago (4.50) while ranking seventh on the team in appearances (11) and had 20 innings pitched as a junior. Bertram also tallied 19 total strikeouts and led the 'Jackets in batting average against (.260).
• Senior Kevin McClellan heads into his second season at MSUB, making 10 total appearances as a newcomer a season ago. The big righty threw 19.1 total innings with six strikeouts while collecting one win.

 
"Lance Schaff finished the 2024 season really strong and will be a top relief pitcher for us heading into the 2025 season", said coach Waddoups. "As a whole, our bull pen depth is something we look forward to leveraging, and with experienced arms like Kevin McClellan and Cole Bertram we are going to be in a very good spot."
 
Beneath & Beyond the Infield: The Yellowjackets return a pair of catchers and outfielders, two of which were All-Conference selection in 2024.
 

• Senior Nate May earned Second Team All-GNAC recognition after posting a .296 batting average, a .366 slugging percentage, and a .354 on base percentage. Despite just 26 appearances, including 22 starts, May was able to collect 21 total hits, nine runs, seven runs batted in, and three doubles. Behind the dish, May fielded .969 with 114 putouts, nine assists, and just four errors.
• Senior Jarret Elmer earned his salary with his efficiency behind the plate. Falling just outside the appearance minimum, Elmer would have ranked 11^th in the GNAC in fielding percentage (.986) while also tallying 121 putouts and 18 assists while making just two errors. On the offensive side, Elmer held a .368 slugging percentage with four home runs, eight runs batted in, and 13 runs scored in 2024.
• Senior Ryan Jeffrey held down the outfield in the center field position for MSUB, fielding a perfect 1.000 with 116 putouts and three assists. Jeffrey also paid his dues on the offensive side of the ball, holding a .299 batting average, .435 slugging percentage, and a .381 on base percentage. The smooth swinging lefty also collected 28 runs, 26 runs batted in, five doubles, a pair of triples, and four home runs.
• Senior Scott Artzer also contributed to the outfield for the 'Jackets, making 15 appearances including 13 starts last season. On defense, the Richland, WA native tallied 21 putouts with one assist while fielding a perfect 1.000. On the offensive side of the ball, Artzer slashed .220/.244/.304 with one double, five runs, and three RBI's.
• Medical redshirt and Billings native Nate McDonald looks to be an integral impact player heading into the 2025 season. The Billings West Graduate and Scarlets Alumni missed out last season due to injury but is back to full health and is looking to be another power threat to the stacked Yellowjacket order.

 
"We will have a mix of contributors in the outfield with returners Jeffrey and Artzer seeing time", said coach Waddoups. "Coming off an injury, Nate McDonald is expected to be in the middle of the order and will be another offensive threat. This is a deep lineup that we expect to lead the league in runs scored and the majority of offensive categories."
 
Schedule Breakdown: The Yellowjackets 2025 schedule features CCAA and RMAC competition before heading into Great Norwest Athletic Conference play.
 

• 01/31 – 02/02: Four game series against Cal State East Bay in Hayward, CA
• 02/03: Single game against San Francisco State University in San Francisco, CA
• 02/06 – 02/08: Four game series against Colorado State Pueblo in Pueblo, CO
• 02/13 – 02/15: Four game series against Regis University in Denver, CO
• 02/27 – 03/01: Four game series against Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction, CO
• 03/07 – 03/08: GNAC play against Northwest Nazarene in Nampa, ID
• 03/14 – 03/15: GNAC play against Saint Martin's in Billings, MT
• 03/21 – 03/22: GNAC play against Western Oregon in Billings, MT
• 03/28 – 03/29: GNAC play against Central Washington in Ellensburg, WA
• 04/11 – 04/12: GNAC play against Northwest Nazarene in Billings, MT
• 04/18 – 04/19: GNAC play against Saint Martin's in Lacey, WA
• 04/25 – 04/26: GNAC play against Western Oregon in Monmouth, OR
• 05/01 – 05/02: GNAC Play against Central Washington in Billings, MT (Senior Day)

 
"Being a northern school, we look forward to opening the season on the road in California", said coach Waddoups. "We have a good slate of preseason games facing quality programs at CSU East Bay, CSU Pueblo, Regis, and Colorado Mesa University. The preseason will test our team and prepare us to compete in the GNAC when we open at NNU."
 
Impact Transfers: Brennen Chappell, a transfer from the College of Southern Idaho, will jump into a starting role immediately for the club. Chappell held a 2.70 ERA while striking out 30 and walking just nine in 2024. Also joining the 'Jackets from CSI are juniors Malcolm Bartholomew and Andrew White. Bartholomew adds left-handed craftiness to the staff while White has showcased a wipeout slider that can produce a lot of swing and misses. Another addition to the pitching staff is transfer Hayden Mullins, who is expected to see big innings in a closer type of role for the club. Billings native Gunner Thompson showed good command of all his pitches this fall and will look to add depth to the bullpen. From the position player side, the Yellowjackets have brought in a plethora of talent that provides versatility on defense and both power and speed to the offense. Ryker Fortier is a transfer from Bellevue College that has shown the ability to play three infield spots at a high level and has plus speed on the basepaths. Joining the 'Jackets from Wenatchee Valley College is Montana native River Smith, who provides power from the left-hand side and has the ability to slide in at first base or a corner outfield spot. Also looking to add depth to the lineup will be Jason Wright, an experienced catcher from Saddleback College.
 
Coach Waddoups on Impact Transfers: "I am excited to add a trio of pitchers from College of Southern Idaho to our staff. Chappell, Bartholomew, and White all had outstanding fall campaigns for us. Chappell really dominated with a good three pitch mix and has outstanding leadership characteristics. We look forward to him being an impact rotation arm.  Bartholomew can really pitch and will mix speeds. He is versatile and will see time in the rotation and as a top relief arm and White has emerged as a power arm. The three of these guys will eat up a lot of innings for us this spring and will be a key part of our success as a team. Transfer Hayden Mullins is another impact transfer as he followed Coach Brian Griesman here to MSUB. He will pitch in high leverage situations for us and is a true competitor. He brings a good fire to the mound when he competes."
 
Impact Freshman: Sam Coxen is a true freshman that Coach Waddoups sees in a starting role this season, as he highlights a live fastball and will look to provide quality starts. Billings Natives Mason Brosseau and Jaxon Meyer also join the team this year, both looking to provide value in their first year. Brosseau will look to use his plus speed to take away hits in the outfield and provide quality at bats at the plate. Meyer filled up the strike zone this fall and will look to contribute out of the bullpen this season in middle inning situations.  
 
Coach Waddoups on Impact Freshman: "Sam Coxen will open the season in the rotation as a true freshman. We expect him to provide quality starts and to have a positive impact on the team. Mason Brosseau, a local Billings product, is a pure defender in the outfield and will see quality time. His speed provides a nice offensive threat to compliment his defensive abilities. We look forward to seeing how Jaxon Meyer, another local Billings product, rounds out the pitching staff. He is a strike thrower that can gobble up some middle innings. It is always fun heading into a season to see what freshman mature and become contributors."