BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings baseball team is excited to unveil its 2025-26 recruiting class. The Yellowjackets welcome 13 new student-athletes to the program, including six freshmen and seven transfers from across the western U.S. and Canada.
 
Following one of the most successful seasons in program history, head coach Derek Waddoups is reloading the roster with new talent after graduating 17 seniors. In 2025, MSUB reached the NCAA West Region Tournament for just the second time in school history—and earned its first NCAA Tournament win ever.
 
The incoming class is both impressive and diverse, featuring players from across North America: one from Canada, two each from California, Arizona, Washington, Montana, and Oregon, and one each from Colorado and Utah.
 
The seven transfers joining the Yellowjackets include: Owen Combs from Mt. Hood Community College, Keeton Bell from Antelope Valley Community College, Carson Waples from Mt. Hood Community College, Adam Rowland from Southern Maine Community College, Cody Snow from Wenatchee Valley College, Brody Nanini from Yakima Valley Community College, and Cade Gibson from Saint Martin's University.
 
The six-freshman entering the program are: Dominic LeFevre from Firestone, CO, Noah Pringle from Peoria, AZ, Landon Carter from Elk Grove, CA, Brady Randall from Billings, MT, Nick Reed from San Diego, CA, and Blake Sweat from Heber, UT.
 

TRANSFER SIGNEES
 
Owen Combs
Hometown: Portland, OR
High School: Franklin High School
Previous School: Mt. Hood Community College
 
Owen Combs, a right-handed pitcher from Portland, OR joins the Yellowjackets as a junior transfer from Mt. Hood Community College. At Mt. Hood, Combs made 17 total appearances, including four starts in his sophomore season. He threw 51 total innings while sporting a perfect 0.00 earned run average as a freshman and a 3.43 ERA as a sophomore while dishing out 34 total strikeouts. In high school, Combs was a three-sport athlete, competing in baseball, basketball, and football. In baseball, he was a First Team All-PIL League selection, a two-time Second Team All-PIL League selection, earned PIL utility Player of the Year, was a three-time team captain, and was named into Franklin baseball's Hall of Fame.
 
COMBS ON CHOOSING MSUB: "I chose MSUB because I have always enjoyed the outdoors. I really like what their coaches do and how the guys on the team respect the program."
 
 
Keeton Bell
Hometown: Mesa, AZ
High School: Mesquite High School
Previous School: Antelope Valley Community College
 
Keeton Bell, a left-handed outfielder from Mesa, AZ joins the 'Jackets as a junior transfer from Antelope Valley Community College. As a sophomore, Bell played in 40 games for the Marauders, collecting 63 hits, 66 runs, and 43 runs batted in. He held a .373 batting average, a .490 on base percentage, and a .556 slugging percentage with 11 doubles and six home runs. As a freshman, he made 13 appearances, holding a .415 BA, .538 OBP, and a .537 slugging percentage. Bell tallied 17 hits, 15 runs, six RBIs, and three doubles. In high school, Bell was a four-year letterwinner in baseball, a two-time All-Conference selection, and was a First Team All-Region selection as a junior.
 
BELL ON CHOOSING MSUB: "I chose MSUB because of the success of the program and the quality competition that is played throughout the season. The coaching staff is as good as it gets, and I can tell they truly care about their players!"
 
 
Carson Waples
Hometown: Silverton, OR
High School: Silverton High School
Previous School: Mt. Hood Community College
 
Carson Waples, a right-handed pitcher from Silverton, OR joins MSUB as a junior transfer from Mt. Hood Community College. As a sophomore, Waples made 12 starts, throwing 61.1 innings with a 4.70 ERA, a 1.48 WHIP, 28 strikeouts, and collected two wins. As a freshman at Mt. Hood, he had a perfect 4-0 record in his 10 starts, throwing 53 complete innings with a 2.55 ERA, a 1.34 WHIP, 30 strikeouts, and threw one complete game. At Silverton High School, Waples was a two-sport athlete, lettering three times in baseball and twice in football. In baseball, he was a First Team All-League and an Honorable Mention All-State selection as a senior, an Honorable Mention All-League selection as a junior, and highlighting his high school career was throwing a 13-strikeout no-hitter.
 
WAPLES ON CHOOSING MSUB: "I chose MSUB because the academic major options are awesome and it gives me the opportunity to continue playing the game I love at a very high level. I also wanted to join the great culture that MSUB baseball has."
 
 
Adam Rowland
Hometown: Okotoks, Canada
High School: Foothills Composite High School
Previous School: Southern Maine Community College
 
Adam Rowland, a right-handed outfielder from Okotoks, Canada joins the Yellowjackets as a junior transfer from Southern Maine Community College. As a sophomore, Rowland played in 35 games for the Seawolves, holding a .306 BA, .457 OBP, and a .389 SLG. He tallied 33 hits, 25 runs, 20 RBIs, and nine doubles while holding a .986 fielding percentage with 68 putouts. As a freshman, he held a .250 BA and a .387 OBP in 37 games, collecting 25 hits, 22 runs, and 17 RBIs. Rowland was the YSCC Offensive Player of the conference tournament in the postseason of his freshman campaign. In high school, Rowland was a three-time Deans List honoree, was the high school Gold Glove winner in 2022, and was the high school Silver Slugger Award winner in 2023.
 
ROWLAND ON CHOOSING MSUB: "I chose MSUB because of the opportunities to better myself as a student athlete through the strong academic department and the competitive athletic environment. It is an honor to be able to compete at the NCAA level for the Yellowjackets and to have the academic opportunity to set myself up for success after college. I am beyond excited for this next chapter in my academic and athletic career! Go 'Jackets!"
 
 
Cody Snow
Hometown: Mountlake Terrace, WA
High School: Mountlake Terrace High School
Previous School: Wenatchee Valley College
 
Cody Snow, a right-handed pitcher from Mountlake Terrace, WA joins the 'Jackets as a junior transfer from Wenatchee Valley College. As a sophomore, Snow made 11 starts for the Knights, sporting a 7-2 record with 54 complete innings pitched. He held an impressive 2.67 ERA with a 1.31 WHIP while tallying 50 total strikeouts. As a freshman, Snow made 16 appearances while collecting a pair of wins and one save. He held a 2.00 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP while also dishing out 38 strikeouts. In high school, Snow was a four-year baseball letterwinner, made the presidents list three years in a row, and was a two-time team captain. In 2021-22 he had a 1.96 ERA with seven complete games and 59 strikeouts, in 2022-23 he held a 2.00 ERA with 38 strikeouts in his 16 appearances, and he also led the Hawks to a 9-3 record to win the league title.
 
SNOW ON CHOOSING MSUB: "I chose MSUB because of their great culture and winning mentality!"
 
 
Cade Gibson
Hometown: Ellensburg, WA
High School: Ellensburg High School
Previous Schools: Tacoma Community College/Saint Martin's University
 
Cade Gibson, a right-handed utility player from Ellensburg, WA joins MSUB as a junior transfer from Saint Martin's University. After graduating from Ellensburg High School, Gibson attended Tacoma Community College for one year before making another stop at SMU. In his sophomore campaign, Gibson made six appearances and two starts on the mound for the Saints, throwing eight complete innings with a pair of strikeouts. At the plate he played in 35 games while tallying 15 hits, seven runs, six RBIs, and one double.
 
In high school, Gibson was a two-sport athlete, competing in baseball and basketball. He was a three-year starter in both sports, earning First Team All-CWAC honors twice in each respected sport. Gibson was also a team captain, academic honor roll, maintained a 4.0 GPA in his final three season, and was a Washington All-State baseball game selection.
 
GIBSON ON CHOOSING MSUB: "I chose MSUB because of the winning culture and the established baseball program."
 
 
Brody Nanini
Hometown: Havre, MT
High School: Havre High School
Previous School: Yakima Valley Community College


Brody Nanini, a right-handed pitcher from Havre, MT joins the Yellowjackets as a sophomore transfer from Yakima Valley Community College. As a true freshman, Nanini made 11 appearances, throwing 24.2 innings while allowing just 14 walks. Nanini held a 1.78 ERA with a 1.78 WHIP while tallying 19 strikeouts for a 6.93 strikeouts per nine innings pitched average. In high school he was a two-sport athlete, lettering in both sports for all four years. Nanini played tight end and linebacker in football and was a starting pitcher and a shortstop in baseball. He was a four-time All-Conference selection in baseball as well as a two-time All-State selection in his junior and senior seasons.
 

FRESHMAN SIGNEES
 
Dominic LeFevre
Hometown: Firestone, CO
High School: Frederick High School
 
Dominic LeFevre, a right-handed infielder from Firestone, CO joins the Yellowjackets as a true freshman from Frederick High School. LeFevre was a three-year letterwinner for the Golden Eagles baseball team, earning First Team All-Conference recognition, Frederick baseballs Most Valuable Player, and held a .372 batting average, .457 on-base percentage, and a .507 slugging percentage in his career. He also was a seven-time academic letterwinner while also being named First Team Academic All-State.
 
LEFEVRE ON CHOOSING MSUB: "I chose MSUB because the school and campus is an ideal smaller school with benefits of a big city. I loved the city of Billings and the natural areas surrounding as well as well as easy travel to and from. I appreciated the older style campus and enjoyed the setting up of the academic buildings. The education offered at MSUB more than satisfies what I want for myself. I look forward to being a part of the baseball program that is based off servant leadership and always wanting to help one another in every aspect. I look forward to building relationships and communities at the school."
 
 
Noah Pringle
Hometown: Peoria, AZ
High School: Liberty High School
 
Noah Pringle, a left-handed pitcher from Peoria, AZ joins the 'Jackets as a freshman from Liberty High School. Pringle was a two-year baseball letterwinner for the Lions, also earning an academic bar and a varsity bar. Pringle held a .012 batting average against, had a 60% strikeout ratio, threw a five-inning no-hitter, and had a personal best of eight strikeouts in three innings.
 
PRINGLE ON CHOOSING MSUB: "My recruiting process has been filled with adventure and excitement, but nothing compares to the instant connection I had with the baseball staff at MSUB. They also offer my prospected field of study which is highly rated and greatly diversified which gives me the freedom to learn and develop in the best way that I can."
 
 
Landon Carter
Hometown: Elk Grove, CA
High School: Bradshaw Christian High School
 
Landon Carter, a right-handed catcher from Elk Grove, CA joins MSUB as a freshman from Bradshaw Christian High School. Carter was a four-year baseball letterwinner for the Pride while also competing in football. In baseball, he was a two-time All-Sierra Valley selection, was named All-State and All-Section in 2023-24, led the Pride to a Section/Northern California Regional Championship in 2023-24, and was a top honors student with a 3.8 unweighted GPA. In 2023-24, Carter held a .506 batting average, a .593 on base percentage, a .708 slugging percentage, and a 1.301 OPS.
 
CARTER ON CHOOSING MSUB: "I chose MSUB because the coaching staff always treated me extremely well and made me feel welcome. On my visit, the players were super fun to hang out with and treated me like I was already on the team. The field is an amazing facility, and the overall vibe of the school fits my personality well."
 
 
Brady Randall
Hometown: Billings, MT
High School: Billings West High School
 
Brady Randall, a right-handed outfielder from Billings, MT joins the Yellowjackets as a freshman from Billings West High School. Randall was a three-year participant of the Billings Scarlets American Legion program, earning Montana Legion A All-Conference three times and Montana Legion A All-State in 2023. Randall helped lead the Scarlets to a Northwest Region Championship in 2024 and was an honor roll student for all four years in high school.
 
RANDALL ON CHOOSING MSUB: "I chose MSUB because it fit every want that I had for a college. From being a high-level competitive program and an excellent business school, all while having the opportunity to stay close to family. I cannot wait to be a part of MSUB baseball and a contributor to the team and campus."
 
 
Nick Reed
Hometown: San Diego, CA
High School: Rancho Bernardo High School
 
Nick Reed, a right-handed utility player from San Diego, CA joins the Yellowjackets as a freshman from Rancho Bernardo High School. Reed was a two-year varsity baseball letterwinner for the Broncos and was named Pacific Pitcher in 2022, CIF Runner Up in 2024, was an All-Coastal League selection in 2025, and led the Broncos to a State Championship in 2025. In 2025, Reed hit .324 with 25 RBIs and four home runs while also going 2-3 against Cathedral Catholic where he posted seven RBIs and a walk-off home run.
 
 
Blake Sweat
Hometown: Heber, UT
High School: Wasatch High School
 
Blake Sweat, a right-handed pitcher from Heber, UT joins the 'Jackets as a freshman from Wasatch High School. Sweat was a four-year letterwinner in baseball for the Wasps, earning Second Team All-Region recognition as a junior and was named team captain his junior and senior seasons.