Jacket Baseball Adds Three Montanans (8/8/05)

BILLINGS, MT – Montana State-Billings head baseball coach Chris Brown announced Monday that three players from Montana have signed letters of intent to play for the Yellowjackets this year.  High school players Jake Thares and Kyle Ailes will join the club this fall, as will transfer Bobby Henderson.

Thares is a 2005 graduate of C.M. Russell High School in Great Falls.  He lettered two times in football for the Rustlers and played baseball for the Great Falls Stallions.  The 5-foot-10, 210-pound catcher was the Stallions’ MVP last year as a junior.  He earned second team all-state football honors twice, including in 2004 when the Rustlers were state champions.

“We are excited to have Jake decide to join the Yellowjacket Baseball program,” said Brown.  “He is a big, strong kid that has all the physical tools to be successful at the collegiate level.  Jake has had success at the Legion level, and if he fulfills his potential, he should be a fun guy to watch.  He plays the game hard and with intensity, and that attitude carries over to the classroom.”

Ailes is a 2005 graduate of Bozeman High School.  The 5-11, 185-pound infielder played for the Bozeman Bucks.  During the regular season for the Bucks Ailes hit .358 with 36 RBI and 31 runs.  He helped the Bucks to a third place finish at state last year as a junior.  Bozeman lost out of this year’s tournament to the Billings Scarlets.

“We’re excited that Kyle chose MSU Billings,” said Brown.  “He can play either corner and has the potential to be a solid everyday player.  Kyle is a hard worker with the right attitude, which has allowed him to succeed in athletics and academics.  We look forward to having him be a part of our program for years to come.”

Henderson is transferring to MSU Billings from Jamestown College where he spent one year with the Jimmies.  A 2004 graduate of Frenchtown High School, Henderson is a 6-2, 245-pound pitcher/catcher who played Legion for the Missoula Mavericks.  In 2004 he led the Mavs with a 1.89 earned run average.

“Bobby is a welcome addition to our program,” said Brown.  “He is a big, strong kid that has a good work ethic.  He was a wrestler in high school, so that mentality and work ethic carries over to the baseball field and classroom.  He is also athletic and can play multiple positions, which fits with our philosophy.”