Yellowjackets Sign Four More for 2009-2010

BILLINGS, Mont. – Montana State Billings head baseball coach, Chris Brown, announced the signing of four more players for the 2009-2010 season.  David Bledsoe, Jonathon Crews, Shawn Griffith and Connor Schultz all inked with the Yellowjackets.

“As a whole, we are very happy with this first group of recruits and know that they will all play an integral part in our program,” Brown said.  “They are all strong students that also excel on the field.  We look forward to having them join our program and making positive contributions on and off the field.”

Bledsoe, a native of Ridgway, Colo., prepped at Sheridan High School in Sheridan, Wyo.  He was captain of the baseball team his junior and senior years playing pitcher and shortstop.  He had a .315 batting average to go along with a 92 percent fielding percentage and a 4-2 record on the mound.  He lettered in three sports, including football (3 years), basketball (2) and all four in baseball. 

He helped lead his team to a second place finish in state his freshman year and as a junior Sheridan tied for the conference title. Academically, Bledsoe was on the A-B honor roll throughout high school and was a Special Education mentor, as well as earning the Distinguished Scholastic Achievement Award which goes to athletes with a 3.0 GPA or better.

“David is a scrappy player that finds a way to get it done,” Brown said.  “Nothing about him makes you say “Wow”, but at the end of the day, he’s made all the routine plays along with a few highlight plays and he finds a way to get on base.  He is smooth defensively, runs well, and puts the ball in play with a little pop.  He is a good student that works hard in the classroom and on the field.”

Crews, a native of Cedaredge, Colo., played his past two years at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo.  There, he helped lead his team to the Region IX championship and came within two games of the Junior College World Series.  Crews hit .351 in 41 games with three doubles, two triples and 16 RBI.

Prior to Northeastern Junior College, Crews prepped at Cedaredge High School where he was an all-conference selection in 2006 and 2007 and catcher and shortstop, respectively.  He lettered all four years in baseball and football and two years in basketball.

“Jonathon is a hard-nosed kid that is athletic and has the ability to play multiple positions,” Brown added.  “He was part of a very successful program at NJC and was an integral part of that success.  He plays the game the right way and is a driven individual.  He is also a strong student in the classroom and fits our philosophy of what a student-athlete should be.  We look forward to having him in the program for the next three years and know he will be an exciting guy to watch.”

Griffith, a native of Missoula, Mont., attended Sentinel High School where he was Academic all-state in track and football.  He lettered four years in football and one in track and played American Legion baseball for the Missoula Mavericks where he tallied a 5-2 record with a 3.13 ERA in 2008.  Griffith helped lead the Mavericks to a first place finish in the division in 2007 and a second place finish in 2008.

“Shawn is an intriguing prospect in that he has the physical tools to succeed at this level and is just starting to grow into his body,” said Brown.  “He is still pretty raw and has some room to grow as a player.   He has been a part of a winning legion program and knows what it takes to succeed on the field and in the classroom.  He is also a Chancellor’s Scholarship award winner, which exemplifies what kind of a student he is.” 

Schultz hails from Belgrade, Mont., where he hit .307 with 31 RBI and one home run for Bozeman in 2008.  He also had a .977 fielding percentage and went 14 of 15 in stolen bases.  He was the Defensive Most Valuable Player in 2008 and was named a team captain for 2009. 

Academically, Schultz was an Academic all-state golfer in 2006 and 2007 and had a 3.95 GPA ranking him fifth out of 196 in his class.  He also earned the MSUB Chancellor’s Scholarship and the Gallatin Valley Lions Club (Scott McDonald Scholarship). 

“Connor is a very athletic kid that also excels in the classroom,” Brown said.  “He is a big, strong kid that has a great work ethic and is a proven leader.  Connor has a world of potential and we look forward to him fulfilling that potential here at MSUB.  Connor is also a Chancellor’s Scholarship award winner and is obviously a strong student.”

In addition to these four signees, Brown also signed Bozeman product, Dustin Noraker, last spring.  He prepped at Cherokee Trail High School in Aurora, Colo.