From left, Preston Jensen, Derek Zitzow and Isaac Olson have all signed letters of intent to continue their baseball careers at VCSU. (Submitted photo) 

Valley City State University Head Baseball Coach Casey Olney has announced the signing of 15 new Viking baseball players to Dakota Athletic Conference Letters of Intent. The group includes nine from North Dakota, including three from Valley City, Preston Jensen, Isaac Olson and Derek Zitzow.
“I grew up watching Valley City sports,” said Jensen. “I’m just real excited to play for my hometown.”
Two recruits are from Manitoba, and one each from Arizona, Wyoming, Minnesota and Washington. 
“I believe this year’s class is an excellent group of young men that will allow us to continue to build a strong foundation on and off the field,” said Coach Olney. “I feel very good about the talent that these recruits bring to the team and it’s an excellent mix of local talent and guys from around the nation. We were able to keep three Valley City High School players here, which is important to us and very exciting for our program.”
Ten seniors graduated in 2008 and only two everyday position players return, so this group will have an opportunity to make an impact right away. Combined with the returning players in the program the 2008 team should be the most athletic team in Coach Olney’s time at VCSU.
The 2008 recruiting class is dominated by high school stand-outs, but also includes three junior college transfers.
“We build the program predominantly with freshmen and develop them,” Olney explained. “But if we can find a junior college student-athlete that is a good fit and can fill a need then we pursue that as well.
“I would like to publicly thank my assistant Sam Bjorling and the current and former VCSU players for their efforts in helping to recruit this outstanding group of young men,” Olney said. “Without their exceptional attitude and efforts, recruiting could not be successful.”
Preston Jensen, a local standout in baseball, basketball and football, is a 6-foot lefty. He played high school baseball for Coach Kirk Olson at Valley City High School. During his junior year at VCHS Preston was named Top Pitcher and MVP in 2007, the team’s inaugural season. In 2008 he again was named the VCHS MVP as well as Offensive Player of the Year. He was named First Team All Eastern Dakota Conference and First Team All-State in 2008. Jensen was also named the Senior Athlete of the Year at VCHS in 2008 and finished at the top of his class academically. During his time with the Valley City Post 60 Legion team he was named the Top Pitcher, Top Hitter, Top Defensive Player, and Post #60 Award recipient in 2006; Team MVP in 2007; and Co-MVP and Top Hitter in 2008. Jensen will major in business management at VCSU.
Derek Zitzow, a Valley City native, is 6’1” and will pitch and play infield for the Vikings. He played for Coach Kirk Olson at Valley City High School where he was named the Best Hitter in 2007. Derek played the last three summers on the Valley City Legion team where he was named Best Pitcher and Rookie of the Year in 2006; Best Defensive Player in 2007; and Co-MVP and Best Pitcher in 2008. Derek plans on majoring in mathematics at VCSU.
Isaac Olson, a native of Valley City, is a 6’3” right-handed pitcher. At Valley City High School he played infield as well as pitched for Coach Kirk Olson. He was named Hardest Worker for the Hi-Liners his senior season. Olson also played legion baseball in Valley City for Post 60 in 2007 and 2008. In 2007 he was the winner of the Post #60 Award and is a member of the National Honors Society.
D.J. Allard is a 6’3” first baseman from Minot, N.D. who is planning on majoring in history. He played at Minot Bishop Ryan High School for Coach Bryan Kramer. Allard threw a complete game victory for the Lions in the 2008 Class B State Championship.
Alex Beach hails from Fairmount, N.D. The 6-foot right hander played for Hankinson High School under Coach Reed Johnson and was named to the All-Region team in 2007 along with being named the team’s Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Pitcher. Beach will major in elementary education at VCSU.
Marcus Bergstrom, a 6’4” Thompson, N.D. native, attended Thompson Public High School. Bergstrom has been a three-year letter winner for Coach Ryan Brantl at Thompson High School,which finished sixth in the  2007 North Dakota High School State Tournament. In the summer Bergstrom was a three-year starter for Thompson’s Legion team under Coach John Dolleslager.
Evan Berndt, a 6’1” pitcher and infielder from Wahpeton, N.D., is planning to pursue a degree in fisheries and wildlife. Berndt played for Coach Wade Gilbertson at Wahpeton High School.
Matt Borgford is a 6’2” outfielder from Pinawa, Manitoba and comes to VCSU after playing two seasons for Coach Todd Rima at Northern Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, Iowa. While at NIACC he was named to the NJCAA Region XI Academic Second Team and was awarded the Pathways to Success NIACC Student Leadership Award in 2008. He is currently playing in the Manitoba Junior Baseball League for the Carillon Sultans and batted .406 in the regular season which was good for fifth best overall in the league. Borgford is planning on majoring in business.
Mike Danielson, a 6’ 4” New London, Minn. native, is currently a sophomore at Ridgewater College in Willmar, Minn. He will pitch and play first base, while majoring in fisheries and wildlife at VCSU. Danielson played his high school baseball for Coach Doug Wessling at New-London Spicer High School in New London, Minn., where he was an all-conference pitcher his senior season.
Joey Duttenhefer is a 6-foot left-handed pitcher from Wahpeton, N.D., He pitched for Richland High School under Coach Scott Milbrandt and was named most improved in 2007. During the 2008 season he posted a 1.62 ERA with 98 strikeouts in just 61 innings pitched. In the summers Duttenhefer played for the Galchutt Legion team under Coach Keith Kinneberg and in 2008 was selected to be on the all-section team.
Gilbert Galindo, a 6-foot catcher and first baseman from Peoria, Ariz. will major in business. In 2008 Gilbert was the starting catcher for Sunrise Mountain High School, coached by Eric Gardner. Sunrise Mountain High School finished the season ranked number 24 in the nation according to Baseball America. Galindo earned All-Region honors in both baseball and football in 2008. 
Garrett Jackson, a catcher from Gillette, Wyo., stands 6’2”. In 2008 he hit .341 with five homeruns and 39 RBI’s for the Gillette Roughriders under Coach Nathan Pearleburg. Garrett was a key part to the program’s record-breaking seasons during the past two years. His Gillette team is currently 44-9.
Mark Kerkowich is a 6’1” shortstop from Neepawa, Manitoba. He will play infield for the Vikings and major in physical education. While playing for the Manitoba provincial youth team Kerkowich hit .416 in the Canada Cup. He was also a member of the Altona Bison, who won the Western Canadian Championship, and was named to the Manitoba Team of the Year.
Dan Maurer comes to VCSU from Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, Ore., where he pitched under Coach Greg Hawk. Maurer helped the Roadrunners win their first region championship since 1991. He was also named to the All-Academic Team at LBCC. Maurer attended Henley High School in Klamath Falls, Ore. Maurer will compete for a starting spot in the Viking rotation.
Shane Shoeneberg, a 6’1” pitcher from Jamestown, N.D., has spent the last two seasons playing for Bismarck State College under Coach Len Stanley. As a freshman with the Mystics he was named the Team’s Rookie of the Year. In 2008 he was named to the All-MonDak Conference Team and was named the team’s MVP. In high school he was coached by Andy Fitzgerald and was named Pitcher of the Year in 2005 and 2006. Shane plans to pursue a degree in education.