MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State University head baseball coach Paul Blanchard has announced that nine student-athletes recently signed letters of intent to continue their academic and baseball careers at SMSU.
 
Joining the SMSU program for the 2021 season include Ansen Dulas (Mayer, Minn.), Max Kalenberg (Waconia, Minn.), Carson Karnes (Waconia, Minn.), Colton Kerkow (Belle Plaine, Minn.), Kolby Kiser (Sebeka, Minn.), Chase McDaniel (Pahrump, Nev.), Hayden Molva (Norwood Young America, Minn.), Mason Rummel (Springfield, Minn.) and Jake Tauer (Tracy, Minn.).
 
Ansen Dulas, 6-1, 185, RHP/1B, Mayer, Minn. (Watertown-Mayer HS) – Current senior at Watertown-Mayer HS … plays for coach Ryan Trucke … four-year letter winner … named honorable mention all-conference as a junior … holds Watertown Legion program single-game record with 17 strikeouts … holds Legion program record for single-season and career strikeouts … four-year letter winner in football … holds school single-season and career records for passing yards … two-time all-district honoree in football … also plays basketball.
 
Max Kalenberg, 6-0, 215, 3B/1B, Waconia, Minn. (Waconia HS) – Current senior at Waconia HS … plays for coach Mark Grundhoffer … three-year letter winner and starter … all-conference honorable mention honoree … batted .333 with 22 RBIs as a junior … three-year starter in football … team captain in football … all-conference honorable mention honoree in football … four-year honor roll student.
 
Carson Karnes, 6-0, 195, LHP, Waconia, Minn. (Waconia HS) – Current senior at Waconia HS … plays for coach Mark Grundhoffer … three-year letter winner … honor roll student.
 
Colton Kerkow, 6-2, 180, RHP, Belle Plaine, Minn. (Belle Plaine HS) – Current senior at Belle Plaine HS … plays for coach Pat Schultz … three-year letter winner … recorded a 2.33 ERA as junior before missing much of season with an injury … member of 2018 section runner-up squad … three-year letter winner in football … all-district … letter winner in wrestling … earned all-conference honorable mention.
 
Kolby Kiser, 6-5, 210, RHP, Sebeka, Minn. (Sebeka HS) – Current senior at Sebeka HS … plays for coach Jeff Lake … recorded 96 strikeouts and a 0.82 ERA in 53 innings as a junior … helped lead Sebeka to Class A state tournament in 2019 … recorded 10 strikeouts in state quarterfinal game … two-time all-conference … all-conference in both football and basketball … team captain in football, basketball and baseball.
 
Chase McDaniel, 5-11, 175, INF, Pahrump, Nev. (Pahrump Valley HS) – Current senior at Pahrump Valley HS … plays for coach Brian Hayes … led team in hits (55) and batting average (.487) as a junior and was named team offensive player of the year … also added 13 doubles and scored 46 runs … named Class 3A second team all-state … All-Southeast Region first team … named first-team all-league … helped lead team to 26 victories and a third place finish at Class 3A state tournament … career .402 average entering senior season in 97 games … four-year letter winner.
 
Hayden Molva, 6-5, 235, RHP, Norwood Young America, Minn. (Norwood Young America HS) – Current senior at Norwood Young America Central HS … plays for coach Jon Wroge … two-time all-conference honoree … has a career record of 10-3 entering senior season … has recorded 99 strikeouts in 73 innings and a 3.06 ERA … also all-conference in baseball.
 
Mason Rummel, 5-11, 195, C, Springfield, Minn. (Springfield HS) – Current senior at Springfield HS … plays for coach Brandon Wilhelmi … batted .473 with 35 hits and 29 RBIs as a junior to help team to section championship game … named team's most valuable defensive player … named all-conference and all-area … three-year starter … academic all-conference … also standout in both football and wrestling … two-time first team all-district in football … helped team to state tournament appearance as a senior … three-year letter winner in wrestling … placed fourth in section as a junior in wrestling.
 
Jake Tauer, 5-11, 150, OF/P, Tracy, Minn. (Tracy-Milroy HS) – Current senior at Tracy-Milroy-Balaton HS … plays for coach Bill Tauer … four-year letter winner … named all-conference as a junior … voted Mr. Team award by teammates … team captain as a senior … batted .333 with 13 stolen bases as a junior … also pitched 20 innings and recorded 25 strikeouts with a 2.10 ERA … all-district honoree in football and also team captain … all-conference selection in basketball … academic all-district honoree.
 
Southwest Minnesota State, a member of NCAA Division II, competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. SMSU opens the 2020 season with a three-game series at Missouri Southern State on Feb. 22-23.