WILLISTON, N.D. — The Williston State College baseball team returned home from a productive road trip to Arizona, wrapping up their early-season schedule with a 15-7 overall record. The Tetons posted a 13-5 mark in Tucson, with their only setbacks coming against Arizona Western, Madison College, Riverland, and California Miramar. Now, with non-conference play in the rearview mirror, Williston State shifts focus to Mon-Dak action, carrying momentum and confidence thanks to their elite pitching staff.

"Our trip went well overall," said Head Coach Mason Przybilla. "We've done a nice job on the mound so far. Our defense has been able to keep us in games, and our pitching staff has closed the door when we've had late leads."

Indeed, it's been the Tetons' arms that have set the tone, with several standout performances in Arizona. Leading the charge was sophomore right-hander Matt Thompson, who made three starts and was nearly untouchable. Thompson went 2-0, tossing 17 innings and racking up 35 strikeouts while allowing just three earned runs — a dominant stretch that solidified his role as a staff ace.

Joining him in the spotlight was fellow sophomore Jacob Young, who has embraced a high-leverage role out of the bullpen. Young has logged 10 innings of relief work, posting a stingy 0.90 ERA and punching out 17 batters, consistently shutting down opponents in tight situations.

While pitching has been the anchor, the Tetons have seen solid contributions at the plate as well, particularly from veteran third baseman Logan Dreher. The returning slugger has picked up right where he left off in 2024, batting .397 with 27 hits, 7 doubles, and 24 RBIs while playing gold-glove caliber defense at third.

A new face making waves for the Tetons is shortstop Brady Henke, a mid-year transfer from Dodge City Community College. Henke has provided both defensive stability and offensive spark, fielding at an impressive .930 clip with 45 assists and 21 putouts. At the plate, he's batting .328 with 13 RBIs and 12 stolen bases, adding speed and energy to the lineup.

Despite their success, Przybilla knows there's work to be done.

"We need to find a more consistent approach at the plate," he said. "We've struggled with runners in scoring position on a consistent basis. This will need to change as we get into Mon-Dak play next week."

With conference games looming, the Tetons aim to sharpen their offense while continuing to rely on their pitching and stout defense.