By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Minnesota

January 15th is the Official Signing Day for prospective student/athlete's to sign their National Letter of Intents (N.L.I.'s) to the 2-year college of their choice. N.L.I.'s officially bind a student/athlete to that junior college for one calendar year (Fall 2015-Spring 2016). Unlike the NCAA signing periods which provide a window of days for athletes to sign; once the NJCAA signing period begins- it is open and athletes are allowed to sign the remainder of the year.

Junior college has become an attractive option for baseball players in Minnesota; with only one Division 1 university in the state- University of Minnesota- supporting a baseball program. There are currently 127 players in Minnesota that have committed to college baseball programs; 31 of those have verbally committed to attending junior college.

Junior college's have reaped the benefits over the last 5-8 years with many attractive prospects ultimately deciding to attend junior college and re-visit their options after two years in pursuit of a Division 1 or possibly a professional opportunity in the future.

Junior colleges are classified in three categories: Division 1, Division 2, and Division 3. The state of Minnesota has one DIII team currently ranked in the Preseason Top 10 Coaches Poll; Century CC at No. 4.

Below is the full list of current in-state verbal commitments to junior colleges listed by commitments to each school:

		CENTURY CC
PBR STATE RANK	STATE	PLAYER	POS.	HIGH SCHOOL
67	MN	Ryan Hennen	LHP	Rocori
73	MN	Tyler Fredlund	OF	Mounds View
87	MN	Griffin Schneider	OF	Wayzata
NR	MN	Matt Theis	C	Shakopee
NR	MN	Joseph Wehr	RHP	St. Anthony Village
NR	MN	Andrew Webster	IF	St. Anthony Village
NR	MN	Trevor Epps	OF	Eden Prairie
NR	MN	Jesus Arteaga	RHP	Minnetonka
NR	MN	Ryan Lust	1B	Blaine
NR	MN	Mike Schiller	C	Burnsville
55	IA	Drew Prange	SS	Ankeny Centennial
60	IA	Jack Voigt	LHP	Ankeny
78	IA	Cory Koster	LHP	Ankeny Centennial
NR	FL	Freddy Gonzalez	1B	Trinity Christian Academy
NR	OR	Robbie Oakman	RHP	Tualitin

		DES MOINES AREA
PBR STATE RANK	STATE	PLAYER	POS.	HIGH SCHOOL
66	MN	Luke Wade	RHP	Minnetonka
		ELLSWORTH
PBR STATE RANK	STATE	PLAYER	POS.	HIGH SCHOOL
88	MN	Sebastian Holte-Mancera	C	Woodbury
106	MN	Nolan Friedrichs	1B	Edina
NR	MN	Logan Becker	3B	Shakopee
		INDIAN HILLS
PBR STATE RANK	STATE	PLAYER	POS.	HIGH SCHOOL
121	MN	Jack Tully	RHP	Minnetonka
		IOWA CENTRAL
PBR STATE RANK	STATE	PLAYER	POS.	HIGH SCHOOL
45	MN	Dylan Gasner	C	Austin
71	MN	Willem Aldrich	3B/RHP	Duluth East
NR	MN	Alex Ciola	3B	Austin
NR	MN	Jacob Wallraff	IF	Chisago Lakes
NR	MN	Daniel Phyle	OF	Rosemount
NR	MN	Jaret Stellmaker	RHP	Rochester Mayo
NR	MN	Chad Hinkle	OF	Rosemount
		IOWA LAKES
PBR STATE RANK	STATE	PLAYER	POS.	HIGH SCHOOL
65	MN	Nick Lovdahl	OF/RHP	Mounds View
111	MN	Bo Lovdahl	RHP/SS	Mounds View
		IOWA WESTERN
PBR STATE RANK	STATE	PLAYER	POS.	HIGH SCHOOL
12	MN	Tyler Reichenborn	OF	Blaine
		NORTH IOWA AREA
PBR STATE RANK	STATE	PLAYER	POS.	HIGH SCHOOL
15	MN	Fox Leum	OF	Minnetonka
18	MN	Tom Skoro	LHP	Wayzata
25	MN	Ezequias Encarnacion	SS	St. Paul Prep
40	MN	Joey Werner	OF	Hastings
61	MN	Billy Riach	RHP	Lakeville North