MINOT, N.D. – With snow still on the ground it might seem early to think baseball, but for the Minot State's "Boys of Summer" the wait to hit the diamond has been unbearably long.

That wait ends this weekend as the Beaver baseball team hits the plane, flies to Arizona, and begins the 2025 season with 16 games in 16 days in the warmth and sunshine. First-pitch on the new campaign is slated for this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (Arizona time) as Minot State takes on Mount Marty (S.D.) in a non-conference game at the Kino Sports Complex.

"We're excited to be down in some good weather and play a bunch of games," third-year Minot State head coach Sam Boisner said. "The weather looks like it's going be really good, so we're all excited to get out there."

The Beavers get things rolling playing NAIA foes Mount Marty (6-2) on Saturday and again Sunday, and La Sierra (Calif.) (8-4) on Sunday, then take on NCAA Division III programs Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) (2-0) and Bethany Lutheran (Minn.) (1-2) on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"Those five games to start off against non-conference opponents allow us to get a lot of guys a lot of reps and kind of figure out what our lineup is and what our pitching staff is and where it gels," Boisner said. "Hopefully, that'll give us an opportunity to put the best group out there when we played Concordia, St. Paul in that second weekend out there."

That 5-game opening stretch preps Minot State for NSIC action as the Beavers battle Concordia, St. Paul in a pair of neutral-site doubleheaders next Saturday and Sunday, March 8-9. Minot State also will play NSIC doubleheaders against Winona State on March 15 and 16, wrapping up the trip to Arizona.

Minot State's other three games in Arizona will be non-conference clashes with NSIC rivals Winona State on March 11, Southwest Minnesota State on March 12, and Northern State, also on March 12.

While the first week will give Coach Boisner a look at his team and a chance to set the lineup, he already knows plenty about several players who return and look to lead the way this season, starting with two key infielders who are back after missing most of last season because of injuries.

Returning to anchor the defense and spark the offense are redshirt junior first baseman Gunnar Kozlowitz, a preseason All-American in 2024, and redshirt junior shortstop Shane Kary.

"(Gunnar) returning will be a big piece for our offensive lineup, and Shane; I mean, everybody on our team knows how valuable he is at shortstop and how much he brings defensively to our group," Minot State's coach said.

Also back and looking to lead the way are senior centerfielder Brent Riddle, who was second on the team with 41 RBIs and 7 home runs, and third in batting average .347 last season, senior catcher Seungjun Song, who hit .327 with 1 home run and 21 RBIs, senior outfielder Javier Gutierrez, a .286 career hitter with the Beavers who has 17 home runs and 48 RBIs in his two previous seasons, and junior right-handed pitcher and infielder Colton Bagshaw, who hit .276 with 5 homers and 20 RBIs as a position player and pitched in six games with a 3.65 ERA and 11 strikeouts.

Bagshaw will be one key returner on the mound and is joined by sophomore righty Ayden Sauerbrei (9.75 ERA), who had a win in 10 relief appearances with 18 strikeouts last spring, sophomore righty Conner Meldrim (6.86 ERA), who had a save in 19 outings with 28 strikeouts, and senior right-hander Gage Eastlick (7.64 ERA), who had a win in 11 appearance with 37 strikeouts.

That leaves plenty of room for newcomers to make an impact for the Beavers, newcomers like junior catcher and  utility player Oscar Pegg from Lincoln Trail Community College, junior infielder Michael Williamson from Mesa Community College, and senior left-handed pitcher Connor Hill from Point Loma Nazarene.

Pegg hit .327 with 5 homers and 51 RBIs and had a .940 fielding percentage at Lincoln Trail, Williamson hit .295 with 30 RBIs in two seasons at Mesa, and Hill played in 58 games as a position player and pitched in 12 games for the Sea Lions with a win, a save, 14 Ks, and a 6.35 ERA.

Coach Boisner said all three can step in and have an impact, along with plenty of newcomers on the mound.

"We've got a bunch of guys on our pitching staff that come in that have had junior college experience or have had collegiate experience as well, so we're excited for those guys to just add some depth that maybe we haven't had due to injury," Boisner said.

Depth will be one key for the Beavers this season, along with looking to play consistent defense, throwing strikes on the mound, and providing a big pop offensive – which Coach Boisner says might be the biggest asset for Minot State this season.

"I think offensively we've kind of always had the ability to leave the field, and that'll certainly show up," he said. "I do think that as we look at our group, we really emphasize throwing strikes and playing really good defense, and hopefully those things are really what we need to hang our hat on."

Putting it all together, the Beavers will look to exceed the expectations of others who ranked Minot State 12^th in the preseason coaches' poll, a fact providing just a bit more motivation for the Beavers this season.

"We have much higher expectations for the season, but kind of knowing that we've been picked a little low also gives you a little chip on your shoulder, which is a good thing," Boisner said.

While the Beavers will open NSIC play in Arizona next weekend, the bulk of the league race begins March 22-23 with a four game series at Wayne State.

Minot State then makes its home debut at Corbett Field hosting Southwest Minnesota State in doubleheaders on Saturday, March 29, and Sunday, March 30.