SID: Karen Madsen (605) 274-4335
Fax: (605) 274-5298
E-mail: madsen@cars.augie.edu
Web Site: www.augie.edu/athletics

May 31, 2002

Augustana Baseball Signees

Sioux Falls, SD - Augustana College head baseball coach Jeff Holm announced today the signing of three standout high school student-athletes to national letters of intent to attend Augustana College and play baseball for the Vikings. The group includes two student-athletes from South Dakota and one from Minnesota.

BRANDON HUNT, Stevens High School, Rapid City, SD
Two-year varsity player for American Legion Post 22...Member of 2001 American Legion State championship team...Two-year letter winner in football and all conference wide receiver...Three-year letter winner in basketball... Parents: Peggy and Phil Hunt.

GARY WALZ, Stevens High School, Rapid City, SD
Four-year player for Legion Post 22 ­ Two-year starter...Batting average of .417 as a junior...2001 State champs...Named South Dakota All-State Outfielder...National Honor Society...Stevens High School Regents Scholar...Graduated Magna Cum Laude...Parents: Gary and Debbie Walz.

Coach Holm: "Brandon and Gary are both extremely talented young men. We are certainly excited that they will be a part of our baseball program. They have come up through an outstanding baseball program in Rapid City and we look for them to continue to learn and improve. Both Gary and Brandon are tremendous young men and they are the type of people that every coach would want in their program. We look for great things out of these young men."

LOUIS OPATZ, St. Cloud Cathedral High School, St. Cloud, MN
Two-year letter winner in baseball...All-Conference...Conference MVP...2001 State baseball champions...2001 All-State tournament team...All-State...Dean’s List... Parents: Mary Cheryl and Charlie Opatz.

Coach Jeff Holm: " We are extremely excited about Louis being a part of Augustana baseball. Louis has done a great job in high school and we look for him to continue improving in college."