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Ten high school standouts have signed national letters of intent or written offers of admission and financial aid from Augustana to compete for the Viking baseball program, head baseball coach Tim Huber announced today.

The 2009-10 additions include: Bennett Johnson, Brian Duxbury, Sam Bauer, Zach Cimburek, Eric Docken, Derek Hansen, Matt Juber, Joran Clute, Benjamin Ludwigson and Samuel Gotham.

"I am very happy with this group of guys. All year we concentrated our recruiting efforts on good kids who have an academic focus; everyone of these guys are outstanding students and will be a great fit at Augustana," Huber said. 

"We filled some holes in the early siging period and now have added some depth to some key spots. I feel there is a lot of ability in this group; some of the guys will come in and help us immediately and others will need some time to develop. We will have a Junior Varisty team next year to allow for additional playing time and development. "

Johnson, a 6’4 pitcher from Minneapolis Southwest High School, was a two-year starter and four-year letterwinner for the Lakers. In his senior season as a captain, Johnson was selected for the MN Lions All Star Team, named All-State HM by St. Paul Pioneer Press and was named 2nd team all-metro by the Star Tribune after helping the Lakers to a 23-3 record as a junior. In the same season, Johnson posted a 1.90 ERA with 62 strike outs in 43 innings of work, to finish with the best record in the state at 8-1. He also earned All-Minneapolis City Conference honors in 2008. As a sophomore, he went 1-0 on the season and highlighted the season with 15 strike outs in a single playoff game.

Duxbury is a 5’11 utility from McCook Central High School in Salem, S.D where he was a four-year starter and letterwinner. He is finishing up his senior season, after batting .369 in 179 at bats in his junior campaign with the Sioux Falls West team. Duxbury also recorded 20 doubles, 4 home runs and 30 RBI, while going 803 with a 3.16 ERA as a pitcher to make the All-Region team. He was also a four-time letterwinner in golf, three-time letterwinner in football and two-time letterwinner in basketball.

Bauer is a 6’3 pitcher/first baseman for Pipestone Area High School, where he is a three-year starter and two-year letterwinner for the Arrows. He is finishing up his senior season after posting a .389 batting average as a junior. In the same season, Bauer also recorded 31 hits and 25 walks to help the Arrows to a sixth place finish at the state tournament. As a sophomore, he batted .345 with 3 home runs for a 16-3 junior varsity squad. In his freshman season, he batted .454 with a home run in junior varsity.

Cimburek a 5’11 outfielder from Rapid City, S.D., is a two-year starter and letterwinner and has yet to finish his senior season of summer baseball. In his junior season, he posted a .382 batting average with 75 RBI and 60 hits in his junior season of summer ball, while setting a Legion Post 320 home run record with 15 to earn All-State honors for a team that finished fourth in state. He batted .276 as a sophomore to help his team make a state tournament appearance. Cimburck is also a four-time letterwinner in football and three-time letterwinner in basketball.

Docken, a 6’1 pitcher from Beresford High School is a four-year starter and letterwinner, while captaining his junior and senior squads. In 2009,  he pitched 25 innings, giving up 33 hits and walked 10 batters while striking out 29 batters. He went 2-3 with a 2.24 ERA.  He was named 2nd team All-State in Class B. In his junior season he batted.330 and also recorded a .516 slugging percentage and a .459 on-base percentage with a pair of home runs in 2008. He is also a four-time letterwinner in football and three-time letterwinner in basketball.

Hansen, a 6’2 third baseman/ right handed pitcher from Fergus Falls, Minn. is a two-year starter and letterwinner for the Otter’s. In 2009, he was selected to the Minnesota Lions All Star Team.  His team finished 2nd in the state tournement this year and he name All-State HM by St. Paul Pioneer Press.
 In his junior season of high school baseball, he batted .292 with 3 home runs, 16 RBI and a .352 on-base percentage. In his junior season of legion baseball, Hansen batted .543 with 6 home runs and 36 RBI. Hansen is also a three-time letterwinner and starter for in football and basketball. 

Juber is a 5’9 middle infielder from Sibley, Iowa, where he has been a four-year starter and letterwinner for the Generals. In his junior season, Juber batted .351 with 27 hits, 25 runs scored, 16 RBI, 11 stolen bases and a .570 on-base percentage. For his play, he earned first team All-Siouxland Conference and second team All-Review. He was also named to the first team All-Siouxland Conference and second team All-Review as a sophomore. Juber is also a four-year letterwinner in cross country and three-year letter winner in basketball.

Clute, a 6'5 pitcher from Hawley, Minn. is a three year starter and letterwinner for Hawley High School. In his senior season, Clute went 5-1 with a 4.00 ERA in 36 innings of work, while striking out 46 batters to earn All-Heart O'Lakes Conference honorable mention honors. He also helped lead his team to a section championship and a fourth place finish at state. As a junior, he went 6-1 with a 1.60 ERA in 44 innings pitched and struck out 40 batters for a 17-3 Nuggets team. For his play, Clute was named All-Conference and All-Section. Clute recorded 2 saves and a 2.39 ERA as a sophomore in 14 2/3 innings on the mound. He was also a two year letter winner for the Nuggets basketball team.


Gotham is a 6’2 infielder / right handed pitcher from Eden Prairie, Minn. where he was a two year starter and letterwinner for Eden Prairie High School. As a senior, he helped the Eagles to a 22-8 record and a Consolation Championship at the state tournament. Gotham also earned All-Conference honors in 2009. As a junior, he helped his team to a 17-10 record. He also lettered for two seasons and started one season for the football team.

All ten players join Brendan Koistinen of Watertown, S.D., Ben Van Kekerix of Sheldon, Iowa, Nate Alfson of Pipestone, Minn., Deryk Marks of Cottage Grove, Minn., and Grant Larson of Eagan, Minn. as part of the 2010 Augie signing class.