Thirteenth in a series
Part 12 - Caleb Trost & Riley Kaercher, Men's Golf Freshmen
Part 11 - Hannah Nessan, Track & Field Freshman
Part 10 - Brittanee Fisher, Softball Freshman
Part 9 - Sarah Schroefel, Women's Golf Junior
Part 8 - Lamont Frisby, Men's Track & Field Freshman
Part 7 - Kobe Terashima, Men's Basketball Freshman
Part 6 - Zharon Richmond, Men's Basketball Freshman
Part 5 - Hannah Collins, Women's Basketball Freshman
Part 4 - Izela Alvarez, Volleyball Freshman
Part 3 - Maddi Vigil, Volleyball Freshman
Part 2 - Natalie Cabiad, Women's Soccer Freshman
Part 1 - Kylee Clarke, Volleyball Freshman

BILLINGS, Mont. – As Montana State University Billings squared off against Dixie State University, freshman Wyatt Setian was faced with his first true test of collegiate-level composure. It was the ninth inning, the game was tied, runners were on base, and Setian was put in the game at shortstop.
 
"I was extremely nervous," Setian stated about his debut appearance. "However, this has been something I've done my whole life and so I just let the nerves go naturally."
 
The collegiate rookie's nerves have calmed since his debut two months ago, and persistence has paid off as evidenced by his heroics last week at Northwest Nazarene University. With the game tied at 2-2 and two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Setian drilled an RBI-double to the wall in center field that proved to be the game-winning hit. His ability to shake off a bases-loaded strike out two innings earlier and deliver one of the biggest hits of the series is a testament to the strong start to his freshman season.
 
Setian, a Post Falls, Idaho native, ranked baseball as a top priority in his life. Even though Setian tested the waters of both football and basketball, baseball rose to the top above all else. From a young age, Setian became a year-round baseball athlete as he played summer and fall ball. As the actual season came to an end, Setian would begin his preparations for the next season.
 
With the encouragement from his parents, the biggest supporters in his life, Setian began dreaming of playing collegiate baseball. Though he did have the support and instruction from coaches, he was different from other young players learning the game. He picked it up himself.
 
At the beginning of his high school career, Setian began to seriously consider playing at the college level. In his sophomore season, Setian got into contact with Yellowjacket head coach Aaron Sutton, who at the time was the head coach for Treasure Valley Community College.
 
"Coach Sutton is the best coach I have ever had," Setian stated. "I was going to go play for him when he coached for Treasure Valley, but then he got the head coach job at MSUB. He brought me with him."
 
"Before coming to MSUB, I was coaching at a junior college and we hosted scout teams in the fall," Coach Sutton stated. "Wyatt was one of the only underclassmen on the Idaho Cubs and we were able to connect early in his career. We have always been impressed with him."
 
Upon graduation of high school, Setian considered joining the military, but the encouragement that Setian received from Coach Sutton persuaded him to follow his favorite coach to MSUB. As Setian sat down to sign his letter of intent to play for the Yellowjackets, his dreams were fulfilled and this signing day became the most defining moment of success of his life.
 
Fast forward to today, and Setian is now in a leadership role as shortstop on the MSUB baseball team. With the tendencies of being a quieter person, Setian has faced the challenge of filling the role of one of the most vocal positions on the team. He has also had to face the reality that collegiate players play at a higher level. Period.
 
"The level of play here is extremely different than high school," Setian said of the eye-opening transition to college play. "There is so much competition, even on our own team, and the pace is sped up tremendously. But it is fun. With the pitchers we face and even the speed of runners we see, I have realized that these guys are good. It's a struggle to get up to that level without speeding up too much."
 
Not only has Setian had to step in and make the clutch defensive play, he has also had to step up to the plate and face batting pressure. Setian has hit two home runs thus far in the season which have become marking moments for the freshman. However, the first one came to him as a surprise. He didn't see it coming.
 
In the top of the third inning in the final game of the series against Western Oregon, the wind blew in Setian's face as he smacked the ball towards the left-field foul pole. As Setian sprinted around the bases, the ball hit the pole and went out of the park. His teammates came out for to celebrate and Setian proved that he, too, was a fence buster.
 
"I actually didn't know it went out," Setian stated of his first collegiate home run. "It was at Concordia's field, and no one hits home runs there because it's super deep."
 
Setian hit his second home run to left field in the first game of the series against Northwest Nazarene University on March 23 in the fourth inning. This time, Setian was able to witness the ball sail over the heads of the opposing outfielders.
 
Though his start has been slow in terms of offensive numbers, Setian has found ways to contribute and produce hitting out of the ninth spot in the lineup. Setian currently has a .184 batting average with 87 total at-bats, 13 runs, 16 hits, 12 RBIs, and a pair of home runs. He has also stolen a pair of bases, and has chipped in two sacrifice flies and two sacrifice bunts. Of all the games he's played thus far, the series that the Yellowjackets played against Concordia stood out among the others. During one of the games of the four game series, Setian had his best game defensively with a diving double play.
 
"Wyatt is a very dynamic athlete," Coach Sutton stated of his freshman shortstop. "He is one of the most explosive players I've been around. He has the ability to make those great plays that turn everyone's head. He has a phenomenal work ethic. He is always in the weight room and going the extra mile."
 
MSUB is currently ranked first in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with a 21-7 record in conference play and 22-12 record overall. With a promising crew, the Yellowjackets are a favored prospect to be a top competitor in the GNAC this season. Despite playing on the road for the entire season to this point, the Yellowjackets are the frontrunner to capture their third GNAC regular-season title in the last four seasons.
 
"The season has gone decently well," Setian stated. "I went from not seeing the field too much in preseason to playing in almost every game in conference play." On top of needing to become more of a vocal player and leader on the field, Setian further discussed his goals for improvement as a player. "I mainly want to control my emotions and give it everything I have every day. Currently I am in a little bit of a batting slump, but I know I will get out of it."
 
The slump, however, has not affected his fielding performance as his team's saying 'don't let your bat affect anything else' continually echoes in his ears.
 
The pressures of top performance in baseball have been pressing in themselves, but with a travel schedule like that of MSUB baseball, life begins to get even more hectic for the college athlete, especially in the classroom.
"Time management throughout everything has been my biggest challenge," stated Setian who is pursuing a degree in outdoor adventure leadership. "Balancing classes, practices, and being on the road for half the season has been really tough. Getting homework in advance and doing it on the bus is what life looks like as college athlete."
 
Even though Setian has faced a number of challenges, his team has been one of the best things for him during his transition to college. "I have never played for a team as tight-knit as this one," Setian said of his team. "The veteran guys like Kade Hall and Matt Dillon are definitely players that I look up to."
 
Even though Setian is known primarily for being a college baseball player, there are other things in his life that he finds important.
 
"Music is one of the most important things in my life," Setian revealed about his life outside of baseball. "I play the guitar, drums, piano, and I sing quite a bit. I started performing with my sister when I was little. It was just something we had together. It's a talent that isn't very common so we have really just tried to make the most of it."
 
Setian's music career started as simple jam sessions with his sister. Now, the two of them are casted every year in a semi-professional production in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho called "The Traditions of Christmas."
 
When he is not playing baseball or in semi-professional musical productions, Setian can be heard playing the piano in Rimrock Café for his peers or on the streets of downtown Billings for passers-by who hopefully drop in a few bucks in his guitar case.
 
"I play my guitar every day," Setian said of his unique pastime. "Everyone asks to hear me play so I will play for them in my dorm room."
 
Even though Setian has a promising future as a multi-talented baseball player and musician, joining the military and serving the country is on the agenda for later. In the meantime, Setian can always be found pursuing the things that he love the most: playing a tune for any listener or making the diving play at shortstop.