NWU BASEBALL: Lincoln Native Kolbush Signs Pro Contract With Great Falls of Pioneer League

Derek Kolbush (Courtesy of NWU Athletics)

LINCOLN–(NWU Athletics May 31)–Derek Kolbush of the Nebraska Wesleyan baseball team recently signed a professional baseball contract with the Great Falls Voyagers of the Pioneer League.

Kolbush (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Pius X HS) was a catalyst for the Prairie Wolves’ best season in over a decade. Kolbush led the American Rivers Conference and set a program record with 13 home runs this season. Additionally, Kolbush tallied 56 hits, which is the second-most for a season in program history. For the season, Kolbush had a .378 batting average, which ranked ninth in the A-R-C, with 38 RBIs, 13 doubles, a triple, and a .743 slugging percentage.

As a Prairie Wolf, Kolbush was a three-time All-Conference selection and two-time All-Region selection by D3baseball.com. In addition to this accomplishments, Kolbush is NWU’s career leader in games played, at-bats, hits, and doubles. Kolbush also ranks second all-time in career home runs.

Kolbush is the first player to sign a professional contract under head coach John Rypel. Additionally, Kolbush is the first Prairie Wolf to sign a pro contract since Nebraska Wesleyan joined the American Rivers Conference in 2016.