NIACC Baseball
Coaching Staff
Travis Hergert
Assistant Coach - 8th Season
Coach Hergert is the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at NIACC. In his first season as pitching coach, Hergert's pitching staff posted the lowest team ERA in the Rima coaching era. That staff also featured two All-Region IX selections, including Pitcher of the Year and Arizona State signee Steve Salas. Salas was also a 22nd round pick by the Anaheim Angels in the 2006 draft.
In 2006, Hergert helped two more pitchers to All-region honors. Luke Kalb earned 2nd-team honors, while Brian Prusinski received honorable mention.
The year of 2007 would feature two pitchers from the NIACC pitching staff to sign with NCAA Division I schools. Tom Heithoff and Jared Koch signed with Evansville University and South Dakota State University, respectively. Closer Zack Welter would receive 2nd-team All-Region as a reliever. Welter racked up a school record 8 saves in '06. Welter went on to be NIACC's all-time saves leader with 16. Heithoff was named Region IX Player of the Year and earned 3rd-team All-American Honors. Heithoff was continue a very successful career at Evansville earning back-to-back 2nd team All-Missouri Valley honors as a Utility player. Heithoff lead the Valley in saves for two consecutive seasons.
In 2011, the NIACC pitching staff posted the lowest ERA as a team since Hergert's arrival. The staff also featured Northern Illinois signee Taylor Nawrocki. he became the sixth NIACC player to sign with the Huskies.
In seven season's as the NIACC pitching coach, seven pitchers have been selected to the All-Region team and eight pitchers have signed with Division I schools.
After his pitching career, Hergert spent the 2004 season as an assistant coach at his alma mater Mount Mercy College. He is also employed as the Director of Housing. He and his wife Kim reside in Mason City. They have a son, Brody born this past fall.
Pete Lauritson
Assistant Coach - 9th Season
Coach Lauritson is the programs hitting coach. Lauritson also serves as the teams outfield coach and assists with recruiting. Lauritson has turned the NIACC baseball program into an offensive power. NIACC has lead the ICCAC in team batting average for four conscutive seasons from 2004-07. In 2011, the Trojans were 2nd in the category. The Trojans have been ranked in the top ten in three of the last four seasons, with the 2005 team finishing 4th in the nation with a .357 average.
Lauritson helped two Trojans, Danny Reed and Tom Heithoff to Region IX Player of the Year honors in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, Lauritson guided Trojan All-American Shortstop Erik Smith to an amazing .469 batting average and 2nd Team All-American honors. In 2011, Northern Illinois signee Jordan Huffman lead the conference in RBI and was honored with 1st-team All-Region honors. Eleven of Lauritson's former NIACC hitters have gone on to play Division I baseball.
In 2008 and 2009, Lauritson served the Field Manager for the Waterloo Bucks in the Northwoods Collegiate Wood Bat League. Lauritson served as the teams bench coach in 2007. This summer, Lauritson will be an assistant coach for the Eau Claire Express in the Northwood League.
Lauritson is also employed in the Security Department for NIACC Housing.
Derek Drage
Assistant Coach - 2nd Season
Coach Drage assists as a pitching coach, with recruiting, as well as the teams academic coordinator. Drage pitched two years at Parkland College and was apart of the 2002 National Championship team. He earned All-American honors in 2002 and 2003. After Parkland, Drage moved on to Missouri State University, he played one year there before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2004.
Drage is also employed in the NIACC Recreation Center.
