BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Bellevue University baseball coach Duane Monlux announced today the signing of Sam Fortier (Quebec City, Que./Southwestern Oklahoma State) to a letter of intent to continue his academic and athletic careers at BU beginning in the fall.
Fortier, a 5-9, 170-pound outfielder, from Quebec joins Bellevue from NCAA Division II Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Okla. Fortier began his career at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, helping the Warriors to the 2021 NJCAA Division I World Series.
With Indian Hills, Fortier hit .287 with an .800 OPS, 12 extra-base hits, 45 RBI, and 18 stolen bases. Fortier moved on to SWOSU after the 2021 season and hit .224 with 12 starts across 19 games and four stolen bases.
Coach Monlux on Fortier:
"Sam is an experience baseball player that has had the opportunity to play high level baseball; he helped his 2021 Indian Hills CC team advance to the NJCAA Division I World Series in Grand Junction, Colo. Sam was an everyday lineup guy, patrolling center field for the Warriors. We look forward to seeing him compete for the Bruins this year."
Fortier joins the previously announced Brady Toth (RHP, Boise, Idaho/Columbia Basin College), Jace Wessels (RHP, Clarkston, Wash./Columbia Basin College), Danny Spongberg (OF, Omaha, Neb./Southeast CC), Steven Elsner (1B/OF, San Francisco, Calif./College of Marin), Nick Johnstone (C, Brisbane, Australia/South Suburban College), Jayden Vinson (LHP, Portland, Ore./Mt. Hood CC), Brody Burnette (RHP, Kansas City, Mo./Hesston College), and Bryce Zimmerer (OF, Creighton, Neb./South Dakota State) in the Bruins' 2023 recruiting class.
Bellevue is coming off a 2023 season in which the program reached the Avista NAIA World Series for the 16th time in program history. During the campaign, the Bruins posted a 48-10 overall mark, going 25-3 in conference play while sweeping both the NSAA Regular-Season and Tournament titles. BU parlayed the league's lone automatic bid into the program's 25th NAIA National Tournament Appearance, hosting their fifth Opening Round at Don Roddy Field and defeating Oklahoma City in the Championship Game to reach the Avista NAIA World Series for the third time in four seasons.
