The Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout Tour rolls into Sioux Falls, South Dakota this Saturday, February 27th to Sanford Fieldhouse, for pre-high school players, aged 12-14 and high-school athletes, aged 14-18.

Traveling far and wide from around South Dakota, North Dakota and even parts of Minnesota, players have been able to attend Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout & College PREP events, helping to prepare them for the next level of their careers. For today’s two players highlighted, that was the path taken by Mitchell Gullikson and Tyler Cropley, both South Dakotans who are making contributions collegiately for their ball clubs.

Mitchell Gullikson

Mitchell Gullikson – Gullikson is a 2014 graduate from Yankton High School in Yankton, SD and was a three year starter and letter winner in baseball during his time at Yankton. During his junior season, Gullikson was voted MVP after a season in which he hit .319.

Gullikson started by attending an Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout in Sioux Falls in February of 2013. After his first event, Gullikson later attended the 2013 Omaha National World Series, where he showed as an athletic, two-way player at both short stop and the outfield. Two months later, he attended a College PREP event in Council Bluffs IA where he continued to show improvements in his baseball abilities, improving his power and overall hitting as well as grading high defensively at SS and OF.

Mitchell is now a member of the Wayne State Wildcats baseball program, a NCAA Division II school in Nebraska, where he’ll begin his second season on the team after redshirting the 2015 season.

Tyler Cropley

Tyler Cropley – Cropley is a 2014 graduate from Bishop Heelan High School in McCook Lake, SD and was a decorated baseball player at the high school level, compiling three All-State selections, and four All-Conference selections.

Cropley participated in the August 2012 Under Armour Baseball Factory College PREP event in Council Bluffs, IA and the catcher showed firm hands, quick feet and a flexible base behind the dish. With the bat, he showed good launch position and a square set-up that allowed for fast bat speed. Good rhythm and a level swing were some of the other remarks scouts made about Cropley that afternoon.

Playing at Western Iowa Community College now, Cropley had a solid season as a utility player for the Reivers, hitting .271 with six doubles, 19 RBI and 21 runs scored in 45 games in 2015.

Both of these athletes are continuing to reach their potential by having attended an Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout. Don’t miss out on your opportunity today! Please visit our tryout schedule for more information on an event coming to a town near you!