April 6, 2026

MADISON, S.D. – Junior pitcher Kellan Johns of Dakota State (S.D.) was selected to the ninth installment of the 2025-26 Erck Hotels/Frontier Conference Baseball Pitcher-of-the-Week, announced by the conference office Monday.

Johns fueled DSU from 5-1 first inning deficit to a 7-6 10-inning thrilling victory over rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in a non-conference game on March 30.  The Trojans came back from North Dakota late Sunday night and played on the next day in Mitchell, S.D. 

Johns came in relief in the bottom first inning with DSU trailing 5-1 and held the Tigers scoreless through the ninth inning to allow DSU to rally back to tie the game at 5-5 after regulation.  He earned the victory after tossing nine innings with 104 pitches in relief, limiting DWU to one run (in the bottom 10^th) on four hits and recording nine strikeouts. 

Johns was the first Trojan pitcher to pitch nine innings in a game this season.

He pitched in game two of the Frontier Conference doubleheader versus Valley City State (N.D.) Monday afternoon, holding to a 3-2 victory in a nine-inning game.  He earned his second win of the season after tossing four innings in relief, allowing one run on four hits and recording three strikeouts.

Johns, a native of Everett, Wash., majors in physical education at Dakota State University.

Dakota State (13-19 overall record, 5-5 Frontier Conference record) closes out their Frontier Conference four-game series with Valley City State with another doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Flynn Field.