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| No. 9 UW-La Crosse made it as far as the Super-Regional round in 2024 and has a team that is built to get them their fourth trip to the D-III World Series. d3photography.com photo by Steve Frommell |
By Jim Dixon
D3sports.com
When ever you look at the best teams in Region 9, the first place to start looking is in the WIAC. This year is not different. UW-Whitewater checks all the boxes for another run at a National Championship. The criteria one looks for a top team can also be found in their rival UW-La Crosse as well. For other national contenders one usually looks to the west in Minnesota but is the state to the south, Iowa who has the next best prospects to make a late season run. Buena Vista and Coe have been the top of the ARC for a few years and are bringing experienced squads back in 2025. St. Olaf has a surprisingly good season and if 2024 was not a fluke, the Oles will be back in the mix. Their closest competition is Bethel who unlike St. Olaf, has been a mainstay at the top of the standings for a while. Looking for a dark horse, keep your eyes on UW-Stevens Point or Luther.
New Faces
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| Trent Whitcomb is tasked with continuing the success that departing head coach Chris Krepline started on the downtown Appleton, Wisc. campus. Lawrence athletics photo |
Trent Whitcomb, Lawrence - Lawrence University lead assistant coach Trent Whitcomb has been elevated to interim head coach, Director of Athletics Jason Imperati announced. Whitcomb has been part of the Lawrence program since 2018 and takes over for Chris Krepline, who is moving to the NCAA Division I program at the University of Cincinnati as director of player development. "I'm honored to take over as head coach at Lawrence University and continue building on the success we've already achieved," Whitcomb said. "My focus is on pushing our team to new heights, both on and off the field, while staying true to the strong foundation that's been set." Whitcomb played a key role in the resurgence of the Lawrence program over the past six years. With Whitcomb as the team's top assistant, the Vikings went 72-46 over the past three seasons and won Midwest Conference championships in 2022 and 2024.
Jeff Christy, Nebraska Wesleyan – Christy is the twelfth head baseball coach in program history. Christy joins NWU from the University of Nebraska, where he served as assistant coach from 2019 to 2023. In this role, he managed all aspects of pitching and catching, assisted with recruiting, and was instrumental in the development of players who achieved notable success, including reaching the MLB. "It is a passion of mine to develop baseball players on and off the field and help these young men grow to be the individuals they aspire to be," Christy says. "We will play hard, work to develop a multidimensional team in all facets of the game and be great teammates. Combine these elements with the great education provided at Nebraska Wesleyan, and I believe we can build a successful program."
Adam Hill, North Central (Minn.) - Hill got promoted to head coach after spending the last two seasons as an assistant for the Rams. Prior to serving as an NCU assistant coach for the past two seasons, Hill spent nine years coaching at Legacy Christian Academy in Andover, Minn. Coach Hill had this to say, "I am really excited to become the head baseball coach at North Central University. Over the last few seasons, we have begun building a culture that I think I can continue to grow and cultivate both on and off the field. It has been a dream/goal of mine to coach full-time at the collegiate level for many years, so I would like to thank Jeremy Becker, Lydia Warner, and Desiree Libengood for the opportunity."
Conference Previews
American Rivers Conference: A repeat winner in the ARC is a rarety in this competitive league. Coe (31-16) will be looking to break this trend and look to be the first team with back-to-back playoff bids in the last eight years. Returning a large core of the players from 2024, the Kohawks might just do it. It is not just the veterans that head coach Steve Cook is counting on but some exciting newcomers who should add value to the roster and help us stay in the mix for the championship in an always competitive league. Look for OF Jake Brosius (.399, 52 R, 15 2B, 10 HR, 60 RBI, 25 SB), a returning All-American and offensive MVP of the ARC, to set the tone for Coe.
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| The 2024 champion Coe Kohawks topped the 2025 ARC preseason coaches' poll followed by 2024 runners-up Buena Vista (2nd), Luther (3rd) and Loras (4th). Coe athletics photo |
One team that is ready to challenge Coe is Buena Vista (29-14), making the playoff slate two years ago. With a core group 11 seniors who played important roles in regular season championships as freshmen and sophomores, the Beavers are ready to play in 2025. It starts on the mound as Buena Vista has pitching depth and their top three starters back. Look for Mark Eddie (3-1, 3 Saves, 4.27 ERA, 46, 53 K), Morgan Smith (4-2, 4.54 ERA, 80K) and Ean McDaniel (7-3, 6.24 ERA, 53K) to keep BVU in most games this season. Jake Eddie (.313 in 14 starts) and Carter Washburn (.500 in four starts) will have the job of replacing Jordan Mathewson, 4-year All-Conference selection, at second base. The Taylor twins, Evan and Drew, will serve as co-captains again this year and have combined for 306 hits, 76 doubles, 16 triples, 22 HR, 224 RBI and 53 SB entering their senior year.
Luther (28-16) last topped the ARC in 2021 and are bringing back the bulk of their starting players (seven position players and three starters). The ceiling is high for a team that broke the school record for home runs as a team and is hungry to raise the bar in 2025. Tops in the home run barrage last year was senior Mark Prince (.294, 10 HR, 48 RBI), one of three players with eight or more dingers on the 2024 season. 1B Josh Matanich (.401, 9 HR, 50 RBI) was even more productive and is Luther's top offensive treat. On the mound there is tons of potential and they are expected to make a big leap this season. The Norse returns two starting pitchers from last year's team, and Nolan Klocke who missed last season and earned All-American honors in 2023. If the starters falter, school saves record holder Blake Jondle (2-3, 7 saves, 3.07 ERA, 41K) sits in the bullpen.
Dubuque, Loras (25-18) and Wartburg (23-19) all finished within a game of each other, making the ARC tournament as the final three seeded teams (a combined 3-5 in the 2024 ARC tournament). From this group, look for Loras to make a move up the standings in 2025. The Duhawks have a lot of talent returning in 2025. With only two seniors last year, the squad was very young and with a season of experience is just going to get better in 2025. A strength will be pitching as the entire pitching staff returns intact with additional depth added with the freshman class. Offensively, keep an eye on OF Max McCallum (.330, 14 2B, 28 RBI, 19 SB) who is a plus defender (2024 Defensive All-Region) and a consistent bat for Loras (three-time All-Conference).
The 2025 lineup for Dubuque (13-18) will consist mostly of freshman and a few proven transfers as they bring back less than half of their 2024 starters. One of these newcomers is Zavion Ingram, an five tool infielder from North Carolina. Always a competitive team, the Spartans is counting on sophomore Feyetteville Technical CC transfer SS Zavion Ingram (.276, 12 2B, 30 rbi, 27 SB) to put Dubuque back into title contention. Wartburg last made the playoff field in 2017 as the last of three straight appearances in the postseason. Zack Walton (.342, 9 HR, 45 RBI) is the Knights best returning player in 2025. Dubuque pitching will consist of talented freshman, a few proven transfers and reliable returners with four contributors on the mound returning.
Central (16-23), Simpson (16-24) and Nebraska Wesleyan (9-28) are the only teams in the ARC that has been shut out of the playoffs since 2007. For Central, they saw their top offensive player graduate, leaving the door open for multiple guys to step in this year. Success will come with players capable of stepping up, playing to their potential. The junior heavy team has two years to stop their playoff drought. For the Prairie Wolves of Nebraska Weslayan the team will be looking for an identity under first year coach Jeff Christy. Simpson should see an improvement from last season as everyone back from a young team last year. The Storm will count on their strength on the mound as their offense finds their footing.
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| St. Olaf's Kevin Steel was 6-1 in 10 starts in 2024. d3photograpy.com photo by Ryan Coleman |
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference: St. Olaf (30-14) reached the 30 win mark for the first time since 2009. The offense returns an experienced group of players but the pitching staff will need some tweaking. Head coach Matt McDonald will use the non-conference season to figure out the pitching rotation. The Oles have a key player to guide their redesigned rotation in junior C Breckin Hadley (.327, 3 HR, 26 RBI). Cole Pleimann (.375, 1 HR, 31 RBI) is their top hitter and as a sophomore in 2025, will be around for three seasons. Kevin Steel (6-1, 4.82 ERA, 40K) will be the ace of the staff for the next two year.
St. John's (24-16) will be the farewell tour for 48-year head coach Jerry Haugen and leaving on top would cap a long distinguished career. A strength of the program will be on the mound. Seniors RP Will Fazio (2-2, 1 save, 3.27 ERA, 35K) and SP Connor Hartley (6-3, 1 save, 3.53 ERA, 52K) should lead the starting ranks and the bullpen. The everyday offense will see many new faces as five of the top starters were seniors in 2024. Reed Marquardt (.324, 1 HR, 16 RBI) is the top returning offensive threat among those who had at least 30 starts last year.
Bethel (25-17) finished tied for second in 2024 and had a run in the MIAC tournament that ended with a tournament title and a NCAA Playoff berth. Head coach Brian Raabe will have to replace the top of the lineup. Gone are all their All-Region performers including the MIAC Pitcher of the Year. Graduate SS Zach Thompson (.420, 13 RBI) and sophomore OF Carson Christiansen (.315, 19 RBI) are the returning All-MIAC performers. The two biggest classes are the senior and freshman class with the seniors leading the freshmen 15-10. The mix of experience and youth will serve the Royals well as they attempt to repeat as MIAC champs.
St. Mary's (Minn.) (21-18) squeaked into the conference tournament and lost twice to St. Olaf, never making the final game of the weekend. They will have a couple holes to fill as they return half of their offensive lineup and starting staff along with most of the pen. Ten new players will be donning a St. Mary's uniform as part of a 50-man roster. Senior OF Riley Bauman (.366, 7 HR, 29 RBI, 11 SB) is the star of today on offense and sophomore Ryan Csida OF (.331. 3 HR, 14 SB), the star of tomorrow. In the stable of pitchers, fifth-year senior Addison Hochevar (5-5, 4.18 ERA, 33K) and junior Eric Stomberg (5-2, 3.86 ERA, 30K) are the top starters avaiable to the Cardinals in 2025.
Gustavus Adolphus (23-16) and Concordia-Moorhead (14-21) missed out on the MIAC tournament. Gustavus was a young team in 2024 with 28 first years and just seven seniors on the roster. On paper, this usually points to a team that will be moving up that standings and for the Gusties, this also means a bid to the 2025 MIAC championship. While it was the senior class that took home most of the end of the season accolades, senior Brady Schmitz (.331, 5 HR, 29 RBI) and sophomore Benny MacDonald (2-0, 3.03 ERA, 30K) should be back for the 2025 season. Concordia-Moorhead had their worse win total in 13 years, yet finished around the .500 mark in conference as they had done nine times of the last 12 years. The best returnee is senior 2B David Dorsey (.333, 4 HR, 35 RBI).
Holding down the cellar were Carleton (12-23), St. Scholastica (20-18), Hamline (15-24), and Augsburg (9-29). St. Scholastica was expected to continue their record of success in the UMAC but that sucess did not translate as they joined the MIAC. The Saints are much improved from 2024 with a large freshman/transfer class. Jake Schelonka (.368, 10 HR, 48 RBI, 18 SB; 1-4, 4.99 ERA, 33K) has the potential to be one of the best players in the country as he returns for a sixth season with CSS. While Schelonka is setting career records due to talent and longevity, senior Kyle Oswald (.402, 3 HR, 27 RBI) will also be starring with a bat and looking to getting St. Scholastica back to the top of the conference standings.
Midwest Conference: Lawrence (31-11) had two of their best season in the last three years but they did this under head coach Chris Kepline who is now coaching in division 1. Many names that have been associated with a winning program are missing off the 2025 roster. One name on the 2025 roster that caught our eye was third baseman Edan Perez (.400, 14 HR, 57 RBI, 10 SB). The second-team 2025 D3baseball.com Preseason All-American is the best from Lawrence's recent success. Also gone is the Viking's best pitcher but Elden Sanata (5-2, 3.36 ERA, 67K) and Nick Katz (5-2, 4.53 ERA, 34K) are back to provide stability to the starting rotation. The good news is that the culture has changed on the downtown Appleton campus and should contend for a third confernce title with the best of the MWC.
Beloit (24-17) graduated two of their best offensive players in program history. Because of this the Bucs may be inconsistent at times offensively early. As the talented younger players get the time to settle in, the offense will become more dependable. Senior 1B Connor Vogel (.294, 4 HR, 38 RBI) is the most proficient hitter on the team and should provide an example to the incoming freshmen. Good news is that Beloit returns almost all of our key pitchers that includes their winningest pitcher in school history, Aiden Phipps (8-4, 4.40 ERA, 41K). Look for Beloit to rely on the pitching and defense to get through the shaky offensive periods and a team that should be better come tournament time than in their opening week.
Cornell (23-18) finished third in the Midwest Conference but have the biggest stars back. Pitcher Vince Tinajero (5-0. 0.55 ERA, 16K) and junior middle infielder Kale Rose (.394, 8 HR, 42 RBI) both earned All-Region honors in 2024. Two other hitters who earned All-Midwest honors, Sam Alvarez (.387, 7 HR, 35 RBI) and Cade Parks (.372, 13 2B, 36 RBI), will bolster the offense. The team's 23 wins are third-most in program history and if the 2025 squad plays like 2024, this will end up fourth-most in the record book.
Ripon (15-21) and Monmouth (17-21) finished outside the tournament field. Monmouth will have an experience team as all but one SP and the starting 2B are returning in 2025. Senior C/1B/DH Raul Guillermo III (.305, 7 HR, 33 RBI) has a chance to take the next step and if he can improve on his 2024 numbers, look out for Monmouth. With the experienced gained last year, the Scots should play themselves into the MWC tournament and a possible top finish. Ripon seemed to be rebuilding every season but not 2025. The Red Hawks finally have an upperclassmen lineup and are expecting the offensive to click. Ripon missed P/IF Brock Warren (2023 stats: .418, 23 SB; 4.45 ERA, 47K) in 2024 because of an injury but he is healthy and ready for the spring slate. Head coach Eric Cruise will get a milestone out of the way early in the season as he is 2 games away from win #200.
Grinnell (16-23), Illinois College (21-18), and Knox (11-27) finished at the bottom of the standings. Illinois College has added a talented group of newcomers to a largely returning roster. The Blue Boys' head coach is looking for this depth will get them back into competing for conference championships. IC's best player is senior OF Louie Bartletti (.356, 11 HR, 52 RBI) and is expected to produce both at the plate and on the bases.
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| Bethany Lutheran third baseman Nolan Spense led the Vikings in 2024 with 47 hits. d3photography.com photo by Ryan Coleman |
Upper Midwest Athletic Conference: Bethany Lutheran (20-14) has everyone back from a team that was 17-4 in the UMAC and another 20 win season. Add key transfers as part of a 20 man recruiting class and you have a team that should stay at the top of the conference and if the ball bounces right, some NCAA Regional success as well. Seniors Nolan Spense (.412, 3 HR, 36 RBI), Malachi Santiago (.405, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 14 SB), and Aidan Russell (.365, 9 HR, 412 RBI, 11 SB) are just three of seven seniors in the starting nine. The pitching staff is also experienced but all have a year of eligibility past the 2025 season. Drew Hedtke (5-2, 2.03 ERA, 63K) and Trent Ash (3-3, 3.22 ERA, 58K) head the starting rotation with Jackson Huiras (2-1, 4 saves, 5.52 ERA, 26K) available in the bullpen.
Northwestern (Minn.) (20-23) will be behind in the arms race with one of their best players ever, SP/SS Bryce Crabb (4x First Team All-Conference, 3x NCCAA All-American) gone with his diploma in hand. With other losses, rebuilding will be the mode that the Eagles find themselves in 2025. With a roster that a quarter are new to the program, the Eagles will lean on a pair of graduate starting pitchers, Nick Drinken (4-4, 4.26 ERA, 78K) and Aaron Severson (3-5, 7.74 ERA, 44K) to stay in contention in the UMAC.
The UW-Superior Yellow Jackets (22-19) return a lot of players from the 2024 campaign but graduated a duo of starters that will be tough to replace. UWS aims to build off its second-straight winning season since 1975, along with claiming over 20 victories for the second time in program history. Payton Steiner (.343, 2 HR, 26 RBI, 15 SB) and Tanner Voight (.344, 8 HR, 33 RBI) are the best UW-Superior has swinging a bat. On the pitching staff, Zach Romans (5-2, 2.77 ERA, 53K) and Aiden Pfeifer (7-2, 2.25 ERA, 47K) will be counted on to get UW-Superior to the top of the UMAC standings.
Crown (21-22) was the bottom seed in the UMAC tournament and made the best of the weekend, earning the tournament title and a spot in the NCAA tournament. Minnesota-Morris (13-23), North Central (Minn.) (10-23), Northland (8-28), and Martin Luther (7-27) all finished off the pace. The UMAc does not have a record of placing multiple teams in to the NCAA playoffs despite several making a late run. Therefore a tournament title is the one chance for a shot at a surprise run to the title.
Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference: The WIAC has had just one team in the NCAA tournament in two years since 2007 so finishing second is not the end of the season. Last season second place for UW-Whitewater (45-12) in the 2024 DIII World Series had them watching Misericordia celebrating a title and providing a hunger for a third baseball Championship. The Warhawks return a strong nucleus of players from their 2024 College World Series team and as scary as this sounds to their opponents, added some talented newcomers. Matt Scolan (.404, 18 HR, 78 RBI, 18 SB), Eli Frank (.419, 15 HR, 73 RBI), Andy Thies (.371, 15 HR, 71 RBI, 19 SB), and Adam Cootway (.477, 15 HR, 67 RBI) will put runs on the board as opposing pitcher try to navigate DIII's version of murderer row. The offense will help a young but talented pitching staff find their footing. Starting pitcher Jack Hagan (9-0, 1 save, 3.45 ERA, 61K) is only a sophomore and should continue to improve. There is a reason that all preseason polls put the Warhawks at the very top.
No so fast Warhawks, UW-La Crosse (36-16) is loaded for a deep run in 2025. The last two years, the Eagles were in a Super-Regional with another WIAC school, winning one, losing one. One hopes that if there are multiple WIAC schools, they separate them so they do not meet in the Super-Regional round. UW-LX has plenty of firepower in their offense. You want someone who hits with a high average look at Chris VandenHeuvel (.392, 10 HR, 55 RBI, 16 SB). Want power? UW-LX has that too with Mac Born (.368, 15 HR, 65 RB), George Seaman (.322, 18 HR, 74 RBI) and Anthony Vivian (.343, 12 HR, 42 RBI). All these players are seniors (as are four more) so winning today is imperative. Pitching has their share of seniors but it is juniors Owen Deprez (6-1, 2 saves, 4.71 ERA, 74K) and Isaiah Katz (7-5, 1 save, 5.38 ERA, 55K) who are the pitching stars. Don't forget a stocked bullpen led by graduate Caleb Matl (4 saves, 40K) and all the pieces are there for the Eagles' first national championship.
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| Nick Paulsen has a career mark of 14-3 for UW-Stevens Point Pointers heading into the 2025 season. the d3photography.com photo by Doug Sasse |
UW-Stevens Point (25-17) showed everyone they were back in 2023 but lost out to UW-LaCrosse in the Super Regional and fell short of an NCAA Playoff bid in 2024. Anthony Tomczak (.343, 8 HR, 38 RBI) is the best of five returning players on offense. Senior Nick Paulsen (4-1, 4.17 ERA, 49K) and junior Kenny Schultz (4-4, 5.03 ERA, 40K) are headlining the starting rotation. If the Pointers are going to get back to 2023 form, they will have to start with Washington University who is coached by a familiar face - former UW-SP head coach Pat Bloom. When UW-Oshkosh (19-21) qualified for the WIAC tournament the big four were all back playing for a NCAA tournament pass. This line up looks so familiar because the WIAC tournament typically includes the same four teams.
UW-Platteville (16-21) and UW-Stout (17-21) both finished out of the WIAC tournament, UW-Stout was the last team outside last year's participants to make the four team field. This year the Blue Devils will have the most depth they have had in years. Thirteen seniors are on the roster that is augmented with six transfers between offense and pitching. The offense will continue to hit for power with players like Justin Sedin (.414, 9 HR, 41 RBI) and Leyten Bowers (.204, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 11 SB). The Blue Devils' pitching staff brings back key starters in Drew Buss (5-2, 5.44 ERA, 44K) and Lucas Lendosky (3-3, 45K). With a winning culture the UW-Stout squad is ready to compete for a championship this year.
UW-Eau Claire (11-29) and UW-River Falls are the newest teams in the WIAC. UW-Eau Claire has played four seasons with a program best 14 wins in 2022. UW-River Falls is in their first season back, having last competed in 2002. The newly reinstated program will bolster a youthful roster with versatile athletes.
University Athletics Association: Chicago (19-24) is back in the UAA for 2025, ending their tenure with the Midwest Conference. Catcher Erik Rindner (.349, 5 HR, 39 RBI), the sole All-Region player from 2024 will return to lead a team that returns 18 upper classmen. While the Maroon found success in the Midwest, they were never able to breakout on top and it will be harder in the UAA where the competition increases. While Chicago might not find the consistent success they had from 2018-2023, expect them to be competitive this coming season.