Saints take unanimous first place in 2017 UMAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll
ST. PAUL---Over the last two decades, the College of St. Scholastica has dominated Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) baseball. The Saints have won the last 20 regular season titles and the last 19 postseason championships.
With a solid group of talented players returning for the 2017 season, the Saints are poised to extend their winning streak to 21-straight conference crowns. For the UMAC coaches, the Saints were a unanimous first-place selection in the UMAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll announced Thursday.
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Poll |
Matchups |
Team Previews |
The Saints enter the 2017 receiving votes in the D3baseball.com Preseason Poll after making their 12th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance a year ago. With dominating numbers from a year ago and healthy roster of returning players, there’s no reason to believe that shouldn’t be the case again this spring.
After winning a game in the NCAA regionals and a narrow one-run loss before exiting, the Saints finished the season with an impressive 32-11 record – their third-consecutive 30-plus win season under Corey Kemp. Their win in the regionals was also the team’s first since 2013.
During the non-conference season the Saints earned four wins against regionally-ranked opponents prior to the tournament including a sweep of the University of St. Thomas to earn the sixth-place ranking in the West Region.
In league play, the Saints were dominant – going 15-1 in regular season play before cruising to three wins in the UMAC tournament. Their lone loss came by one run to the University of Northwestern – a team that suffered just two losses during the conference season finishing 14-2.
A year ago, the Saints led every offensive statistical category in conference games including at bats (587), runs (200), hits (236), doubles (47), triples (11), home runs (16), RBI (174), walks (72), fewest strikeouts (46), stolen bases (39), batting average (.402), on base percentage (.476) and slugging percentage (.601).
As a team on the mound, the Saints boasted the lowest team earned run average (ERA) at 1.95 and recorded a league-best 9.00 strikeouts per game. They also gave up the fewest hits (86), runs (39), earned runs (28) and home runs (1).
Individually, the Saints were even better – four Saints ranked in the top five in conference play for batting average – with all four above .440. Four players had conference on-base percentages of .500 or better, while three players tallied 20 or more RBI.
Leading the dynamic Saints offense a year ago was Brian Minks who was named the UMAC Player of the Year after a monster junior season. Minks led the UMAC in conference play in almost every offensive category including batting average (.524), OBP (.615), slugging percentage (.921), hits (33), runs (32), doubles (11), RBI (25), stolen bases (11), extra base hits (16) and total bases (58).
The Saints also return the 2016 UMAC Rookie of the Year in Conor Wollenzin who will need to help fill a few spots from the loss of key role players like Austin Colvard and Al Marolt. In just 13 conference games, Wollenzien was the top first-year boasting a .442 average – fifth-best among all UMAC hitters. He was second among all first-years in OBP (.519) and fourth overall in UMAC play.
Replacing the likes of Colvard and Marolt will be tough – Colvard was a four-time All-UMAC selection, while Marolt was a 2016 pick. Both were All-Midwest Region honorees and ranked among the top five in many hitting categories as seniors. However, the Saints return plenty of talent to join Wollenzien and Minks.
Trevor Bernsdorf should help fuel the offensive after an Honorable Mention season in 2016 following a 2015 season in which he was the UMAC Player of the Year as a sophomore. Steven Neutzling is back after back-to-back All-UMAC season a sophomore campaign where he had 46 RBI in overall games.
On the mound, the Saints will definitely miss UMAC Pitcher of the Year Jordan Risse who was nearly untouchable in conference play. They also lose All-UMAC pick Daniel Wood, but are in good shape with senior All-UMAC pitchers Martin Alcoverde and Jacob Duzbay set to anchor the pitching staff. Junior All-UMAC Honorable Mention Joe Gonrowski should also provide quality innings for the Saints.
St. Scholastica may have been an easy pick for the coaches in first with 64 votes and eight first place tallies, but Northwestern was a solid selection for second place to again put pressure on the Saints for the title. The Eagles earned 55 points and one first-place vote in the poll and edged out the University of Wisconsin-Superior in third with 48 points.
Last year, the Eagles put together a successful season and had a chance at the title going into the final weekend of conference play. They lost just two games – one to the Saints and the other to the University of Minnesota Morris which helped the Cougars make their first postseason appearance since 2007.
As the lone team to defeat the Saints a year ago, the Eagles could make a push for the title with the return of seven starters including three All-UMAC First Team picks in Ryan Sutterer, Braxton Lindow and Tyler Osborn. Sutterer was tied for the league-lead in hits (33) and ranked in the top five in average (.493), on-base (.538) and RBI (23).
In league play, Osborn was ranked in the UMAC top five for runs (23), hits (26) and RBI (24), while Lindow ranked in the top 20 in several categories. The biggest loses for the Eagles will be on the mound with All-UMAC pitcher Benjamin Jenney and consistent starter Tucker Morrell graduating.
The Eagles aren’t the only team that could challenge the Saints for the title – Wisconsin-Superior finished third in the standings with a record of 11-5 in its first season competing in the UMAC. They also batted .305 in conference play which was second among all teams. New Head Coach Frank Pufall also has a lot to work with in returning 65 percent of the team’s hits from last season.
Leading the Wisconsin-Superior offense will be senior Chad Patko and sophomore Travis Miller. Both were All-UMAC selections a season ago and ranked in the top 15 in several conference-only hitting categories. Miller was also an All-Region selection as a rookie. On the mound, the Yellowjackets will hope senior pitcher Grant Schneider can fill the shoes of Jake Lewis who ended his career as an Honorable Mention hurler last spring.
With the top three teams looking to lock up spots in the postseason once again, the fourth-and-final position in the UMAC tournament should come down to the wire as it did a year ago. Three teams were selected within four points of each other by the coaches with Bethany Lutheran College coming in fourth (39 points), Northland College taking fifth (38 points) and Minnesota Morris slotted sixth (35 points).
A year ago Bethany Lutheran and Northland both hoped to make the UMAC postseason but late in the season missed out after finishing within one game of one another. Both will look to return to the playoffs after a year off last year. Minnesota Morris got critical wins over Northwestern and Northland in the final two series of the season to earn a tiebreaker and enter the UMAC tournament as the No. 4 seed.
Bethany Lutheran has all the makings of a playoff team returning all of its starters from a year ago including two senior All-UMAC picks in Drew Quame and Alek Zentzis, as well as junior Honorable Mention Nick Caldeen. All three players boasted averages above .300 in league play and 19 or more hits each.
Northland is in good shape as well, losing just one offensive weapon in All-UMAC hitter Mitch Howard. All-UMAC honorees Alex Elliott and Xavier Baez-Ortiz return after strong seasons at the plate, while all-conference selection Carson Ferry returns to lead the Lumber Jacks after leading all Division III pitchers in strikeouts per game as a rookie.
Minnesota Morris returns 12 players who had starting duties last season and lose just four, which could help them remain in contention for a postseason spot. Among those returning are three All-UMAC selections in Chandler Erickson, Jackson Gessell and Joey Hyde. Erickson and Gessell were the team’s leading hitters, while Hyde was the Cougars’ workhorse on the mound pitching 54.2 innings.
Rounding out the conference poll were Crown College in seventh (20 points), Martin Luther College (17 points) in eighth and North Central University in ninth (8 points). All three teams will look for significant improvement with several experienced players returning.
Crown will miss just two starters from 2016 and will rely on three players who earned all-conference recognition including senior Harry Ballantyne who was a First Team pick and ranked in the top 20 in several offensive categories.
Martin Luther welcomes back six starters including All-UMAC and All-Region catcher Jason Lindemann and All-UMAC First Team pitcher Jon Kock. Lindemann was a top 20 hitter, while Kock was second in conference innings pitched (39.0).
North Central will see new leadership under Head Coach Justin Brown and should be improved with the return of Honorable Mentions Cory Kukkola and Tate Andrews who led the program as rookies last year.
In a strange twist, the Minnesota weather has presented a unique opportunity for several UMAC teams to begin their seasons this coming weekend – Minnesota Morris and Northwestern are set for games Sunday and Monday. These will be the earliest outdoor baseball games in Minnesota history.
The majority of UMAC teams will then head south for spring break before the opening round of the UMAC season April 8. That weekend will feature a huge matchup that could impact the postseason between Bethany Lutheran and Northland. The weekend will also see Minnesota Morris take on reigning champion St. Scholastica.
Week two will be highlighted by Northland and Wisconsin-Superior facing off and then the Yellowjackets will take on Minnesota Morris – both series should have significant impact on how the standings shake out. The following week will see big doubleheaders between Bethany Lutheran and Northwestern as well as a bridge rivalry series between the Saints and Yellowjackets. That weekend will then have Minnesota Morris hosting Bethany Lutheran.
Northwestern and Wisconsin-Superior meet in the fourth week during the week before the Eagles host the Saints in a matchup that could determine the league title pending other results. The final weekend of league play sees Northland host Minnesota Morris in what could again be a deciding series for the postseason.
The UMAC tournament will start Thursday, May 11 with all games slated to take place at the No. 1 seed. A new format will see just two games on the opening day with no teams eliminated until Friday which will feature three games and two elimination contests. Saturday, May 13 will be “Championship Saturday” with the champion set to be crowned in the first game or the “if necessary” game seven.
Complete UMAC Schedule
2017 UMAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. St. Scholastica- 64 points (8 First Place Votes)
2. Northwestern - 55 points (1 First Place Votes)
3. Wisconsin-Superior - 48 points
4. Bethany Lutheran - 39 points
5. Northland - 38 points
6. Minnesota Morris -35 points
7. Crown - 20 points
8. Martin Luther - 17 points
9. North Central - 8 points
Team Previews
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BLC |
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CSS |
MLC |
NC |
NCU |
UMM |
UNW |
UWS |
1. College of St. Scholastica
Corey Kemp | 8th Season |
2016 Season
15-1 UMAC, 32-11 Overall | 1st |
Postseason: UMAC Tournament Champion; Went 1-2 at NCAA Midwest Regional in La Crosse
Starters returning: 8
Starters lost: 5
Top Returners
- Brian Minks, Sr. | 2016 UMAC Player of the Year; 2016, 2015 All-UMAC | 2017 D3baseball.com Honorable Mention Preseason All-American; 2016 First Team D3baseball.com All-Midwest Region; 2016 First Team ABCA All-Midwest Region | .497 on-base percentage, 17 Doubles, Finished the season on a 12-game hitting streak and reached base safely in his last 29 games |
- Steven Neutzling, Jr. | 2016, 2015 All-UMAC | 2016 Second Team D3baseball.com All-Midwest Region; 2016 Third Team ABCA All-Midwest Region| 46 RBIs, 6 Triples, .620 Slugging Pct. |
- Trevor Bernsdorf, Sr. | 2016 Honorable Mention All-UMAC; 2015, 2014 All-UMAC; 2015 UMAC Player of the Year; 2014 UMAC Rookie of the Year | 2015 D3baseball.com Second Team All-Region; 2015 ABCA Second Team All-Region; 2014 D3baseball.com Midwest Region Rookie of the Year; 2014 ABCA Third Team All-Region | 38 RBIs, 10 Multi-RBI games, Eight Sacrifice Flies |
Top Losses
- Jordan Risse | 2016 UMAC Pitcher of the Year; 2015 Honorable Mention All-UMAC; 2014 All-UMAC | 2016 Second Team D3baseball.com All-Midwest Region; 2016 Second Team ABCA All-Midwest Region | 7 Wins, 88 Strikeouts, .198 Opp. BA |
- Austin Colvard | 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 All-UMAC; 2013 UMAC Rookie of the Year | 2016 Second Team D3baseball.com All-Midwest Region; 2016 Second Team ABCA All-Midwest Region; 2015 ABCA Third Team All-Midwest Region | .428 BA, 49 Runs, In four years, Colvard averaged 1.47 hits per game, which is the highest ratio of any Saint that has over 200 hits in a career. |
- Al Marolt | 2016 All-UMAC; 2015 Honorable Mention All-UMAC | 2016 Third Team ABCA All-Midwest Region; 2016 Third Team D3baseball.com All-Midwest Region | .375 BA, 103 Assists, Reached base safely in the final 32 games of his collegiate career |
Need to Know
- Have won 20 consecutive UMAC regular season championships and 19 straight UMAC Tournament titles
- Made 12th straight NCAA Tournament appearance last season
- Receiving Votes in Preseason D3baseball.com Poll
2. University of Northwestern
Dave Hieb | 22nd Year|
2016 Season
14-2 UMAC, 24-18| 2nd |
Postseason: Lost to CSS in UMAC Tournament Championship Game.
Starters returning: 7
Starters lost: 2
Top Returners
- Braxton Lindow, Sr. | 2016 First Team All-UMAC | 41 hits, 15 SB, 7 2B |
- Ryan Sutterer, Sr. | 2016 First Team All-UMAC | 2016 All-Midwest Region by D3baseball.com | .397 BA, 40 RBI, .589 Slugging % |
- Tyler Osborn, Sr. | 2016 First Team All-UMAC | 2016 All-Midwest Region by D3baseball.com| .365 BA, 6 HR, 39 runs |
Top Losses
- Benjamin Jenney | 2016 First Team All-UMAC | 6-1, 69.1 IP, 2 CG|
- John Hietpas | 2016 All-UMAC Honorable Mention | .347 BA, 8 2B, 50 hits |
- Tucker Morrell | 5 CG, .930 Fielding % (SS), 64 IP|
Need to Know
- Senior Ryan Sutterer played for the Thunder Bay Bordercats of the Northwoods League last summer.
- 41-year-old Tori Holt is on the roster for the Eagles this season.
- UNW put together a 12-game winning streak from April 12-April 30.
3. University of Wisconsin-Superior
Frank Pufall | 1st Season |
2016 Season
11-5 UMAC, 16-19 Overall | 3rd |
Postseason: 1-2 in UMAC tournament
Starters returning: 8
Starters lost: 5
Top Returners
- Travis Miller, So. | 2016 All-UMAC First Team | All-Region Third Team | .368/.490/.735, 10 HR, 36 RBI |
- Chad Patko, Sr. | 2016 All-UMAC First Team | .359/.430/.675, 6 HR, 10-13 SB |
- Grant Schneider, Sr. | 4.88 ERA, 51.2 IP, 3-3 record|
Top Losses
- Jake Lewis | 2016 All-UMAC Honorable Mention | 4.29 ERA, 56.2 IP, 3-5 record|
- Elvis Artilles Cuello | 2016 All-UMAC Honorable Mention| .292/.421/.472, 14 2B, 28 runs scored |
- Jake Irlbeck | .333/.429/.420, 21 GS at catcher, 16 RBIs|
Need to Know
- Former University of Minnesota Duluth assistant coach Frank Pufall will take over for former head coach Nick Bursik, now the interim director of athletics at UW-Superior.
- The Yellowjackets finished second in the UMAC last season batting .305 as a team in conference play in 2016. UWS returns 243 of its 373 combined hits from a year ago, with over half of that combining from the combination of outfielder Greg Pitts and infielders Chad Patko and Travis Miller
- The Yellowjackets were sixth in the league in ERA a season ago, finishing at 6.70 against the UMAC. UWS returns 156.1 innings out of its staff, but bid farewell to 29.2 low-quality innings from three players accounting for the team’s worst individual ERA numbers.
4. Bethany Lutheran College
Ryan Kragh | 13th Season |
2016 Season
7-9 UMAC, 9-21 Overall| 6th|
Starters returning: ALL
Starters lost: 0
Top Returners
- Drew Quame, Sr. | All-UMAC First Team |.359 avg., 37 hits, 7 home runs, 38 RBI |
- Alek Zentzis, Sr. |All-UMAC First-Team UMAC |.339 avg., 39 hits, 8 home runs, 29 RBI |
- Nick Caldeen, Jr. |All-UMAC Honorable-Mention |.316 avg., 36 hits, 10 doubles, 6 home runs |
Need to Know
- As a team, the Vikings hit 24 home runs in 2016, which ranks third in BLC season history.
- The Vikings look for a return to the UMAC Postseason Tournament after missing the tournament for the first time in program history a season ago.
- The first game for the Vikings will be on March 5th in Tucson, Arizona, against Aurora University.
5. Northland College
Nick Weinmeister | 2nd Season |
2016 Season
8-8 UMAC, 17-23 Overall | T-4th |
Starters returning: 9
Starters lost: 1
Top Returners
- Carson Ferry, So. | 2016 All-UMAC | NCAA Statistical Champ - K per 9 inn. | 64 k’s, 43.1 innings, 4.78 era |
- Alex Elliott, Jr. | 2016 All-UMAC | .344 BA, 52 H, 7 HR, .629 SLG |
- Xavier Baez-Ortiz, Jr. | 2016 All-UMAC | .300 BA, 30 H, 6 HR, .610 SLG |
Top Losses
- Mitchell Howard | 2016 All-UMAC | .326 BA, 45 H, 29 RBI, .551 SLG, 9 SB |
- Jacob Smith | 14 Appearances, 32.2 innings, 5.79 era |
Need to Know
- The LumberJacks return all but one starter, including four all-conference selections.
- Sophomore LHP, Carson Ferry, finished 2016 leading all of NCAA Div. III in strikeouts per nine innings.
6. University of Minnesota Morris
Grant Harding | 5th season |
2016 Season
8-8 in UMAC, 15-25 Overall | T-4th |
Postseason: 0-2 record in UMAC Postseason Tournament
Starters returning: 12
Starters lost: 4
Top Returners
- Chandler Erickson, Sr. | 2016 All-UMAC First Team | team-leading .370 average and 51 hits, .986 fielding pct. at catcher |
- Jackson Gessell, Jr. | 2016 All-UMAC First Team | .355 average, 50 hits, team-high 13 extra base hits and 25 RBIs, .511 slg pct. |
- Joey Hyde, Sr. | 2016 All-UMAC First Team | led team in innings pitched (54.2) and complete games (3), 2nd on team with 35 strikeouts |
Top Losses
- Ryan Winn | .319 avg, 23 hits, .375 slg pct. |
- Todd Woelfel | 37.1 IP, 6.75 ERA |
- Willie Fust | .314 avg, .397 slg pct, 38 hits, 7 extra base hits |
Need to Know
- In 2016, the Cougars qualified for the UMAC Postseason Tournament for the first time since 2007.
- The team’s fourth place finish was the highest conference standing during Harding’s tenure.
- 2016 All-UMAC Honorable Mention performers return in Tyler Hannan (Jr.) and Zach Kuefler (So.). Hannan – 1.14 ERA in 11 appearances, 24 Ks in 23.2 IP. Kuefler - .295 avg., .337 slg pct.
7. Crown College
Mike Gmetro | 6th Season |
2016 Season
5-11 UMAC, 15-19 Overall | 7th |
Starters returning: 7
Starters lost: 2
Top Returners
Harry Ballantyne, Sr. | All-UMAC First Team| .348 average, .492 slugging %, 65 total bases |
Gideon Dunn, So. | All-UMAC Honorable Mention| .338 average, .481 slugging %, 2.82 era |
David Cruz, Sr. | All-UMAC Honorable Mention| 24 RBI, .470 slugging %, .330 average |
Top Losses
Daryl Taylor | .365 average, 26 RBI, 50 total bases |
Josh Flanders| 31 strikeouts, two complete games, 4.45 era |
Need to Know
Crown College returns an experienced group led by First Team All-UMAC selection Harry Ballantyne. Crown will rely on Ballantyne’s leadership as they look to take another step forward in developing their program.
Gideon Dunn returns as an Honorable Mention selection on the mound and in the outfield.
David Cruz, Honorable Mention Selection, returns for his senior year to help lead the offensive attack.
8. Martin Luther College
Randy Cox | 8th Season |
2016 Season
4-12 UMAC, 8-26 overall |8th |
Starters returning: 6
Starters lost: 4
Top Returners
- Jason Lindemann, Sr. | 2015, 2016 All-UMAC First Team | 2016 All-Midwest Region Second Team | .365 BA, 5 HR, .591 SLG |
- Jon Kock, Sr. | 2016 All-UMAC First Team, 2015 All-UMAC Honorable Mention | 5-6 record, 63.0 IP, .303 BA |
- Karl Kuschel, Jr. | 2016 All-UMAC Honorable Mention | .300 BA, 10 doubles, 17 R |
Top Losses
- James Hemmelman | 2015 All-UMAC Honorable Mention | 59.0 IP, 5.80 ERA, 18 BB |
- Travis Kretsch | 24.0 IP, 15 RBI, 4 doubles |
- Erich Osterman | .361 BA, .410 OBP, .389 SLG |
Need to Know
- Jason Lindemann tied a school record with five home runs last season, and enters this season fourth in program history in career home runs (six) and doubles (23).
- Jon Kock enters this season tied for third in program history with 11 career wins as a pitcher.
- Dillon Solomon returns with Kock to lead the pitching staff; Solomon struck out 28 batters as a first-year player in 2016.
9. North Central University
Justin Brown | 1st Season|
2016 Season
0-16 UMAC, 4-36 Overall | 9th |
Starters Returning: 6
Starters Lost: 3
Top Returners
- Cory Kukkola, So. | 2016 Honorable Mention All-UMAC | .278 BA, 22 runs scored, 40 games started |
- Tate Andrews, So.| 2016 Honorable Mention ALL-UMAC | .259 BA, 21 RBI, .403 OBP|
- Bryce Riege, So. | Started 8 games on the mound, 23 strikeouts in 41.1 innings of work|
Top Losses
- Taylor Madrinich | .266 BA, .977 Fielding %
- Cody Van Sickle | 56.2 innings of work, 9 games started on the mound
Need to Know
- Emerging program with one of the largest rosters in program history in 2017
- Young team with one upper classman and thirteen freshman/sophomore players
- A lot of new faces within the program seeking to solidify college competitiveness