UMAC PREVIEW: Baseball
ST. PAUL, MN – The 2023 UMAC baseball season gets going next week already so it’s time to take a look at which teams and players fans should watch for this spring. The Northwestern Eagles took home the regular season title, finishing last season 17-4 in UMAC play. In the UMAC Tournament however, it was the Crown College Polars that fought their way through the bracket to win the UMAC Tournament title and earn the UMAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, this was Crown’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.
The team voted on by the coaches to finish atop the UMAC this season is the Bethany Lutheran Vikings. The Vikings finished in third place in UMAC play a year ago, finishing the season 15-6 in conference play and 19-15 overall. All-UMAC First Team selection Liam Peterson returns for the Vikings after a stellar 2022 campaign where he hit for a .350 average and had 22 stolen bases. Matt Verdugo also returns for the Vikings after being named to the All-UMAC Honorable Mention team, Verdugo hit .348 last season with 31 runs batted in. BLC also returns UMAC Rookie of the Year Aidan Russell who hit .308 with 3 homeruns and 29 runs batted in.
The University of Wisconsin-Superior was picked to finish second in this year’s preseason poll. Last year the Yellowjackets finished 13-8 in UMAC play and 19-21 overall, good for fourth in the league. This season the Yellowjackets return some familiar faces, including Ryan Rodriguez who was named to the All-UMAC First Team as well as the Rawlings/ABCA Second Team All-Region IX as a starting pitcher. Rodriguez went 7-5 last season with a 2.99 earned run average, only surrendering 12 walks over 90 innings pitched. A couple of other All-UMAC First Team selections return for the Yellowjackets in Isaac Fugere and Ben Rhodes. Fugere hit .359 a year ago with 6 homeruns and 34 runs batted in while Rhodes batted .333 with 25 runs batted in and 13 stolen bases.
Picked tied for third this season in the preseason poll are the Crown Polars. The Polars had a historic season a year ago, winning the UMAC Tournament title and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. Crown finished 2022 20-6 in UMAC play and 30-15 overall. Returning this season for the Polars is 2023 ABCA Preseason All-American Seth Betts, who hit .450 a year ago with 12 homeruns and 42 stolen bases. Also returning for Crown is All-UMAC First Team selection Mason Brock, Brock hit .339 a year ago with 22 doubles and 10 homeruns. Tyler Vancise is another key returner for the Polars this season after earning All-UMAC First Team honors a year ago, Vancise finished 2022 with 75 strikeouts in just over 52 innings pitched.
Also picked to finish third this season are the Northwestern Eagles. Northwestern finished last season 17-4 in UMAC play and 27-16 overall on their way to the UMAC regular season title. All-UMAC First Team selection Bryce Crabb returns for the Eagles after posting a 3.00 earned run averaged over 81 innings pitched. At the plate, Crabb hit for a .322 average and had 14 stolen bases. Senior first baseman Ben Spores also returns for the Eagles after hitting .384 a year ago with a .470 on base percentage. UMAC Co-Freshman of the Year Payton Christenson also returns for Northwestern after hitting .408 a year ago and a .528 slugging percentage.
The Cougars of Minnesota Morris are picked to finish fifth in this year’s poll. The Cougars finished 13-8 in the UMAC a year ago and 22-14 overall, just missing out on the UMAC Tournament, finishing in fifth place in the league. A couple of All-UMAC First Team selections from a year ago return in Alex Baumann and Jacob Schaaf. Baumann returns for the Cougars after hitting .436 a year ago with 15 doubles and 14 stolen bases in 2022. Schaaf also returns after posting a sparkling 5-0 record and a 3.50 earned run average, holding opposing hitters to a .188 batting average.
Picked to finish sixth in this year’s preseason poll were the Northland Lumerjacks. One of the youngest teams in the country a year ago, Northland finished 2-19 a year ago and 5-28 overall. The Lumberjacks return a lot of production from a year ago in Zach Ross, Ridge Guyette, and Matt Simpson. Ross hit .309 a year ago to go along with a .457 on base percentage. Guyette provided the pop a year ago, leading the team with 5 homeruns and 10 doubles. Simpson also returns after hitting a team leading .337.
Martin Luther is slotted in at number seven in this year’s preseason poll. The Knights were 3-18 in UMAC play a year ago and 3-28 overall. 2022 All-UMAC First Team selection Mason Cox returns for Martin Luther after hitting .476 a year ago. Spencer Lilienthal also returns for the Knights after hitting .295 last season.
Picked to finish eighth this season is the North Central Rams. The Rams went 4-12 in UMAC play a year ago and 7-18 overall. Kyle Huerth returns for the Rams after receiving All-UMAC Honorable Mention honors a year ago after hitting .322 with 17 stolen bases. Christian Rodriguez also returns for North Central this spring after posting 49 strikeouts in 42 innings pitched a year ago.
2023 UMAC Baseball Preseason Poll
1. Bethany Lutheran - 45 points (4)
2. UW-Superior - 37 points (2)
T3. Crown – 36 points (1)
T3. Northwestern – 36 points (1)
5. Minnesota Morris – 28 points
6. Northland – 18 points
7. Martin Luther – 13 points
8. North Central – 11 points
Team Previews
Bethany Lutheran College
Head Coach: Ryan Kragh | 19th season
2022 Season
UMAC: 15-6, Overall: 19-15 | 3
rd
Postseason: Lost to Crown 9-6 in opening round and 10-0 to Northwestern in round two.
Top Returners
- Liam Peterson, Sr., UTL | First Team All-Conference | .350 average, 9 doubles, 22 stolen bases
- Matt Verdugo, Sr., C | Honorable Mention All-Conference | .348 average, 31 runs batted in, 6 doubles
- Aidan Russell | So., INF | UMAC R.O.T.Y, First Team All-Conference | .308 average, 3 homeruns, 29 runs batted in
Need to Know
The Vikings welcome 25 new players to the program in 2023.
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Crown College
Brooks Repking | 1st season
2022 Season
UMAC: 20-6, Overall: 30-15 | 2
nd
Postseason: UMAC Conference Tournament Champions, NCAA Regional Appearance
Top Returners
- Seth Betts, SR, SS | 2021 UMAC Player of the Year, UMAC First Team All-Conference | 2023 Preseason All-American, 2022 Second Team All-Region | .450 BA, 12 HR, 42 SB |
- Mason Brock, JR, 2B | UMAC First team All-Conference | 2021 UMAC Rookie of the Year | .339 BA, 22 2B, 10 HR |
- Tyler VanCise, JR, P | UMAC First Team All-Conference| 52.2 IP, 75 K, 5.13 ERA |
Need to Know
11 Transfers Added to the roster this fall.
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Martin Luther College
Randy Cox | 14th season
2022 Season
UMAC: 3-18 Overall: 3-28 | 7
th
Top Returners
- Mason Cox, Junior, Position: OF | 2022 First Team All-UMAC | BA: .476, 50 Hits, OBP: .540 |
- Spencer Lilenthal, Senior, Position: IF, Pitcher | 2022 UMAC All Conference Honorable Mention |BA: .295, OBP: 391, SLG %: .372
- Zach Klement, Junior, Pitcher, C | 2022 UMAC All- Conference Honorable Mention- BA: .295, 2 Complete Games Pitched, OPS: .764 |
Need to Know
Mason Cox broke school records in BA (.476) and OBP (.540), while tying the school record in hits with 50.
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North Central University
Head Coach: Devin Lehnhoff | 1st season
2022 Season
UMAC: 4-12, Overall: 7-18 | 6
th
Top Returners
- Kyle Huerth, SR, OF | 2022 Honorable Mention All-Conference | Other Honors | .322 AVG, .819 OPS, 17 SB |
- Julian Encinas, JR, C | .271 AVG, 16 RBI, |
- Christian Rodriguez, JR, RHP/C/IF | 2022 All-Conference | 42 IP, 49 SO|
Need to Know
14 new athletes on the roster for the 2023 season.
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Northland College
Head Coach: Jeremy Snow | 3rd season
2022 Season
UMAC 2-19, Overall: 5-28 | 8
th
Top Returners
- Zach Ross, JR, C/INF | .309/.457/.494 9 doubles, 2 homeruns |
- Ridge Guyette, SO, INF | .260/.345/.510 10 doubles, 5 homeruns |
- Matt Simpson, JR, C/OF | .337/.420/.404 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 homerun |
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University of Minnesota Morris
Head Coach: Matt O’Brien | 4th season
2022 Season
UMAC: 13-8, Overall: 22-14 | 5th
Top Returners
- Alex Baumann, Sr, SS | First Team All-UMAC | .436 BA, 15 2B, 14 SB |
- Jacob Schaaf, So, SP | First Team All-UMAC | 5-0, 3.50 ERA, .188 Opp BA |
- Ty Beasley, So, 3B | Honorable Mention All-UMAC | .375 BA, .447 OBP, 6 SB |
Need to Know
Minnesota Morris set a school record for victories in 2022, eclipsing the 21-win teams of 1995 and 1996.
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University of Northwestern
Head Coach: Dave Hieb | 28th season
2022 Season
UMAC: 17-4, Overall: 27-16 | 1
st
Postseason: Finished 3
rd place NCCAA National Tournament
Top Returners
- Bryce Crabb, Junior, Pitcher/Shortstop | UMAC All Conference | NCCAA All Region; Academic All-Conference and All-Region | 3.00 ERA in 81 IP; 1.09 WHIP; 9-2 W-L; .322 BA; 14-17 SB-SBA |
- Ben Spores, Senior, 1st Base | UMAC All Conference | NCCAA All Region ; Academic All-Conference and All Region| .384 BA; 1.068 OPS; .470 OBA%; 8-8 SB-SBA|
- Payton Christenson; Sophomore, Outfield | UMAC All-Conference; Co-Freshman of the Year | Academic All-Conference and All Region | .408 BA; .528 SLG%; .460 OB%; 9-12 SB-SBA|
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University of Wisconsin-Superior
Head Coach: TJ Oakes | 2nd season
2022 Season
UMAC: 13-8, Overall: 19-21 | 4
th
Postseason: UMAC tournament runner up -- beat No. 1 Northwestern, 11-5, beat No. 2 Crown, 9-3, lost to Crown, 13-5 and 7-2
Top Returners
- Ryan Rodriguez, Sr., LHP | First Team All-UMAC, one-time UMAC Pitcher of the Week | Rawlings/ABCA Second Team All-Region IX | 7-5, 2.99 ERA, 12 BB, 102 K in 90.1 IP |
- Isaac Fugere, Jr., C | First Team All-UMAC, one-time UMAC Player of the Week | Rawlings/ABCA Third Team All-Region IX | .359 BA, 6 HR, 34 RBI |
- Ben Rhodes, Jr., INF | First Team All-UMAC | .333 BA, 25 RBI, 13 SB |
Need to Know
The Yellowjackets, who earned the final UMAC tournament spot on the last day of the regular season and made an improbable run to their second conference championship series in history last season, return 19 letterwinners and welcome 14 newcomers in 2023.