NAIA National Championship Opening Round (May 13-16)
May 14
(20) Kansas Wesleyan University
Bossier City, La.
L, 8-15
41-14
May 14
Blue Mountain College (Miss.)
Bossier City, La.
W, 14-5
42-14
May 15
(4) LSU Shreveport
Bossier City, La.
L, 3-8
42-15
2024 Baseball Roster
No.
Name
Pos.
Ht.
Yr.
B/T
Hometown
Previous School
1
Ty Nekoliczak
INF
5-9
Jr.
L/R
Greeley, Neb.
Central Valley HS
2
Kyle Berg
OF
6-3
Sr.
L/R
Carroll, Iowa
Kuemper Catholic HS
3
Jimmy Blumberg
INF
5-10
Jr.
R/R
La Mirada, Calif.
La Mirada HS/Fullerton College
4
Jose Cevallos
INF
5-7
Sr.
R/R
Upland, Calif.
Upland HS
5
Carlos Benavides
INF
6-1
Sr.
R/R
Aurora, Colo.
Rangeview HS
6
Nate Weaver
RHP
6-0
Jr.
R/R
Cumberland, Ind.
Mt. Vernon HS
7
Matthew Rhoades
LHP/INF
6-3
Fr.
L/L
Monument, Colo.
Lewis-Palmer HS
8
Jayden Adams
2B
5-8
Sr.
R/R
Waverly, Neb.
Waverly HS
9
Patrick Zeller
LHP
6-1
Jr.
L/L
La Vista, Neb.
Papillion-La Vista HS
10
Alec Blakestad
OF
5-8
Sr.
R/R
Omaha, Neb.
Millard North HS
12
Tanner Tompkins
C
6-0
Jr.
R/R
Normal, Ill.
Normal Community West HS
13
Jack Nelson
C
5-8
So.
L/R
Leawood, Kan.
Rockhurst HS
14
Alex Draper
OF
6-2
Fr.
L/L
Papillion, Neb.
Platteview HS
15
Braxton Greenburg
INF
6-3
Jr.
R/R
Plymouth, Minn.
Wayzata HS/Mayville State Univ.
16
Jackson Coe
OF
6-0
Fr.
R/R
Bennington, Neb.
Bennington HS
17
Bradley Hallock
1B/OF
6-3
Sr.
R/R
Ord, Neb.
Northern Colorado University
18
Jaidan Quinn
INF
6-4
Sr.
L/R
Bonner Springs, Kan.
Wabash Valley College
19
Joey Grabanski
OF
6-0
Sr.
R/R
Grand Forks, N.D.
Grand Forks Central HS
20
Jacob Lycan
RHP
6-4
Sr.
R/R
Omaha, Neb.
Millard North HS
21
Christian Gutierrez
RHP
5-10
Jr.
R/R
La Mirada, Calif.
La Mirada HS
22
Blake Benson
LHP
6-0
Sr.
L/L
Springdale, Ark.
Har-Ber HS / Univ. of the Ozarks
23
Ben Martin
C
6-0
Sr.
R/R
Parker, Colo.
Regis Jesuit HS
24
Michael Welch
C
6-2
Sr.
R/R
San Diego, Calif.
Cathedral Catholic / Orange Coast
25
Caden Johnson
RHP
6-4
Sr.
R/R
Papillion, Neb.
Platteview HS
26
Alex Johnson
RHP
6-6
Sr.
R/R
Olathe, Kan.
Spring Hill HS
29
Kellen Ingram
RHP
6-5
Sr.
L/R
Cincinnati, Ohio
Kings HS / Shawnee State Univ.
30
Brendan Pike
RHP
6-4
Sr.
R/R
Elkhorn, Neb.
Elkhorn South HS
31
Zackery Day
INF
6-2
So.
R/R
Simi Valley, Calif.
Grace Brethren HS
32
Maverick Wylder
RHP
6-0
Sr.
R/R
Waverly, Neb.
Waverly HS / Southeast CC
33
Logan Fragomeni
RHP
6-2
Jr.
L/R
Maple Grove, Minn.
Wayzata HS/Ellsworth CC
34
Cameron Pickens
RHP
6-0
So.
R/R
Omaha, Neb.
Millard North HS
35
Qwin Zabokrtsky
RHP
6-2
Jr.
R/R
Beatrice, Neb.
Beatrice HS
36
Ernie Snyder
RHP
5-11
So.
R/R
San Diego, Calif.
Mt. Carmel HS
37
Sam Rambajan
RHP
6-4
Fr.
R/R
Ontario, Canada
Bishop PF Secondary School
38
Caden Bugarske
RHP
6-2
Sr.
R/R
Boerne, Texas
Boerne-Samuel V Champion HS
39
DJ Andersen
RHP/INF
6-8
Fr.
R/R
Vacaville, Calif.
Vanden HS
Dane Garner
INF
5-10
So.
R/R
Omaha, Neb.
Millard North HS
Jacob Kucera
RHP
6-3
So.
R/R
Gibbon, Neb.
Gibbon HS
Nate Agosta
OF
6-0
Fr.
R/R
Omaha, Neb.
Millard North HS
Jacob Aldridge
INF
6-1
Jr.
R/R
Lincoln, Neb.
Lincoln Southeast HS
Dylan Barnes
OF
6-1
So.
R/R
Los Alamitos, Calif.
Whittier Christian HS
Conner Botts
UTIL
5-11
Fr.
R/R
Topeka, Kan.
Washburn Rural HS
Dante Cioffi
LHP
5-10
Fr.
L/L
Northridge, Calif.
Taft Charter HS
Easton Cooper
C
6-0
So.
R/R
Lincoln, Neb.
Lincoln Lutheran HS
Calvin Davis
INF
6-2
Sr.
R/R
Gilbert, Ariz.
Gilbert HS / Northeastern JC
Gianluca Fanelli
OF
6-2
Fr.
R/R
Vista, Calif.
Rancho Buena Vista HS
Joseph Goodhue
RHP
5-10
Fr.
R/R
Carlisle, Iowa
Carlisle HS
Jonathan Grass
OF
6-0
Sr.
R/R
Emma, Mo.
Saint Paul Lutheran HS
Alex Griess
RHP
6-6
Fr.
R/R
Ankeny, Iowa
Ankeny HS
Daniel Guerra
INF
5-8
Fr.
R/R
Rio Grande City, Texas
Rio Grande City HS
Andrew Johnson
RHP
6-0
Fr.
R/R
Lincoln, Neb.
Lincoln Christian HS
Austin Krenzer
RHP
5-9
Fr.
R/R
Bellevue, Neb.
Platteview HS
Peyton Larson
OF
6-0
So.
R/R
Kearney, Neb.
Kearney HS
Caleb Lemon
INF
5-8
Sr.
R/R
Bellevue, Neb.
Bellevue West HS
Isaiah Malison
RHP
6-9
So.
R/R
Milwaukee, Wis.
St. Thomas More HS
Jack Martin
UTIL
5-11
So.
R/R
Parker, Colo.
Regis Jesuit HS
Kellen Martinez
C/INF
6-3
Fr.
L/R
Sacramento, Calif.
Christian Brothers HS
Jayden Mecseji
C
6-3
Fr.
R/R
Omaha, Neb.
Papillion La Vista HS
Wesley Offermann
INF
5-5
Fr.
R/R
Lena, Ill.
Lena-Winslow HS
Carson Peterson
UTIL
5-11
Fr.
R/R
Lincoln, Neb.
Lincoln Northeast HS
Shea Prahl
LHP
6-1
So.
L/L
Tucson, Ariz.
Marana HS
Victor Santana
OF
6-2
Jr.
R/R
Boerne, Texas
Samuel V Champion HS
Carlos Serna
OF
5-8
Sr.
L/R
Riverside, Calif.
Ramona HS
Logan Slama
INF
5-7
Fr.
R/R
Gordon, Neb.
Gordon-Rushville HS
Ben Smith
LHP
6-0
Fr.
R/L
Adel, Iowa
ADM HS
Luke Spidle
RHP
6-2
Fr.
R/R
Omaha, Neb.
Millard North HS
Joe Tamburro
UTIL
5-8
Fr.
R/R
Severance, Colo.
Academy Online HS
STAFF
Ryan Dupic, Head Coach (10th Year)
Ben Berg, Assistant Coach
Zack Haupt, Graduate Assistant Coach
Evan Bohman, Assistant Coach
Nathan Buckallew, Assistant Coach
Season Preview: 2024 Concordia Baseball
Jan. 16, 2024
Head Coach: Ryan Dupic (282-163-1, 10th year); five GPAC titles; five national tournament appearances (one NAIA World Series berth) 2023 Record: 40-18, 21-7 GPAC (2nd); NAIA national qualifier. Key Returners: Jayden Adams (2B); Blake Benson (LHP); Alec Blakestad (OF); Caden Bugarske (RHP); Joey Grabanski (OF); Christian Gutierrez (RHP); Alex Johnson (RHP); Caden Johnson (RHP); Ty Nekoliczak (SS); Jaidan Quinn (3B); Tanner Tompkins (C). Key Losses: Ben Berg (C); Frankie Cresta (RHP); Jesse Garcia (1B); Teyt Johnson (OF); Daniel Rivera (RHP). Key Newcomers: Jimmy Blumberg (SS); Alex Draper (OF); Braxton Greenburg (RHP); Brad Hallock (1B/OF); Sam Rambajan (RHP); Matt Rhoades (1B/LHP). 2023 GPAC All-Conference: Joey Grabanski (Player of the Year; First Team); Jayden Adams (First Team); Ben Berg (First Team); Alec Blakestad (First Team); Jesse Garcia (First Team); Caden Johnson (First Team); Ty Nekoliczak (First Team); Jaidan Quinn (First Team); Tanner Tompkins (Second Team); Teyt Johnson (Honorable Mention); Daniel Rivera (Honorable Mention). 2023 NAIA All-America: Joey Grabanski (Second Team); Jaidan Quinn (Second Team).
Outlook
Consistent excellence has become a hallmark of a Concordia University Baseball program that has changed the narrative under the leadership of Head Coach Ryan Dupic. The Bulldogs enter 2024 as one of only seven NAIA baseball programs to have won at least 40 games in each of the past three seasons. Considering the wealth of talent present on the ’24 roster, Concordia stands a pretty good chance at extending that streak. Opposing pitchers will still have to deal with the likes of sluggers Joey Grabanski and Jaidan Quinn and fellow First Team All-GPAC honorees Jay Adams, Alec Blakestad and Ty Nekoliczak.
Dupic, who became the winningest baseball coach in Concordia's history last season, has taken the program to five national tournaments (and likely six if not for the COVID-19 disruption) over nine years. The Bulldogs really took off as their offensive production vaulted into elite status. This is a program that has swatted 320 home runs over the past three seasons.
“It is pretty incredible,” Dupic said. “It’s been done the past couple years, so it starts to become commonplace, but I still don’t really view it like that. I’ve been fortunate enough to coach for a long time and it’s pretty abnormal to have that type of offensive production and to have that many guys who can contribute in that type of way. We have some really good players who are kind of winding up their careers in the next year or two. I think it’s well worth getting out there to see them play because it’s pretty special to see what they can do, especially when they all get it going.”
The 2023 team’s offensive slash line came in at an absurd .357 AVG / .443 OBP / .616 SLG. Accomplished five-year veterans Ben Berg, Jesse Garcia and Teyt Johnson have exhausted their eligibility, but Concordia isn’t expecting much of a drop off, if it all, from its powder keg of a lineup. Grabanski and Quinn were both named NAIA Second Team All-Americans last season after they went toe-to-toe in a home run chase that saw both stars leave the yard a school record 27 times. Then there’s the Waverly, Neb., native Adams, one of the program’s all-time greats. Adams has collected 264 hits over his first four collegiate seasons.
The numbers put up in 2023 by the five returning Bulldog First Team All-GPAC honorees are staggering (see below). On top of the aforementioned standouts, Concordia will also roll out Second Team All-GPAC catcher Tanner Tompkins (who played through injury in ’23) while adding impact newcomers such as Jimmy Blumberg, Brad Hallock and Matt Rhoades. The arrival of Blumberg could help tighten up the team’s infield defense. Dupic referred to the La Mirada, Calif., native as “a really good defender at shortstop.”
With assistant coach Caleb Lang departing to take on a head coaching role at a NCAA Division II program, Berg has immediately transitioned into a full-time assistant job. He won’t have to reinvent the wheel for an outfit that will continue to lean upon its ability to drive the baseball above all else. Says Grabanski, “Our goal is to get better. In years past we’ve had continuous improvement. We want to get a little bit closer together. Our goal is to keep doing what we’re doing and keep believing in our process. Keep pushing and whatever outcomes happen will take care of themselves. Follow our process and keep getting better.”
Outsiders who think Concordia is solely a home run-hitting team may be surprised to learn that the program boosted its stolen base total from 55 in 2022 to a GPAC leading 98 in 2023. The addition of Zackery Day from Simi Valley, Calif., had a lot to with it – he broke the school’s single season steals record by swiping 36 bags in 39 tries. The hope is that this particular Bulldog squad will be even more athletic than a year ago. Dupic likes the positional flexibility he has with players such as Adams, Nekoliczak, Carlos Benavides and others.
“I think we have a better structure with how we’re training guys defensively,” Dupic said. “Our position players, more than other years, have shown a strong commitment for us to make some progress on the defensive side. It’s an area I think we need to improve, along with our pitch making. Jimmy Blumberg has been a big addition for us … we’re headed on the right path. That will be a big key to our season – collectively, our ability to execute behind the plate, on the bump and also in the infield and getting more athletic in the outfield. We’re trying to find ways to be a little bit more sound when it comes to preventing runs.”
The pitching staff has most definitely been overshadowed by the program’s offensive output in recent years, but the group will have a large say in determining this season’s results. Unfortunately, potential ace Alex Johnson will be shut down this spring after undergoing offseason surgery. However, there remains a wealth of experienced arms thanks to the presence of starters Blake Benson, Caden Bugarske, Christian Gutierrez and Caden Johnson. Those four hurlers combined to make 37 starts in 2023. Benson also worked out of the bullpen late in the season. The 6-foot-4 Caden Johnson (9-3, 3.39 ERA in ’23) of Papillion, Neb., has put together a terrific career that has included two First Team All-GPAC awards.
Among returning relievers, Jacob Lycan, Ernie Snyder and Qwin Zabokrtsky each made at least 10 appearances in 2023. Zabokrtsky can also swing into the rotation when called upon. Dupic also feels confident he can get quality innings out of the likes of Kellen Ingram and Maverick Wylder, among others. As for the newcomers, Mayville State transfer Braxton Greenburg leads the pack. Dupic believes the overall depth will be improved as compared to a year ago.
One of the team’s more consistent performers, Caden Johnson will look to build upon his career 18-5 record and 3.68 ERA in his final season at Concordia. Said Dupic, “Caden Johnson’s progressing along well. He’s worked really, really hard and is looking sharp. We’re looking forward to seeing him pitch this season. We have Caden on track. It was a big loss for us to lose Alex, both in terms of what he can provide and in terms of the type of person he is. We’re going to keep him around. He’s a great leader and a great kid. He’ll come back and rebound from this strong.”
Should the pitching staff and overall run prevention trend positively even just a tiny bit, Concordia will again be a team to be reckoned with on the national stage. Reaching that point isn’t a given with how much better the GPAC has gotten in recent years. The conference qualified three teams (Concordia, Doane and Morningside) for the national tournament in 2023. As Dupic stated, “There is tangible proof that this is the best the league has ever been.” Grabanski would concur in saying that each GPAC opponent provides a unique challenge. In particular, the Concordia-Doane rivalry has heated up in recent seasons as the two sides have duked it out for GPAC championships.
Grabanski and company are aspiring to reclaim their perch atop the conference after placing as the 2023 GPAC runner up in the regular season and postseason. Should the Bulldogs advance to the national tournament for a fifth-straight year, they will have the confidence that they can compete against anyone in the NAIA.
“Our goal is to win the GPAC outright,” Grabanski said. “We want to do that with no doubt in our minds. From there we want to step it up and get to the regional, win the regional and get to the World Series. Winning the World Series would be the greatest goal, but getting back there and having fun with our teammates is the best feeling.”
Prior to playing the GPAC slate, Concordia will be challenged throughout the nonconference schedule, which lays out similar to a year ago. Right out of the chute, the Bulldogs will take on perennially strong programs in Oklahoma City and Bellevue. Concordia has advanced as a program to the point that Dupic seeks out tougher nonconference foes than he likely would have several years ago.
Said Dupic, “We’ll be playing some really good teams down there. I think we held our own and showed we could be competitive with them with some of the victories we had (in 2023). It’s going to make us a better team, a more competitive team and a closer team. We’re going to learn a lot, and our ability to keep learning and keep progressing is going to be a big key to our season. I’m looking forward to it and I know the players are as well. It’s such a big challenge.”
The 2024 Concordia Baseball schedule can be found HERE.
Concordia Baseball chosen as 2024 GPAC preseason favorite
SEWARD, Neb. – In a tight vote at the top, the Concordia University Baseball team got the nod in the 2024 GPAC Baseball Preseason Coaches’ Poll, released on Thursday (Feb. 1) by the conference office. The Bulldogs picked up 96 points and six first-place votes while edging out defending league champion Doane, which pulled in 95 points and four first-place votes. Morningside (80), Mount Marty (73) and Jamestown (66) rounded out the top five. Both Concordia and Doane received votes in the NAIA preseason poll released back on Nov. 1.
The competition within the GPAC has strengthened in recent years. The league put three teams into the 2023 national tournament (two automatic bids and one at-large bid).
“It’s gotten better,” Dupic said of the GPAC. “There’s been an influx of different coaches, different people and programs and probably administrative support. I think we’ve seen that teams in our region can be competitive on a national scale. When that happens, you can see other programs start to commit and believe in the progress and growth they can have. We’ve seen that across the board with three teams getting to the national tournament. Everybody won games at the national tournament … There is tangible proof that this is the best the league has ever been. I don’t think this year is going to be any different. I think it’s going to be really competitive, and it should be a fun challenge.”
During Dupic’s tenure (which began with the 2015 season), Concordia has won a combined five GPAC championships (three regular season and two postseason). Last season, Dupic became the winningest coach in the history of the program and carries a 282-163-1 overall mark into this spring. Dupic guided the 2023 squad to a 40-18 (21-7 GPAC) record and an appearance at the national tournament. The ’23 team was ranked as high as No. 21 in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
The 2024 Bulldogs welcome back reigning GPAC Player of the Year Joey Grabanski and fellow First Team All-GPAC award winners in Jay Adams, Alec Blakestad, Caden Johnson, Ty Nekoliczak and Jaidan Quinn. Both Grabanski and Quinn were named 2023 NAIA Second Team All-Americans. They were key parts of an offense that broke program single season records for runs scored (581) and home runs (117).
Concordia is slated to open the 2024 season with a pair of games in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Feb. 10. The complete ’24 schedule can be found HERE.
2024 GPAC Baseball Preseason Coaches’ Poll --First-place votes in parentheses
Meet Concordia's Colossus of Clout: Joey Grabanski
Feb. 1, 2024
When Joey Grabanski strides to the plate, all eyes fixate on the exchange between pitcher and batter. It doesn’t matter if it’s hour one or hour six of a long conference doubleheader. You pay attention as the 6-foot, well-built right-hander steps into the box. You don’t want to miss this. Joey bends slightly at the knees while gripping the bat and leaning it gently against his right shoulder. As the pitch nears the plate, Joey kicks his left leg and unleashes a violent but controlled attack on the baseball.
This is Concordia’s right-handed version of Babe Ruth, someone who will be remembered long after he takes his final hacks in navy blue. Joey’s own teammates marvel at his exploits and gargantuan blasts.
Following Joey’s third separate three-homer game of the 2023 season, even Head Coach Ryan Dupic struggled to explain what was happening. This just isn’t normal. Stated Dupic in late March of 2023, “I really am running out of ways to put words into what Joey’s done offensively. I don’t know what else you can say about him. He’s clearly one of the best hitters in the country.”
The term “gym rat” is applied to those who just can’t get enough time on the basketball court. That’s exactly who Joey is when it comes to his craft. His passion for destroying baseballs knows no bounds, even for someone who grew up in North Dakota, where the spring and summer are bombarded by seemingly endless winters. As Joey arrived in Seward in the fall of 2020, he started hitting – and he’s never stopped. With a full college season left to play, Joey has clobbered a school record 62 home runs, putting him 15 shy of becoming the NAIA’s all-time sultan of swat.
A 2023 NAIA Second Team All-American and 2024 NAIA preseason All-America selection, Grabanski won’t be flying under the radar. He enters this spring as one of the most accomplished and most feared hitters in all of the NAIA. In 170 college games, Grabanski has recorded staggering numbers: a .378 batting average (230-for-609), 168 runs scored, 40 doubles, 212 RBIs and 456 total bases, in addition to the 62 home runs.
Says Grabanski, “Coming in, I didn’t really expect a whole lot. I just wanted to work as hard as I could and try and play baseball as much as possible. I came in and worked hard. Everyone from years prior helped create what we have now. The older guys helped with the process of getting better every day and being together as a family.”
One of those older guys when Grabanski first entered the program was catcher Ben Berg, now the lead assistant on Coach Dupic’s staff. A First Team All-GPAC honoree in his own right, Berg knows talent when he sees it – and he’s seen plenty of it in his teammates at Concordia. Before Grabanski ever played a game at Concordia, he was already turning heads. In discussing the new hitting coach at the time, Caleb Lang, Dupic expressed confidence in Grabanski leading up to Joey’s freshman season of 2021. Said Dupic then, “You can really see the development with guys like Joey.”
Recalled Berg of his first impression, “When Joey walked onto campus it was my third year here. I played with some pretty special players here before that. When Joey stepped onto the scene it was really impressive in terms of the way he swung the bat and the exit velocity numbers he was putting up. You look at him and he may not be the most athletic specimen you’ve ever seen, but the first time he started hitting on the field, you turned your head and watched because he did some really special things with the bat from the day he stepped on campus.”
Former assistant coach Conner Watson was the first member of the Bulldog staff to spot and then reach out to Grabanski in the recruiting process. Watson saw Grabanski at a showcase in Omaha and felt compelled to hit Joey up.
“The first text message I got was, ‘Hey, this is Coach Wats from Concordia,’” Grabanski said. “My first instinct was, ‘Which Concordia?’ I grew up about an hour away from a Concordia, and I thought maybe that’s what it was. He said Nebraska. I was always looking for something farther away from home. I wanted to travel. When I came here on a visit, the first night I looked at the campus and thought it was a pretty cool place already. It was lit up out front of Weller. After my visit, everybody here made me feel like I was already involved with the team – Coach Dupic and all the players.”
The sight of Joey slugging away at the plate was one to behold both then and now. Part of what makes Joey great at what he does is his passion and love for the game. It’s not unusual to see a wide grin come over his face after he’s pummeled a home run or laced the ball into the gap. He endears himself to teammates and observes alike with his patented belly rub that follows each double. He’s a gentle giant but also a fiery competitor.
A native of Grand Forks, N.D., Joey estimates that he hit only about 15 home runs during the entirety of his high school career. However, the actual high school seasons were often extremely abbreviated due to the weather. Joey made up for it by playing legion ball extensively throughout his adolescent summers. Baseball-filled summers are still part of the deal for Joey, who would love nothing more than to play baseball (and go bowling) all day long.
Dupic gushed about the love for the game displayed by both Joey and fellow All-American Jaidan Quinn. Said Dupic, “Joey is out playing summer baseball all over the place because he just loves to play the game. There’s a real strong passion for them in terms of the joy they get out of playing baseball. They certainly love to hit and love to train.”
As for the passion for bowling, Joey picked that up from his father, who owns a perfect 300 to his credit. Following in his footsteps, Joey holds one “sanctioned” 300 that came in a league event. There was a time when Joey hoped to find a college that would offer the opportunity to bowl and play baseball. In his current situation, Joey has settled for tearing up the lanes at the local Seward Bowl. To some people in the Seward community, Joey might actually be known more for his bowling prowess than for his ability to smash the long ball. The sport has bonded him with the locals.
“I try to bowl once a week if possible,” Grabanski said. “If I can get in once every two weeks, I feel like it’s just a good reset – something away from baseball that’s not school-related. It’s nice to get myself disassociated. It’s something I grew up doing. I watched my dad when I was younger.
“I joined a league my freshman year here (in Seward). I made quite a few friends over there. They’re kind of older. They all appreciate me, and I appreciate them for welcoming me in and letting me in.”
The bowling pursuits have not detracted from Grabanski’s continued development as a hitter or as a quality defensive player in either left field or at first base. Somehow, he also finds time to meet the demands of his Recreation and Sport Studies academic coursework and to work at the Seward Domino’s. Joey always delivers.
Jokes aside, Joey takes his approach to each at bat seriously. He’s possessed that signature raw power for quite some time, but what’s made him even more dangerous is his improving plate discipline. Joey is much more apt to take a walk if pitchers choose not to challenge him. That just might be a good idea considering his 27 home runs and 85 RBIs last season. Grabanski has developed a mature approach while understanding there are plenty of others in the lineup who can inflict damage.
“My freshman year I struggled a lot with plate discipline,” Grabanski said. “I think I struck out 50 times. Coach Lang talked to me a lot about not having to do damage all the time. Just get on base and all my teammates will be there to back me up. I think that’s one thing we have put together well – our lineup is good from top to bottom. I need to take bases when I can instead of hurting the team. Getting on base and helping your team is always better than not.”
Make one mistake to Joey, and he’ll be touching all of the bases. Whether throwing him fastballs, breaking balls or any type of off-speed, be weary. Here’s the other thing – Joey isn’t solely a pull hitter. Your scoreboard in right center isn’t safe.
“It looks effortless,” Berg said. “He puts the ball off the scoreboard to the opposite gap. It doesn’t look like he’s trying that hard sometimes and he’s able to put up the ridiculous numbers that he does. He’s great, he’s fun to be around and he’s a good kid. He doesn’t make things too difficult for me. You just have to let him have his space to do the things that have gotten him to this point.”
Joey says that roughly 95 percent of the time he goes to the plate, he’s not even thinking about hitting a home run. The big flies come as a byproduct of God-given talent, impressive strength and an obsessive dedication to the craft. Those homers just might be fueled in part by some Domino’s pizzas, but that only adds to his Babe Ruth-like image and allure.
There’s about to be more noise surrounding Grabanski and his pursuit of NAIA home run supremacy, but his level-headedness figures to allow him to block it out. Listen to his head coach when he says this just isn’t something you’re going to see again. As Dupic said. “We have some really good players who are kind of winding up their careers in the next year or two. I think it’s well worth getting out there to see them play because it’s pretty special to see what they can do, especially when they all get it going.”
Grabanski will get it going again in February as he brings his booming bat to a ballpark near you. He truly is Concordia’s Colossus of Clout. Dare we say the Great Grabino? Nah, too cheesy.
“It meant a lot just knowing that all the hard work I put in has shown up somewhere,” Grabanski said of his school home run record. “Ultimately, my goal is the same as every person and every team out there – win the last game of the year. Getting to that is more important than any individual achievements. It’s nice to have personal achievements like that, but being together as a family and trying to win that last game is the best feeling.”
Rhoades homers twice on opening day, Bulldogs defeated by OCU and Bellevue
Feb. 9, 2024
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – For the second season in a row, the Concordia University Baseball program has opened a new campaign in Oklahoma City. The Bulldogs weren’t going to simply ease into the 2024 season while up against an undefeated Oklahoma City University squad and seventh-ranked Bellevue University. Despite homering four times on Friday (Feb. 9), Concordia fell twice, slipping by scores of 6-5 at the hands of host Oklahoma City and 12-7 to Bellevue.
The 10th season of Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s tenure leading the Bulldogs is underway. Concordia actually began the ’23 season at 0-4 before recovering for a third-straight 40-win season. Dupic liked many things he saw on Friday beyond the results.
“I thought there were a lot of positive things,” Dupic said. “I thought Caden Johnson threw a nice ballgame in game one. We made some solid defensive plays and were a little bit cleaner at certain positions. The guys had some good responses coming back after some things didn’t go our way. We left some plays on the field in the first one and the second one got away from us a little bit. I saw a lot of good things. Our newcomers really did some good things – guys like Brad Hallock, Matt Rhoades and Jimmy Blumberg. I think we’re heading in the right direction. I’m just glad we’re getting some games in down here.”
The Stars of Oklahoma City (7-0 pending their result versus Bellevue) had already played two three-game series prior to Friday. Meanwhile, Concordia debuted a 2024 lineup chalk full of established veterans in the top five spots: Ty Nekoliczak, Jaidan Quinn, Joey Grabanski, Jay Adams and Alec Blakestad. Out of the No. 6 slot, freshman first baseman Matt Rhoades stole the spotlight while burning Oklahoma City pitching for a two-run homer in the fourth and then a three-run blast in the sixth. The latter homer supplied the Bulldogs a 5-3 lead.
However, the Stars knotted the score, 5-5, with two runs in the bottom of the sixth and then walked it off when Trent Kiraly drove a pitch from Jacob Lycan over the left field wall in the bottom of the seventh. Tristan Williams also homered twice for Oklahoma City, which went up against three Concordia hurlers. Caden Johnson started (30th career start) and went 4.1 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks. He recorded six strikeouts before being replaced by Maverick Wylder in the fifth. Wilder went 1.1 innings out of the bullpen.
Bellevue is a familiar foe as a program the Bulldogs saw at the national tournament in 2021 and 2022. The Bruins managed to outslug Concordia with 12 runs on 13 hits. Anthony Lind, Alec Ackerman and Jake Lacey produced a home run apiece as part of the attack. Concordia played the Bruins to a 5-5 tie after five innings before the in-state foe put up two runs in the sixth and five in the seventh. As offensive highlights for the Bulldogs, Hallock cracked a two-run homer in the third and Quinn pulverized his 47th career Concordia homer in the fifth. In addition, Adams doubled in a run and Grabanski singled home two tallies.
Blake Benson covered 4.2 innings (five runs on nine hits and a walk) versus Bellevue. The ball was then handed to Ernie Snyder (0.2 IP), Braxton Greenburg (1.0 IP) and Logan Fragomeni (0.2 IP). For the day, there were four Bulldogs who collected multiple hits: Hallock (3-for-5), Quinn (3-for-6), Adams (3-for-7) and Rhoades (2-for-6). In his first action as a Bulldog, Blumberg got the start at shortstop in both games.
The weekend stay in Oklahoma City will continue on Saturday with a single nine-inning game against the host Stars. The contest is scheduled to get underway at 1:30 p.m. CT from Jim Wade Stadium. Live coverage can be found via Oklahoma City’s athletics website linked HERE.
Oklahoma City weekend complete with rout of host Stars
Feb. 10, 2024
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – A strong collective day at the plate combined with the pitching arm of Caden Bugarske ensured that the Concordia University Baseball team would not leave Oklahoma City empty handed. The Bulldogs rebounded from a pair of losses in OKC on Friday and claimed an 11-1 victory over host Oklahoma City University on Saturday (Feb. 10). Five Concordia hitters notched exactly two hits, Bradley Hallock belted a two-run homer and Bugarske covered five solid frames.
Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad went up against Oklahoma City and No. 7 Bellevue University in Friday’s action. The Bulldogs went 1-2 on the weekend while ending on a high note.
“We played well in all facets,” Dupic said. “That’s been our focus and what we’ve been talking about. We were pretty strong defensively – tracked it and ran it down well in the outfield, made some nice plays in the infield and Caden Bugarske threw a really good ballgame. We also ran the bases well. Zack Day came in and put some pressure on them that kept us out of a double play, and Brad Hallock hit the two-run homer that made it 6-0. We would like to think we’re going to swing the bats well, so that was good to see. We want to try to get better in the other areas, and I thought today was a step forward.”
It was a five-run third inning that paved the way for the lopsided final score. In that frame, Alec Blakestad singled home two runs, Tanner Tompkins drove in another with a groundout and Hallock then blasted a two-run homer to left for his second blast of the weekend. Concordia tacked on with two runs in the fourth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh.
Plenty of Bulldogs got in on the act. Players with two hits included Jay Adams, Blakestad, Joey Grabanski, Matt Rhoades and Jaidan Quinn. The slugging third baseman Quinn emerged with an RBI double apiece in the first and seventh innings. Quinn, Blakestad, Hallock and Rhoades each drove in two runs. In addition, Adams, Blakestad and Grabanski all doubled once. At the top of the lineup, Ty Nekoliczak walked twice and scored two runs.
Bugarske made key pitches with runners on base and scattered seven hits in his five innings of work. He recorded six strikeouts to go against just one walk. Out of the bullpen, Dupic turned to Christian Gutierrez (1.1 IP) and Qwin Zabokrtsky (0.2 IP) and both held the Stars scoreless. Oklahoma City (8-2) got its lone run in the fourth inning on Aiden Alexander’s RBI single.
The occasion marked the second year in a row that Concordia opened its season in Oklahoma City. The Bulldogs went 0-3 in 2023 on this same road trip (before going on to finish at 40-18). Early on in ’24, Concordia has an idea of where it currently stands in relation to two other quality NAIA programs.
Said Dupic, “You get exposed when you don’t play well. We made a couple mistakes yesterday and got exposed. If you’re a pitcher and you don’t have your stuff, it’s going to be really hard to get those guys out. It’s good to play competitive teams. Those are teams that have a great chance to be in the national tournament and compete well. It’s good for us to be challenged in that way.”
The Bulldogs are slated to return to action next weekend (Feb. 17-18) for four games in Joplin, Mo. The opponents over those two days will be Dakota State University (S.D.), Graceland University (Iowa) and William Penn University (Iowa). Game locations will be Joplin High School on Feb. 17 and Wendell Redden Stadium on Feb. 18.
Adams breaks program hits record in split with William Penn
Feb. 18, 2024
JOPLIN, Mo. – After wiping away its scheduled Saturday games, the Concordia University Baseball team resumed the 2024 season with a neutral site doubleheader versus William Penn University (Iowa) on Sunday (Feb. 18). As a major highlight of the day, fifth-year Bulldog Jay Adams became the program’s all-time hits leader while Concordia split with the Statesmen in Joplin, Mo. The Bulldogs got two solid pitching performances in what amounted to a 3-2 loss and then an 11-2 victory.
Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad stands at 2-3 on the young season. The journey so far has included stops in Oklahoma City and Joplin.
“Looking at the doubleheader as a whole, we got two pretty good starts from Christian Gutierrez and Blake Benson,” Dupic said. “They both threw the ball really well, and Brad Hallock had a really good day. Jaidan Quinn had a bases-clearing double that broke the game open in game two. We gave Jay the game ball for breaking the all-time hits record. We played okay today. We’re still trying to put everything together. I think we’re on the right track, but we still have more work to do.”
The Waverly High School product Adams entered the day needing two hits to surpass Jesse Garcia (270 career hits) for the most in the history of the program. Adams moved to the top of the list during the game two victory. He also owns the school career standard for runs scored and has batted better than .350 in nearly 200 career collegiate games. Adams has been front and center for the most successful stretch Concordia Baseball has ever enjoyed. He keeps adding to a resume that includes three First Team All-GPAC awards.
Said Dupic, “It feels like we’ve broken a lot of records the past few years and Jay Adams breaking the hits record is pretty special. He’s been an incredible player for us and truly one of the best hitters in our school’s history. It’s a little reflective for me. I care for that kid a ton. He’s been really good and has been such a great hitter from the day he showed up on campus. It was a cool accomplishment for him to have and for our guys to share with him.”
In the opening contest on Sunday, righty Christian Gutierrez (5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) worked into the sixth while give Concordia a shot. In game two, lefty Blake Benson surrendered just one hit and struck out nine batters in six innings. Four hurlers pitched out of the bullpen on Sunday with Ernie Snyder, Nate Weaver and Maverick Wylder combined for 2.2 scoreless innings.
At the plate, the Carrollton, Texas, native Hallock continues to scald the baseball. He posted four hits while driving in two runs on Sunday. Eight Bulldogs collected multiple hits on the day, including three apiece from Alec Blakestad, Ty Nekoliczak and Quinn. The three-run double for Quinn came as part of a seventh-run seventh inning in game two. Matthew Rhoades also notched two hits and drove in three runs. Joey Grabanski remains three RBIs away from breaking another program all-time record currently owned by Garcia.
William Penn stands at 2-5 this season. The Statesmen braved chilly temperatures in Joplin on Saturday and dropped an 8-3 decision to another GPAC foe in Northwestern. In Sunday’s first game, Abel Madueno earned the win while pitching five solid frames that saw him work around six hits and four walks.
The Bulldogs will be back on the road on Tuesday for a doubleheader at Kansas Wesleyan University (5-1). First pitch from Salina, Kan., is set for 2 p.m. CT. The Coyotes finished the 2023 season at 44-15 and appeared in the opening round of the NAIA national tournament.
Grabanski breaks RBI record; bullpen, defense shine in sweep of No. 16 KWU
Feb. 20, 2024
SALINA, Kan. – The Concordia University Baseball team and its potent offense hope this is the week when it finds a rhythm. The Bulldogs took advantage of soaring February temperatures around the Midwest and belted five home runs on Tuesday (Feb. 20) as part of a doubleheader sweep at 16th-ranked Kansas Wesleyan University. Concordia won by scores of 14-5 and 5-2 while Joey Grabanski became the program’s new all-time RBIs record holder and the bullpen sparkled.
Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad resumed the 2024 season following Sunday’s doubleheader split with William Penn University (Iowa). The record stands at 4-3 overall.
“I’m very happy with the team,” Dupic said. “We didn’t make a single error all doubleheader. We were really good defensively. I thought the pitchers threw well – their offense is exceptional. They have some big-time power hitters and are really tough to pitch to. I was really proud of our pitchers, particularly our bullpen going six-and-a-third innings with no runs. Our at bats offensively were so competitive. We had some productive at bats, even productive outs. We have to do that to win the tight games.”
Not surprisingly, the Bulldog offense remains a force. The home runs that left Dean Evans Stadium on Tuesday came from Jaidan Quinn, Alec Blakestad and Matt Rhoades in game one and then from Grabanski and Quinn in game two. While the offense kept the pressure on the Coyotes, Concordia played error-free ball defensively and got terrific work all day out of the bullpen. When KWU cut a 7-1 Bulldog lead to 7-5 in game one, Concordia responded with seven runs over the game’s final three frames while running away with it.
The Bulldogs left no doubt in game one when Rhoades singled in two runs in the sixth and Quinn struck for a two-run blast in the seventh. There were four Concordia players who notched multiple hits in game one: Jay Adams (3-for-5), Rhoades (2-for-3), Blakestad (2-for-5) and Grabanski (2-for-5). A freshman who has fit seamlessly into the lineup and at first base, Rhoades drove in four runs and pulverized his third homer already this season. The visitors paraded around the bases in game one with 12 hits, nine walks and three stolen bases.
Grabanski unloaded for his first homer of the season (and 63rd of his career) in the third inning of game two. The two-run shot pushed the Grand Forks, N.D., native past Jesse Garcia on the program’s all-time RBI list. Grabanski collected five RBIs on the day to move his school career standard to 219. Quinn also homered in the fifth and Ty Nekoliczak knocked home a run with a base hit in the sixth. The second baseman Nekoliczak went 2-for-5 in game two.
Said Dupic of Grabanski, “Joey was Joey today. His at bats were great. He had that look in his eyes today. He’s just so special. He’s an incredible, incredible hitter. I’m glad I’m not the one calling pitches to try to get him out. He’s a really special hitter and a special kid.”
Both Concordia starting pitchers had the strikeout stuff working. Caden Johnson fanned eight batters in four innings while surrendering five runs (three of which came on home runs). In game two, Caden Bugarske recorded nine strikeouts and allowed two runs on five hits in 3.2 innings. In both ends of the twin bill, the bullpen did magnificent work. In the two games combined, the ‘pen covered 6.1 innings and surrendered just one hit (no runs). The relief crew included Ernie Snyder (2.0 IP) and Braxton Greenburg (1.0 IP) in game one and Qwin Zabokrtsky (1.0 IP), Greenburg (0.1 IP) and Jacob Lycan (2.0 IP) in game two. Lycan worked out of a two-on, no-out jam in the sixth and then closed out the sweep.
Kansas Wesleyan (7-4) went 44-15 last season while qualifying for the national tournament. Coyote catcher Tyler Favretto homered in both ends of Tuesday’s doubleheader.
The Bulldogs will be southbound again this weekend for a four-game neutral site series with Culver-Stockton College (Mo.). Doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday are slated to get underway at 1 p.m. CT from the LaRoche Complex in Fort Scott, Kan. The two programs met in the same location a year ago in what resulted in a four-game sweep for Concordia.
Bulldogs run it up on Culver-Stockton in lopsided twin bill
Feb. 24, 2024
FORT SCOTT, Kan. – Thiis offensive lineup is relentless. The Concordia University Baseball team went deep seven times on Saturday (Feb. 24) and paraded around the bases for a combined 40 runs in a doubleheader sweep of Culver-Stockton College (Mo.). The Bulldogs won by scores of 23-6 and 17-2 while playing at the LaRoche Baseball Complex in Fort Scott, Kan. Concordia piled up 41 hits and took 14 walks while abusing Wildcat pitching.
Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad appears to be finding its groove. The Bulldogs swept two games from No. 16 Kansas Wesleyan University on Tuesday and have improved to 6-3 on the season.
“Culver-Stockton has played some really good teams and been right there with them,” Dupic said. “We didn’t expect this at all, but offensively our guys did a really nice job. They had terrific strike zone discipline. They didn’t expand the zone and they walked a lot of guys. We had a lot of success and just did a really good job offensively for sure.”
Concordia set the tone on Saturday by scoring 16 times in the second inning of game one. Just about everyone got in on the fun. Alec Blakestad belted a grand slam as part of that second frame before Tanner Tompkins delivered a three-run homer in the fourth and the freshman sensation Matt Rhoades cracked a two-run blast in the fifth. Rhoades went 4-for-6 in that first game while Ty Nekoliczak reached base in all five plate appearances (3-for-3 with two walks).
The major explosion of game two occurred in the fourth when the Bulldogs racked up eight runs. In that frame, Jaidan Quinn and Rhoades pummeled a two-run homer apiece. For good measure, Quinn also homered in the fifth and surpassed 50 home runs for his Concordia career (third season). Quinn notched four hits and three teammates collected three hits in game two: Jay Adams, Blakestad and Nekoliczak.
Below is a quick summary of Bulldogs who totaled at least four hits in the doubleheader.
· Ty Nekoliczak: 6-for-7, five runs, one triple, five RBIs, three walks.
· Matt Rhoades: 6-for-10, four runs, one double, two home runs, five RBIs.
· Jaidan Quinn: 5-for-6, six runs, two doubles, two home runs, six RBIs, two walks.
· Alec Blakestad: 5-for-7, three runs, three doubles, one home run, seven RBIs, one walk.
· Jay Adams: 4-for-6, five runs, one home run, three RBIs, one walk, three stolen bases.
· Brad Hallock: 4-for-8, four runs, three RBIs, one walk.
Both Concordia starting pitchers earned wins on the day. Blake Benson worked five innings in game one and surrendered five runs (four earned) on nine hits and a walk while fanning nine hitters. In game two, Christian Gutierrez covered five frames and gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks to go along with eight strikeouts. Dupic used just one reliever in both games as Nate Weaver tossed two innings in game one and DJ Anderson fired two scoreless frames in game two. Defensively, Concordia made two errors for the day. Dupic commended Jose Cevallos for stepping in at shortstop after Jimmy Blumberg had to be removed.
The weekend series will continue on Sunday with another 1 p.m. CT doubleheader versus Culver-Stockton. Box scores will populate via the NAIA scoreboard located HERE. Due to the games being played at a neutral site, there will not be live coverage.
Bulldogs punctuate four-game sweep with 11-homer Sunday
Feb. 25, 2024
FORT SCOTT, Kan. – The Concordia University Baseball team was playing MLB The Show on easy mode all weekend. The Bulldogs continued to wear out the basepaths on Sunday (Feb. 25) as they homered 11 times and racked up 32 hits while wiping out Culver-Stockton College (Mo.) in games three and four of the four-game series. The latest matchups went to Concordia by scores of 15-4 and 12-1. Jaidan Quinn finished off a week full of video game numbers, homering three more times on Sunday.
Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad outscored the Wildcats by a combined total of 67-13 for the weekend. A 6-0 week has pushed the Bulldogs to 8-3 overall.
“Our guys keep swinging it well,” Dupic said. “Even the guys who didn’t hit home runs did a really nice job. And then I thought our bullpen was pretty good today. We pieced together the second game today and threw a bunch of different guys. It was a good day. We played pretty well defensively.”
While Quinn left the yard three times on Sunday, so too did Brad Hallock. In addition, Matt Rhoades belted two homers and Jay Adams, Joey Grabanski and Tanner Tompkins pulverized a home run apiece. Quinn and Grabanski drove in six runs apiece on the day. Four Concordia hitters produced four or more hits on Sunday: Quinn (6-for-7), Rhoades (5-for-8), Grabanski (5-for-9) and Ty Nekoliczak (4-for-10). Quinn also doubled twice, walked and scored seven runs.
In game three of the series, the Bulldogs scored at least one run in every inning. Hallock got on the board with the day’s first blast with a two-run shot in the second. Concordia grew its lead to 9-4 in the fourth with the help of Grabanski’s three-run homer. In game four of the series, the Bulldogs put the game out of reach with six runs in the fourth. Rhoades unloaded for a two-run homer that jump-started the inning. There were only two innings all day that saw Concordia go scoreless. It also made just one error for the day.
The numbers Quinn and Rhoades put up all week are enough to terrify opposing hurlers. As part of the 6-0 week, the Bonner Springs, Kan., native Quinn went 13-for-18 (.722) with 17 runs, four doubles, seven home runs, six walks and 38 total bases (2.111 slugging percentage). As for the freshman Rhoades from Monument, Colo., he went 13-for-23 (.565) with 10 runs, three doubles, five home runs, 13 RBIs and 31 total bases (1.348 slugging percentage). Rhoades has made the jump to college baseball look much too easy.
Said Dupic, “As a freshman coming in, it’s pretty incredible to get off to this good of a start offensively. Having that towards the back half of our lineup is pretty good for our team right now.”
Eight different pitchers combined to cover the 14 innings of action on Sunday. Qwin Zabokrtsky threw six innings of the first contest and allowed four runs on 10 hits with no walks. He struck out two batters. Cameron Pickens then tossed three shutout innings with just one hit allowed in the series finale. The army of relievers for the day included (in order): Logan Fragomeni, Ernie Snyder, Sam Rambajan, Braxton Greenburg, Maverick Wylder and Jacob Lycan. Starters Caden Johnson and Caden Bugarske were kept fresh for the upcoming road trip.
Culver-Stockton (1-11) has had a tough go of it through 12 games. However, the Wildcats played tight games with strong teams like Doane and Columbia College (Mo.) in recent action. Culver-Stockon mustered some offense in Sunday’s first game in tallying 11 hits, including three apiece Kannon Kirk and Jaison Andujar.
The next time the Bulldogs take the diamond, they will have arrived in West Palm Beach, Fla., for spring break. The tour of The Sunshine State will begin with a four-game series at Keiser University starting March 1. Concordia will also take part in the RussMatt Invitational and the Warner University Invitational.
Bulldogs drop series opener at Keiser despite homering three times
Mar. 1, 2024
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – There were fireworks early on as the Concordia University Baseball team slugged three home runs over the first two innings in Friday (March 1)’s series opener at Keiser University (Fla.). However, the Seahawks outscored the Bulldogs by a count of 9-0 from the bottom of the second on and won, 11-6, in West Palm Beach, Fla. Reigning NAIA National Player of the Week Jaidan Quinn went deep for his ninth home run already this season.
The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s club. Concordia (8-4) is slated to play 10 more games in The Sunshine State over the course of the spring break tour.
“They have a really good lineup and in order to hold them down, we have to be at our best,” Dupic said. “We weren’t at our best, and they took advantage of it. Those things happen in baseball sometimes. It’s a good thing for us to be playing such good competition. We’re looking forward to continuing to play and to getting a lot of games down here. It’s a chance to learn a lot about ourselves.”
The four-game set with Keiser has been billed by NAIABall as its “Big Series of the Week.” It looked like the Bulldogs might take the upper hand in the series on Friday when Joey Grabanski launched a two-run homer and Alec Blakestad delivered a solo blast in the top of the first. The smoldering Jaidan Quinn then hammered a three-run homer in the second. Quinn’s bomb made it a 6-2 Concordia lead at the time. The Bonner Springs, Kan., native Quinn has now homered in four-straight games and in six of the past seven contests.
From that point on, Keiser starting pitcher Danny Galvan (3-0) buckled down and worked seven solid innings (three earned runs allowed). He then handed it off to Chuck Fishbaugh, who fired two scoreless frames to shut the door on the Bulldogs. Offensively, the Seahawks flashed some pop of their own as they notched four doubles and Pablo Ruiz homered twice. Ruiz went 4-for-5 and drove in five runs.
The Concordia offense went quiet outside of the early home runs. On the other side, Keiser managed to tag Caden Johnson for seven runs on eight hits and three walks in three innings. Dupic called upon Ernie Snyder (2.0 IP) and Logan Fragomeni (3.0 IP) out of the bullpen. The trio of Bulldog hurlers combined for 10 strikeouts. Defensively, both teams committed one error.
Keiser improved to 14-2 and has the look of an NAIA top 25 team despite not receiving votes in the preseason coaches’ poll. Said Dupic, “It’s a really, really good team. I was impressed with the depth and competitiveness of their lineup. They’re very difficult to beat. We’ll have to be at our best for sure.”
As part of the four-game series, Concordia and Keiser will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. CT (11 a.m. ET) in West Palm Beach. The two sides will also meet for one game at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday. Live webcasts and stats are being provided by Keiser via its website HERE.
Concordia snares two more wins on day four in Florida
Mar. 4, 2024
AUBURNDALE, Fla. – A short stay at the RussMatt Invitational in Auburndale, Fla., yielded a pair of victories for the Concordia University Baseball team. Michael Welch came through with the game-tying RBI triple and go-ahead run in the first game of the day and Matt Rhoades followed with a winning performance in his collegiate pitching debut as the Bulldogs won 4-3 over Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Ohio) and 10-1 over Valley City State University (N.D.) on Monday (March 4). It was also a fine day for Jay Adams, who pulled even for the program’s all-time doubles record.
Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad improved to 4-1 on the Florida road trip and to 12-4 overall this season. Concordia is halfway through its spring break slate.
“It was a really good day,” Dupic said. “Matt Rhoades pitched for us. We recruited him as a dual guy but he has been hitting so well that we kind of let him focus on that. Down here you have to have a lot of arms. He did a really nice job and we had great bullpen work today. Logan Fragomeni, Sam Rambajan and Kellen Ingram were really good and then Braxton Greenburg came in to get the last out. It was tight for a while, but we kept grinding out at bats and they started to struggle to find the zone.”
For a team that grabs headlines with its prolific offense, the Bulldogs flashed some pitching depth on Monday. Eight different Concordia hurlers combined to limit the day’s two foes to four runs on 13 hits and six walks. In the clash with Mount Vernon Nazarene, the Bulldogs turned to a bullpen that went 4.1 innings and surrendered only one run. The bullpen crew consisted of Ernie Snyder (2.1 IP), Jacob Lycan (0.2 IP) and Maverick Wylder (1.1 IP). Wylder earned the win two days after picking up two saves at Keiser University (Fla.).
Concordia simply needed some timely hitting as it trailed 3-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth in a seven-inning game. After Brad Hallock singled to start the frame, Welch tripled to right and then scored on an error by the shortstop, providing the game’s final tally. In the seventh, Wylder managed to get a hitter to line out for the final out with a runner at third base.
Nearing 300 career hits, Adams led the offensive attack with a 4-for-7 day. He belted a two-run homer in the first inning versus MVNU. In the matchup with VCSU, Adams doubled twice, scored twice and drove in two runs. Adams is now tied with Jesse Garcia for the most doubles in program history with 59. Joey Grabanski also went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs and two RBIs in that same game, Alex Draper notched a base hit, two runs and an RBI, Jimmy Blumberg doubled and knocked in a run and Tanner Tompkins supplied an RBI single. The Bulldogs broke the game open with six runs in the fifth with the help of some wildness by Viking pitching.
In his first career start on the mound, Rhoades worked 4.1 shutout innings and allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out seven batters. The ball was then turned over to Fragomeni (1.0 IP), Rambajan (0.2 IP), Ingram (0.2 IP) and Greenburg (0.1 IP). The day’s first starter was Cameron Pickens, who worked 2.2 frames.
The Bulldogs will take the next couple days off from game action before beginning play at the Warner University Invitational on Thursday. The opponents that day will be Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.) and Lawrence Technological University. A rundown of live coverage for games over spring break can be found HERE.
Johnson, Benson earn wins as Blakestad and offense showcase depth
Mar. 7, 2024
LAKE WALES, Fla. – Following a couple of much-needed off days spent in The Sunshine State, the Concordia University Baseball team opened its three-day stay at the Warner University Invitational on Thursday (March 7). The Bulldogs took care of business thanks to solid starts from hurlers Caden Johnson and Blaken Benson and a lineup that continues to grind away one through nine. The latest victories for Concordia came by scores of 6-2 over Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.) and 13-4 over Lawrence Technological University (Mich.) in Lake Wales, Fla.
Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad has moved to 14-4 overall and stands at 6-1 on the spring break tour of Florida. The Bulldogs did not commit a single error on Thursday while putting forth solid performances in all facets.
“The guy we faced (from Lawrence Tech) was really good,” Dupic said. “Our guys had tremendous strike zone discipline and did a really good job making him come into the zone. We were able to do some other things on the bases and be a little more versatile. Guys off the bench were really good today – Jose Cevallos, Alex Draper and Jack Nelson all did good things. We had some guys come in and run like Zack Day and Kyle Berg. It’s nice to have that depth and that many options.”
Among the highlights of the day, right fielder Jay Adams became the program’s new career doubles leader as his two-bagger in the second inning of game two pushed him past Jesse Garcia on the all-time list. Over the two game’s on Friday, center fielder Alec Blakestad emerged as the team’s brightest star as he reached base in seven of eight plate appearances and homered twice in the rout of Lawrence Tech (7-5). Many others got in on the fun as 11 different Bulldogs collected at least one hit on the day.
Johnson and Benson got all the offensive support they needed. In making his fourth start of the season, Johnson worked six innings and limited Calumet to two runs on five hits and a walk to go along with seven strikeouts. Johnson earned the 20th win of his collegiate career. In the second game, Benson went five strong frames, surrendering one run on six hits and a walk while striking out three. Dupic called upon relievers Kellen Ingram for one inning and DJ Andersen for two innings to close out the victories.
Said Dupic, “When we get good starts, we’re pretty good. When we are able to set up our bullpen, we can use the depth that we have back there. We like our offense. When we get good starts and defend, we have a pretty good team. Those two guys did a nice job today.”
The Concordia offense left the yard six times on Friday. In addition to Blakestad’s two bombs, one home run apiece was belted by Cevallos, Joey Grabanski (66th career homer), Nelson and Jaidan Quinn. The Bonner Springs, Kan., native Quinn pushed his NAIA leading season home run count to 13. In the drubbing of Lawrence Tech, Cevallos, Quinn and Nelson each homered in the fifth inning or later while piling it on. The Bulldogs had gotten on the board first with Matt Rhoades’ two-run single in the first.
Calumet (5-9) pushed across its two runs in the fifth inning and trailed just 4-2 after five innings. Concordia added some insurance in the sixth when Brad Hallock’s double scored Blakestad and Grabanski. In supplementing their power bats, the Bulldogs also stole five bases on the day. Two of the thefts were credited to Zack Day while Blakestad, Kyle Berg and Nekoliczak swiped one bag apiece.
Adams returned to Concordia for 2023-24 while using his ‘COVID year’ of eligibility. The Waverly, Neb., native now owns program all-time career records for doubles (60), hits (290) and runs scored (238). Grabanski remains the school’s career standard bearer for home runs (66) and RBIs (236).
The action from Lake Wales will continue on Friday with two more games. The Bulldogs are scheduled to take on Siena Heights University (Mich.) at 8:30 a.m. CT / 9:30 a.m. ET and then invite host Warner University at 3:30 p.m. CT / 4:30 p.m. ET.
Gutierrez fires gem; Bulldogs grind out two more wins in Lake Wales
Mar. 8, 2024
LAKE WALES, Fla. – As defending champion of the Warner University Invite, the Concordia University Baseball program aspires to emerge from the 2024 spring break with another trophy. Strong pitching from the likes of Christian Gutierrez and Maverick Wylder were instrumental in helping the Bulldogs grind out a pair of tight victories in Lake Wales, Fla., on Friday (March 8). Concordia won by scores of 6-4 over Siena Heights University (Mich.) and 4-1 over invite host Warner. Scheduled for seven innings, the second game of the day went nine frames.
Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad has won eight of nine games on its Florida tour and has moved to 16-4 overall as the trip nears a conclusion.
“I’m just really proud of our guys,” Dupic said. “These are the games we didn’t always come out on top of a year ago, and we’re starting to win them on a more consistent basis because we’re defending better and we’re getting better pitching. Our bullpen was really sharp today and we made a lot of plays defensively in big situations. I’m just really pleased with the guys and their ability to battle. Offensively, we just kept chipping away against a good pitcher and found a way to get the job done.”
The first seven innings of the clash with Warner were scoreless as Gutierrez traded zeroes with starting pitching counterpart Cauy Massner. At last, the Bulldogs got on the board when Brad Hallock cracked a solo homer (sixth of the season) off Massner to lead off the eighth. Things then got tense in the bottom half when Carlos Vicente singled home a run and put men on the corners with two outs. Dupic then called upon Wylder, who coaxed a grounder to second to force a ninth inning.
The top of the ninth was eventful as a single by Jay Adams, walk by Alec Blakestad and a hit by pitch by Matt Rhoades loaded the bases. Two runs subsequently came home on a wild pitch and a passed ball. Hallock then came through with another clutch hit as his sharply hit grounder inside the third base line went for an RBI single. Wyler proceeded to fire a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth (two strikeouts) to nail down the win.
Gutierrez covered 7.2 masterful innings. He allowed just one run on five hits and a walk while striking out nine batters. The Waverly, Neb., native Wylder earned the win while continuing to shut down opposing offenses late in games. Wylder has allowed only two hits in eight appearances this season.
Said Dupic of Gutierrez, “He’s been pitching so well. He knows exactly who he is and he just pitches to it each guy. He’s a really tough kid, very in control of himself and he knows how to pitch. He did a really nice job moving the ball around … Maverick’s been terrific. He’s a tough kid and someone we trust with the ball late. He’s been really competitive and has executed well. He’s been a key for us.”
In the first game on Friday, Adams blasted a two-run homer in the third inning, staking Concordia to a 3-1 lead. The advantage grew to 5-1 thanks to Jack Nelson’s two-run double in the third. After the Saints closed within one (5-4) in the fifth, the Bulldogs pushed across an insurance run in the sixth with the aid of an error. Ty Nekoliczak finished that contest with two hits and two runs scored while Joey Grabanski also drove in a run. In the win over Warner, Hallock and Jimmy Blumberg notched two hits apiece.
Wylder wound up with a save versus Siena Heights as he retired the only two batters he faced. Starter Qwin Zabokrtsky went 4.2 innings and picked up the win while allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks to go along with three strikeouts. In between Zabokrtsky and Wylder, Sam Rambajan tossed 1.2 shutout innings. Defensively, Concordia made two errors in 69 chances on the day.
The Bulldogs will wrap up their Florida tour on Friday with the championship game of the Warner Invitational. That contest is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CT (4:30 p.m. ET) but could start later pending the games played prior to Concordia. The opponent is to be determined.
Bulldogs finish successful Florida swing with tight loss to No. 8 Cumberlands
Mar. 9, 2024
LAKE WALES, Fla. – One rough half inning was the culprit on Saturday (March 9) evening as the Concordia University Baseball team completed a successful run through its spring break Florida tour. With the Warner University Invitational championship on the line, the Bulldogs’ rally fell short in what amounted to a 6-4 defeat at the hands of eighth-ranked University of the Cumberlands (Ky.). As highlights for Concordia, Joey Grabanski belted his 67th career home run and the bullpen combo of Logan Fragomeni and Jacob Lycan kept hopes alive of a late-game rally.
Despite the loss, Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad will leave The Sunshine State with positive vibes. The Bulldogs went 8-2 over the past week in Florida and stand at 16-5 overall heading into league action.
“They’re a great team,” said Dupic of Cumberlands. “I was really proud of how our guys came back and fought. I thought we competed really hard. We just had an inning or two get away from us, especially the third when we gave away a few too many free things. I’m still very pleased with the trip. I think it was a good trip for our team. We took a lot of positive steps forward.”
An error with two outs in the Cumberlands half of the third inning resulted in four unearned runs coming across for the Patriots, a member of the NAIA’s Mid-South Conference. The first four hitters to reach in that frame did so via a hit by pitch, walk, error and another walk. From the fourth inning on, Concordia settled in from a pitching and defense perspective. Fragomeni worked 2.1 scoreless innings and Lycan shut down Cumberlands in the sixth and seventh frames. Their work gave the potent Bulldog offense a chance to chip away.
In the bottom of the third, Grabanski unloaded for a two-run homer to left (fifth of the season) to get Concordia within 6-3. Two innings later, Grabanski’s double plated Jaidan Quinn. However, the Patriots (19-4) closed the game out with a scoreless inning apiece from relief pitchers Caleb Plummer and Chipper Korbacher. Offensively, Trent Pokes drove in three runs to pace Cumberlands, a program that finished last season at 49-9 overall and was an NAIA World Series qualifier.
The pitching staff managed to limit the Patriots to five hits. Said Dupic, “Braxton (Greenburg) was good out of the gate. Logan Fragomeni was good and Jacob Lycan was great. There’s no question we’re going to have good depth within our pitching staff. That will be very important for us. We saw some good things out of those guys.”
Out of the No. 4 spot in the lineup, Adams went 2-for-4 with a run and pushed his career hit total to 294. One hit apiece was collected on Saturday by Ty Nekoliczak, Quinn and Matt Rhoades. While getting the start on the mound, Greenburg went 2.1 innings before handing off to Ernie Snyder (0.1 IP). Frogomeni and Lycan were the third and fourth pitchers used by Dupic.
Over the course of the stay in Florida, Concordia earned wins over Keiser University (Fla.) (two), Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Ohio), Valley City State University (N.D.), Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.), Lawrence Technological University (Mich.), Siena Heights University (Mich.) and Warner University (Fla.). The regular season schedule will be made up exclusively of conference foes the rest of the way.
The home opener and GPAC opener will be packed together as the Bulldogs now look forward to a return to Nebraska for an anticipated doubleheader with rival Doane (14-2). First pitch next Saturday (March 16) is slated or 1 p.m. CT from Plum Creek Park in Seward. It will be a rematch of last year’s GPAC tournament title game. It’s possible that both teams could be nationally ranked by the time the twin bill occurs. A new NAIA coaches’ poll is scheduled for release on Wednesday.
Conference play to greet Bulldogs upon return from Florida
Mar. 11, 2024
SEWARD, Neb. – Now that the Bulldogs have returned to Nebraska, they are gearing up for the start of conference play. Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad went 8-2 over its 10 games in The Sunshine State (March 1-9), where they made stops in West Palm Beach, Auburndale and Lake Wales. The Concordia University Baseball team wrapped up its Florida tour this past Saturday with a tight 6-4 defeat at the hands of No. 8 University of the Cumberlands (Ky.). The Bulldogs stand at 16-5 overall at the conclusion of nonconference action.
This week
Saturday, March 16 vs. Doane (14-2, 0-0 GPAC), 1 p.m. DH --Live Webcast | Live Stats: Game 1 – Game 2 | Location: Plum Creek Park (Seward, Neb.)
Sunday, March 17 at Briar Cliff (6-10, 0-0 GPAC), 12 p.m. DH --Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Bishop Mueller Field (Sioux City, Iowa)
By the numbers
· While going 8-2 in the state of Florida, Concordia earned wins over Keiser University (Fla.) (two), Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Ohio), Valley City State University (N.D.), Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.), Lawrence Technological University (Mich.), Siena Heights University (Mich.) and Warner University (Fla.). The two losses came against Keiser (three-game series) and No. 8 Cumberlands. Over the 10-game run, the Bulldogs outscored their foes by a combined total of 73-49 and batted .283 with a .380 on-base percentage and .539 slugging percentage. The Concordia pitching staff posted a 3.96 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 75 innings.
· Concordia homered 20 times in Florida. Multiple homers were belted by the likes of Jaidan Quinn (five), Jay Adams (four), Alec Blakestad (three), Joey Grabanski (three) and Matt Rhoades (two). Adams put forth the team’s highest batting average on the trip as he went 14-for-35 (.400) with three doubles, four homers and 10 RBIs. It was also a fine stretch for Granbanski, who batted. 382 (13-for-34) with three doubles, three homers and 12 RBIs. Several Bulldog pitchers also threw solidly in Florida. Closer Maverick Wylder threw five shutout innings and collected two wins and three saves. Christian Gutierrez logged the most innings (14.1) as he allowed five earned runs on 12 hits and a walk to go along with 14 strikeouts. Three others did not allow a run in Florida: Rhoades (4.1 IP), Jacob Lycan (3.2 IP) and Sam Rambajan (2.1 IP).
· The Bonner Springs, Kan., native Quinn has already earned two GPAC Player of the Week awards and an NAIA National Player of the Week honor. Quinn enters this week leading the NAIA with 13 home runs. In this season’s first 21 games, Quinn is batting .435 (30-for-69) with 31 runs, seven doubles and 33 RBIs while sporting a .543 on-base percentage and 1.101 slugging percentage. The career numbers for Quinn are also eye popping. In 137 games as a Bulldog, Quinn has batted .360 with 59 home runs and 163 RBIs. He owns a career on-base percentage of .513 and slugging percentage of .845.
· In recent action, Adams rose to the top of the program’s all-time lists for hits (294) and doubles (60). He’s also the school standard bearer for runs scored (241). The Waverly, Neb., native is closing in on becoming the first player in program history to reach 300 career hits. Over 211 games in Concordia blue, Adams has also totaled 40 home runs, 191 RBIs and 480 total bases. His career batting average stands at .358.
· With a homer and a double in the final game of the road trip, Grabanski moved past 500 career total bases, making him the first player in program history to accomplish that feat. In his career, the Grand Forks, N.D., native has recorded 145 singles, 46 doubles and 67 home runs. According to the NAIA record book entering this season, Grabanski ranks third in the history of the NAIA for career home runs. The top two in the association’s history are Brice Cutspec (77) and Steve Dover (72).
· Dupic’s career record stands at 298-168-1 in 10 seasons leading the program. A year ago, he became the winningest coach in the history of Concordia Baseball. Entering this season, the Bulldogs were one of seven NAIA programs to have won 40 or more games in each of the past three years. Dupic has guided the program to a combined five GPAC championships, five national tournaments and one NAIA World Series appearance.
· The bullpen has emerged as an early strength for Concordia. The team’s most effective relievers to this point have been Logan Fragomeni (1.12 ERA in 8.0 IP), Jacob Lycan (1.42 ERA in 6.1 IP), Sam Rambajan (0.00 ERA in 3.1 IP) and Maverick Wylder (1.12 ERA in 8.0 IP). The team ERA sits at 4.23 in 151 innings. Christian Gutierrez has gone 2-1 with a 2.81 ERA in 25.2 innings as a starter.
The opponents
Doane swept GPAC regular season and tournament titles in 2023 and is primed for another successful spring under the leadership of seventh-year Head Coach Josh Oltmans. The Tigers have started this season at 14-2 with a pair of wins over 10th-ranked Missouri Baptist University. Doane boasts a strong pitching staff headed by ace Aaron Forrest, who is 5-0 with a 2.10 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 30 innings. Forrest was last season’s GPAC Pitcher of the Year. The returning first/second team All-GPAC players for the Tigers are Forrest along with Logan Amick (second team), Kaden Crawford (first team), Nate Mensik (first team), Joe Osborn (first team). Doane was ranked No. 9 in the latest media poll released by NAIABall.
Briar Cliff was picked seventh by the coaches in the GPAC preseason poll. The Chargers have started 6-10 after finishing last season at 23-26 (9-19 GPAC). Head Coach Corby McGlauflin returns 2023 Honorable Mention All-GPAC award winners Matt Hmielewski and Kyle Steinborn. So far this season, Briar Clif is batting .253 and is averaging 3.4 runs scored per game. The pitching staff sports an ERA of 6.33. Steinborn has made four starts and owns a 1-1 record and 3.24 ERA in 25 innings. Before hosting the Bulldogs on Sunday, Briar Cliff will welcome Hastings to Sioux City for a doubleheader on Friday.
Next Week
Conference play will continue as Northwestern pays a visit to Seward for a four-game series that will unfold March 22-23. Doubleheaders are scheduled to get underway at 4 p.m. on March 22 and at 1 p.m. on March 23.