Wood Ducks Baseball Season Preview
SEASON OPENER
The Wood Ducks will begin the season on Thursday with a doubleheader starting at 4:30 p.m. versus Fredrick CC in Davenport, FL. Fredrick is currently ranked #13 in the NJCAA DII poll and world series participant last season.
RUSSMATT INVITE AND ICCAC
The Wood Ducks will open the season with 14 games in 14 days with seven out of the nine opponents being ranked on one of the major junior college rankings. The Century College baseball team is set to open the 2022 season with 10 games at the RussMatt Invitational in Central Florida. Followed by doubleheaders versus ICCAC opponents NIACC and DMACC. The Wood Ducks will begin the season at the RussMatt with a doubleheader versus Fredrick CC #13 (3/3), doubleheader with Erie CC #21 PBR (3/4), single nine with Owens #RV, a world series participant last year (3/5) and Bryant and Stratton (OH) (3/6), doubleheader with Heartland CC #18 (3/8), and finish the central Florida trip a split doubleheader with Glen Oaks and last year's national runner-up Niagara County CC #1 (3/9).
The Wood Ducks return home for an early morning doubleheader in US Bank stadium with NIACC #RV starting at 7am and head to Boone IA for a clash with DMACC #RV on March 16th
GAME COVERAGE DURING RUSSMATE
https://russmatt.com/tournament-info/live-streaming/
NATIONAL PRESEASON POLLS
The Wood Ducks are currently ranked in all the National Polls. 8th in the NJCAA, 16th in the JBB, 9th in the NJCAA Baseball Coaches Association, and 13th in the PBR JUCO Rankings
PRE-SEASON ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
Outfielder Chris Jacobs was named to the JBB NJCAA DIII Pre-Season All-American Team. Jacobs was a member of the All-Region team last year hitting .405 11 doubles 2 triples, 3 home runs with 31 RBI.
COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ben Clapp, Chris Jacobs, Justin Beahler, and Leo Bustos were named to the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's JUCO players to watch for the 2022 season.
ERZAR TAKES OVER
Matthew Erzar was named head coach on June 14, 2021 and became the 3rd head coach in program history. Matthew comes from Dakota County Technical College where he held the helm for the last five years. Erzar had a record of 101-96 (.512) in 5 seasons in the dugout for the Blue Knights including a 61-37 (.622) tally the last 3 seasons. He has led the baseball team to one Region XIII DII Championship (2018) and two Runners-up (2017 & 2019). Erzar was named region coach of the year in 2018 and led the 2019 team to the school record for wins in a season with 33. Matthew left the DCTC with the most career wins and was the longest tenured coach of the Blue Knights.
COACHING STAFF
Bret Mitchell and Kevin Nunn continue their roles with the Wood Ducks as pitching coach and a hitting coach. Dana Kiecker will also be joining the staff as bench coach. Mitchell will be in his 3rd as pitching coach. He coached for St. Thomas and played in the Mets organization after being drafted out if Minnesota State- Mankato. Nunn will be in his 7th year as hitting coach. Kevin had previously coached with DWU and UM Crookston. Kiecker comes to Century with Coach Erzar were he served as pitching coach for 4 years. Dana played for the Boston Red Sox from 90-91 and play in professional baseball for 10 years. Dana was drafted after a standout career at St. Cloud State University.
WHO'S BACK?
Century College returns 10 players from its 31-9 2021 Region XIII runner-up squad.
Catchers – Justin Beahler (1B) and Ben Clapp (3B)
Infielder - Xander Paar (OF) and Kolin Williams (OF)
Outfielders – Chris Jacobs and Taylor Mattern,
Pitchers – Devon Davis, Liam Fritz, Blake Gulden, Gage Johansen
WELCOME TO THE NEST
The Woodies welcome 25 newcomers this season:
Catcher - Brock Larsen, AJ McMahon (SS), Ty Wieman.
Infielders - Brayden Bengston, Noah Drusch, Grant Proctor Manny Salazar, Juan Rodriquez (P),
Outfielders – Zach Bruns, Zach Evenson (P), Justin Hanson (P), Max Kelly, Will Spychalla, Charlie Thibodeau (1B/P)
Pitchers – Charlie Atkinson, Ryan Bell, Leo Bustos, Jack Carlson, Isaac Finley, Nick Foster, Paul Girard, Kaden Pfeffer, Dylan Immel, Ty Valiton, Jack Vlasaty
NON DIVISONAL PLAY
After the DMACC series, the Wood Ducks will head home to play Hibbing CC on March 19th & 20th. Bay College April 1st & 2nd, St. John's University JV Apr 6th before starting the divisional play. Other non-divisional battles will be a home and home with Central Lake College April 15th & 16th, hosting Minnesota Post Grad April 20th, and head to Parade Stadium to play Augsburg University JV on April 28th.
DIVISION PLAY
After the game with St. John's University, the Woodies play home and home doubleheaders versus all the MCAC South Division opponents. Rochester Community and Technical College on April 9th & 10th, Western Technical College on April 23rd & 24th, Minnesota West CC on April 30th & May 1st, Riverland CC on May 7th & 8th. The top 3 teams from the division will advance to the Region Championship tournaments.
REGION XIII – NORTH PLAINS DISTRICTS – WORLD SERIES
Region XIII playoffs will be divided after into two 5-team tournaments. The teams will be seed after the top three teams from each MCAC division and NDSCS. The top two teams from each sub region will play the following week in the North Plains District. The top four of the Region XIII Championships will play a four-team double elimination tournament for the North Plains District Championship.
Winner of the North Plains District heads to Greenville, TN for the NJCAA DIII College World Series May 28th – June 4th.
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Game Changer: Century College Wood Ducks 2022