Wood Ducks win season opener
SEASON OPENER WIN
The Wood Ducks began their season on Friday Feb 27th with a doubleheader starting at 5:30 a.m. versus Minnesota North College – Hibbing in US Bank Stadium. Century won 15-9 in game one and lead 4-1 in a halted game two.
Both offenses were strong as the Ducks collected nine hits and MNC Hibbing six in the high-scoring affair. MNC Hibbing opened the scoring in the first atter an error scored two runs. A sacrifice fly by Cano extended the MNC Hibbing lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning. Century flipped the game on its head in the top of the fifth, scoring eight runs on four hits to take the lead, 8-4. The biggest blow in the inning was a double by Connor Larsen that drove in three. Brady Flicek earned the win for the Wood Ducks. The hurler allowed zero hits and zero runs over one and one-third innings, striking out four and walking one. Coby Brownlee and Ben Lang each collected two hits. Larsen and John Teigland each drove in four runs.
Century Wood Ducks had a strong eye at the plate, accumulating 14 walks for the game. Caden Stern and Isaac Wenszell led the team with three walks each. Brownlee and Stern each stole multiple bases.
RUSSMATT INVITE
The Wood Ducks Florida trip will be with 14 games in 10 days with five out of the eight opponents being ranked on one of the major junior college rankings. The Wood Ducks will begin the season at the RussMatt with a doubleheader versus #22 Lansing CC, doubleheader with Erie CC and doubleheader with Schoolcraft College, single nine with #15 Genessee College and Lake Region State College, doubleheader with #10 Hudson Valley CC , double header #4 Niagara County CC and finish the central Florida trip a doubleheader with #11 Suffolk CC.
GAME COVERAGE DURING RUSSMATE
https://russmatt.com/tournament-info/live-streaming/
NATIONAL PRESEASON POLLS
The Wood Ducks are currently ranked in both the National Polls. 2nd in the NJCAA, 5th in the JBB, and 8th in the Dream Big JUCO Rankings
PRE-SEASON ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
Pitcher Shayne Pellin was named to the JBB NJCAA DIII Pre-Season All-American Team. Pellin was a member of the All-Region team last year
ERZAR IN FIFTH YEAR AND COACHING STAFF
Matthew Erzar led the team to a 46-11 record and Region XIII Champion and National Runner-up last year in his fourth year at Century College. He is 146-60 at Century and 304-218 overall as head coach. Brendan Knoll, Kollin Williams, Matt Nunn, and Kevin Nunn continue as assistant coaches with the Wood Ducks. Knoll will be in his 3rd year as pitching coach. He played for the Wood Ducks and Minnesota State- Mankato. Knoll currently plays professionally for the Sioux Falls Canaries. Williams will be in his 3rd year as outfield/hitting coach. He played for the Wood Ducks. Matt Nunn will be in his 3rd year as catching/hitting coach. He played for the Wood Ducks and the University of Minnesota-Crookston. Kevin Nunn will be in his 11th year as hitting coach. Kevin had previously coached Dakota Wesleyan University and University of Minnesota-Crookston.
WHO'S BACK?
Century College returns 10 players from its 46-11 2025 Region XIII Champion and national runner-up squad, three of them were named to the all-division team last spring.
Catcher – Connor Larsen and John Tiegland
Infielders –Gavin Goehner (P), Jack Erickson, and Ty Escobedo
Outfielders – Coby Brownlee and Caden Stern (IF)
Pitchers –Ethan Heinen, Aiden Keranen, and Shayne Pellin.
WELCOME TO THE NEST
The Woodies welcome 21 newcomers this season:
Catcher – Charlie Mumford, Adyen Jensen and Nathan Colling
Infielders – Ryan Jeffrey, Malik Martin, Ben Lang (P), Gavin Tarras, and Riley Donahoe
Outfielders –Lawson Ness, Nathan Zander (P), and Isaac Wenszell (P)
Pitchers – Rylan Robinson, Parker Johnson, Ashton Blomberg, Brady Flicek, Nathan Stooksbury, Michael Zink, Peyton Theune, Anders Rydberg, Bailey Kasprowicz and Michael Hesse.
NON DIVISONAL PLAY
After the Florida Trip, the Wood Ducks play away and home versus Alexandria Tech on March 25th& April 14th home and away versus Ridgewater College on March 28th& 29th, vs Northland Community and Technical College March 31st, away and home versus Dakota County Technical College April 17th & 18th , home and away versus St. Cloud Technical and Community College Apr 7th & 21st and at Anoka Ramsey Community College April 29th.
DIVISION PLAY
The Woodies play home and home doubleheaders versus all the MCAC South Division opponents. Riverland CC on April 5th & 6th, Rochester Community and Technical College on April 12th & 13th, Western Technical College on April 18th & 19th, Minnesota West CC on May 2nd & 3rd. 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 into two 5-team tournaments. The top three teams from each MCAC division and NDSCS will be seeded. 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 Jefferson City, TN for the NJCAA DIII College World Series May 24th – 29th.
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