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A new era in Saint Johnʼs baseball history begins this spring.
First-year head coach Scott Lieser takes over the helm as the Johnnies start the 2026 season.
Lieser starts his eighth season at SJU after serving as an assistant under longtime head coach Jerry Haugen ʼ76 the past seven.
Haugen retired after the 2025 campaign, ending a 48-season tenure that saw the Johnnies capture three conference titles (1994, 1998 and 2018), four MIAC playoff championships (2012, 2015, 2016 and 2019) and make 17 conference playoff appearances (including the past 15 seasons in a row).
He will serve as coach emeritus this spring.
During Lieserʼs time as an assistant, SJU achieved a 135-80 (69-31 MIAC) record, including a conference title and a 2019 NCAA Division III tournament appearance.
Lieser earned All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference honors twice and All-Central Region honors three times as a standout righthanded pitcher at neighboring St. Cloud State (2010-13). He compiled a 32-7 record with 226 strikeouts and a 3.10 ERA as a Husky. Lieser then reached the high-A level in the Milwaukee Brewers minor league system, recording a 4-5 record to go with a pair of saves and 87 strikeouts in 63 professional outings.
SJU graduated four All-MIAC selections from last season, including MIAC Co-Player of the Year and All-American third baseman Joe Becker ʼ24 and starting pitchers Will Fazio ʼ25 and Connor Hartley ʼ25.
But the Johnnies return seven batters who hit at least .285 (five of whom accrued an average of .300 or better) last season.
Junior Alex Matchey (Stillwater, Minn.) is SJUʼs lone returning All-MIAC selection after batting .366 (.400 in conference play) with a .475 slugging percentage and .441 on-base percentage. He appeared in 35 games with 27 starts, 18 in left field and eight at second base, and finished second on the team in batting.
Matchey drove in 24 runs and scored 20 while ending the season with an eightgame hitting streak. He batted .500 (19for-38) with runners in scoring position.
Senior right fielder Brendan Hemr (Blaine, Minn./Centennial) earned 2025 MIAC AllPlayoff honors with a .571 batting average to go with an RBI and three runs. He was the lone Johnnie to play all 41 games last season and tied with first baseman Owen Best ʼ27 for the team lead in doubles (11). He also led the team in hits (51), was second in RBI (39) and extra-base hits (19) and third in batting (.352), slugging percentage (.579), home runs (6) and runs scored (28). Hemr tied with Becker for the teamʼs most multiple-RBI games (11) and was second in multiple-hit games (13).
Junior designated hitter Zach Helfmann (St. Louis Park, Minn.) joined Hemr on the All-Playoff team a year ago. He played 38 games (36 starts at designated hitter) and was second on the team in home runs (8) and slugging percentage (.609), and third in extra-base hits (18) and RBI (31). Helfmann batted .304, including going .382 (13-for-34) with two outs, and recorded the Johnniesʼ longest hit streak of the season at 14 games. Helfmann chased Beckerʼs 15 home runs with eight of his own in 2025. He is expected to fill the role of the Johnniesʼ primary designated hitter again this spring.
Senior Reed Marquardt (Lindstrom, Minn./ Chisago Lakes) manned the middle infield the past two seasons and will replace Becker at third base this season. He enters the season 16 hits away from 100 in his career.
Marquardt and Hemr joined Helfmann above .300, along with Matchey and sophomore outfielder Nolan Dumonceaux (Forest Lake, Minn.). Dumonceaux, also a defensive back and the primary long snapper for the Johnnie football team, played in 14 games last season with three hits in 10 at-bats and four runs scored.
The Johnnies return 10 pitchers who appeared in four or more games on the mound last season. Of that group, six pitched more than 10 innings.
Junior Carter Theisen (Rosemount, Minn.) has the most experience with 44.1 innings in 10 appearances last season. He led the returners in the bullpen with 31 strikeouts, which ranked third on the team behind All-MIAC selections Fazio and Hartley. He was also third in wins (5), starts (7) and batters struck out looking (10).
Junior Hunter Hoen (Belle Plain, Minn.) recorded a 3-0 record in nine outings (six
N T H E F I E L D
I N L O G I S T I C S
starts), holding opponents to a .223 batting average, which ranked fifth on the team. He was fourth with three wins, batters struck out (17) and games started (6) in 2025.
Senior Jack Dobesh (Edina, Minn.) sits atop the returning arms with a 2.45 ERA last season in 11 innings of relief work. He held opponents to a .231 average at the plate with two saves.
Junior P.J. Johnson (Glenwood, Minn./ Minnewaska Area) and sophomore Ben Rudser (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) each recorded a sub-3.00 ERA. Johnson limited the opposition to a .171 batting average in four relief stints while Rudser allowed three earned runs in his first two outings of 2025 but shut out opposing lineups in his final three appearances.
Overall, SJU ranked eighth in the MIAC last season with 44 stolen bases. Saint Maryʼs was the MIAC leader with 75 on 96 attempts. Augsburg (40), Bethel (29) and St. Olaf (28) finished behind SJU.
SJU welcomes a handful of transfers who are likely to make an immediate impact. Junior catcher Mason McCurdy (Lake
Nine different Johnnies stole a base in 2025, with four runners – Owen Amrhein (Waconia, Minn.), Riley Schwellenbach (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge), Hemr and Matchey – notching four or more. Schwellenbach led SJU with 16 (tied for the MIAC lead) on 19 attempts, followed by Ryan Janzen ʼ25 (8), Hemr (7), Amrhein (4) and Matchey (4). Schwellenbach, a junior outfielder who also earned his first All-MIAC honor in football as a wide receiver this fall, led SJU with a perfect field percentage on 60 putouts in the outfield a year ago.
Elmo, Minn./Stillwater Area) joined the Johnnies from Division I Creighton while freshman shortstop Will Koeppen (Minnetonka, Minn.) was recently at Division I St. Thomas.
Sophomore outfielder Grayson Fuchs (Paynesville, Minn.) batted .297 with a .404 on-base percentage in 31 games with Division II St. Cloud State last spring.
The Johnniesʼ 40-game schedule includes 20 nonconference contests against 13 different opponents. The 13 teams combined for a 310234 record (.570) in 2025. Six reached the NCAA tournament and combined for a 22092 record (.705): Bethany Lutheran (29-14); Buena Vista (Iowa, 32-11); Ohio Northern (2914); Ramapo (N.J., 28-16); Rutgers-Camden (N.J., 30-17); and Wisconsin-La Crosse (35-11).
After the Buena Vista series, SJU travels to Indianola, Iowa, to face Simpson March 7-8. The Johnnies then fly to Orlando March 14-20 for eight games between Davenport and Winter Haven, Florida.
They return home for a March 24 doubleheader at Bethany Lutheran before the MIAC opener on March 28.
That conference opener comes in the form of a doubleheader against Saint Maryʼs in Collegeville, one of five at home this season:
• St. Scholastica (Tuesday, April 7)
• St. Olaf (Saturday, April 18)
• Carleton (Wednesday, April 29)
• Bethel (Monday, May 4)
The four-team, double-elimination MIAC Tournament is scheduled for May 7-9 at CHS Field in St. Paul. The winner earns the conferenceʼs automatic bid to the Division III playoff field.
SHAKOPEE HIGH SCHOOL
What is your best memory from your time on campus – on or off the field?
Going on the trips with the team and playing Mafia.
What is your major and why did you pick it?
Elementary education. I picked it because I want to be a positive influence and a good role model that cares for the students I get to teach.
WACONIA HIGH SCHOOL
What were the reasons you chose to come to Saint Johnʼs?
I really enjoyed the campus when I visited and I grew up coming here for football games because my dad is an alum. Having the opportunity to play both baseball and football also really drew me in.
What is your favorite place on campus and why?
The bridge to lower campus because I enjoy looking out over the lake.
CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL
What is your best memory from your time on campus, on or off the field?
Itʼs hard to pick just one. Iʼd say hanging out with my roommates, neighbors and the Saint Johnʼs and Saint Benʼs community in general. Whether it was tailgates, team events or just being around St. Joe … those moments stand out.
What is your favorite place on campus and why?
EDEN VALLEY-WATKINS HIGH SCHOOL 7
What were the reasons you chose to come to Saint Johnʼs?
The campus. The lakes and woods really stood out to me. I liked that it was close to my hometown and my parentsʼ house. It also gave me the opportunity to play baseball while getting a great education.
What is something about you most people may not know?
I have a twin sister (Shelby) who attends the College of Saint Benedict.
LITTLE FALLS HIGH SCHOOL
What is something about you most people may not know?
I play the piano.
What is your favorite place on campus and why?
Lake Sagatagan. I love spending time on and around the lake fishing, swimming and relaxing.
The baseball field. Being out there means good weather, being with my teammates and getting to play the game I love. Itʼs where I feel most comfortable.
If you were lost in the woods, which teammate would you most want with you and why?
Collin Kray. His rational thinking and outdoor skills are up there with the best.
If you could have any meal for dinner tonight, what would it be and why?
My momʼs honey chipotle chicken with rice. Itʼs the perfect blend of sweet and spicy.
P
What is something about you most people may not know?
I really enjoy coaching baseball. During the summer, I spend most of my time coaching Waconiaʼs senior American Legion team.
What is the best movie youʼve seen recently?
“For Love of the Game.” I always watch baseball movies during baseball season and that one is an instant classic.
What is something about you most people may not know?
My family and I sell Christmas trees.
What is the biggest challenge youʼve faced as an athlete and how did you overcome it?
It can be easy to get complacent and lack motivation throughout the course of the season and school year. The big thing that helped me was changing my schedule. I used to stay up late and had a hard time waking up early. I now go to bed earlier and try to get up as soon as possible to start my day off right.
EDINA HIGH SCHOOL
What were the reasons you chose to come to Saint Johnʼs?
It was the place that made me feel as if it wasnʼt only a campus. It was also home. There were also the excellent opportunities for connections with others in the workforce and the chance to get a high-quality education.
What teammate would you most want riding shotgun on a cross-country road trip and why?
Reed Marquardt because he is always fun to have a conversation with and has good music to play.
Collin Kray is a pretty good baseball player.
But thatʼs far from where the Saint Johnʼs senior first basemanʼs talents end.
The Little Falls High School graduate is also a chemistry major with a 4.0 GPA who earned last seasonʼs MIAC Elite 22 Award handed out to the player with the best GPA on the four teams who qualified for the conference tournament.
Heʼs also a member of the SJU StudentAthlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and played a key role in setting up this
yearʼs Johnnie athletes Kids Fighting Hunger food packing event.
And heʼs a talented longtime pianist, who receives a music scholarship.
So the big question is … how does he find the time to fit it all in?
“I just like to stay active,” Kray said. “I donʼt own a daily planner or anything like that. But at the start of the week, I go through Canvas – where all our assignments are posted – and get a feel for what I need to accomplish.
“I focus on staying on top of things so I donʼt let them pile up,” he
continued. “I try hard not to procrastinate, and if I need help, Iʼll ask for it from my professors or fellow students. Thatʼs one of the nicest things about being here (at SJU). The class sizes are smaller and everyone is so welcoming and approachable.
“It makes it easier to take on more when you have that kind of support around you.”
That support extends to the Johnnie coaching staff, who Kray said provide the flexibility needed to make academics the priority.
“Chemistry labs can sometimes run four or five hours and that cuts into practice time,” he said. “But our coaches are great about that. They understand academics come first, and if you donʼt get to practice until later, thatʼs OK.
“But I also try to take it upon myself to figure out if I missed anything, or if there is anything I need to do to catch up.
There have been a lot of nights when Iʼve stayed late to get extra swings in.”
position (at first base),” he (junior) Tanner (Hoemann)
to come into the start
SJU head coach Scott Lieser praised Krayʼs worth ethic – on and off the field.
“Collin is the kind of player coaches dream about,” said Lieser, who took over the head coaching job this spring after serving as an assistant to Jerry Haugen for seven seasons. “He always shows up on time, he never causes any trouble, heʼs super respectful. Heʼs a guy who always takes care of business. He helps take equipment out before practice and put it away after. He takes pride in everything he does – no matter how big or how small.
“And he obviously sets the standard for us in the classroom. Heʼs a really impressive guy.”
Krayʼs father Ryan is a Johnnie graduate who is now a family physician in Staples. His mother, Stephanie, is a family physician at the same clinic, while older brother Aidan works in investment banking in the Twin Cities.
Younger brother Nolan, meanwhile, is a sophomore at SJU.
“Our family ties to this place go way back,” Kray said. “We grew up coming to football games here with my dad. Iʼve always loved the campus. I love walking by the lake and being surrounded by all the trees and nature.”
Hess (who plays for the Kimball Express).
“Baseball is such a big part of growing up in Central Minnesota,” said Kray, who first started playing T-ball in Little Falls when he was a kindergartner. “Itʼs a part of the community fabric in a lot of these places. Sobieski is a really small town (located just 7 miles southwest of Little Falls). But
"That's one of the nicest things about being here (at SJU). The class sizes are smaller and everyone is so welcoming and approachable. It makes it easier to take on more when you have that kind of support around you.”
In the summer, Kray plays amateur baseball for the Sobieski Skis, which means he sometimes crosses paths with his head coach (who plays in St. Martin) as well as with hitting coach Brian Hansen (who plays for the Cold Spring Springers) and teammates like Noah Jensen (who plays for the Sauk Rapids Cyclones) and Joe
a ton of people show up for the games.
“Itʼs really fun to be part of that.”
But right now, Kray is having fun during his final season with the Johnnies.
“Our goal is to win an MIAC championship,” said Kray, whose postgraduation plans are to work as a medical scribe or lab technician
for a year before attending medical school. “Thatʼs the vision this program has been working toward for a while now.
“We know we have the talent to make it happen. But we have to go out and get it done.”
A new era is underway in the Johnnie baseball program.
Scott Lieser, an assistant coach the past seven seasons, takes over the head coaching reins from Jerry Haugen, who retired after 48 seasons on the job and 916 career victories.
“Leading the Johnnie baseball program is a dream come true, and I am humbled and thrilled to have the opportunity to shape the future of this program,” he said. “It has been such a privilege to coach alongside Jerry and his staff the past seven seasons, and I am looking forward to honoring the rich history and traditions he has put in place. Saint Johnʼs is a special place with outstanding studentathletes and I am eager to get started.”
Lieser was a standout right-handed pitcher at Division II St. Cloud State from 2010 to ʼ13. He ended his career with a school-record 32 victories (32-7 record) in 66 appearances (269.2 innings pitched), 226 strikeouts and a 3.10 ERA. He competed on Husky squads that reached the NCAA Division II Central Regional each of his four years, and earned regional All-Tournament Team honors as a sophomore, junior and senior.
A two-year team captain, Lieser earned All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference honors twice and All-Central Region honors three times. He was named Daktronics Division II All-America honorable mention in 2013, when he went 10-3 with five complete games, 66 strikeouts to 11 walks and a 2.71 ERA in 83.0 innings.
Jason Spohn
Jason Spohn enters his 24th year on the coaching staff at SJU. The 1997 graduate of St. Cloud State University also played collegiately at Ridgewater and Itasca Community colleges. He went on to coach at Rocori High School and for the Cold Spring American Legion baseball team for three seasons.
Josh Bungum ʼ16
Josh Bungum, a 2016 graduate of SJU, enters his 10th season on the coaching staff in 2025-26. The Paynesville High School graduate was a four-year starter and an All-American in football for the Johnnies who also played baseball for two years. Bungum is also a member of the SJU football coaching staff.
Scott Becker ʼ77
Scott Becker, a 1977 SJU graduate, enters his 10th season on the coaching staff in 2025-26. He
Following graduation, Lieser played professionally in the Milwaukee Brewers organization for three seasons (2013-15) and reached the high-A level. In 63 professional appearances, mostly as a reliever, Lieser posted a 4-5 record with two saves, 87 strikeouts to 14 walks and a 1.19 WHIP in 99 innings pitched. During his college years, he played summer baseball in the Northwoods League with Waterloo (2010) and Willmar (2011-12).
Lieser first joined the Johnniesʼ baseball program as an assistant coach for the 2018-19 academic year before taking over as the activities director at Long Prairie-Grey Eagle High School from 2019 to ʼ21. He served as a volunteer assistant coach at SJU, in a minor capacity, those two seasons before returning to Collegeville full-time in the fall of 2021 as both a member of SJUʼs Institutional Advancement staff and as a baseball assistant.
Prior to his stop at Augsburg as an assistant coach in 2017-18, Lieser coached travel baseball with the Minnesota Select U-13 squad and served as junior varsity coach at Centennial (Minn.) High School. He was also a pitching
played both football and baseball for the Johnnies before going on to become a founder of Northstar Capital, a leading private equity firm based in Minneapolis. He and his wife, Julie, led efforts to build the new clubhouse, which opened in 2024, and also provided the exceptional leadership gift that made possible Becker Park, which features a modern turf field, spacious grandstands and press box, and a surrounding plaza area.
Jerry Haugen ʼ76.............Baseball Coach Emeritus
Jerry Haugen, a 1976 SJU graduate, retired in 2025 after 48 seasons as the Johnnies head coach. He finished his career with 916 wins, making him just the 27th coach in history at the Division III level to reach the 900-win mark. In all, he led the Johnnies to three conference titles (1994, 1998 and 2018), four MIAC playoff championships (2012, 2015, 2016 and 2019) and 17 conference playoff appearances (including the past 15 seasons in a row).
coach in the Northwoods League for two summers with St. Cloud (2018) and Willmar (2017).
A native of Browerville, Lieser played baseball, football and basketball for the Tigers, leading the baseball team to two state-tournament appearances and earning team most valuable player honors twice. He was named a Minnesota Lionsʼ All-Star following his senior season in 2009.
Scott and his wife, Nora, reside in Freeport with their daughter, Vivian, and golden retriever, Wrigley. Nora is the associate athletic director at St. Cloud State.
“Scott Lieser exemplifies everything we value at Saint Johnʼs — leadership, integrity and a deep commitment to the holistic development of studentathletes,” said Kara Kolomitz, chief operating officer at Saint Benʼs and Saint Johnʼs. “His experience, both as a highlevel player and as a dedicated member of our coaching staff, uniquely positions him to build on the strong foundation established by Coach Haugen. We are excited to watch Scott lead the next chapter of Johnnie Baseball with energy, purpose and great care for our student-athletes."
Brian Hansen
Brian Hansen enters his fourth season on the coaching staff in 2025-26. The Rocori High School graduate was a standout baseball player at St. Cloud State from 2009 to 2013.
Jeff Solorz ʼ25
Jeff Solorz is in his first season as the programʼs strategic analyst and player development coach in 2025-26. The Sauk Rapids-Rice High School graduate played at SJU the past two seasons.
Thom Woodward ʼ70
Thom Woodward, a 1970 SJU graduate, returns to the program as a volunteer assistant coach in 2025-26. He previously spent 18 seasons on the staff from 2005 to 2023. He also served as the Johnniesʼ junior-varsity coach and recruiting coordinator. Woodward is a retired employee in the universityʼs office of Institutional Advancement.
19 P.J. JOHNSON Jr. | C/P | R/R | 6-0 190 Glenwood / Minnewaska Area
22 JACK DOBESH
Sr. | OF | R/R | 6-0 | 200 Edina / Edina
CARTER THEISEN
Jr. | P | R/R | 6-5 | 245 Rosemount / Rosemount 24 WILL KOEPPEN
Fr. | INF | L/R | 6-1 | 185 Minnetonka / Minnetonka 25 NOLAN DUMONCEAUX
| OF | R/R | 6-1 | 205 Forest Lake / Forest Lake
Sr. | P | L/L | 5-11 200 St. Cloud / Sauk RapidsRice
REID LAFRENZ
KYLE BOUTWELL Fr. | OF | L/R | 6-0 | 210 Maple Grove / Wayzata 27 NOAH JENSEN
Fr. | C | R/R | 6-1 | 205 Edina / Edina
JOE HESS So. | INF | R/R | 6-0 190
Augusta / St. Cloud Tech
GABE NATHE
| OF | R/L | 6-2 180 Albertville / Providence Academy
WILL BRIAN Fr. | 1B | L/R | 6-5 | 210 Byron / Byron
GRAYSON FUCHS
Falls / Little Falls
BEN RUDSER So. | C/P | L/R | 5-10 175 Woodbury / East Ridge
TANNER HOEMANN
| INF | R/R | 6-0 | 195 Shoreview / Mounds View
VINNY SCHLEPER
Sr. | P | L/R | 6-3 195 Shakopee / Shakopee
So. | OF | R/R | 6-0 170 Paynesville / Paynesville Area 33 COLLIN KRAY Sr. | 1B | R/R | 6-2 | 210
37 BROCK HOLTHAUS Fr. | OF | R/R | 5-10 180 Monticello / Monticello 40 TYLER GRUYE So. | P | R/R | 5-10 170 Lino Lakes / Centennial
41 RYAN MORAN
Fr. | INF/OF | R/R | 5-9 | 175 St. Louis Park / St. Louis Park
42 ELI CHARNEY
Fr. | INF | R/R | 6-0 | 190 Minnetonka / Blake
43 GAVIN HARTLEY
Fr. | INF/P | R/R | 6-1 | 190
Inver Grove Heights / Rosemount
44 JOE BALDUS
Fr. | P | R/R | 6-0 | 165 Farmington / Farmington
45 JOSEPH LARSON
Fr. | OF | R/L | 5-9 150 Farmington / Farmington
46 DAWSON FRANKE
Fr. | INF | R/R | 6-0 | 170 Golden Valley / Robbinsdale Armstrong
47 COLIN ANDERSON
Fr. | P | R/R | 5-9 | 150 New Ulm / Cathedral 48 MAX EDWARDS
Fr. | C/P | R/R | 5-11 | 190 Rockford / Rockford
49 COOPER SCHRAMSKI
Fr. | P | L/L | 5-10 | 160 Cumberland, Wis. / Cumberland
50 MASON DUROSE
So. | 1B | R/R | 6-4 | 215 Mankato / West 51 GUY LADWIG
Fr. | P | R/R | 6-2 185 Young America / Waconia
52 JACOB PERRY
Fr. | P | R/R | 6-0 180 Elmhurst, Ill. / York Community
53 BEN SCHMITZ
Fr. | INF | R/R | 6-0 | 185 Apple Valley / Eastview
54 DYLAN BLOOM
Fr. | P | L/L | 5-9 | 165 Stillwater / Stillwater Area
55 GUS MCINTIRE
Fr. | OF | R/R | 6-1 195 Rosemount / Rosemount
56 SPENCER YEAMEN
Fr. | P | R/R | 6-1 | 190 | Edina / Edina
57 ISSAC AUD
Fr. | P | R/R | 6-3 205 Mound / Mound-Westonka
58 QUINTON MENDOZA
Fr. | P | R/R | 6-1 185 | Whittier, Calif. / Diamond Bar
The SJU baseball program hits the road in the early part of each season, traveling to warm-weather locations like Florida and/or Arizona and playing teams from around the nation. This season, the Johnnies also made trips to Kansas and Iowa before a scheduled eight-game stretch in Florida.
SPONSOR AND CONTRACTOR FOR JOHNNIE
ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove (National)
2016 Alex Kendall
2022 Ethan Roe
ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove (Midwest)
2007 Casey Haugen
Academic All-Americans
1993 Jon Dold first team
1996 Chris Palmer first team
1999 Brent Schloe first team
2000 Brent Schloe first team
2005 Chris Bell second team
2014 Brett Becker third team
2015 Brett Becker second team
Logan Hershey second team
2016 Logan Hershey first team
Academic All-District V
1993 Jon Dold
1996 Steve Bruce
1996 Chris Palmer
1997 Ryan Roder
1999 Brent Schloe
2000 Brent Schloe
2003 Dusty Upgren
2005 Chris Bell
2008 John Heinbigner
2011 Matt Boys
Brett Kramer
2014 Brett Becker
Dylan Graves
Joe Lampe
2015 Brett Becker
Logan Hershey
2016 Logan Hershey
2017 Brennan Swan
2018 Thomas Meland
Brennan Swan
Jeron Terres
2019 Jack Schramel
2023 Owen Dauk
Rodney Erickson
Jack Haring
Luke McElroy
Casey Trapp
2024 Owen Dauk
Rodney Erickson
Connor Hartley
Quinn Krueger
Griffin Larson
2025 Connor Hartley
Brendan Hemr
Ryan Janzen
Riley Schwellenbach
Carter Theisen
National Team Records Double Plays Per Game
2.18 Saint Johnʼs 1995 83 double plays in 38 games
National Individual Records
Career Batting Average
.489 Ryan Roder 1996-97
Batting Champion
.562 Jon Dold 1993
fifth highest single-season batting average in NCAA Div. III history
.540 Ryan Roder 1997
11th highest single-season batting average in NCAA Div. III history
.500 Wyatt Ulrich 2017
All-Americans
1997 Ryan Roder first team
2007 Jay Kasner third team
2012 Joey Long second team
2014 Justin Thompson third team
2017 Wyatt Ulrich third team
2021 Max Nyrop first team
2025 Joe Becker first team
All-Midwest Region
1993 Jon Dold
1994 Dave Furcht
Chris Wanner
1995 Jeremy Loretz
1997 Ryan Roder
1998 Tony Giuliani
Matt Ode
Andy Schneider
Joel Swenson
1999 Tony Giuliani
Chad Krueger
Brent Schloe
Joel Swenson
2000 Brent Schloe
2002 Jed Riegelman
2003 Cole Deibele
Matt Pilon
Jed Riegelman
2004 Cole Deibele
Jed Riegelman
2005 Chris Bell
Jay Kasner
2007 Casey Haugen
Jay Kasner
T.J. Nelson
2008 John Heinbigner
2010 Kyle Henkemeyer
Hayden Zimmerman
2011 Matt Butorac
Brett Kramer
2012 Connor Cline
Dylan Graves
Joey Long
Ryan Spengler
Hayden Zimmerman
2013 Connor Cline
2014
Ryan Spengler
Brett Becker
Joe Lampe
Justin Thompson
2015 Brett Becker
Logan Hershey
Kurt Jantscher
Gabe MacDonald
Aaron Pfaff
Derek Schiebel
2016 Logan Hershey
Alex Kendall
Nick Noack
Derek Schiebel
Patrick Strey
Cole Weaver
2017 Jake Dickmeyer
Ben Etzell
Wyatt Ulrich
2018 Jake Dickmeyer
Max Jackson
Brennan Swan
Jeron Terres
Bennett Wiggins
2019 Jake Dickmeyer
Joey Stock
2021 Max Nyrop
Ethan Roe
2022 Ethan Roe
2023 Jack Haring
Max Nyrop
2024 Joe Becker
2025 Joe Becker
Become a Bennie or a Johnnie and you’ll unlock the magic of today’s game day community, camaraderie and commitment to excellence to carry with you every day on campus. This is who we are.
Come take a closer look –schedule a campus visit today!
A state-of-the-art baseball paradise smack dab in the woods of Central Minnesota.
That aptly describes Becker Park and Lynch Plaza – the home base for the Saint Johnʼs University baseball team.
Construction of the on-campus facility began in 2013 and was concluded in 2016 as a part of the Forward Ever Forward campaign.
Haugen Field – named for longtime head coach Jerry Haugen – includes stateof-the-art features such as an artificial SprinTurf surface to allow teams to play in wet conditions, spacious dugout, bullpens and batting cages – as well as stadium lights for late games.
The 500-seat grandstand and press box also has standing room for an additional 200 fans, while Lynch Plaza includes spaces for concessions, ticketing and restrooms.
The park and grandstand were named in honor of Scott Becker ʼ77 and his family. Scott was a student-athlete during his time at SJU and an advocate for building new facilities. The plaza was named for Pat Lynch ʼ88, who is a loyal fan of SJU athletics and an active alumnus, in addition to funding an endowed scholarship in memory of his uncle William Drahota.
The facility has only been enhanced by the addition of a spacious, modern clubhouse that opened in the spring of 2024.
It features 51 lockers (plus six in the coachesʼ area), showers and bathrooms, a satellite training room, a laundry room, a meeting room, a coachesʼ office and a rooftop deck that can be used for viewing baseball games, as well as for tailgating prior to football games in the fall.
When it comes to training, the right facilities are important.
The 5,600-feet McGlynn Fitness Center –which was made possible by a generous gift from the Burt McGlynn family, and is open to all students and alums – is equipped with a full range of free weights, upper-body, lower-body and full-core machines, and cardiovascular machines such as treadmills, ellipticals and exercise bicycles.
Baseball and Saint John's have always been big parts of the Schleper family.
Joe Schleper Sr. ʼ50 played for the Johnnies, as did his son Joe Jr. ʼ77. Another son Tom played at Southwest Minnesota State before going on to coach the sport at Shakopee High School for over 30 years.
But all three of Tomʼs sons have gone on to play at SJU as well – Dominick ʼ18, Jack ʼ24 and now Vinny, a senior pitcher on this seasonʼs Johnniesʼ roster.
“Our family has such a long history here,” Vinny said. “I can remember coming up to campus when Dominick was on the team and it felt like home to me. Iʼd be playing in the woods next to the baseball fields and having a great time soaking everything in.
“I got pretty familiar with the place.”
Scholarships have played a big role in helping Vinny continue the family tradition.
The elementary education major – who completed his fourth-grade student-teaching assignment in Cold Spring during the fall semester – currently receives academic and legacy scholarships, as well as the Faith Kost Memorial and Roy/Nancy Glover Scholarships.
“Scholarships are so important in my being here,” Vinny said. “Especially as an education major who might not make big bucks after I graduate. Not only have they made (Saint Johnʼs) more affordable, but theyʼve helped make my life less stressful. I can focus on school and athletics without having to be constantly worried about how Iʼm going to pay for college.”
Schleper has also gotten involved in intramurals at SJU and practices with the club volleyball team in the fall, even if he canʼt be with them during the spring season. He also works for Peyton Bigaouette, the assistant athletic director for facilities and events at the school.
But baseball is his first love, and his head coach said his enthusiasm for the game is contagious.
“Getting to know Vinny while he has been at SJU has been awesome,” Johnnies head coach Scott Lieser said. “Even during the recruiting process, we knew Vinny would be an amazing Johnnie. He brings such great energy to our program. He always has a smile on his face. I will definitely miss seeing him each day after he graduates this spring.
“He will do amazing things in life and I canʼt wait to see what they are.”
Given his family history, itʼs not surprising Vinny was already on the baseball field at a young age.
“Thatʼs just what we did,” he recalled. “My older brothers and I would play whiffle ball in the front or back yard. We lived right by the baseball stadium, and there were a bunch of fields. So weʼd go down there all the time too. We were constantly playing.
“Because my dad was the baseball coach in Shakopee, he also ran the youth program in town,” he continued. “And a lot of times my siblings and I would go with to help him at different events and programs. I saw the things he did, and I think thatʼs where I really started realizing I wanted to make an impact on kidsʼ lives myself.” Vinny, whose father is also a ninth-grade English teacher and whose mother runs an in-home daycare, has been able to
cultivate his passion for teaching at SJU.
“Itʼs the best feeling ever when you feel like youʼve made a difference in a kidʼs life,” he said. “Iʼve already been back to Cold Spring three or four times since my student-teaching assignment ended because I miss the connections I made there. I think everyone needs a dose of kids in their lives every day. Theyʼre so happy and they see the world in a way we sometimes lose sight of as we get older.
“It makes you want to bring your best to the classroom so you can be at your best for them. You want to help shape their life for the better.”
Thatʼs the same kind of impact he said donors to the scholarship fund have had on him and many other SJU students over the years.
“Iʼm so grateful for their generosity,” he said. “It does help students like me more than they might even realize. This is such a great school and scholarships make it possible for more and more people to come here – to experience the sense of connection and community everyone talks about Saint Johnʼs having.
“They make a really big impact. I canʼt thank them enough.”
Jon Dold ʼ94
Inducted 2023
Jon Dold was a two-time All-MIAC and one-time AllRegion selection during his career with the Johnnies from 1990 to ʼ93.
In 1993, he put together – by far – the greatest performance at the plate in school history. The Rocori High School graduate led the nation that spring with a .562 batting average – a mark that still ranks as the fifth-best single-season average in NCAA Division III history. His .596 average in conference play remains an MIAC record. His performance in 1993 helped persuade the Cincinnati Reds to select him in the 40th round of that yearʼs MLB Draft – making him the first Johnnie to be drafted at the MLB level.
Rick Bell ʼ83
Inducted 2024
Rick Bell made his biggest impact on the football field – both at Saint Johnʼs and later with the NFLʼs Minnesota Vikings.
He rushed for 2,630 yards in his four-year collegiate football career, a total that still ranks fifth in program history. His 30 career rushing touchdowns ties him for eighth place on the schoolʼs all-time list. But he was a pretty good baseball player too, earning All-MIAC honors for the Johnnies in 1982.
Al Eisele ʼ58
Inducted 2024
Al Eisele ʼ58 was a Washington, D.C., fixture, crossing paths with many of the leading lights in American politics from the 1960s to well into the 21st century. But before he embarked on his career as one of the nationʼs most-renowned political journalists, and the press secretary
to Vice President Walter Mondale, Eisele made his mark as a pitcher for the Saint Johnʼs University baseball program. His efforts on the mound led the Johnnies to three MIAC titles during his four seasons in Collegeville, and earned him a spot in the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) organization, where he spent 3½ seasons in the minor leagues.
He went 5-1 in MIAC play during the 1957 season, including throwing a one-hitter and striking out 10 in a 7-0 victory over Macalester that gave the Johnnies a share of that seasonʼs conference crown. He had two shutouts in his last three starts and gave up only one run in his final 25 innings of work.
Eisele continued cutting it up on the diamond as a senior in 1958. He went 8-1 that spring – his only loss coming against the University of Minnesota, which won the Big Ten title. He posted three victories in the final nine days of the season, including throwing all nine innings on two daysʼ rest and striking out 10 as SJU beat St. Thomas 4-2 to again clinch a share of the MIAC title. He also led the team in batting with a .296 average and hit four home runs.
Vedie Himsl ʼ38
Inducted 2021
Avitus “Vedie” Himsl first made a name for himself playing for the local town team in Plevna, Montana, as well as in high school athletics where he was a four-year letterwinner in football and basketball –leading the basketball team to 23 consecutive home victories beginning in 1931.
That was just a prelude, though, to what he would achieve during his time at SJU. After arriving on campus in the fall of 1934, Himsl went on to star in basketball and baseball – earning All-MIAC honors and serving as team captain in both sports. It was on the diamond where he really excelled, leading the Johnnies to back-to-back MIAC titles in 1936 and ʼ37 (he did not play as a senior in 1938 after signing a pro contract).
As a junior, he batted over .500 and dominated on the mound, striking out 20 batters and allowing just four hits in nine innings of work in a 12-0 victory over Augsburg in Collegeville – still a single-game school strikeout record.
After graduation, he signed with the Cleveland Indians organization and was playing for the St. Paul Saints of the American Association. He spent four seasons with the Saints (193942) and compiled a 51-52 pitching record.
But his career was halted by military service in the Navy during World War II and he never reached the big leagues – at least not as a player. He spent the 1950s as a minor league coach and scout in the Chicago Cubs organization. He was promoted to the parent club in 1960, serving as a coach the next four seasons. Thatʼs how he came to play a key part in one of the more unique experiments in Major League Baseball history.
During the 1961 season, Cubs owner Phillip Wrigley elected to replace the role of a traditional manager with what became known as a “College of Coaches.” Under the system, a platoon of coaches alternated through the organization, including serving fixed time periods as “head coach” of the big league club.
Himsl was first up in the rotation, going 5-6 over the Cubsʼ first 11 games before departing to manage the Triple-A team in Wenatchee, Washington. He returned on May 12 and lasted another 18 games before ceding the reins again.
He continued on with the Cubs for more than two decades, retiring in 1985 as director of scouting. He continued to work for the organization off and on during the years that followed.
Jim Lehman ʼ56 Inducted 2021
Jim Lehman was a standout baseball player at SJU. But it was on the football field where he made his biggest impact. He was so important to
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the team, in fact, that legendary head coach John Gagliardi pointed to an injury he suffered in 1954 as a big part of why the coach developed his legendary list of Noʼs – especially no full contact in practice. He was an All-American as both a junior and senior in 1954 and ʼ55, and was named the 1955 MIAC MVP after scoring 16 touchdowns that season.
Vic Moore ʼ72
Inducted
2021 (J-Club Distinguished Service Award)
When it came to delivering the sales pitch for Saint Johnʼs University, Vic Moore could not have asked for more legendary persuasion.
Back in 1968, when the high school senior and standout athlete from Montgomery, Minnesota, was considering his college choices, he received a joint visit from SJU football coach John Gagliardi and basketball coach Jim Smith. Five decades later, Moore – who went on to play football, basketball and baseball at SJU, would be on-hand again as the president of the SJU J-Club, helping enshrine both Gagliardi and Smith as the charter members of the J-Clubʼs Hall of Honor – a continuation of 50-plus years of commitment and service to the schoolʼs athletic programs.
Jeff Norman ʼ78 Inducted 2021
Jeff Norman was a four-year starter in baseball who earned All-MIAC honors and boasted a .331 career batting average. He hit .436 as a sophomore in 1976 and helped lead Saint Johnʼs to an MIAC title as a junior in 1977. Of course, he was also a standout on the football field who finished his career with a record of 25-3-2 as the Johnniesʼ starting quarterback, earning All-MIAC honors twice and All-American distinction once. He led the team to the 1976 Division III
national title, even kicking a 19-yard field goal as time expired to lift SJU to a 31-28 victory over Towson State (Maryland) in that seasonʼs national championship game.
Chris Palmer ʼ96 Inducted 2023
Chris Palmer was an All-MIAC standout in baseball at SJU.
He was also one of the greatest wide receivers in school history, starting three seasons and earning AllAmerican honors as a junior and senior.
During his senior season in 1995, he finished with 71 catches for 1,197 yards and 13 touchdowns – becoming the first SJU player to receive the Gagliardi Trophy honoring the most outstanding player each year at the NCAA Division III level.
Fr. Dunstan Tucker ʼ25 Inducted 2023 (J-Club Distinguished Service Award)
Fr. Dunstan Tucker made history as an athlete and as a longtime coach, faculty member and administrator at Saint Johnʼs University.
He also lived history, serving his country as a Naval chaplain in the Pacific during World War II.
Then Tucker wrote history, chronicling the story of Johnnie athletics from the very beginning through the late 1970s in the definitive Scoreboard: A History of Athletics at Saint Johnʼs University, which he co-wrote with fellow monk Martin Schirber and published in 1979. He was baseball standout for the Johnnies, playing a key role on the SJU squads of 1921 and ʼ22, even drawing a tryout offer from a pro scout.
"I told him I was flattered,” said Tucker in a Feb. 21, 1958 profile story in
the Minneapolis Star. “But that I was going to study for the priesthood.”
He also became SJUʼs head baseball coach in 1932, then after a one-year hiatus, took over again from 1934 to ʼ37. He returned to the post from 1939 to ʼ43 and 1947 to ʼ50 before coming out of retirement for one last stint from 1968 to ʼ71.
Along the way his teams won four conference championships – in 1936, ʼ37, ʼ42 and ʼ69.
Jerry Haugen ʼ76 Inducted 2025
From 1977 to 2025, a whole lot of studentathletes played baseball at Saint Johnʼs University.
But there was just one man who served as their head coach. And the values and expectations Jerry Haugen set for the program remained a constant. That, more than anything, is the legacy Haugen hopes he left during his long tenure in Collegeville – from his days as an athlete to his retirement as head baseball coach following last season.
“I hope people say we approached the game the way youʼre supposed to,” he said. “That we didnʼt recruit negatively. That our guys came away from the experience of playing here with positive memories, and that they understood thereʼs more to life than strikes and balls or errors and home runs. Thereʼs a right way of doing things and a wrong way, and we always tried to do things the right way.”
But taking that approach didnʼt mean Haugenʼs teams werenʼt successful. Far from it. He finished his career with 916 wins, making him just the 27th coach in history at the Division III level to reach the 900-win mark. In all, he led the Johnnies to three conference titles (1994, 1998 and 2018), four MIAC playoff championships (2012, 2015, 2016 and 2019) and 17 conference playoff appearances (including the past 15 seasons in a row).
