Rochester, MN-
As the Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) baseball programs begin their conference season and prepare for a run to the Region 13 Baseball Tournament, the MCAC head baseball coaches took time to share their thoughts and predictions for the 2026 season.
MCAC Baseball competes at the NJCAA Division III level and is divided into three divisions: North, Central, and South.
In this season's coaches' poll, the South Division coaches selected Century College as the team most likely to claim the South Division title. Coming off a successful 2025 season in which the Wood Ducks finished as the runner-up in the NJCAA DIII World Series, Century looks to repeat its dominance this season. The program returns several star players from last season and will play a tough non-conference schedule to prepare for the MCAC South Division, but the experience that Riverland Community College brings into the season could pose a real threat to Century.
In the Central Division, Alexandria Technical & Community College was selected as the team to win the Central title. Returning DaShaun Robinson and Cullen Posch on the mound, along with experience behind the plate and in the field, the Legends are planning for another division title and a high seed in the Region 13 Tournament. Coming off a 30-16 campaign in 2025, they will be hunted by St. Cloud Technical and Community College and Ridgewater College, who both look to claim the division title.
Minnesota North College - Itasca was selected as the favorite to win the North Division this season. After completing a strong 2025 season in which the Vikings finished with a 20-24 overall record and went 14-6 in North Division play, they are poised to make another run at the MCAC North title and a spot in the Region 13 Tournament. Led by the longest tenured coach in the MCAC, Justin Lamppa has served as the head coach of the Vikings for 30 years and will be seeking his 750th win this season. However, Northland Community and Technical College won't surrender easily as the defending North Division champions and should make a strong push to repeat this season.
Read on for the predicted order of finish in each division and for season previews of the teams that comprise the South, Central, and North Division ranks of the MCAC. Be sure to follow @MCACSports and @NJCAABaseball on Twitter for the latest in MCAC and NJCAA two-year college baseball news, rankings, and season information.
For the MCAC Baseball home page, click here or go to: http://www.mcacsports.org/sports/bsb/index
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Minnesota College Athletic Conference2026 Baseball Season Preview & Coaches PollSouth Division
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MCAC South No. 1 Century College
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Head Coach: Matthew Erzar, 5 years with Century College Overall Record: 146-60 Coaching Staff: Kevin Nunn, assistant coach; Brendan Knoll, assistant coach; Matt Nunn, assistant coach; and Kolin Williams, assistant coach Top returning players: Connor Larsen, Spring Lake Park, MN, C/1B Shayne Pellin, St. Lazare, Quebec, LHP Aiden Keranen, Eden Prairie, MN, RHP Gavin Goehner, Forest Lake, MN, RHP/INF Jack Erickson, Mahtomedi, MN, INF Top incoming/new players: Ryan Jeffrey, Rosemount, MN, INF Nathan Zander, Maple Lake, MN, RHP/INF Ashton Blomberg, Marshall, MN, RHP Comments from Coach Erzar: "Playing a tough schedule with lots of ranked teams. Will need to pitch, hit, and play defense to win."
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MCAC South No. 2 Riverland Community College
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Head Coach: Derek Hahn, 8 years at Riverland Community College Overall Record: 151-84 Coaching Staff: Kevin Juenger, assistant coach Top returning players: Raul Martinez, Santa Isabel, PR, 2B Peyton Ransom, Austin, MN, 3B/RHP Jonathan Mora, Miami, FL, RF Riley Jax, Adams, MN, RHP Dave Gonzaga, Santa Isabel, PR, C/RHP Top incoming/new players: To be determined Comments from Coach Hahn: "Return a lot of experience from last season. Added some solid arms that should provide some depth on the mound."
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MCAC South No. 3 Rochester Community & Technical College
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Head Coach: Clark Jones, 6 years at Rochester Community & Technical College Overall Record: 129-106 Coaching Staff: Dave Adams, hitting coach; Kirk Rubado, infield/baserunning coach; and Doug Lee, outfield coach/administrative assistant Top returning players: Jeremiah Fletcher, Rochester, MN, SS Nate Vaughan, Sussex, WI, UTIL Connor Mathison, Veroka, WI, OF Christian Revilla, Holiday, FL, C Dylan Balazovic, Cheboygan, MI, C Top incoming/new players: Gussie Maynard, Littleton, CO, LHP/1B Connor Cullen, Queen Creek, AZ, CF Aidan Yochim, Rochester, MN, 3B/RHP Derek Encarnacion, Lorain, OH, INF Comments from Coach Jones: "This year's team is young but deep. Pitching will be our strength. Playing 8 games early in the season vs. JUCO D1's and D2's. We will find out early what we're made of."
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MCAC South No. 4 Western Technical College
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Head Coach: Josh Knoll, 9 years at Western Technical College Overall Record: Unknown Coaching Staff: Montaous Walton, recruiting coordinator; Tyler Moua, assistant coach; and Martin Hoger, assistant coach Top returning players: Ethan Loos, Rochester, MN, SS Aaron Anderson, Horizons, WI, RHP Colby Atkinson, East Troy, WI, 3B Aiden Hoffmann, Green Bay, WI, 2B Drew Livin, Lakewood, CO, 1B/RHP Top incoming/new players: Braidon Brown, Broomfield, CO, 3B/C Alex Sator, Whitehall, WI, C/RHP Ethan Gonzales, Fort Worth, TX, 1B/LHP Comments from Coach Knoll: "Very strong returning sophomore class to lead a highly hard-working freshman class to another possible opportunity to return to regionals."
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MCAC South No. 5 Minnesota West Community & Technical College
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Head Coach: Joseph Kinley, 4 years at Minnesota West Community & Technical College Overall Record: 37-77 Coaching Staff: Jake Olson, catching coach; and Tucker Sorenson, pitching coach Top returning players: Tucker Brandner, Worthington, MN, RHP Eliecer Gonzalez, Panama Oeste, Panama, CF Shahir Brahim, Buenos Aires, Argentina, C/INF Sam Palfini, Omaha, NE, RHP Ales Zhao, Prague, CZE, INF/OF/RHP Top incoming/new players: Noah Garcia, Corpus Christi, TX, INF/RHP Max Biehl, Freeburg, IL, OF/LHP Layke Miller, Luverne, MN, 1B Comments from Coach Kinley: "We have lots of returners with some good incoming freshmen. Excited to get going."
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Minnesota College Athletic Conference2026 Baseball Season Preview & Coaches PollCentral Division
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MCAC Central No. 1 Alexandria Technical & Community College
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Head Coach: Brandon Hill, 2 years at Alexandria Technical & Community College Overall Record: 30-16 Coaching Staff: Brent Pakkala, assistant coach; Alex Jinkins, assistant coach; and Brock Depute, assistant coach Top returning players: Jonah DeJong, Fargo, ND, 3B Gabriel Cabrera, Orlando, FL, C Caden Evers, Sleepy Eye, MN, C DeShaun Robinson, New York Mills, MN, RHP Cullen Posch, Sauk Rapids, MN, LHP Top incoming/new players: Alex Blume, Perham, MN, RHP/SS Sam Ovsak, Breckenridge, MN, CF/RHP Colby Hanson, Fargo, ND, OF/RHP Comments from Coach Hill: "If we continue to work hard in practice, we could be a solid team this season."
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MCAC Central No. 2 St. Cloud Technical & Community College
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Head Coach: Alex Haapajoki, 1st year at St. Cloud Technical & Community College Overall Record: 0-0 Coaching Staff: Bryce Flanagan, pitching coach; Adam Braun, OF/hitting coach; Alex Babcock, pitching/catchers coach; Evan Acheson, pitching coach Top returning players: Ben Rothstein, Sauk Rapids, MN, 3B Cole Gmahl, Mora, MN, LHP Hunter Fuchs, Cold Spring, MN, RHP Carson McCain, Spicer, MN, RHP/OF Luke Dam, Savage, MN, SS Top incoming/new players: Josh Kingery, Atwater, MN, LHP/OF Jaxon Barker, Grayson, KY, C/RHP Carter Gmahl, Mora, MN, INF/RHP Comments from Coach Haapajoki: "Excited to get rolling! We will have a very tough schedule in FL playing SUNY Niagara, Erie N.Y., Suffolk, and Triton. We will be led by our offense, fielding, and pitcher depth."
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MCAC Central No. 3 Ridgewater College
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Head Coach: Tyler Hebrink, 5 years at Ridgewater College Overall Record: 69-64 Coaching Staff: Shawn Dollerschell, assistant coach; Adam Schrader, pitching coach; and Blake Siegle, assistant coach Top returning players: Joe Liebl, Wabasso, MN, LHP/1B Dominic Rose, Gibbon, MN, RHP Nolan Eischens, New Prague, MN, C/RHP/UTIL Blake Morris, Cokato, MN, 3B Brennan Fictum, Wausau, WI, RHP Top incoming/new players: Dylan Kluis, Slayton, MN, LHP/OF/1B Luke Kester, Truman, MN, C/OF Davis Patzer, Marietta, MN, OF Comments from Coach Hebrink: "We have a good mixture of returning contributors and freshmen this year, so we are looking forward to seeing how they all mold together as the season progresses. Excited to see how this team competes this year."
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MCAC Central No. 4 Anoka-Ramsey Community College
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Head Coach: Ryan Holmgren, 2 years at Anoka-Ramsey Community College Overall Record: 22-14 Coaching Staff: Brian Hronski, pitching coach and recruiting coordinator; Steve Janske, assistant coach and director of baseball operations; Noah Thompson, assistant coach and strength and conditioning coach; and Josette, athletic trainer Top returning players: Brett Leabch, Foley, MN, RHP/INF Cole Swift, Omaha, NE, UTIL Matt Baumann, Andover, MN, RHP Andrew Pieh, Soldotna, AK, RHP Collin Tollefson, Andover, MN, OF Top incoming/new players: Evan Krogen, West Fargo, ND, 1B/OF Preston Thielke, Champlin, MN, RHP Zane Christianson, Blaine, MN, RHP Comments from Coach Holmgren: "Looking forward to a challenging year #2 as we rebuild our program in this great league and talented Central Division."
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MCAC Central No. 5 Central Lakes College
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Head Coach: Blaine Hardy, 4 years at Central Lakes College Overall Record: 28-59 Coaching Staff: Ian Wilson, assistant coach; and Keith Peterson, assistant coach Top returning players: Ethan Guck, Becker, MN, UTIL/P Kaden Bellinger, Tawas City, MI, 3B/OF Asher Borle, Brainerd, MN, P/1B James Essery, Sartell, MN, 3B Top incoming/new players: Alex Thoma, Little Falls, MN, C/1B Tristan Wilson, Brainerd, MN, C/P Nathan Priebe, Fairbanks, AK, P Comments from Coach Hardy: "Pitching and defense, and a tough lineup to complement."
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MCAC Central No. 6 Minnesota State Community & Technical College - Fergus Falls
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Head Coach: Grant Harding, 6 years at Minnesota State Community & Technical College – Fergus Falls Overall record: 49-124 Coaching Staff: Ethan Dillingham, assistant coach Top returning players: Carson Bussell, Rapid City, SD, 1B Top incoming/new players: Hunter Cliff, Nampa, ID, C Jakob Hansen, Huntley, MT, 3B Ero Lamppa, Grand Rapids, MN, P Comments from Coach Harding: "We are a young team with a big upside."
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Minnesota College Athletic Conference2026 Baseball Season Preview & Coaches PollNorth Division
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MCAC North No. 1 Minnesota North College - Itasca
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Head Coach: Justin Lamppa, 30 years at MNC - Itasca Overall Record: 738-487 Coaching Staff: Chris Brown, assistant coach; Mike Gebhart, assistant coach; Kurt Fenner, assistant coach; and Carter McLaughlin, assistant coach Top returning players: Kollin Bonneville, Cloquet, MN, INF Cooper Flaig, Roseau, MN, 1B Thomas Vekich, Coleraine, MN, INF Kobe Hinzmann, Eagle Bend, MN, OF Kadyn Mork, St. Cloud, MN, OF/P Top incoming/new players: Cooper Brown, Omaha, NE, INF Nolan Harju, Duluth, MN, INF Caleb Gunderson, Grand Rapids, MN Comments from Coach Lamppa: "Very excited about this year's team. Some really good competition early should prepare us for the conference season and post-season."
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MCAC North No. 2 Northland Community & Technical College
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Head Coach: Jonathan Lund, 3 years at Northland Community and Technical College Overall Record: 47-40 Coaching Staff: Carlos Lugo, assistant coach; Terry Wiseth, assistant coach; and Devante Ryans, assistant coach Top returning & incoming players: Kyle Robinson, West Jordan, UT, RHP Brandon Castilleja, San Antonio, TX, RHP Austin Amesquita, San Antonio, TX, C Luis Lopez, Palm Bay, FL, 1B/DH Jeremiah Vallejo, San Antonio, TX, INF Top incoming/new players: Brandon Billington, Winnipeg, Manitoba, RHP Luis Mares, San Antonio, TX, 3B/RHP Tristan Oriold-Marek, Lethbridge, Alberta, INF Comments from Coach Lund: "Looking to keep building and improving from one year to the next. Heading into year 3, now have a nice mix of both sophomores and freshmen. Quality innings on the mound paired with solid defensive play will remain the keys to being successful."
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MCAC North No. 3 Minnesota North College - Vermilion
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Head Coach: Tom Coombe, 8 years at MNC - Vermilion Overall Record: 110-135 Coaching Staff: Mike Turnbull, assistant coach; AJ Nelson, assistant coach; and Mike Pope, assistant coach Top returning players: Martin Cubillan, St. Paul, MN, C Andrew Ritter, South St. Paul, MN, SS/RHP TJ Frein, Bloomington, MN, 1B/LHP Jo Jo Taverna, Bloomington, MN, RHP/2B/3B Griffin Stiel, Hinkley, MN, OF/RHP Top incoming/new players: Kyle Self, Morgantin, NC, RHP Brandon Rucka, East Bernard, TX, LHP/OF Caiden Peters, St. Paul, MN, RHP Comments from Coach Coombe: "We have 15 sophomores and hope their experience pays off as we hope to contend for a playoff berth out of the Northern Division. Pitching depth should be much improved, and the bulk of our lineup is back."
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MCAC North No. 4 Minnesota North College - Hibbing
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Head Coach: Will Cantrell, 1st year at MNC - Hibbing Overall Record: 0-0 Coaching Staff: Skip Ferris, assistant coach Top returning & incoming players: Landon Wood, Seffner, FL, SP David Cano, Victoria, TX, SS Rheghon Larson, Chaska, MN, CF Brayan Rodriguez, Vega Baja, PR, OF Top incoming/new players: Jasiel Arocho, Arecibo, PR, INF/RHP Yuma Koda, Ota, Japan, OF/1B Riley Nunn, Frederick, CO, C/RHP Comments from Coach Cantrell: "We have a good mix of sophomore leadership and a talented group of freshmen. The foundation of our culture was laid last season, and we are looking to continue building off of that. A major facility upgrade is that we renovated a space in our athletic building that is now a beautiful turf facility with an adjustable cage layout."
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MCAC North No. 5 Minnesota North College - Rainy River
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Head Coach: Josh Koenig, 16 years at MNC - Rainy River Overall Record: 254-342 Coaching Staff: Phil Hindes, assistant coach; Brandon Holbert, assistant coach; and T. D. Hostikka, assistant coach Top returning & incoming players: Gerardo Alcantar Jr., Rio Rico, AZ, INF Christian Cortes, Tucson, AZ, OF Tanner Aros, Tucson, AZ, C Collin Haymond, West Jordan, UT, RHP Preston Dyok, Humboldt, Saskatchewan, Canada Top incoming/new players: Ben Bridges, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, INF Miguel Rincon-Flores, Tombstone, AZ, OF/LHP Damian Griffin, Nanakuli, HI, RHP Comments from Coach Koenig: "We are looking forward to the 2025-2026 season, and all that it has to offer. Our program continues to grow, as we will field the most complete roster in program history with 14 returning sophomores and 15 new players. As a coaching staff, we are excited to see how this group comes together and competes."
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MCAC North No. 6 Minnesota North College - Mesabi Range
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Head Coach: Nick Peters, 1st year at MNC - Mesabi Range Overall Record: 0-0 Coaching Staff: Jesse Bennett, assistant coach Top returning players: Max Bahr, Bemidji, MN, OF/RHP Harley Mott, Virginia, MN, OF/RHP Caleb Jacinto, Tucson, AZ, OF/RHP Elliot Blatz, Pine City, MN, 3B/RHP Top incoming/new players: Will Olson, Estacada, OR, SS Will Kemp, Eveleth, MN, C/RHP Jackson Guy, Davenport, IA, 1B Brody Galovich, Apple Valley, MN, 2B Brady Zander, Cottage Grove, MN, RHP/LHP Comments from Coach Peters: "I want to build a program where everybody can step up, and everyone can hold themselves accountable. We have a solid pitching group. If we can take care of the defensive side of things and continue to grow hitting the ball, we should be very competitive."
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About the Minnesota College Athletic Conference
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system. The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions. The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.