The DII Report: MIAA baseball fall report
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THE DII REPORT
Welcome back to the DII Report newsletter. The DII baseball season is set to begin in early February and the preseason Power 10 rankings on NCAA.com will be released on Jan. 21. One team that always finds its way into the Power 10 is Central Missouri, so let’s continue our look around DII baseball with the MIAA.
Previous fall reports: SAC | PSAC | RMAC | PBC | SSC | LSC | NSIC | GSC
DII baseball fall report: The MIAA
The 2021 MIAA baseball season ended much like it has during the Kyle Crookes era. The Central Missouri Mules made a deep run in Cary, N.C. finishing as national runners up to Wingate in the DII baseball championship. It was the third time the Mules had reached Cary since 2016, not only a powerhouse in the Central Region, but all DII as one of the winningest programs in the 2000s.
A lot of faces will be different on Central Missouri’s roster in 2022, and there were certainly some pleasant surprises in the MIAA like the rise of Northeastern State. Let’s dive into the MIAA fall report and see what the coaches and SIDs had to say.
(Note: This article was updated with Newman’s information after the newsletter was sent. It is at the bottom of the fall reports.)
Central Missouri
Head coach: Kyle Crookes | 2021 record: 46-8
Hitter to watch: Garrett Pennington, OF/1B — Pennington will be one of the familiar faces back in the Mules’ lineup. Per Crookes, it’s “hard to describe his hit tool, because the ball comes off his bat so hard sometimes.” With how hard he hits the ball and the potential to hit for extra bases, Pennington could have a breakout 2022.
Pitcher to watch: Max Abramovich, RHP — Abramovich is another Mules’ regular with postseason experience, having pitched in plenty of big games before. His biggest concern was consistency and Crookes feels that was improved this fall. Abramovich has a lean, athletic build, whose mechanics are simple, although his “arm tends to get long on the backside when he's not his best.” A changeup leads a three-pitch mix, and he can attack both sides of the plate with his fastball.
Newcomer to watch: Josh Bortka, RHP — A Maplewoods CC transfer with a big, physical arm and power stuff.
What Coach Crookes said: “We have a lot of new faces and inexperienced ones. There will be a steep learning curve for this group, but if they latch on to what their best is, they could be pretty good. How good — we shall see.”
Northeastern State
Head coach: Jake Hendrick | 2021 record: 26-16
Hitter to watch: Blaze Brothers, IF — Just start off with the name: Blaze is as good a first name for a leadoff hitter that you will find. But he has talent by the boatload, with a speed and power profile. He earned first team All-MIAA honors last year and has gold-glove potential. Per Hendrick, “his motor on the baseball field is different.”
Pitcher to watch: Jonathan Smithey, RHP — Smithey was the Friday night starter in 2019, but battled through injury last year. The 6’1 righty is back, 100% healthy and could be a huge piece for the improving RiverHawks.
Newcomer to watch: Brock Reller, OF — Reller is a graduate transfer from Minnesota-Crookston who was an All-Central Region hitter last year. He’s big and strong at the plate as well as a good runner, simply a physically gifted athlete. Per Hendrick, “He’ll be as scary a hitter as anyone in the MIAA. He’s the most powerful player I have ever coached, and I have coached multiple 15-plus home-run players.”
What Coach Hendrick says: “We had a historic 2021 from NSU baseball standards: A second-place finish in the MIAA was the highest in school history. We return a lot, so the goal is to play in the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history. We return our top-5 hitters from last year's team and an elite transfer. We are less proven on the mound after losing Nic Swanson to the MLB Draft (Houston Astros), but we have a lot of experience and expect that to make up for what was lost.”
Missouri Southern
Head coach: Bryce Darnell | 2021 record: 30-13
Hitters to watch: Jordan Fitzpatrick, OF — Fitzpatrick is the top returning hitter for the team at .369. led the team in home runs (14) and was second in RBI (48). He did most of that from the leadoff spot, so the RBI total is impressive. Keep an eye on catcher Tommy Stevenson. The reigning MIAA freshman of the year is a massive 6’4, 225 behind the plate. We know he can hit, but his presence for the rotation and staff will be important. He had 30 assists as a catcher in 2021.
Pitcher to watch: Logan VanWey, RHP — VanWey is a well-known name in college baseball circles with one of the top arms in the MIAA and DII. He played in the MLB Draft League this past summer for the Trenton Thunder. Lions’ SID Justin Maskus described his pitches to me as a “plus-90 mph fastball with a knee-buckling slider”. VanWey is easily one of the best closers in all DII baseball.
Pittsburg State
Head coach: Bob Fornelli | 2021 record: 30-16
Hitter to watch: Garrett McGowen, 1B — McGowen is a big, strong player (6’4, 225) that hit 15 home runs last year and followed that up with an all-star appearance in the Northwoods League this summer. He has a very good left-handed swing. While Fornelli thinks he needs to cut down on strike outs, he also believes he will hit for better average this spring, making him a more complete hitter.
Pitcher to watch: Dawson Pomeroy, RHP/3B — Pomeroy is an athlete, and is a two-way player for the Gorillas. When he isn’t at third base, he will be the team’s closer. He is a fastball-slider guy that sits 93-96 mph with good command of the zone.
Newcomer to Watch: Justin Maxson, OF — The Kansas State transfer should be a middle-of-the-lineup bat.
What Coach Fornelli said: “This is the best physical team we have had at Pittsburg State. We feel good going into the spring, but between the ears will be the deciding factor. This is a good group with a lot of experience.”
Washburn
Head coach: Harley Douglas | 2021 record: 20-22
Hitter to watch: Parker Dunn, OF – Dunn is a left-handed hitter that led Washburn in home runs in 2021. He has plus pull-side power with tremendous bat speed and the ability to change a game quickly.
Pitcher to watch: Rane Pfeifer, RHP – Pfeifer profiles as a power pitcher with a plus slider. He sits 90-91 mph with his fastball and has been up to 95 this fall.
Newcomer to Watch: Connor Scott, OF – Scott is a transfer from Barton CC with 6.4 speed and a plus-90 arm from the outfield. He should make an immediate impact.
What Coach Douglas said: “We are very excited about the talent and depth we have this year. We have an extremely tough non-conference schedule before heading into the gauntlet of the MIAA. We would like to push the pace of the game offensively and look for a big year from our upperclassmen.”
Central Oklahoma
Head coach: John Martin | 2021 record: 25-21
Hitter to watch: Garrett Takamatsu, IF —Takamatsu is loaded with experience. He is a third-year guy that is an overall all-around hitter with some pop.
Pitchers to watch: Jacob Bailey, RHP and Kyler Patterson, RHP — The senior duo will anchor the rotation and bullpen. Bailey is a returning starter that attacks the zone, and Patterson is the closer with good stuff and experience.
Newcomer to watch: Noah Olson. The left-handed hitting outfielder has some doubles and home run potential.
Emporia State
Head coach: Seth Wheeler | 2021 record: 17-25
Hitter to watch: Blake Carroll, OF — Carroll’s left-handed bat is the best overall hitting piece in the lineup. Per Coach Wheeler, his “approach is as advanced as I’ve seen at our level. We have other guys with more overall hit ability, but he makes us go offensively.”
Pitcher to watch: Aaron Bechtel, RHP – His stuff is plus: Bechtel sits 88-91 mph with his fastball and has a swing-and-miss 80-mph slider, but it his ability to execute that impresses Wheeler, which he calls “off the charts.” Bechtel has a changeup and a cutter as well that are good enough to throw when he needs it.
Newcomers to watch: Kadyn Williams, 3B/2B and Chandler Ashby, RHP — Williams is a freshman and Ashby is a transfer with closer stuff but could sneak in rotation if needed.
What Coach Wheeler said: "If Aaron Bechtel (our No. 1), Jarred Kengott ( No. 2), and Dylan Werries (SS) stay healthy we like our group. Then if Peyton Carson (No. 3 pitcher) is as good as he could be, I think we have a chance to [succeed]. We should play good defense and have enough pieces offensively to be able to manufacture runs.”
Fort Hays State
Head coach: Jerod Goodale | 2021 record: 11-26
Hitter to watch: Grant Schmidt, OF — Schmidt has a great frame with tremendous power and athleticism. He has continued to develop at a high level and should be one of the top power hitters in the MIAA and region.
Pitcher to watch: Hunter Parker, RHP — Parker is one of the Tigers’ top returning starters from 2021. He pitched really well down the stretch last season and had a great summer for the Hays Larks — a collegiate summer baseball league. Parker has the best combination of velocity and command — with the ability to command four pitches in the zone — for the Tigers.
Newcomers to watch: Mikey Felton, C — A transfer from Western Nebraska CC that helped lead Western to the Region IX championship last year. Felton is a very good defensive catcher that will handle a majority of the workload for behind the plate.
What Coach Goodale said: "We look to rebound from a frustrating season last year that was riddled with a lot of injuries on the mound. Two of our top arms are coming off Tommy John surgery last year and look healthy going in to the season. We are excited about our recruiting class with a number of true freshmen and transfers that will have a big impact right away this year but also return a lot of key pieces from last years team. We played well down the stretch in 2021 and look to carry that into the 2022 season.”
Newman
Head coach: Drew Maus | 2021 record: 9-23
Hitters to watch: Tyler Push and Hayden VanDePol, OF — Both hit .330 or higher with great on-base ability. Both possess the ability to work count deep with a disciplined approach and possess plus-barrel control. Push adds speed to the lineup.
Pitcher to watch: Connor Langrell, RHP — Langrell is the lone returning starter from 2021.
Newcomers to watch: Asher Finke, RHP — Finke is a starting pitcher with plus velocity.
What they said: "There are a lot of new arms. It’s going to be a young team with established veteran leadership. We are looking to improve upon last year’s offense: .272 average as a team with 60 doubles and 37 home runs. Pitching roles will shake out during preseason.”
Tray Buchanan and Jumah’Ri Turner join the DII Nation Podcast
Be sure to keep up with the DII Nation Podcast and subscribe and follow wherever your preferred listening pleasure is (see all our links above). This week, Emporia State’s exciting backcourt joins the show. Tray Buchanan is currently leading DII men’s basketball in scoring, while Jumah’Ri Turner puts up nearly 20 points per game as one of the most dynamic backcourts in DII.
They also have some interesting off-court stories and rock out the first ever DII Nation Match Game.