MCC Baseball to open season in Dallas

The McCook Community College baseball team opens the season Friday in Dallas with a three-game series against Dallas College Brookhaven. Friday's doubleheader starts at noon with a 1 p.m. start in the Saturday series finale.

The Indians are coming off a record-setting 2023 season. Propelled by a program-best 16-game mid-season winning streak, the Indians won 33 games during the regular season – the most ever for MCC baseball and the 22-12 record against Region IX opponents was also a program best.

"There's been a little turnaround from last year when the offense was the strength of the team as the national rankings showed," said MCC Coach Jon Olsen, "I think we'll still be good offensively – we've got some high-end hitters – but I think we'll rely more on pitching and defense."

Last season as a second seed, MCC swept Lamar in a best-of-three series to open the Region IX tournament and beat Western and Otero sending the team to the championship game. Top seed Southeast CC came back through the elimination bracket and downed MCC twice to gain the West District Championship. As district runner-up, MCC also earned a berth in the West District Championship where the team lost 9-8 loss in extra-innings to No. 19 Pima then lost to Southeast.

The team finished the year 37-25.

Olsen believes because of a change in the post-season format, pitching will be even more important this season. He said entering the fall he and assistant Rhett Miller already felt good about returning their top two starters and top reliever.

"But once we saw the jumps in velocity, we felt really good," said Olsen. "Coach Miller's done a great job on the field and in the weight room," said Olsen.

Offensively, the Indians finished with a team batting average of .319 and were tenth in the nation among 170 Division I schools, with 579 runs, 143 doubles (sixth most in the nation), 90 home runs (ninth highest total in NJCAA), as well as top-10 totals in extra-base hits with 1,090. The team averaged 9.3 runs per game.

"We probably won't have to score that many runs to win a bunch of games with our pitching staff this year," said Olsen.

Key returning position players leading the offense include DH/catcher Michael Quick, catcher Zeke Minic, a pair of first basemen Jason Serafinchon and Jackson Yeager and infielder Blake Dale.

PITCHERS

"I think pitching will be a real strength for this team," said Coach Jon Olsen. "We have a lot of guys back and those guys have made some huge jumps."

MCC returns four pitchers who were in the top six last season on the team in innings pitched. This sophomore group pitched 216 innings one year ago.

Starting pitcher Myles Chabi was a first-team all-Region IX pick as a freshman. The 6-1 right-hander from Sydney, Australia, led all region pitchers in wins and was second in earned run average, compiling a 9-3 record with a 3.96 ERA in 14 starts. He struck out 52 hitters in 61.1 innings, allowed 53 hits and walked 21. Ten of his starts came in region games where he went 6-2 with four complete games and two shutouts. After starting the season 2-3 with a 4.48 ERA, he won his final seven decisions.

"He'll be near the top of the staff again this year, but greatly improved and his velocity has seen a big jump, so we feel really good about him," said Olsen.

Third-year sophomore Ryan Malone (Bennington) sat out his first two years at MCC with Tommy John surgery but is back and ready to make an impact.

"He has looked as good as anybody on our staff so far and will be a starter for us," said Olsen.

Sophomore Aiden Johnson (Westminster, Colo.) started eight games and relieved in six others. He pitched 57.2 innings and went 3-1 with two saves and a 4.99 ERA and a team-leading 77 strikeouts (12.02 per game) while walking just 15 hitters.

"He had a really good year with a good strikeout-to-walk ratio last year and he has greatly improved too," said Olsen.

Ethan Badcock (Adelade, Australia) appeared in 16 games, starting five with a 3-3 record and one save. He fanned 33 in 48 innings with a 9.18 ERA.

"Ethan pitched well for us at the beginning of the season but struggled a little down the stretch, but he has looked as good as anybody on the mound so far," said Olsen.

Jereniel Herrera (Panama City, Panama) emerged as the closer late in the season. With 17 relief appearances he tied for the team lead with three saves, went 5-2 with a 5.40 ERA. In 33.1 innings, he struck out 25. He hurled 12 innings in the Region IX tournament, went 2-0 and struck out 11 with a 3.00 ERA.

"He was huge for us down the stretch, had a really good year and has also improved greatly," said Olsen. "We're not sure yet if we're going to put him in the rotation or have him be our closer like last year."

Zack Lane (Phoenix, Ariz.) appeared in 11 games over 13 innings and went 0-1 with a save and a 5.54 ERA. Blake Benello (Thornton, Colo.) appeared in seven games, hurling 5.1 innings.

"We feel like both those guys made really big jumps and are going to do some nice things for us this year," said Olsen.

Redshirt freshman Jackson Finder, (Lincoln Pius) also showed improvement in the fall compared to his previous year with improved velocity and Olsen said he feels good about what he brings into the season.

Four freshmen hurlers in the early mix for the starting rotation include: Cory Wouters, left-hander, (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan); Leif Friedrich (Surrey, British Columbia); Brady Augustin (Surrey, British Columbia); and lefty Tobey Cassino (Arvada, Colo.) who transferred from Scottsdale Community College.

"Wouters has a really good fastball and curveball and is college-ready to pitch. Friedrich has shown huge improvement since the fall," said Olsen. "And I think Augustin can be a really good number three or four starter for us and I feel really good about Cassino too."

Other freshmen expected to get some opportunities on the mound include: A.J. Matta (Arvada, Colo.), Caden Karabensh (Johnston, Colo) and Dylan Huddle (Arvada, Colo.), a transfer from Oregon Tech.

Redshirt freshman Eli Dunphy (St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador) had Tommy John surgery last week and will miss the season.

OFFENSE

"It's going to be tough to be as good as we were last year, but we have a lot of good pieces in place offensively," said Olsen.

MCC returns all but 18 at bats from the catching spot, all 216 at bats at first base but just 164 at bats from returners at the other six spots in the infield and outfield.

CATCHING

Quick, a 5-10 freshman from Oshawa, Ontario was a second team all-Region IX pick last year, batting .361 with six home runs and 47 RBIs in 48 games. Batting more as a leadoff designated hitter, he had 17 doubles and five triples, scored 70 runs, got on base 44.5 percent of his plate appearances, and slugged .597.

Minic (Thornton, Colo.) who will play at the University of Nebraska-Omaha next season, appeared in 50 games as a freshman catcher/DH and batted .361 with 13 doubles, 13 home runs and 48 RBIs. He was second on the team with homers and slugging, finishing the season with a .471 on-base average and a .697 slugging mark.

"Zeke has already signed with UNO and Michael has several Division 1 offers," said Olsen.

However, in the early spring, both players have been slowed by injuries and Minic's may be more serious.

The other catchers on the roster are freshman Lachlan Jones (Newcastle, New South Wales) and freshman Bradley Stoner (Keswick, Ontario.)

"With Zeke and Mike dinged up a bit we'll see what happens down the line, but I think both of these freshmen can and may have to end up helping us behind the plate," said Olsen.

CORNER INFIELD

MCC has two returners at first base in Serafinchon (Spruce Grove, Alberta) and Yeager (Omaha Westside). Serafinchon hit .329 in 140 at bats with seven homers and 44 RBIs while Yeager hit .289 in 76 at bats with eight doubles, one home run and 14 RBIs.

The two split most of the first part of the season sharing the position and taking some at bats at DH before Serafinchon emerged over the final weeks of the season.

"Really, we have three guys that could all help out at first base," said Olsen,

Wouters, who is looking at time as starting pitcher has also shown some pop at the bat.

"He's going to help us out on the mound, but he's one of our best hitters as well so he is going to find his way onto the field whether it's at first base, DH or on the mound."

Freshman Owen Glover (Elderslice, New South Wales) has emerged as the opening day third baseman.

MIDDLE INFIELD

Dale (Riverton, Wyo.) played third base last year when he had 120 at bats with a .142 batting average with 10 extra-base hits and 11 RBIs. This year his has moved over to shortstop and will start the season there.

At second base, freshman Maddux Shaver (Belleville, Ontario) has earned the starting nod.

"That's how we finished the fall, but we feel like we have great depth in the infield," said Olsen.

Others vying for infield playing time include freshman Luke Bies (La Vista), a transfer from Mount Marty; redshirt freshman Josh Jedretich (Melbourne, Australia); freshman Jean Duran, (Dominican Republic), a transfer from Cisco Community College; and freshman Preston Yates (Lincoln North Star) who has also played catcher.

OUTFIELD

Sophomore Will Edwards (Sydney, Australia) will start the year in left field. He appeared in seven games as a freshman with 17 plate appearances with a .294 on-base average and two RBIs.

"He's been swinging the bat really well," said Olsen.

Freshman Nathan Hutchison (Riverton, Wyo.) gets the start at centerfield and will lead off the batting order.

"I'm really high on Nate. I knew he was a good player, but he is also a great worker and a great person," said Olsen.

Freshman Wrigley Strong (Omaha), mostly played infield during the fall season but will figure into the mix in the outfield as well.

"He is that utility player who's a good hitter and can play all over and do a lot of things defensively," said Olsen.

Sophomore Jake Quinlivan (Sydney, Australia) batted .241 in 13 games last season with a .586 slugging average, with three home runs and 11 RBIs. Olsen said he'll see a lot of time in right field and has as much offensive potential as there is on the team.

Other outfielders who will compete for playing time include: redshirt freshman Eli Schaeffer (Thornton, Colo.); freshman Kyler Cox (Hayes Center); and freshman Evan Dwyer (Dyer, Ind.).

"Kyler has kind of surprised me, he's a great worker and will get his chances, and Eli is back from Tommy John a year ago and is ready to go," said Olsen.

Dax Patton (Midland, Texas) and Micah Billingsley (Keller, Texas) will both redshirt. Billingsley broke his nose in practice last week.

REGION IX

The region has eliminated the north/south divisions for Region IX baseball, also known as The Empire League. The league is back to balanced scheduling with each of the eight teams playing each other four games.

Doubleheaders will start with a seven-inning game, followed by a nine-inning game. If the first game goes beyond seven innings, the second game becomes a seven-inning game.

Olsen said with the structure of the league the past few seasons, teams would normally play 25 to 28 innings each weekend, but with the new setup, teams will play 32 innings.

"So having a deeper pitching staff will be important," said Olsen. "And that was one of the goals going into the recruiting class knowing about that change and we I feel like we added the pitching we need to make it through 32 innings every region weekend."

For the four-game series against Northeastern Junior College and Western Nebraska, the teams elected to play two games at home and two on the road with a day of rest between the doubleheaders.

At the end of the season the top six teams will advance to the post-season tournament in Colorado Springs in a single game, double-elimination tournament. The top two seeds will earn a first-round bye with the third seed playing the sixth seed and the fourth seed playing the fifth seed.

Southeast Community College has won the Region IX title the past two seasons but Olsen believes the league keeps improving. He said at the fall sophomore showcase he felt the talent was as high as it had ever been for the Empire League.

"It's a great thing for the league but a little concerning as a competitor," said Olsen.

He believes Southeast will be good again and that Western Nebraska and NJC will be tough. Lamar returns a couple pitchers and younger coaches at Trinidad, Otero and Luna having their teams on the rise.

THE SCHEDULE

After three weekend road trips to start the season (at Dallas, Pratt, Kan. and Clarendon, Texas), the Indians will open the home schedule March 1 with a doubleheader against Northeast Community College at 2 p.m.

MCC opens the Empire League slate at home March 23-24 with a pair of doubleheaders against Lamar. The Indians also host Otero March 29-30, a home doubleheader April 5 against Northeastern Junior College, a home four-game slate April 20-21 against Luna and a home doubleheader April 28 against Western Nebraska.

MCC went 18-4 at the Jaycees Sports Complex in 2023

Empire League road games include a trip to Sterling, Colo. April 7 for a doubleheader against NJC, and trips to Trinidad State April 13-14, at Scottsbluff for a double header April 26 against Western Nebraska, and at Beatrice for a four-game series against Southeast Community College.