• Bears and T-Birds begin series Feb. 1
• Season opener will be the first time the Bears have played or practiced outside
• Several returning sophomores give the team a nucleus to build around

The DMACC baseball team will open the 2024 season against Cloud County Community College (CCCC) Feb. 1 at Concordia, Kan.

The two teams will play games Feb. 1, 2 and 3. The season opener will mark the first time the Bears will have played or practiced outside. Nic Mishler, beginning his fourth season as head of the DMACC program, said he was able to get his team outside Jan. 29 but that practice was limited to activity on parking lots.

"It's better than nothing," Mishler said, adding that the situation is something he and his team face every year. "Usually, we'll get a day or two outside. Up until Christmas break, we were able to get outside but after Christmas we had one day and then the snow came. That's all just part of it."

Mishler directed DMACC to a 36-22 record in 2023, including 19-14 record and a fifth-place finish in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC). The Bears saw their season end with an 8-7 loss to Northeast (Neb.) Community College (NECC) in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region II Division II Baseball Tournament.

As is always the case, the Bears graduated some top players from last season including first baseman Reed Stallman and shortstop Brodie Kresser. Kresser hit .342 with seven home runs and 41 runs batted in last season and Stallman had a .317 batting average with 10 home runs and 49 RBIs.

"I don't think you are ever excited about having to replace those two guys because of how productive they were but I think we have guys who can fill their shoes," Mishler said. "I think from a talent standpoint and depth we have as much talent as we've ever had. We have a lot of returners on the mound and positionally."

Position by position Mishler said sophomore Noah Thein of DeWitt, freshman Kaden Frommelt of Marion and sophomore Maddox Johnston of Chanhassen, Minn., are the top candidates at catcher. Mishler said Thein was the starter most of last season and that Johnston is one of those players who can play multiple positions and will probably get that opportunity this season.

Redshirt freshman Matt Rivers of Colfax and true freshman Sam Hesselmann of Johnston are the top candidates to replace Stallman at first base and redshirt sophomore Cael Boever of Sioux City and Johnston are in the mix at second base.

Sophomore Camden Kaufman of Waukee is the top candidate to replace Kresser at shortstop and sophomores Cory Bantam of Woodbine and Evan Behn of Boone and redshirt freshman Britton Bond of Council Bluffs are vying for the starting job at third base. Mishler said the three will probably alternate between playing third and taking the designated hitter role. Mishler added that sophomore Kannon Coakley of Maquoketa is also a candidate at designated hitter.

Outfield candidates include sophomore Tomas Lee of Minnetonka, Minn., in left, sophomore Jaylen Ziegler of Urbandale in center and sophomore Dillon Kuehl of Urbandale in right.  Mishler said Johnston could also see time in left field, freshman Colin Driscoll of Waukee is a candidate in center and freshman Carter Bryan of Johnston is being looked at in right field.

Pitchers looking to be starting include sophomore Ty Madison of Omaha, Neb., sophomore J.C. Dermody of Council Bluffs, sophomore Chance Key of Waverly, sophomore transfer Jake Porter of Winterset, freshman Carter Woollums of Johnston and redshirt freshman Brennan Haman of West Fargo, N.D.

Those players looking at filling relief pitching roles include sophomores Jai Jensen of Clinton, Eli Lehrman of Anamosa, Camden Kaufman of Waukee, Jacob Sjuts of Humphrey, Neb., and Kaleb Gengler of Sioux City.

Mishler said he doesn't like to abuse his pitchers' arms so they won't be throwing six or seven innings in most outings.

"If a starter is able to go six or seven innings that's ideal but with the numbers, we have we're going to be able to do some things on the pitching side where our starter won't have to give us six or seven innings," Mishler said. "If they can get us through five, I think we're going to have some guys in the bullpen who can come in and have a lot of success."

Mishler said he doesn't consider his team a power hitting team nor a team that will play small ball.

"Having a complete offense is our goal," Mishler said. "I think we have guys who can do plenty of damage and hit the ball over the fence. We will be a team that hits and runs and bunts and does the small game part as well, but I think we have the speed on the bases and will be a team that hits the ball in the gaps and scores runs in multiple ways. We do have depth and we're going to be able to play some matchups and do things that way."

Mishler said he feels good about the defensive talent his team has.

"Some of the second-year guys and freshman have made good jumps defensively," Mishler said. "In the outfield we are going to have good speed so I think we're going to take care of the baseball to help eliminate big innings. We'll see what happens when we get outside. Our goal is to get better each day so we're playing our best baseball at the end of the season."

The DMACC baseball team will make another trip to Kansas to play the Kansas Wesleyan University junior varsity of Feb. 8. The Bears will series in Texas, Oklahoma and El Dorado, Kan., before opening the home season March 9 against Dakota County Technical College (DATC).