The 2018 season is on deck for the Northwestern College Baseball Program.

The Red Raiders are coming off a difficult 2017 season; they missed the conference tournament for just the second time in Coach Wede's tenure (12 seasons).  With a final record of 17-30 in 2017, the 2018 Raiders look to bounce back to a top four conference finisher, a position they held the previous six seasons. Wede's teams have won 316 games and five conference championships. Northwestern has also been very strong in the post season winning 32 postseason games, best in the GPAC. Wede is the winningest coach in the history of the program.

At The Plate

The Raiders return nine position players who appeared in at least 30 games.  

Senior Dustin Gaither a 2017 second team all-conference designated hitter started 34 games, hit .328, with eight doubles, three homeruns, and 19 RBI's.
Senior Reed Smith a 2017 honorable mention all-conference outfielder started 44 games, hit .298, with nine doubles, led the team with 25 walks, and an on base percent of .441.
Junior AJ Nitzschke a 2017 honorable mention all-conference outfielder started 46 games, hit .311, with nine doubles, four triples, five homeruns, and 26 RBI's.
Senior Matt Martin started 44 games, hit .271, led the team with 11 doubles, and also led the way with six homeruns.
Senior Michael Callahan started 44 games, hit .268, with nine doubles, five homerun, and drove in 29 RBI's.
Senior Mitchell Kresnik appeared in 30 games, hit .273, scoring 15 runs, and stealing seven bases.
Senior Christian Stekl started 27 games, scored 15 runs, with five doubles, and 18 RBI's.
Junior Austin Zylstra started 43 games, hit .268, with eight doubles, four homeruns, and 28 RBI's.
Sophomore Mark Primrose appeared in 40 games, hit .264, with three doubles, and four stolen bases.
Also the Raiders will be led offensively by senior David Rowley who started 18 games last season, sophomore Colton Harold who in four games started last season hit two homeruns, and sophomore Zach Rosson who appeared in 22 games last season.

Around The Diamond
 
Catchers-
Sophomore Zach Rosson, Senior Matt Martin, and Senior Dustin Gaither will lead the way for the Raiders behind the plate.  Rosson and Gaither caught 25 games combined last year. 
First Base-
Senior Michael Callahan will man first base after starting 40 games over there last season.  Callahan had a .983 fielding percentage. Also seeing some time at first base will be Senior David Rowley.
Middle Infield-
Senior Christian Stekl, Matt Martin, and Sophomore Mark Primrose will see also of time up the middle.  All three split time last season as shortstop and second base. Martin led the way defensively with a .961 fielding percentage.
Third Base-
Senior Mitchell Kresnik will take over the third base duties. He will look to continue his 1.000 fielding percentage last season in 31 chances.  Also seeing time at third base will be Freshman Ben De Boer.
Outfield-
The pair of all-conference outfielders in senior Reed Smith and junior AJ Nitzschke, lead the way in for the Raiders in the outfield.  Also playing alongside those two will be Rowley, Sophomore Colton Harold, and Freshman Britton Yoder.

On The Mound

The Raiders also return six pitchers who made at least ten appearances last season on the mound. 

Sophomore Alec Rickabaugh a 2017 honorable mention starting pitcher started seven games, made 13 appearances, with a 5-1 record in 47 1/3 innings pitches, and a 3.99 ERA.
Senior Raphael (Buffalo) DeHoyos started ten games last season, going 2-7 with a 5.54 ERA in 63 1/3 innings pitched, and striking out 67 batters.
Senior Tanner Ortlund made ten starts, going 3-5 while throwing 44 innings, and striking out 36 batters.
Senior Nick Stimson made ten appearances out of the bullpen last season, pitching to a 5.79 ERA in 9 1/3 innings pitched, while walking six and striking out three.
Senior Victor Mena made 14 appearances, throwing 13 innings, and striking out eight batters.
Sophomore Zach Rosson made 11 appearances, throwing 13 2/3 innings, striking out 22 hitters and only walking five.
In addition to the returners the Raiders have Kresnik, Harold, and three freshmen Noah McBride, Preslee Moy, and Thomas Wilson looking to join the starting rotation or key members of the bullpen.
In the bullpen, the Raiders will look to sophomore Mason O'Donnell, sophomore Marques Buford, freshman Cole Francis, and freshman Zac Bridger to build a strong bullpen with those key returners.

Full Roster

Coaches

The Raiders open up play on Friday, February 16^th down in Joplin, Missouri.
-12pm vs. Grandview University
-2:30pm vs. Graceland University

Saturday, February 17^th
-10:30pm vs. Benedictine (Kan.)
-1:00pm vs. Viterbo University (Wis.)

Complete Schedule

Live Stats