SEASON PREVIEW
A total of 23 players are back from last year’s squad that finish the season with a 29-17 record and wrapped their season up on a high note with a GPAC Conference Tourney Runner-up finish. With a strong group of returning players that includes ten seniors and a terrific recruiting class the Lancers look to be contenders for another postseason playoff run. The Lancers will have a few holes to fill with the graduation of several key players. Cole Knippling and Robb McClemans have graduated and will no longer be at the heart of the Lancers offensive line-up. Kevin Kunz has also graduated and the Lancers will need to fill his spot in the pitching rotation.

The projected infield for the Lancers looks strong defensively; The Lancers will return three-year starter Billy McDonald at second base. Billy was HM All-GPAC and was named to the All GPAC and All-Region Gold Glove teams as a second baseman. The Lancers also return three year-starter an HM All-GPAC selection Matt Kemp to the infield at either 3B or SS. There will be a battle for the open infield spot. Look for returning players Luke Elliott, Scott Morrison, Corey Beacom, and Pat Anderson to push for playing time. Incoming players Ross Heine, Garrett Cook, and Eric Hames look to make an impact for the Lancers and also push for playing time. Mike Hammonds will move from third base to first base to help out with the void of Cole Knippling graduating. The Lancers have a deep pool of players to help out at first base. Isaac Gerdes, Dillon Lambley, Zach Schulz, and Ross Heine could all see some playing time at first base.

The Lancers return three veterans as catcher and have added several highly regarded newcomers in Josh Wenande, Isaac Gerdes, Dillon Lambley, and Cody Metzler. Seniors Joey Matzke and Ken Spader have shared the catching duties over the last couple of years and sophomore Ben Cummings returns to the mix.

The outfield graduated two starters and thus there will be a battle for two outfield spots. Senior Justin Siemonsma looks to return to centerfield. The Lancers have many options to go to with the remaining outfield positions. Blain Williams, Dean Hansen, Stephen Guy, Jareth Kaup, Pat Anderson, Nick Wenande, Zach Lambrechts, Isaac Gerdes, Eric Hames, Dillon Lambley all look to fight for playing time. Zach Lambrechts a transfer from Wallace State Community College should make an immediate impact at the varsity level.

The Lancers will start fall camp with a total of 17 pitchers. Seven pitchers return with varsity experience and with a strong recruiting class look for the Lancers pitching staff to be deep and talented heading into the spring 2008 season. Rand Thygeson and his strong arm should anchor the Lancers staff along with returning starting pitchers Trey Krier(HM All-GPAC), Brady Diercks, Trey Novotny, and Mike Hammonds. Mitch McLagan will again be counted on as a go to guy out of the bullpen. Recruiting has brought in some very good talent in Nick Huston, Sean Wahl, Nick Wenande, Garret Cook, and Eric Hames. All have the ability to make an immediate impact at the varsity level.

The Lancers again looks to excel not only on the field but in the classroom as well. The 2006-2007 Lancers led the nation with 10 Scholar Athlete selections for NAIA Baseball. The Lancers also received the NAIA Scholar Team Award for the fourth consecutive year with the team having a 3.29 cumulative team GPA. This tied for the highest reported team GPA for NAIA Baseball. This was the third consecutive year in which the Lancers have led the Nation. The Lancer baseball program still holds the distinction of having the highest ever recorded team GPA for NAIA Baseball with a 3.43 team GPA for the 2004-2005 school year.

Coach Bernatow is approaching his fourth season with excitement and optimism. “The last few years the program has really set a high standard on the field and in the classroom. We look to build off the standards that we have set and build for another successful season. I am fortunate to have a good group of talented student-athletes to work with. We have a great mix of returning and incoming players. A big key for us to be successful will be determined by how well the players gel together. I feel confident that the leadership within our veteran ball club will have us competing at a high level this spring,” Bernatow said. “We should be strong in all facets of the game and I am really excited about the strides that are pitching staff has made over the last several years. The goals for the upcoming season are to have a winning record, make the conference play-offs and have continued success in the classroom.