Baseball Heads To Florida for Season Opener
SEASON OPENER
The Wood Ducks will begin the season on Thursday with a doubleheader starting at 2:30 p.m. versus Fredrick CC in Davenport, FL. Fredrick is currently ranked #6 in the NJCAA DII poll and world series participant last season.
RUSSMATT INVITE AND ICCAC
The Wood Ducks will open the season with 11 games in 9 days with four out of the seven opponents being ranked on one of the major junior college rankings. The Century College baseball team is set to open the 2023 season with 11 games at the RussMatt Invitational in Central Florida. Followed by a doubleheader versus ICCAC opponent Iowa Lakes. The Wood Ducks will begin the season at the RussMatt with a doubleheader versus Fredrick CC #6 (3/2), doubleheader with Lincoln Land CC #13 (3/3), single nine with Glen Oaks, a (3/5), Lake Michigan (3/6), Mid-Michigan (3/7), doubleheader with Erie CC #12 (3/8), and finish the central Florida trip a doubleheader vs last year's world series participant Niagara County CC #4 (3/9).
The Wood Ducks return home to head to Estherville IA for a clash with Iowa Lakes on March 18th.
GAME COVERAGE DURING RUSSMATE
https://russmatt.com/tournament-info/live-streaming/
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
The Wood Ducks have assembled a challenging schedule according to the JBB. Century has the 20th toughest schedule in the nation and toughest in Region XIII. The Wood Ducks are playing 20 games against currently ranked teams and 13 games vs DII teams.
NATIONAL PRESEASON POLLS
The Wood Ducks are currently ranked in all the National Polls. Receiving votes in the NJCAA, 24th in the JBB, 22nd in the DBA Juco poll, and 14th in the PBR JUCO Rankings
PLAYERS EARLY SIGNED
Four current Wood Ducks have committed to their 4-year schools. Brock Larsen to University of Minnesota Crookston, Dylan Immel to University of Sioux Falls, Kaden Pfeffer to St. Cloud State University and Xander Paar to Northern State University. They join the elite group of young men to move on to 4-years. There are currently 22 former Wood Ducks playing at 4-year level and two professionally.
ERZAR IN SECOND YEAR AND COACHING STAFF
Matthew Erzar lead the team to a 30-16 record last year in his first year at Century College. Bret Mitchell, Kevin Nunn and Dana Kiecker continue their roles with the Wood Ducks as pitching coach and a hitting coach, and bench coach. Mitchell will be in his 4th as pitching coach. He coached for St. Thomas and played in the Mets organization after being drafted out if Minnesota State- Mankato. Nunn will be in his 8th year as hitting coach. Kevin had previously coached with DWU and UM Crookston. Kiecker will be in his 6th years coaching with coach Erzar and 2nd year at Century. Dana played for the Boston Red Sox from 90-91 and play in professional baseball for 10 years. Dana was drafted after a standout career at St. Cloud State University.
WHO'S BACK?
Century College returns 13 players from its 30-16 2022 team:
Catchers – Brock Larsen and Ty Wieman
Infielder - Noah Drusch and Grant Proctor
Outfielders – Zach Bruns, Zach Evenson (P) Xander Paar (OF)
Pitchers – Charlie Atkinson, Ryan Bell, Jack Carlson, Kaden Pfeffer, Dylan Immel, Ty Valiton, Jack Vlasaty
WELCOME TO THE NEST
The Woodies welcome 16 newcomers this season:
Catcher – Blaine Guthrie and Dom Vogel (OF/P)
Infielders – Cole Bakkum (P), Nate Costa, Winky Estrada, Porter Jorgenson, Nick Ibrahim (OF)
Outfielders – Bryce Campbell, Evan Grimm, Leo Fleischhacker (P)
Pitchers – Wes Nelson, Jackson Ogden, Tommy Pinnow, Jake Schmidt
NON DIVISONAL PLAY
After the Lakes series, the Wood Ducks will play DCTC at River Falls on March 24th and 26th. Head to St. Peter, MN to play Gustavus Adolphus College JV March 30th. Then a home and home with SCTCC at St. Cloud, MN Apr 1st and April 2nd for the home opener. Continuing the home stand to Augsburg April 4th, Minnesota North College Hibbing April 7th and 8th , and Minnesota Post Grad April 11thbefore starting the divisional play. Other non- divisional battles to play University of Northwestern JV on May 2nd .
DIVISION PLAY
After the game with Minnesota Post Grad, the Woodies play home and home doubleheaders versus all the MCAC South Division opponents., Western Technical College on April 15rd & 16th, Minnesota West CC on April 22nd & 23rd , Riverland CC on April 29th & 30th Rochester Community and Technical College on May 5th & 6th. The top 3 teams from the division will advance to the Region Championship tournaments.
REGION XIII – NORTH PLAINS DISTRICTS – WORLD SERIES
Region XIII playoffs will be divided after into two 5-team tournaments. The teams will be seed after the top three teams from each MCAC division and NDSCS. The top two teams from each sub region will play the following week in the North Plains District. The top four of the Region XIII Championships will play a four-team double elimination tournament for the North Plains District Championship.
Winner of the North Plains District heads to Greenville, TN for the NJCAA DIII College World Series May 26th – June 1th.
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Game Changer: Century College Wood Ducks 2023