The Wood Ducks 2025 season opens Friday
SEASON OPENER
The Wood Ducks will begin the season on Friday Feb 28th with a doubleheader starting at 1:30 p.m. versus Highlands CC (IL) in Fort Dodge, and then 4:00pm at Iowa Central. Iowa Central is currently ranked #14 in the NJCAA DII poll.
RUSSMATT INVITE
The Wood Ducks Florida trip will be with 10 games in 7 days with three opponents being ranked on one of the major junior college rankings. The Wood Ducks will begin the season at the RussMatt with a split doubleheader versus Kalamazoo Valley CC #32 and Jackson College (3/6), split doubleheader with Erie CC #7 and Marian Ancilla (3/7), single nine with Lake Region State College (3/8), a single nine vs traditional Region 4 power Oakton CC (3/10), split doubleheader with CC of Rhode Island (3/11), and finish the central Florida trip a doubleheader with Niagara County CC #1 (3/12).
GAME COVERAGE DURING RUSSMATE
https://russmatt.com/tournament-info/live-streaming/
NATIONAL PRESEASON POLLS
The Wood Ducks are currently ranked in both the National Polls. 8th in the NJCAA, 16th in the JBB, and 13th in the PBR JUCO Rankings
PRE-SEASON ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
Infielders Seth Nelson and Seth Tierney were named to the JBB NJCAA DIII Pre-Season All-American Team. Nelson was a member of the All-Region team last year hitting .384 with 12 doubles, 10 home runs with 50 RBI. Tierney was the Region XIII Player of the Year and All-American hitting .376 with 11 doubles, 20 home runs with 81 RBI.
ERZAR IN FOURTH YEAR AND COACHING STAFF
Matthew Erzar led the team to a 37-16 record and Region XIII Runner-up last year in his third year at Century College. He is 100-49 at Century and 258-207 overall as head coach. Brendan Knoll, Kollin Williams, Matt Nunn, Kevin Nunn and Dana Kiecker continue as assistant coaches with the Wood Ducks. Knoll will be in his 2nd year as pitching coach. He played for the Wood Ducks and Minnesota State- Mankato. Knoll currently plays professionally for the Sioux Falls Canaries. Williams will be in his 2nd year as outfield/hitting coach. He played for the Wood Ducks. Matt Nunn will be in his 2nd year as catching/hitting coach. He played for the Wood Ducks and the University of Minnesota-Crookston. Kevin Nunn will be in his 10th year as hitting coach. Kevin had previously coached Dakota Wesleyan University and University of Minnesota-Crookston. Kiecker will be in his 8th years coaching with coach Erzar and 4th year at Century he will be a bench coach. He pitched for the Boston Red Sox in 1990 and 1991
WHO'S BACK?
Century College returns 14 players from its 36-17 2024 Region XIII runner-up squad, six of them were named to the all-division team last spring.
Catchers – Caden Besemer (IF) and Sadock Gnarigo
Infielder – Seth Nelson (OF/C), Joe Hansen and Seth Tierney
Outfielders – Riley Denning, Jack Huberty, and Adrian Warcken,
Pitchers – Tim Buckles, Kirill Landry, Seth Luther, Joey Koch, Mason McGowan, and Noah Stooksbury
WELCOME TO THE NEST
The Woodies welcome 15 newcomers this season:
Catcher – Connor Larsen and John Teigland
Infielders –Gavin Goehner (P), Jack Erickson (P), Ty Escobedo and Hunter Guenther (P)
Outfielders – Coby Brownlee, Wyatt Gavin, and Caden Stern (IF)
Pitchers – Nathan Bunyard, Ethan Heinen, Max Hudlow, Aiden Keranen, Shayne Pellin, and Ethan Sowieja.
NON DIVISONAL PLAY
After the Florida Trip, the Wood Ducks play MNC-Vermilion on March 16th, at University of Northwestern St. Paul on March 24th, at Gustavas Adolphus College March 25th & 2nd, vs Dakota County Technical College March 29th & 30th, at St. Cloud Technical and Community College Apr 9th, vs Hamline University April 22nd, vs Minnesota Post Grad April 25th & 26th and vs Gustavas Adolphus College April 30th.
DIVISION PLAY
The Woodies play home and home doubleheaders versus all the MCAC South Division opponents. Minnesota West CC on April 5th & 6th, Riverland CC on April 12th & 13th, Rochester Community and Technical College on April 18th & 19th, Western Technical College on May 2nd & 3rd. 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 into two 5-team tournaments. The top three teams from each MCAC division and NDSCS will be seeded. 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 Auburn, NY for the NJCAA DIII College World Series May 24th – 29th .
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