Head Coach: Ryan Dupic (282-163-1, 10th year); five GPAC titles; five national tournament appearances (one NAIA World Series berth)
2023 Record: 40-18, 21-7 GPAC (2nd); NAIA national qualifier.
Key Returners: Jayden Adams (2B); Blake Benson (LHP); Alec Blakestad (OF); Caden Bugarske (RHP); Joey Grabanski (OF); Christian Gutierrez (RHP); Alex Johnson (RHP); Caden Johnson (RHP); Ty Nekoliczak (SS); Jaidan Quinn (3B); Tanner Tompkins (C).
Key Losses: Ben Berg (C); Frankie Cresta (RHP); Jesse Garcia (1B); Teyt Johnson (OF); Daniel Rivera (RHP).
Key Newcomers: Jimmy Blumberg (SS); Alex Draper (OF); Braxton Greenburg (RHP); Brad Hallock (1B/OF); Sam Rambajan (RHP); Matt Rhoades (1B/LHP).
2023 GPAC All-Conference: Joey Grabanski (Player of the Year; First Team); Jayden Adams (First Team); Ben Berg (First Team); Alec Blakestad (First Team); Jesse Garcia (First Team); Caden Johnson (First Team); Ty Nekoliczak (First Team); Jaidan Quinn (First Team); Tanner Tompkins (Second Team); Teyt Johnson (Honorable Mention); Daniel Rivera (Honorable Mention).
2023 NAIA All-America: Joey Grabanski (Second Team); Jaidan Quinn (Second Team).
Outlook
Consistent excellence has become a hallmark of a Concordia University Baseball program that has changed the narrative under the leadership of Head Coach Ryan Dupic. The Bulldogs enter 2024 as one of only seven NAIA baseball programs to have won at least 40 games in each of the past three seasons. Considering the wealth of talent present on the ’24 roster, Concordia stands a pretty good chance at extending that streak. Opposing pitchers will still have to deal with the likes of sluggers Joey Grabanski and Jaidan Quinn and fellow First Team All-GPAC honorees Jay Adams, Alec Blakestad and Ty Nekoliczak.
Dupic, who became the winningest baseball coach in Concordia's history last season, has taken the program to five national tournaments (and likely six if not for the COVID-19 disruption) over nine years. The Bulldogs really took off as their offensive production vaulted into elite status. This is a program that has swatted 320 home runs over the past three seasons.
“It is pretty incredible,” Dupic said. “It’s been done the past couple years, so it starts to become commonplace, but I still don’t really view it like that. I’ve been fortunate enough to coach for a long time and it’s pretty abnormal to have that type of offensive production and to have that many guys who can contribute in that type of way. We have some really good players who are kind of winding up their careers in the next year or two. I think it’s well worth getting out there to see them play because it’s pretty special to see what they can do, especially when they all get it going.”
The 2023 team’s offensive slash line came in at an absurd .357 AVG / .443 OBP / .616 SLG. Accomplished five-year veterans Ben Berg, Jesse Garcia and Teyt Johnson have exhausted their eligibility, but Concordia isn’t expecting much of a drop off, if it all, from its powder keg of a lineup. Grabanski and Quinn were both named NAIA Second Team All-Americans last season after they went toe-to-toe in a home run chase that saw both stars leave the yard a school record 27 times. Then there’s the Waverly, Neb., native Adams, one of the program’s all-time greats. Adams has collected 264 hits over his first four collegiate seasons.
The numbers put up in 2023 by the five returning Bulldog First Team All-GPAC honorees are staggering (see below). On top of the aforementioned standouts, Concordia will also roll out Second Team All-GPAC catcher Tanner Tompkins (who played through injury in ’23) while adding impact newcomers such as Jimmy Blumberg, Brad Hallock and Matt Rhoades. The arrival of Blumberg could help tighten up the team’s infield defense. Dupic referred to the La Mirada, Calif., native as “a really good defender at shortstop.”
2023 stats:
Jay Adams – .326 BA, .374 OBP, .555 SLG, 66 R, 19 2B, 11 HR, 53 RBIs, 14 SB
Alec Blakestad – .361 BA, .433 OBP, .639 SLG, 68 R, 15 2B, 13 HR, 52 RBIs, 20 SB
Joey Grabanski – .382 BA, .484 OBP, .831 SLG, 71 R, 12 2B, 27 HR, 85 RBIs, 6 SB
Ty Nekoliczak – .411 BA, .475 OBP, .521 SLG, 51 R, 9 2B, 4 HR, 44 RBIs, 11 SB
Jaidan Quinn – .351 BA, .508 OBP, .848 SLG, 74 R, 14 2B, 27 HR, 72 RBIs, 2 SB
With assistant coach Caleb Lang departing to take on a head coaching role at a NCAA Division II program, Berg has immediately transitioned into a full-time assistant job. He won’t have to reinvent the wheel for an outfit that will continue to lean upon its ability to drive the baseball above all else. Says Grabanski, “Our goal is to get better. In years past we’ve had continuous improvement. We want to get a little bit closer together. Our goal is to keep doing what we’re doing and keep believing in our process. Keep pushing and whatever outcomes happen will take care of themselves. Follow our process and keep getting better.”
Outsiders who think Concordia is solely a home run-hitting team may be surprised to learn that the program boosted its stolen base total from 55 in 2022 to a GPAC leading 98 in 2023. The addition of Zackery Day from Simi Valley, Calif., had a lot to with it – he broke the school’s single season steals record by swiping 36 bags in 39 tries. The hope is that this particular Bulldog squad will be even more athletic than a year ago. Dupic likes the positional flexibility he has with players such as Adams, Nekoliczak, Carlos Benavides and others.
“I think we have a better structure with how we’re training guys defensively,” Dupic said. “Our position players, more than other years, have shown a strong commitment for us to make some progress on the defensive side. It’s an area I think we need to improve, along with our pitch making. Jimmy Blumberg has been a big addition for us … we’re headed on the right path. That will be a big key to our season – collectively, our ability to execute behind the plate, on the bump and also in the infield and getting more athletic in the outfield. We’re trying to find ways to be a little bit more sound when it comes to preventing runs.”
The pitching staff has most definitely been overshadowed by the program’s offensive output in recent years, but the group will have a large say in determining this season’s results. Unfortunately, potential ace Alex Johnson will be shut down this spring after undergoing offseason surgery. However, there remains a wealth of experienced arms thanks to the presence of starters Blake Benson, Caden Bugarske, Christian Gutierrez and Caden Johnson. Those four hurlers combined to make 37 starts in 2023. Benson also worked out of the bullpen late in the season. The 6-foot-4 Caden Johnson (9-3, 3.39 ERA in ’23) of Papillion, Neb., has put together a terrific career that has included two First Team All-GPAC awards.
Among returning relievers, Jacob Lycan, Ernie Snyder and Qwin Zabokrtsky each made at least 10 appearances in 2023. Zabokrtsky can also swing into the rotation when called upon. Dupic also feels confident he can get quality innings out of the likes of Kellen Ingram and Maverick Wylder, among others. As for the newcomers, Mayville State transfer Braxton Greenburg leads the pack. Dupic believes the overall depth will be improved as compared to a year ago.
One of the team’s more consistent performers, Caden Johnson will look to build upon his career 18-5 record and 3.68 ERA in his final season at Concordia. Said Dupic, “Caden Johnson’s progressing along well. He’s worked really, really hard and is looking sharp. We’re looking forward to seeing him pitch this season. We have Caden on track. It was a big loss for us to lose Alex, both in terms of what he can provide and in terms of the type of person he is. We’re going to keep him around. He’s a great leader and a great kid. He’ll come back and rebound from this strong.”
Should the pitching staff and overall run prevention trend positively even just a tiny bit, Concordia will again be a team to be reckoned with on the national stage. Reaching that point isn’t a given with how much better the GPAC has gotten in recent years. The conference qualified three teams (Concordia, Doane and Morningside) for the national tournament in 2023. As Dupic stated, “There is tangible proof that this is the best the league has ever been.” Grabanski would concur in saying that each GPAC opponent provides a unique challenge. In particular, the Concordia-Doane rivalry has heated up in recent seasons as the two sides have duked it out for GPAC championships.
Grabanski and company are aspiring to reclaim their perch atop the conference after placing as the 2023 GPAC runner up in the regular season and postseason. Should the Bulldogs advance to the national tournament for a fifth-straight year, they will have the confidence that they can compete against anyone in the NAIA.
“Our goal is to win the GPAC outright,” Grabanski said. “We want to do that with no doubt in our minds. From there we want to step it up and get to the regional, win the regional and get to the World Series. Winning the World Series would be the greatest goal, but getting back there and having fun with our teammates is the best feeling.”
Prior to playing the GPAC slate, Concordia will be challenged throughout the nonconference schedule, which lays out similar to a year ago. Right out of the chute, the Bulldogs will take on perennially strong programs in Oklahoma City and Bellevue. Concordia has advanced as a program to the point that Dupic seeks out tougher nonconference foes than he likely would have several years ago.
Said Dupic, “We’ll be playing some really good teams down there. I think we held our own and showed we could be competitive with them with some of the victories we had (in 2023). It’s going to make us a better team, a more competitive team and a closer team. We’re going to learn a lot, and our ability to keep learning and keep progressing is going to be a big key to our season. I’m looking forward to it and I know the players are as well. It’s such a big challenge.”
The 2024 Concordia Baseball schedule can be found HERE.