The 2024 season represented a continuation of the most successful time period in the history of the Concordia University Baseball program. The Bulldogs again battered baseballs out of the yard and Concordia’s own Sultan of Swat, Joey Grabanski, drew national attention as he surpassed the NAIA’s all-time home run record. The offensive production helped make up for injuries that ate away from the team’s pitching depth. No matter the circumstances, Concordia persevered and showed it deserves mention among the nation’s elite NAIA baseball programs.
Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s program is one of six in NAIA baseball to have won at least 40 games each season from 2021 through 2024. During that time, the Bulldogs went a combined 164-64-1 and reached the national tournament each year.
“It’s been a fun year with a really good group,” Dupic said. “It’s been a challenge this year with injuries that have cropped up a lot. The weather wreaked havoc a lot more than it has in the past. It definitely made some challenges for us, but the guys really grew together. It’s been a special group that’s been here for a long time. I’m really grateful for them and excited to see their next steps. I’m going to miss them for sure.”
The achievements this spring included a program record-tying 42 wins, GPAC regular season and tournament titles and more than 100 home runs for a third-straight campaign. After dropping three of four in the series at Morningside in mid-April, Concordia rebounded and won its final eight games of the regular season while pulling even with Doane atop the GPAC standings (both 21-7). That wild stretch featured a Sunday home doubleheader drubbing of Hastings followed by a quick-turnaround twin bill at Jamestown the very next day. The Bulldogs later enjoyed their dogpile moment on May 7 following a 5-1 GPAC tournament title game win over Doane in front of the season’s largest Plum Creek Park crowd.
The journey then made its way to Shreveport, La., for the opening round of the national tournament. Before being eliminated by fourth-ranked LSU Shreveport, Concordia earned a 14-5 win over Blue Mountain Christian University (Miss.). The inability to prevent runs was the main factor that kept the Bulldogs from making a trip to the NAIA World Series (as they did in 2021).
“We didn’t play great on the first day, but we did respond,” Dupic said. “We probably didn’t play as well as we could play, and at a place like that it’s going to show up. Overall, our guys competed really hard. I couldn’t ask much more from them. They’re great kids and I’ve really enjoyed them. I’m glad we had a chance to go out and play some of the best teams in the country.”
A group of 12 Bulldogs finished their collegiate careers in Louisiana. That crew was led by the likes of record breakers in Grabanski and Jay Adams. The larger-than-life Grabanski will always be remembered as a legendary figure in the program’s history after he set new NAIA national records for career home runs (88) and RBIs (300). Grabanski also departs with school records for batting average (.382) and total bases (626) – and he collected 309 career hits. As for Adams, he played in more games (247) than anyone in program history and produced new school standards for runs scored (286), hits (352) and doubles (69). Adams selflessly moved from second base to right field for his final college season.
It was April 13 at Morningside when Grabanski left the yard for the 78th time in his career and became the NAIA all-time home run king. As Dupic said after the GPAC Championship Game, “I run out of words to describe Joey. He’s just such an incredible hitter and incredible player. With kids like him, I feel like I’m the one who’s blessed to get to watch him play and watch him hit. It’s something truly special to be able to coach guys who are that talented. We’ve had a few of them like that and I’m very thankful for that.”
Grabanski and fellow slugger Jaidan Quinn fittingly shared 2024 GPAC Player of the Year honors. They were joined on the conference’s first team by Adams, outfielder Alec Blakestad and first baseman Matt Rhoades. Second team accolades were garnered by Christian Gutierrez, Jacob Lycan, Ty Nekoliczak (Gold Glove 2B) and Tanner Tompkins while honorable mention distinction went to Jimmy Blumberg, Brad Hallock and Caden Johnson. Among the all-conference players who have exhausted their eligibility are Adams and Grabanski, in addition to Blakestad, Lycan and Johnson. They each made a significant mark on the program.
“I think it’s really fitting,” Dupic said of the final seasons they enjoyed. “Jay Adams got six hits in a game on day one of the national tournament when you’re facing the other team’s best pitcher. That’s just not normal. What Joey’s done offensively and the swings he’s put together – those guys just aren’t regular players. We’ve been incredibly blessed to have them. They’ve done far more for our program than we could have ever asked for. It’s been a great pleasure to get to coach guys like that. We’re going to miss them for sure.”
All Quinn has done since arriving at Concordia is post respective season home run totals of 19, 27 and 27. He earned an NAIA National Player of the Week award early in the season and will be the team’s main offensive building block as the Bulldogs look ahead to 2025. Six different Concordia players hit at least 10 homers in 2024 as the team combined for 113 big flies for the year. An unsung contributor, Blumberg took over the starting shortstop role and helped solidify the team’s infield defense.
On the mound, Gutierrez enjoyed the most consistent season in going 7-3 with a 3.61 ERA and a team high 82.1 innings (63 strikeouts). Due to injuries, the Bulldogs used essentially a three-man rotation down the stretch. The other components of that trio were Caden Johnson (8-2, 5.51 ERA) and Braxton Greenburg (3-1, 5.28 ERA). Johnson finished his career with 26 wins (second most in program history). Out of the bullpen, Lycan (2.08 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 34.2 innings) shined and Maverick Wylder (five wins and five saves) burst onto the scene. The team’s final ERA sat at a respectable 4.63 while missing Alex Johnson and Caden Bugarske for virtually the entire season and Blake Benson for key stretches.
Instead of feeling sorry for itself, Concordia found a way to put together a GPAC championship season. Said Dupic following the title game win over Doane, “It feels great. I’m just so happy for the players. I feel like it’s a really special group and they deserve to have the opportunity to have this experience in front of their family and friends. For everybody to be a part of this is really special. The part people may not know about is that we’ve battled through a lot of injuries this year, especially with our pitching staff. That makes today really special. I just can’t say enough of their resiliency and their growth as people.”
Those traits will serve the Bulldogs well as they retool the roster heading into 2025. Dupic and his staff know it will be a different type of team. You don’t just replace a Jay Adams or Joey Grabanski, but Concordia has proven it has staying power.
“I think the culture is in a good place,” Dupic said. “That extends from the players to the parents and families. We’ve got a good foundation from that perspective. We’ve got a lot to fill, and we know that. It’s going to be kind of a new group in some respects, and that’s just how college baseball and college athletics goes. It’ll be a big challenge. We look forward to it. Hopefully we can have some good young kids move into those roles. There are great opportunities for them.”