Baseball was the only choice as far as Christian Meza was concerned. The game has led him to Concordia, where he's become one of the GPAC's top infielders and a steadying force for the baseball program.
A year after a tying for sixth place, head coach Ryan Dupic's squad has been pegged by league coaches to finish fifth in the GPAC. Concordia returns leading hitters Christian Meza and Wade Council.
Trips to Oklahoma City and Tucson will greet the Concordia baseball team when it opens up the 2019 season this coming February and March. The Bulldogs are coming off a 25-22 record in 2018.
The Concordia Baseball Program shared the top GPA among all NAIA baseball teams in 2017-18, allowing it to pick up another award last week from the American Baseball Coaches Association.
Six Bulldogs represented the baseball team with All-Nebraska honors, as announced by the Omaha World-Herald on June 23. The team includes the likes of Christian Meza at second and Thomas Sautel at third.
Featured StoryIt’s not as if they had all hatched a plan long ago to one day follow roads that would lead them to 800 North Columbia Avenue. That’s just the way it happened for the Berg brothers, who have made Concordia their home.
GPAC Pitcher of the Year Nick Little picked up one final honor for 2018. After CoSIDA named Little to its 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-America® College Division Baseball Second Team, the Florida native also landed on the NAIA honorable mention All-America list.
Six Bulldogs from the Concordia baseball team landed on the list of NAIA Scholar-Athletes released on Thursday (May 31) by the NAIA. The group includes repeat award winner Wyatt Weller.
Featured StoryA more youthful outfit this spring, the Concordia baseball team rode the rollercoaster through a 25-22 campaign in 2018. This season-in-review takes a deep dive into the highs and the lows.
In the same week that Nick Little earned the GPAC Pitcher of the Year award, he was also named to the Academic All-District® Baseball Team, as selected by CoSIDA. The announcement was made Thursday (May 10).
Featured StoryOver five weeks of official fall practice, Concordia Baseball began the process of replacing its entire starting outfield while developing the lineup and pitching staff. A strong winning culture remains in place.
Featured StoryAs Coach Ryan Dupic said, the growth of Alec Blakestad over four years is "what collegiate athletics are all about." Underrecruited out of Millard North, Blakestad blossomed as a Bulldog.
Featured StoryThe 2024 season represented a continuation of the most successful time period in the history of the Concordia Baseball program. The Bulldogs equaled a school record for wins and won GPAC regular season and tournament titles.
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From April 21 through April 28, Concordia Baseball embarked upon a decidedly unique eight-day stretch. By the end of it, the Bulldogs celebrated a championship in style - at a small-town gas station on the way back from Salina, Kansas.
Featured StoryWith two powerful swings on April 13, Joey Grabanski made history while becoming the NAIA's all-time home run leader. Grabanski completed the weekend in Sioux City with 79 career home runs.
Featured StoryThere are hot streaks and then there are Jaidan Quinn hot streaks. The sweet swinging lefty found his home at Concordia and has taken off while becoming one of the NAIA's best all-around hitters.
Featured StoryWhen Joey Grabanski steps to the plate, "you turn your head and watch." Concordia's colossus of clout is on the verge of becoming the NAIA's sultan of swat while simply enjoying the game he loves.
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Consistent excellence has become a hallmark of a Concordia Baseball program that has won at least 40 games in each of the past three seasons. The return of All-Americans Joey Grabanski and Jaidan Quinn provides hope of continuing that trend.
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Not surprisingly, the offense remained the strength of Concordia Baseball as the program reconvened this fall. The bats of Jay Adams, Joey Grabanski and Jaidan Quinn make for a potent lineup as the pitching staff continues to develop.
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Led by a group of fifth-year members of the program, the greatest stretch of success in program history continued. The Bulldogs won 40+ games for the third straight season and reached the national tournament for a fourth year in a row.
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In a lineup full of sluggers, catcher Ben Berg can stand on his own merit. Going beyond the numbers, Berg possesses impressive leaderships skills and is recognized as 'The Captain' among teammates. Ben's story is one of family and continuous improvement.
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Once a teenager who turned heads by slugging homers out of the Miami Marlins ballpark, Jesse Garcia has grown and matured as a star student-athlete for Concordia Baseball. He's enjoyed it so much that a fifth year became an easy decision.
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When Ryan Dupic became the winningest head coach in Concordia Baseball history, he preferred the celebration center around overall program achievement. It became a time to reflect on all those who have made it a success.
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When Jay Adams is hot, everything falls into place for Concordia Baseball. The local product has flourished at the top of the order for the Bulldogs and has become the player opponents least want to see at the plate with the game on the line.
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Back-to-back 40-win seasons that included deep postseason excursions lead Concordia Baseball into a 2023 season with understandably lofty expectations. The Bulldogs return 11 of their 12 All-GPAC honorees from 2022.
Featured StoryDespite some injuries, the fall practice season only confirmed the high expectations the Bulldogs have for the 2023 season. The offense is loaded with proven performers and the depth of the pitching staff has increased from a year ago.
Featured StoryAs one of the program's all-time greats, Keaton Candor was at his best when he was relaxed, caffeinated and telling jokes. Candor is a symbol of the success and togetherness of Concordia Baseball.
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While following up the NAIA World Series qualifying season of 2021, the 2022 Bulldogs earned respect for their grittiness and ability to hit the long ball. The season was highlighted by a GPAC tournament title and deep national tournament run.
Featured StoryTwo seasons wiped out by injury and the ensuing self doubt that creeped in provided Nathan Buckallew with plenty of adversity. His success while helping lead the Bulldogs to the 2021 NAIA World Series showed how far he had come.
Featured StoryThe home run chase will continue into 2022 for Concordia Baseball. Sluggers Keaton Candor, Jesse Garcia and Joey Grabanski have crushed baseball's over the wall at impressive rates while contributing heavily to unprecedented team success.
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The 2022 Concordia Baseball team is ready to take on the challenge of following up the greatest season in program history. The Bulldogs open a new campaign ranked 18th in the NAIA and ready to prove they remain players on the national scene.
Featured StoryAs both a player and coach, Wade Council has been present for the most thrilling years in the history of Concordia Baseball. As a graduate assistant, Council continues to impact the program in a significant way.
Featured StoryThe fall practice season saw the Concordia bats pick up where they left off while the pitching staff began the process of making over the rotation. The structure during the fall has been a similar one followed by past successful teams.
Featured StoryAfter going undrafted by MLB organizations, Jake Fosgett is mulling options for his future. Fosgett attracted the attention of scouts during a 2021 GPAC Pitcher of the Year campaign.
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In a record breaking and historic season, the 2021 Concordia Baseball team advanced to the NAIA World Series for the first time ever while winning GPAC regular season/postseason titles.
Featured StoryThe 2021 Concordia offense has re-set the standard across the board while taking the program to new heights. The construction of this particular team has been years in the making.
Featured StoryBorn and raised in Troy, Ohio, Trent Wood followed God's plan while journeying 900 miles to Concordia for his final collegiate baseball season. He's been a saving grace for the Bulldogs.
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After last season ended abruptly, a group of five Concordia baseball seniors chose to return to the team in 2021. Said Evan Bohman, "We want to go out on a different note than what happened last year."
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The Concordia Baseball program looks ahead to a 2021 season filled with promise. Talent and depth abound for the Bulldogs, who return a bevy of veteran performers.
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A veteran Concordia team reunited this fall in preparation for a hopeful full 2021 season. A number of seniors from last season have returned, giving the Bulldogs plenty of depth.
Featured StoryIn some pockets of the United States, sports have carried on this summer in the midst of a global pandemic. Concordia's Keaton Candor has found such a pocket in south central Kansas.
Featured StoryA CUNE graduate, Terry Wetzel is in his 37th season working in Major League Baseball. In his role as Special Assistant to the General Manager, Wetzel helped the Washington Nationals to a 2019 World Series title.
Featured StoryTwo of the "Fab Faszholz Five" graced Concordia with their presence as standout student-athletes. Bulldog alums Gene and Dave were born into a remarkably athletic and shockingly accomplished family.
Featured StoryThomas Sautel’s college baseball journey has veered in unexpected paths and has put him up against some unique circumstances. Concordia baseball was there for him when he needed a new home.
Featured StoryWith two star arms at the top of the rotation and a lineup able to inflict plenty of damage, the 2020 Bulldogs believed themselves capable of contending for another GPAC title. The dynamics have changed.
Featured StoryAlready a high caliber pitcher, lefty Jason Munsch took it to a new level this spring. The numbers don’t even make sense – 59 strikeouts and a spotless 0.00 ERA in 26 innings of work for the MLB draft prospect.
Featured StoryWinner of GPAC regular-season titles in two of the past three seasons, head coach Ryan Dupic's program enters 2020 with hopes of staying at the top. On paper, the Bulldogs have the makings of another special season.
Featured StoryOne constant during the greatest run in the history of Concordia baseball has been senior Wade Council. The steady and dependable native of Colorado Springs was exactly the type of player head coach Ryan Dupic seeks.
Featured StoryAs champions of the GPAC in two of the past three seasons, the Concordia baseball program has a well-established winning culture. The Bulldogs returned to campus this fall hoping to reach another level.
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It’s not as if they had all hatched a plan long ago to one day follow roads that would lead them to 800 North Columbia Avenue. That’s just the way it happened for the Berg brothers, who have made Concordia their home.
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A more youthful outfit this spring, the Concordia baseball team rode the rollercoaster through a 25-22 campaign in 2018. This season-in-review takes a deep dive into the highs and the lows.
Featured StoryCade Moring is case in point in regards to how the right process and approach can make a big difference. The lefty from Eagar, Ariz., has developed into one college baseball's most prolific strikeout artists.
Featured StoryA two-year captain during the glory years of Concordia swimming, Terry Wetzel has spent 35 years in scouting for three different Major League Baseball franchises. He got his big break in 1983 as a teacher in Houston.
Featured StoryHow will the 2018 Bulldog baseball team piggyback off a GPAC championship season in 2017? We're about to find out. Head coach Ryan Dupic's team was picked first in the GPAC preseason coaches' poll.
Featured StoryThe roster dynamics have changed for the Concordia baseball team. Head coach Ryan Dupic's program entered the fall with a wealth of pitchers who came of age in 2017 and appear prepared for even better in 2018.
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Months after capturing the program's first conference championship in 31 years, the Concordia baseball team is hardly resting on its laurels. The program is employing new technologies in an effort to remain at the top.
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While battling cancer, head coach Ryan Dupic led his 2017 Concordia baseball team on a magical ride that ended with a GPAC championship and a trip to nationals. This is the behind-the-scenes story.
Featured StoryA "real unified sense of purpose" allowed the 2017 Bulldogs to accomplish things never before done in the history of the Concordia baseball program. The Bulldogs finished 34-22 overall and won the GPAC regular-season title.
Featured StoryOn Monday evening, the Concordia baseball team learned that it had earned the GPAC title outright. The conference champion Bulldogs are now set to host GPAC tournament action Thursday through Saturday at Plum Creek Park.
Featured StoryCasey Berg's progressively successful collegiate baseball career is representative of a program on the rise. The Manning, Iowa, native serves as the catalyst for head coach Ryan Dupic's program.
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The Concordia baseball program enters 2017 with momentum after a strong finish last spring. The Bulldogs return mashers Kaleb Geiger and Christian Montero to an offense that has broken the school record for runs scored in consecutive years.
Featured StoryA series of lasting images resulted from the 2016 Concordia baseball season, ranging from the Christian Montero bat flips to the water cooler dousing of Johnny May at home plate and others.
Featured StoryThere’s more talent, more familiarity and a like-minded approach taking hold within a positive culture. Expectations are clearly growing for Concordia baseball.
Featured StoryThe 2015 season provided head baseball coach Ryan Dupic and his program with a base of knowledge to work off of heading into the 2015-16 academic year. Last season’s Bulldogs broke a program record with 26 wins, but that was viewed simply as a starting point in the building process.
Featured StorySecond-year head coach Ryan Dupic has higher aspirations for what his program will eventually look like, but year one was an inarguable success. No NAIA baseball program with a first-year head coach produced a higher winning percentage than the .591 clip posted by the 2015 Bulldogs.
Featured StoryAlex Alstott had already gone through two colleges and had little idea of the road ahead. As late as early August of last summer, he continued to seek a home where he could play the sport he loved and that harbored a welcoming atmosphere.
