From the Dugout

Dear Johnnie Baseball Family and Friends,

I’m incredibly honored and excited to write to you as the new head coach of Saint John’s University Baseball. As someone who’s passionate about the game and deeply committed to building strong, character-driven teams, I can’t wait to begin this journey with our players, alumni, and supporters. Whether you wore the Johnnie jersey yourself or cheered from the stands as a proud parent/friend your legacy is part of what makes this program so special.

As someone who was already part of the coaching staff, I am no stranger to the program and/or institution. I also worked in the Institutional Advancement office which really helped me understand Saint John’s on a deeper level. It was wonderful sitting down with Johnnies from all walks of life and hearing about their stories from this great institution.

I want this blog to build a bridge — between past and present, between dugout and alumni community — and to keep you connected to everything happening with Johnnie Baseball. We’ll use this space to highlight our players, reconnect with alumni, share updates, and celebrate what it means to be a Johnnie on and off the field.

Thank you for your support, and I hope you enjoy the first edition of Johnnie Baseball Monthly. Your feedback is welcomed! Please email me at slieser@csbsju.edu

Go Johnnies!
Scott Lieser
Head Baseball Coach, Saint John's University

⚾ Around the Horn: Inside the Program

Here’s what’s happening lately in Johnnie Baseball:

• Our team finished the spring semester with a cumulative GPA of 3.43, a testament to the hard work our student-athletes are putting in the classroom. We take pride in developing well-rounded men who are committed to excellence beyond the diamond.

• The Johnnies wrapped up the 2025 season with a 25–16 overall record and a 14–6 mark in the MIAC, earning our 15th consecutive MIAC Tournament appearance. Saint John’s finished near the top of the conference in nearly every major statistical category — second in slugging percentage (.463), third in batting average (.307), and fourth in ERA (4.59).

• Individually, Joe Becker was named MIAC Max Molock Co-Player of the Year, and was joined on the All-MIAC Team by Will Fazio, Connor Hartley, Ryan Janzen, and Alex Matchey. Zach Helfmann and Brendan Hemr earned spots on the MIAC All-Playoff Team.

• Becker also made history by becoming the first Johnnie ever to be selected as the Region 9 Player of the Year. He added ABCA All-Region honors and was named an All-American by D3baseball.com. Might as well call him Joe “Records.”

• Junior Collin Kray was recognized with the MIAC Elite 22 Award, given to the student-athlete with the highest GPA among all MIAC Tournament participants — a remarkable achievement for the chemistry major with a 4.0 GPA.

• Coach Haugen retired after being the head coach for 48 years. His impact on the program will continue to live on. Johnnie baseball will always mean a lot to him and his family!

• As for the coaching staff, we’re diving into the off-season with high energy. Recruiting is at the top of our mind right now. We are out watching a lot of high school games. It’s playoff time for high school teams and it’s always a fun atmosphere at those games. Special shoutout to Jason Spohn, our full-time assistant for going out to countless games. If there is a ballpark with a game being played, he is probably in the stands.

• Kody Dalen ’24 signed a professional contract with the Sioux Falls Canaries. They are part of the American Association League. Kody has pitched very well for the Canaries out of the pen so far this summer! Congratulations, Kody!

🎤 Senior Spotlight

• On Saturday, May 17th, we celebrated the graduation in Collegeville of seven outstanding seniors:
  Owen Best, Alex Broholm, Will Fazio, Connor Hartley, Ryan Janzen, Blake Mellgren, and Kade Bowar.
  These young men have left a lasting mark on our program, and we thank them for their leadership, commitment, and class.

• *During the school year we will highlight a senior or two each month*

🧢 Where Are They Now?

Alumni Q&A

I’m very excited about this piece!

Each month the hope is to catch up with an alum or two. Find out what they are up to now and what was some of their greatest memories during their time here at Saint John’s!

Have an alum we should highlight next? Shoot me an email at slieser@csbsju.edu — I’d love to hear from you. Who wants to be first!?

📅 Upcoming Dates

I want to use this space for upcoming dates that you should mark on your calendars. Again, this is your program and having you involved will make this program grow to new heights!

📸 Johnnies in Action

Follow us on social media

Instagram - @sjubaseball

X (Twitter) - @SJU_Baseball

📬 Spread the Word

Feel free to forward this blog to anyone who might want to join the Johnnie Baseball family!

Coach's Final Word

As I mentioned, I am extremely excited about leading the baseball program here at Saint John's because I believe in what this program stands for — not just developing great baseball players but forming great men. I’m all in, and I hope you’ll come along for the ride!