Erik Williams Photography

Baseball 2/15/2024 11:03:00 AM

No. 4 Mules Baseball Set to Host Davenport in Four-Game Weekend Series Saturday & Sunday

First Pitch

No. 4-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball (5-2) is set to host the Davenport Panthers (0-0) in a four-game series Saturday, Feb. 17, and Sunday, Feb. 18, at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field in Warrensburg. UCM and Davenport will play a pair of 1 p.m. doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets are available at UCMAthletics.com/tickets for Sunday's twin bill. Saturday's doubleheader will be free admission.
The Mules are coming off a four-game, series sweep of Arkansas Tech Feb. 9-10 in Warrensburg, winning 10-2 (7 inn.), 5-4 (12 inn.), 11-3 (7 inn.) and 2-1.
Through seven games, UCM is paced at the plate by designated hitter Vance Tobol (.417 avg., 6 R, 10 H, 1 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .833 SLG%, 3 BB, 2 SB), outfielders Brennen van Breusegen (.368 avg., 3 R, 7 H, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .737 SLG%, 4 BB, 2 SB) and Carter Young (.310 avg., 8 R, 9 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .621 SLG%, 5 BB, .2 SB), and infielders Josh Patrick (.385 avg., 8 R, 10 H, 1 2B, 4 HR, 7 RBI, .885 SLG%, 4 BB, 6 SB), Jack Schark (.360 avg., 5 R, 9 H, 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .560 SLG%, 4 BB, 4 SB) and Jacob Steele (.346 avg., 4 R, 9 H, 2 2B, 2 RBI, .423 SLG%, 2 BB, 3 SB).
On the mound through seven contests, the Mules are led by Conner Wolf (1-0, 5.40 ERA, 8.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 10 SO) and Jonah Walker (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 7 SO).
As a team through seven games, Central Missouri is hitting .324 while holding opponents to a .252 average. In addition, UCM has a .988 fielding percentage with seven games in the books.
Central Missouri is coming off a 2023 season that saw it post an overall record of 43-15 and a MIAA tally of 27-6. UCM captured both the MIAA Regular Season and Postseason Tournament Championships and advanced to the NCAA-II Central Region Championship game.

Previewing the 2024 Mules

Entering the 2024 campaign, Mules baseball welcomes back six position starters, including 2023 Honorable Mention All-American outfielder Carter Young (.361 avg., 60 R, 83 H, 13 2B, 3 3B, 16 HR, 61 RBI, .652 SLG%, 27 BB, .431 OB%, 11 SB), and All-MIAA performers Jack Schark (.366 avg., 53 R, 70 H, 13 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 38 RBI, .508 SLG%, 27 BB, .466 OB%, 29 SB), Vance Tobol (.351 avg., 54 R, 71 H, 13 2B, 4 3B, 12 HR, 64 RBI, .634 SLG%, 22 BB, .427 OB%, 14 SB), Cole Moore (.342 avg., 55 R, 67 H, 14 2B, 5 3B, 6 HR, 48 RBI, .556 SLG%, 34 BB, .445 OB%, 11 SB), Chase Heath (.319 avg., 15 R, 22 H, 5 2B, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 9 BB, 3 SB) and Max Holy (.282 avg., 32 R, 40 H, 7 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 36 RBI, .408 SLG%, 26 BB, 20 SB).
On the mound, Central Missouri returns eight pitchers that tossed at least 15 innings in 2023, including All-American starting pitcher Conner Wolf (11-3, 3.90 ERA, 1 CG, 83.0 IP, 73 H, 40 R, 36 ER, 16 BB, 71 SO) and All-American closer JD McReynolds (5-0, 1.08 ERA, 6 SV, 33.1 IP, 13 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 11 BB, 51 SO), as well as All-MIAA starting pitcher Jake Wilson (3-1, 4.70 ERA, 46.0 IP, 46 H, 26 R, 24 ER, 14 BB, 29 SO). UCM also welcomes back pitchers Harrison Babbitt (1-0, 2.35 ERA, 15.1 IP, 12 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 6 BB, 14 SO), Jack Payne (1-0, 2.55 ERA, 17.2 IP, 15 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 14 BB, 19 SO), Tyler Kotsis (3-0, 3.41 ERA, 29.0 IP, 18 H, 14 R, 11 ER, 9 BB, 31 SO), Jacob Beauchamp (2-0, 5.28 ERA, 15.1 IP, 16 H, ,9 R, 9 ER, 5 BB, 18 SO) and Grayson Senn (2-1, 8.28 ERA, 25.0 IP, 24 H, 25 R, 23 ER, 19 BB, 24 SO).

Tobol Clutch at the Plate

Vance Tobol delivered two walk-off hits in UCM's four-game series sweep against Arkansas Tech. Tobol hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 12th inning of game two's 5-4 victory before tallying a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning of Central Missouri's 2-1 win in game four.

Swinging for the Fences

The Mules hit a combined five homers in their three games at the Houston Winter Invitational Feb. 2-4. Josh Patrick led the charge with three, including a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in UCM's 5-4 win over Southern New Hampshire, while Jack Schark and Carter Young each went deep once.

Preseason Honors

Starting pitcher Conner Wolf, reliever JD McReynolds and outfielder Carter Young were all tabbed NCBWA Preseason All-Americans.

Mules in the Rankings

Central Missouri is No. 4 in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) NCAA Division II Poll released February 14.
The Mules were picked first in the MIAA Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Series History

Davenport: The four-game series vs. Davenport Saturday and Sunday will mark meetings 11-14 in the all-time series dating back to 2021. UCM leads the series, 6-4. Last season, Central Missouri won two of three games against Davenport in Warrensburg, dropping the series opener, 5-4, before taking games two and three, 7-4 and 8-7.

UCM During the Crookes Era

Kyle Crookes has a 351-125 (.737) record in his 10th season as head coach at Central Missouri.
In 2016, he won his first conference championship as head coach at UCM. He added a tournament title in 2018 and his second regular season championship in 2019. The 2021 season brought Crookes his third MIAA regular season and tournament championship, and the 2022 season marked Crookes's fourth regular season and tournament titles. UCM's 2023 regular season and tournament titles were the fifth with Crookes as the skipper.
Crookes is up to 10 MIAA Championships, five regular season and five tournament.
He also has three regional championships to his credit in 2016, 2019 and 2021.
During his six+ seasons at the helm, 89 players have earned All-MIAA honors, including 26 First Team nods and Players of the Year in Erik Webb in 2019, Dusty Stroup in 2021 and Brennen van Breusegen in 2022. Twenty-three players have earned All-Region honors, 10 All-American and five players have been selected in the MLB Draft.
The Mules were 71-29 in Crookes' two seasons as an assistant coach and captured the 2014 MIAA Regular Season Championship. The Mules garnered five First Team All-MIAA selections and three All-America honors during his two years as an assistant.
Crookes compiled a 292-164 overall record in eight seasons as the head coach at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College before taking over as an assistant coach at UCM.

Mules Baseball History

The 2024 season marks the 68th in the storied history of Mules Baseball. During that span the Mules have compiled a 2,109-811-9 record in 2,929 games played.
The Mules have won 40 or more games 22 times, including 14 straight seasons from 1999-2012, and have won 50 or more games nine times.
The Mules have won or shared 29 MIAA regular season championships, 16 MIAA tournament championships, captured 19 regional titles and two national championships.

Mules Baseball by the Numbers

33 NCAA Regional Appearances (25 of the last 28 years)
29 MIAA Regular Season Titles (20 of the last 28)
16 MIAA Tournament Titles
19 Regional Championships
19 Regionals as host site
16 Top Five national finishes
5 Third place finishes
2 National Runners Up finishes
2 National Championships

Quick Hits

Central Missouri totaled 43 wins in 2023. The Mules have won at least 30 games in all nine full seasons under Coach Crookes. They won 20 of 23 games in 2020 before the season was cut short.
The team made their 19th trip to the NCAA-II World Series in 2021.
The Mules have finished with a winning record in each of the last 36 seasons.
The Mules have won back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back MIAA Tournament Championships (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023).

Up Next

The Mules are scheduled to host Central Oklahoma in a three-game series to open MIAA play Feb. 23-25 in Warrensburg.

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Players Mentioned

#48 Brennen van Breusegen: OF; 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior; R/R

#34 Harrison Babbitt: RHP; 6' 5"; Redshirt Senior; R/R

#4 Jacob Beauchamp: RHP; 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior; R/R

#10 Chase Heath: C; 5' 10"; Junior; R/R

#7 Max Holy: INF; 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior; R/R

#18 Tyler Kotsis: RHP; 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior; R/R

#47 JD McReynolds: RHP; 6' 4"; Junior; L/R

#11 Cole Moore: INF; 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior; L/R

#21 Jack Payne: RHP; 6' 4"; Redshirt Senior; R/R

#1 Jack Schark: INF; 5' 10"; Junior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#48 Brennen van Breusegen
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior; R/R
: OF

#34 Harrison Babbitt
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Senior; R/R
: RHP

#4 Jacob Beauchamp
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior; R/R
: RHP

#10 Chase Heath
: 5' 10"; Junior; R/R
: C

#7 Max Holy
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior; R/R
: INF

#18 Tyler Kotsis
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior; R/R
: RHP

#47 JD McReynolds
: 6' 4"; Junior; L/R
: RHP

#11 Cole Moore
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior; L/R
: INF

#21 Jack Payne
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Senior; R/R
: RHP

#1 Jack Schark
: 5' 10"; Junior; R/R
: INF