This season will be the second year under head coach Andy Ham. The Husson University alum and former Siena Heights assistant hopes for big things this season. "I am very excited for the upcoming season. I saw a lot of good things during Fall ball and I expect great things from the new players, as well as the returners. This year's team will have more depth than in years past and we should see an improvement from last year."
Northland will look to improve on their fifth place finish from a year ago. The 13 wins last season were the most since the 2005-06 season, but wasn't good enough for the UMAC post season.
This years pitching staff has some depth with returners and newcomers. Senior Bryce Szymanski (Pequot Lakes, Minn.) has been the team's most consistent pitcher over the past three seasons. He looks to lead the Jacks' rotation. Behind him will be Junior Alex Tsomaya (Glendive, Mont.), who showed glimpses of impressive stuff last season. He will look to turn the corner and be a dominant pitching presence this season. Rounding out the rotation will be Freshman Elliot Snow (Derby, Kan.). The young southpaw will be the Jacks' lone lefty and should have a successful season in the UMAC.
The LumberJacks will have a variety of pitchers to use out of the bullpen this season. Seniors Matt Tanneberg (Kennewick, Wash.) and Jeremy Snow (Tucson, Ariz.) will add experience to the young bullpen. Sophomore Dan Salewski (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.) finished the 2-0 out of the pen last year and figures to get some more innings this season. Sophomore Willy Mueller (Racine, Wis.) will take on the team's closing duties. He led the team with three saves a year ago. Freshman Ryan Johnson (Aurora, Ill.), Peter Aerts (Wrightstown, Wis.), Shane Buckley (Iron Bridge, Ont.), Nicholas Hewko (Hamilton, Ont.), and Hunter Shira (Osceola, Wis.) will all be out of the bullpen this season.
Catching duties will be handled by a talented duo. Salewski will split time this season with Freshman Ryan Johnson. Salewski did the bulk of the catching last season for the Jacks. He will look to use the experience from a year ago to improve his numbers this year. Pushing him will be Johnson, who displayed some power during the fall practice season. Buckley will share some catching duties as well.
In the infield, three seniors look to lock down the diamond that only made 25 errors and fielded at a .960 percentage. Seniors Tanneberg (.443, 11 2B, 20 RBI), Snow (.304, 10 2B, 18 RBI), and Josh Spiegel (Wausau, Wis.- .245, 14 RBI) will take their familiar places around the infield, with newcomer Peter Aerts (Wrightstown, Wis.) taking over at shortstop. Aerts showed impressive skills during the fall and figures to be the Jacks leadoff hitter this season. Senior Cody Carroll (Shawano, Wis.) will look to split time in the infield and at designated hitter, after missing last season with an injury. Buckley, Shira, Salewski, Zach Schultz (Brookfield, Wis.) will also see some time in the infield.
The outfield will feature Szymanski (.402, 7 HR, 38 RBI) playing his familiar spot in center, while Junior Chad Moore (Airdrie, Alb.- .232, 6 2B, 18 RBI) will be playing right. Freshman Shawn Newman (Hillmond, Sasq.) will likely take over the left field spot. He showed the ability to hit line drives with some power this fall. Sophomores Craig Turner (Cherry Valley, Ont.) and Aaron Frater (Canyon Lake, Texas) will fill in, as well as Spiegel, Mueller, and E. Snow.