From the Dugout
Dear Johnnie Baseball Family and Friends,
“Like a kid in a candy store.” That’s how I’m feeling right now with the return of our current players and the arrival of our incoming players! Not sure where the summer went, but there’s definitely excitement in the air as the students return to campus.
Go Johnnies!
Scott Lieser
Head Baseball Coach, Saint John's University
Slieser@csbsju.edu
⚾ Around the Horn: Inside the Program
Here’s what’s happening lately in Johnnie Baseball:
First-year students arrive on campus Thursday, August 21. We’re excited about this incoming class—I have a good feeling they’re going to make great Johnnies.
We’ll start fall practices right away once the students arrive, and we'll finish up with our World Series around October 10. We mostly practice Monday–Friday from 4–6 p.m. I’d like to personally invite anyone who wants to come out to a fall practice to join us. If you’re an alum, bring your glove—it’d be great to see you relive the Glory Days! If you have great stories from your time here, we’d love for you to share them with our team. This is just as much your program as anyone else’s.
If you're interested in stopping by, please let me know.
As you may or may not know, I love following amateur baseball here in Minnesota. The State Tournament started this past weekend and runs through Labor Day. We have a large group of future, current, and former Johnnie baseball players whose teams are still participating.
Also, congrats to Cole Deibele ’04 Head Coach of the Monticello VFW team on winning the state tournament that was held in St. Cloud. Fun to see alums staying involved in the game even after they hang up their cleats.
Note: If you have any other shoutouts that I should be adding to future blog posts, please let me know!
🎤 Senior Spotlight
During the school year, we will highlight a senior or two each month
🧢 Where Are They Now?
Alumni Q&A
Interview with Mike Carr ’77
What years did you play at Saint John’s, and what position(s) did you play?
I played from 1974 to 1977 as an outfielder alongside Jerry Haugen for three of those years.
What’s your favorite memory from your time with the team? Any fun stories?
My favorite memory at SJU was playing in the Regional Championship against Winona State in Winona as a senior. We split the first two games but lost the third by inches when a long fly ball was caught above the wall—had it cleared, we would’ve won and advanced to the National Tournament.
We had a lot of fun on our spring trips. On one trip to Kansas, we rode a school bus that burned more oil than gas. But it gave us plenty of room to haul back cases of a beverage not sold in Minnesota at the time. Another spring trip, we ended up playing more basketball than baseball. We were iced out of all but two games and could only practice indoors—something we could’ve done back home!
What path did you take after graduation? Career(s)? Life after college?
I was a high school math teacher and baseball coach at Apollo High School for 10 years. We won a State Championship in 1985 and a State Legion title in 1984. I coached baseball for 20 years at SJU as Jerry’s assistant. I retired as a high school principal in Monticello in 2021 after 17 years of teaching and 24 years as a high school administrator. I also refereed high school and college football and basketball for 40 years. I currently serve as part of the SJU Football broadcast team.
Are there any ways baseball still plays a role in your life today (coaching, rec leagues, kids playing, etc.)?
Baseball is still a large part of my life—I’m a big fan of my grandkids, who are playing at various levels.
What does being a Johnnie Baseball alum mean to you?
Johnnie Baseball has played a very meaningful role in my life. I’ve maintained cherished memories and friendships over the years. All three of my children graduated from SJU and CSB. Both my sons played baseball and football at SJU.
📸 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
If you're planning to come to Collegeville for a football game this fall, please let us know. We usually have a few recruits visiting, and it’s always great having alums and friends of the program share their perspectives. Plus, it’s always fun to see Johnnie fans in that setting!
Also, please keep Tuesday, September 16, marked on your calendar—this is our annual Go Johnnies Challenge day. It’s our one-day fundraiser that helps ensure our players get the best experience possible.
Another date to save is Saturday, September 20, we’ll be hosting the University of Minnesota Morris for a scrimmage at noon. It’s a great opportunity to meet some of our current players and see them in action.
And as always, a quick recruiting note: if you know of any high school players who would be a great fit for Johnnie Baseball—young men who love the game, are strong students, and want to be part of something bigger than themselves—please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d love to have that conversation.
Thanks for following along and supporting the program. As always, Go Johnnies!