From the Dugout
Hello Johnnie Baseball Fans,
While the games have ended, there is no offseason in college baseball. Our staff has quickly shifted our focus toward recruiting and preparing for next season. We are excited about the talented group of first year student-athletes who will be arriving on campus this fall to join our returning players. We cannot wait to get to work with them.
As always, thank you for being a part of Johnnie Baseball.
Go Johnnies!
Scott Lieser
Head Baseball Coach
Inside the Program
Season Recap
Finishing with 28 wins and advancing to the MIAC Championship Game is something our team should be proud of. While we fell one game short of a conference championship, the experience gained by our returning players will be invaluable as we continue building toward our goals.
Not only did the team excel on the field, but more importantly the team posted an outstanding team GPA of 3.60 in the classroom this spring. It’s amazing how well our team did balancing studies and athletics.
Another accolade to share since the last blog: Max Edwards, who was voted as both the MIAC Pitcher and Rookie of the Year in 2026, was also selected a third-team All-American by D3baseball.com. With a 6-3 record and 2.01 ERA, he was recognized as the top Pitcher and Rookie in Region IX. The right-hander was one of eight MIAC baseball players to be named to the D3baseball.com All-Region Team, and one of nine to earn the ABCA/Rawlings All-Region honor.
Max becomes the eighth Johnnie Baseball All-American joining this distinguished list.
1997 - Ryan Roder - 1B
2007 - Jay Kasner - 1B
2012 - Joey Long - P
2014 - Justin Thompson - P
2017 - Wyatt Ulrich - OF
2021 - Max Nyrop - DH
2025 - Joe Becker - 3B
2026 - Max Edwards - P
Recruiting Never Stops
Summer recruiting is in full swing.
While many people think the baseball season ends in May, our coaching staff is spending much of our time evaluating players, attending tournaments, hosting visits, and building relationships with future Johnnies.
Recruiting is the lifeblood of any successful college program, and we are working hard to continue bringing outstanding student-athletes to Collegeville.
SAVE THE DATE: Friday, September 11
We encourage alumni, parents, friends, and supporters to start putting together their foursomes now. We hope this event becomes a great opportunity to reconnect with former teammates, meet current supporters of the program, and celebrate Johnnie Baseball. This event will take place at Northfork in Ramsey with a noon shotgun start; dinner to follow. If you just wish to come for dinner, that is available as well.
If you or your company have interest in sponsoring a hole or supporting this fund-raising event in another way, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly. Your support helps us continue providing a first-class experience for our student-athletes.
We look forward to seeing everyone at Northfork this September.
Link to sign up for the golf outing - 2026 Saint John's Baseball Golf Tournament
Coach Spotlight
Jason Spohn – Assistant Coach & Recruiting Coordinator
Now that the season is over, what does recruiting season look like for a college baseball coach?
It's a busy time as we transition from our season to the high school/summer seasons. Our recruiting class of current seniors has been filled so we are focusing mostly on high school juniors and a few sophomores. We are on the road attending games, showcases and travel/club ball tournaments. After identifying potential Johnnies, we spend time talking and texting guys to determine if they will make great Johnnies on and off the field. At this point it's time to get our recruits some Johnnie Bread so we invite them to campus to get a feel for what being a Johnnie is all about.
What are you looking for when you evaluate a prospective student-athlete?
Having the talent to play college baseball is important, but the most important factor for us is fit. Our goal during the recruiting process is the same as the goal of the player and family. We want to help guys find the right fit, whether it's at SJU or another school. When guys feel comfortable with a campus community and a coaching staff it leads to special experiences and growth for everyone.
What makes Saint John's University different from other schools when you're talking with recruits and their families?
Two areas stand out here, and if you're a Johnnie it comes as no surprise that our Johnnie network and our baseball facilities set us apart from other schools. The facilities sell themselves, but the Johnnie network is a little more challenging to explain to those unfamiliar with SJU. We schedule most visits during the school year so recruits can get a good feel for our unique campus atmosphere. We try to have baseball alums join us to give their perspective. We recommend that the recruits come back to campus to catch a football or basketball game. We can find opportunities on these days to give recruits a glimpse of all that SJU has to offer.
What role do alumni, high school coaches, and parents play in helping us identify future Johnnies?
We get emails, texts and calls about potential Johnnies throughout the year. This helps us build a watchlist of guys we want to see on the field in order to evaluate their talent. Nothing beats a referral because, even if the talent is a question mark, we still value being a part of a student's process to find the right fit for college.
What is one misconception people have about college baseball recruiting?
As parents of two younger kids, my wife and I often find ourselves in unfamiliar spaces, whether it's after school programs, joining the school band, etc. Our tendency is to ask around and observe what other parents and their kids are doing. I think having kids interested in college athletics could be challenging for parents that didn't play sports in college themselves. In the recruiting process, that could lead to spending a lot of time and money attending camps, showcases and traveling the country throughout the summer. That can work for a lot of people, but my advice would be first try to find the right fit by doing your homework and reaching out to coaches of schools that interest you.
What is your favorite part about recruiting for Saint John's University?
Two parts stand out. One is connecting with guys and knowing no matter what impact they may have on the field in the future, they will be in a good place that will prepare them for the next 40-50 years of their lives. The other is being out and about and either re-connecting with Johnnies or meeting new ones. As I've heard many times at SJU, there may not be a ton of Johnnies out there, but they are everywhere. This includes the many ballparks we travel to throughout the spring and summer.
Alumni Spotlight – Dustin Rector ’02 (Pitcher)
(In the picture from left to right Wade Rignell, Jaimie Louwagie, Damien Laliberte, Kyle Casey, Dustin Rector, Corey McKenzie) Florida trip Dustin’s sophomore year
How would you summarize your overall experience at Saint John’s University?
I went to class every day with people smarter than me, who were able to grasp complex concepts more quickly. I played four years of baseball with people stronger, faster and more athletic than me. I spent four years surrounded by friends, teammates, coaches and professors whose values and quality of character I aspired to reflect. For all of these reasons, I got a little better each day.
What years did you play at Saint John’s, and what position(s) did you play?
I was at SJU from 1999-02 and was primarily a pitcher. “Play” is a relative term. I was just lucky to be on the team, and in awe on a daily basis at the caliber of athletes and personalities I was surrounded by for four incredible years. When the roster has dual sport athletes like Grady McGovern, Ryan Deibele, Cole Deible, Jed Riegelman, Jeremy Goltz, and Charlie Carr who were also awesome teammates (all football and baseball), you just sit back and enjoy the show.
What’s your favorite memory from your time with the team? Any fun stories?
In 2000 we went down to Marshall to play a double header against Southwest State. They were a DII program, and like our roster, loaded with recognizable names that were also all conference players etc. in high school. Anytime you had the opportunity to play against a program perceived as “another notch above DIII” is when we’d usually play our best baseball. Our teammate, Jaimie Louwagie, was from Tracy-Milroy just outside of Marshall, so he was going to have a lot of family at the game, and you could see how bad he wanted to win. Their coach, Paul Blanchard, and Jerry Haugen had a healthy rivalry too. It was one of those doubleheaders where it seemed like our whole roster contributed and we swept them.
After the game Brother John took us to go grab food for the long bus ride home, and we walk into the restaurant and one of the first people we see is Louwagie’s grandma, who had come to the games to watch him play, and she was clearly proud of her grandson, and pumped about the Johnnie victories. Having little interactions like that with your teammate’s family in their hometown is a unique aspect of college sports, and something I’ll never forget.
What path did you take after graduation? Career(s)? Life after college?
The alumni network of SJU is simply second to none. I was able to start my career in finance in Minneapolis immediately after graduation working for a Johnnie. I worked in equity research, investment banking, and venture capital for the first half of my career. I took a hiatus from finance and sold medical devices, and software. I’ve been back in finance for the last decade and help large wealth management practices as a fractional CFO.
I don’t think many of us realized at the time how well rounded and prepared for life after Saint Johns all of us would be largely due to being student athletes at a university that demands excellence on the field and in the classroom. During my time, Jerry gave the players a lot of independence. I could be wrong, but I think he wanted “self-starters.” It was not a program built on babysitting players and making sure everyone was doing XYZ to be ready to play or going to class etc. The gold standard, or expectation was you know what you have to do, so go do it, and do it well. The lack of “hand-holding”, and the way that the entire coaching staff treated everyone as men, is a big reason why I believe Johnnies do well out in the real world. I’d never called a coach by their first name until I got to Saint Johns. It might sound odd to this generation but doing something as simple as calling your coach who is by default your “boss” by his first name for four years, and then going into job interviews…the people interviewing you realize quickly that there is “something different” about how you carry yourself. You just had four years of learning to talk to leadership on a daily basis and without even realizing it, you are also becoming naturally comfortable with essentially getting regular job reviews, or feedback on what you need to do to get better, so you can help the team.
Are there any ways baseball still plays a role in your life today (coaching, rec leagues, kids playing, etc.)?
I have a six-year old son that I am coaching in the Minnetonka Baseball Association. I also have a 13 year old nephew that is playing on two travel teams, and absolutely loves baseball. He is the same age and plays against a lot of former teammates’ sons. I go to a lot of games, and love helping him in anyway I can. Learning resilience through failure isn’t easy, especially at 13. I don’t lightly the opportunity to be the fun uncle and a positive voice in his head as someone who has been through all of the ups and downs baseball can throw at you.
What does being a Johnnie Baseball alum mean to you?
I am really fortunate to have had the opportunity to play college baseball. I owe it all in large part to my older brother, and to Johnnie alums like Mike Perry, Bernie Weber, and of course, Jerry! It is an absolutely priceless network to be a part of. The amount of Johnnie alum baseball players I personally know who have kids that have gone on to play college sports, or are coaching their son’s baseball teams, or are successful high school coaches is astonishing. I think it is so cool, and it is a testament to the high character student athletes SJU attracts. This summer I noticed another former SJU teammate, Tony Leif, was on the board of directors for the Minnetonka Baseball Association where my son plays. I haven’t seen or talked to Tony in 20+ years. I sent Tony an e-mail, and he responded so fast. The next thing I know, he’s helping me get more involved with volunteering, and showing me the ropes for how the league operates etc. He’s coaching his son’s 13 year old team and is super involved. All these guys are winning tournaments, state tournaments; they’re extremely present and active in their kids’ lives while positively impacting lots of other kids. I actually get mad when they don’t send me videos of their kid’s homeruns etc. Finding myself at a high school tournament watching Matt Murhpy’s son and Brent Schloe’s son play on the same St. Cloud Cathedral High School team and those guys hanging out with my six-year old son are the full circle moments that are priceless to me. It doesn’t get any better seeing your former teammate’s kids play and noticing the similarities in their mannerisms on the field and how they throw or hit like their dads etc. I’m trying to figure out how I can talk former teammates and alums like Corey McKenzie, Todd Jahnke, Cole Deibele or Rob Garry into coaching long enough, so that maybe my nephew and son can play for them. There is a lot of life to live outside of the white lines post graduation, but you will be surprised despite all the time that passes just how strong of a bond those long bus rides and practices build.
Special shoutout
Congratulations to Bob Karn '71, head coach of the St. Cloud Cathedral High School baseball team, on leading the Crusaders to the Minnesota State Class AA Championship. Coach Karn continues to be one of the most respected figures in Minnesota high school baseball. He has won 10 state championships.
Congratulations also to Rob Garry '96, head coach at Mahtomedi High School, for guiding the Zephyrs to the Minnesota State Class AAA Championship. Repeating as state champs, Garry's leadership and dedication have certainly helped establish Mahtomedi as one of the premier programs in the state.
Congratulations, coaches, on an outstanding season and a well-earned state championship!
Coach's Final Word
The end of a season always brings reflection.
While there is disappointment anytime you fall short of your ultimate goal, there is also tremendous pride in what this team accomplished. Our players represented Saint John's University with class, worked relentlessly, and competed until the final out.
Now our attention shifts to the future. Recruiting is underway, preparations for the fall are beginning, and we are excited to welcome the next generation of Johnnies to campus.
Thank you for your continued support of our program. Whether you attended a game, followed along online, donated, or simply cheered us on from afar, you are part of what makes Johnnie Baseball special.
Enjoy the summer, and we hope to see many of you on September 11 at the Johnnie Baseball Golf Outing.
Go Johnnies!