⚾ Johnnie Baseball Monthly Blog – August 2026

From the Dugout

Hello Johnnie Baseball Family and Friends!

It is hard to believe, but another school year is just around the corner. Students will return this weekend. We welcomed first-year students on August 26th. Move-in day is always one of my favorite days of the year. There is something special about seeing a new group of students arrive on campus and officially become part of the Johnnie community.

While our current players have been enjoying their summer, our coaching staff has been busy as well. We have welcomed a number of recruits to campus throughout the summer and have several more visits scheduled for the fall. We are excited about the future of Johnnie Baseball and continue to look for student-athletes who will be a great fit for Saint John's and our program.

As we head into another school year, we are excited for what is ahead.

Go Johnnies!

Scott Lieser
Head Baseball Coach

⚾ Inside the Program

Welcome Back, Johnnies!

The calendar may still say August, but September baseball is right around the corner.

We will begin practice on September 1st, so it will not take long for the guys to get back into a routine.

The fall is an important time for our program. It gives our returning players an opportunity to continue developing, while our new players get their first taste of what it means to be a Johnnie.

Recruiting at Johnnie Football Games

Recruiting continues to be a major focus for our coaching staff.

We have had a great number of recruits visit campus this summer, and we have more scheduled to come to Saint John's this fall. One of the things we really enjoy about recruiting is being able to show prospective Johnnies what life at Saint John's is actually like.

That is why football Saturdays are such a great recruiting opportunity.

Most of the recruits you see with us at a football game will have already been on campus for an initial visit. Coming back for a football game gives them the chance to experience the energy of campus on a Saturday and, most importantly, spend time with our current players.

Our players do a tremendous job of showing recruits what makes Saint John's and Johnnie Baseball special.

So, if you're at a game this fall, please stop by the baseball tailgate and say hello! We would love to see you.

⚾ Johnnie Baseball Golf Outing

Just a reminder that our Johnnie Baseball Golf Outing is coming up on Friday, September 11th!

We already have a good number of teams signed up, but we'd love to get a few more foursomes out on the course.

Registration is open here:
https://connect.csbsju.edu/register/SJUBaseballGolf2026

We are really looking forward to making this a great annual event for the Johnnie Baseball.

If you or your company are interested in sponsoring a hole, please reach out to me. We would love to have more businesses and organizations involved in supporting the program.

We hope to see you on September 11th!

🎤 Coach Spotlight

Brian Hansen – Assistant Coach

This month, we are highlighting another important member of our coaching staff: Brian Hansen.

Brian has become an important part of our Johnnie Baseball family, and we are fortunate to have him working with our players and helping our program continue to move forward. We are thankful for all the work Brian puts into our program, both on the field and behind the scenes. We are excited to have him back with us as we begin another season.

1. Your about to enter your fifth season with Johnnie Baseball. What has your experience been like so far?

It’s hard to believe it’s already been five seasons. It’s been an incredible experience. The people at Saint John’s make this place special—from the players and coaches to the alumni and fans. Every year brings new challenges and opportunities, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.

2. What attracted you to Saint John's and made you want to join our coaching staff?

The culture here is built on relationships, accountability, and doing things the right way. When the opportunity came to work with SJU baseball, it was an easy decision. The facilities speak for themselves, and I knew we’d be coaching great players in a great environment.

3. As a coach, what areas of player development are you most passionate about?

Hitting, is there anything else? I really enjoy helping players develop confidence and consistency. The physical side of the game is important, but I’m just as passionate about the mental side—teaching players how to prepare, compete, and respond to adversity.

4. Tell us a little bit about your experiences growing up with baseball

Baseball has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up playing every chance I got—whether it was organized games, backyard baseball, or pickup games with friends.

5. What are some of your favorite baseball memories growing up?

Looking back, it’s the people and the memories more than the wins and losses that stand out. Those experiences created lifelong friendships and a love for the game that has never gone away. To this day I hang out with people I played ball with from high school and college.

6. Besides coaching for the Johnnies what do you do?

Outside of coaching, I love hanging out with my family. My wife Emma, and two boys Leo and Nash. This summer looked a little different without playing baseball, but it has been a blast being able to spend time with them.

7. Tell us something interesting about yourself

One exciting thing going on right now is that my family and I just built a house in Cold Spring. It’s been a fun—and sometimes challenging—process, but we’re excited to put down roots in the community. Family is a huge part of my life, and we’re happy to be back in Cold Spring.

8. Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of Johnnie Baseball?

I’m excited about where our program is headed. I think we’re building something special, and I’m excited to see our players continue to develop and compete for championships while representing Saint John’s the right way.

Alumni Spotlight

Jim Mohs ’68 Shortstop

I attended St. Johns from 1964-1968 and played baseball all four years and was fortunate to be the starting shortstop all four years. I was also fortunate that my coaches from little league through high school and town team all had a St. Johns connection. My first coach was Joe Schleper who has had several of his grandsons play for St. Johns. I still consider Joe the best amateur baseball player I ever saw and had the honor of not only playing for him but playing with him before he left for Shakopee. A couple of years ago I attended an SJU game and when a lefthanded batter stepped into the batter’s box, there was something about how he held the bat, so I asked someone who he was. I was told he was Jack Schleper. I met his dad Tom and told him that Jack’s pre-swing routine was exactly the same as Joe’s. I had the opportunity to tell Tom some baseball stories about his dad he had never heard. And this spring I met Vinny Schleper. Meeting Joe’s son and two of his grandsons was very memorable for me. My other high school coach was John Nett, a former Johnnie baseball player. He was a great coach and pushed me hard every day during and after practice to help me become a better player.

My two coaches at St. Johns were Elmer Kohorst and Fr. Dunstan Tucker. Elmer was very knowledgeable about the game and was a superb coach and teacher. He was fun to play for except he was always trying to change how I hit the ball. During my junior year I had a bit of a batting slump. Elmer came up to me before a game and said, “Jimmy, I really need your glove out there, but if I could, I’d bat you 19th.” Fr. Dunstan was the complete opposite in personalities and approach to the game. During spring practice in the old gym, he stood behind the net and watched me hit. I asked him if he wanted to change anything in my hitting because Elmer was always having me try something different. He said, “No, you just continue hitting just like that.” In an early season game at Hamline, I hit two home runs. Fr. Dunstan had a big smile on his face as he said, “I didn’t know you could hit like that.” I sat next to Fr. Dunstan on all road trips, and he told me about his time as a chaplain aboard a Navy ship during WWII as well as stories about his time studying Dante to complete his PhD. Elmer and Fr. Dunstan were great coaches and great men and I’m grateful I had the opportunity to play for both.

One of the many memories of Johnnie baseball is that I hit a double my first time at bat as a Johnnie in a game at Morris. Another memory is from the last game of my senior season. I came to bat in the bottom of the ninth against St. Mary’s with a runner on second, the score tied 1-1 and two outs. Their pitcher threw two Scott Lieser-like curve balls that I whiffed at. I called time, stepped out, took a breath while talking to myself and stepped back into the box. Their pitcher threw a fastball that I hit off the left center field wall for a walk off win. It was a great way to end my Johnnie baseball career.

After graduating from St. Johns, I attended the University of Minnesota Medical School. From there I completed an internship at St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth before coming to Melrose in 1973 to begin my medical career with two St. Johns classmates. My intention was to stay for a year or two and then enter a surgical residency program. However, in the spring of 1974 I met Nancy. She had just returned from spending two years in the Peace Corps in Niger, Africa. She came to our hospital to work in the X-ray department hoping to make some money and then travel Europe. I asked her out in May, and we were married in September. We never left town; we settled in Melrose where we raised our three children and are now enjoying our retirement.

After retiring from playing baseball, we watched our son Matt play for Melrose and our grandson Nick play for Stewartville. Both were catchers, a position I tried once but never again. The past few years we’ve enjoyed watching our great nephew Jackson Peter play for the Johnnies. And we’ve also enjoyed watching Stearns County League games whenever we can.

I’m very proud to be a St. Johns baseball alum and to share that honor with the rest of the baseball alums. This spring I was asked to be the honorary captain for the St. Johns-Morris game, a very humbling and proud experience. Scott handed me the lineup card and as we were walking toward home plate he jokingly told me I could change the lineup if I wanted to do so. I handed the lineup card to the umpires and told them the last time I stepped foot on a St. Johns baseball diamond was 58 years ago. It was a moment and a day I will cherish forever.

I would encourage all Johnnie baseball alums to join Scott’s GroupMe page. It is a great way to reconnect and stay connected with former teammates.

GroupMe signup - https://groupme.com/join_group/99427571/exT2AbMK

Coach's Final Word

There is something exciting about this time of year.

The campus is beginning to come alive again. New students are arriving. Our returning players are coming back to Collegeville. Our coaching staff is busy recruiting. And before we know it, we will be back on the field.

Home Field Advantage Episode 9

Here is the new episode for our Johnnie Baseball podcast - https://soundcloud.com/johnnie_bennie_media/home-field-advantage-ep-9?in=johnnie_bennie_media/sets/hfa

One more day to mark the calendar is September 15th. That is our annual Go Johnnies Challenge. As you know, we wouldn’t be able to give such a great experience to our players without your help. Yes, we have some great facilities. We are lucky to have that. We do, however, need help with running the day-to-day operations of the program. That is where this day so crucial. Our goal is to have at least 100 Johnnie Baseball alums and friends give back. The size of the gift is not as important as you just making a gift. The giving link is already live, so if you want to make a gift today it will count towards our total number of donors. Please keep in mind that 100% of your gift will go towards the baseball program. Here is the giving link - https://www.givecampus.com/schools/SaintJohnsUniversity/2026-go-johnnies-challenge

Thank you again for all your support!

It is almost time to play ball.

Go Johnnies!