From the Dugout
“New Year, New Energy”

Dear Johnnie Baseball Family and Friends,

A new year always brings fresh energy, and it’s been great having our guys back on campus. You can feel the excitement around the program as players reconnect with teammates, get back into routines, and lock in on what lies ahead. There’s something special about that first stretch back together—laughter in the clubhouse, competitive reps at practice, and a shared focus on getting better every single day.

We’re excited about the group we have and the work they’re putting in as we turn the page toward a new season.

Go Johnnies!

Scott Lieser
Head Baseball Coach, Saint John’s University
Slieser@csbsju.edu
https://gojohnnies.com/sports/baseball

⚾ Inside the Program: January Update

We officially kicked off team practice on January 21st, and it’s been great to see the energy and focus our guys have brought back to campus. The work put in over winter break is showing, and now it’s all about building momentum as we prepare for our first games at the end of February.

Our season opens in Shawnee, Kansas, where we’ll take on Buena Vista in a three-game series beginning February 28th. The guys are excited to get the ball rolling, but also know there is a lot of work to be put in before then.

Our practice schedule in the dome is consistent and open for anyone who wants to stop by:
• Monday–Friday: 4:00–6:00 PM
• Saturday: 9:00–11:00 AM

If you’re needing a Johnnie Baseball fix, feel free to come by and watch a practice. We’d love to see you around the field as we continue getting ready for the season ahead. It would be great if you could give me a heads up when you are coming.

🎤 Senior Spotlight
Noah Jensen — Left-Handed Pitcher, Environmental Studies

Where are you from, and what high school did you attend?
I’m from Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, and I attended Sauk Rapids–Rice High School.

What made you choose Saint John’s University and Johnnie Baseball?
Going into my senior year of high school, I was almost certain I wanted to attend a big college like Minnesota or Wisconsin, which would have meant baseball was off the table. My mom encouraged me to visit Saint John’s since it was close to home and I hadn’t toured many smaller schools. As an outdoorsman, I instantly fell in love with campus—especially the lakes and the arboretum.

What stood out most, though, were the stories about friendships and connections. Growing up in Central Minnesota, I saw firsthand how strong the Johnnie/Bennie network is. With the facilities, the relationships, and the values of the people in the program, I knew this was where I wanted to be.

What does being a part of Johnnie Baseball mean to you?
It means joining a brotherhood of people who share the same values, who will have your back in any situation, and who will push you to grow as both a player and a person. These are relationships that will last far beyond college.

How has Johnnie Baseball helped you grow as a person?
Johnnie Baseball has helped me grow through discipline, accountability, and learning how to be part of something bigger than myself. It’s forced me to manage my time, balance responsibilities, and hold myself to a higher standard—even when no one is watching. It’s also strengthened my leadership, communication, and resilience, especially during tough stretches.

How do you lead as a senior?
I try to lead by example by setting a standard in effort and preparation. I aim to be consistent—showing up early, being prepared, and bringing the same energy every day. Whether it’s the weight room, practice, class, or games, I want my teammates to know they can depend on me.

What are your goals for your final season?
My goals aren’t centered on statistics, but on making a positive impact on the team. I want to be someone coaches and teammates can rely on every day. I want to help set the standard for how we work and compete, respond to adversity with confidence, and mentor younger players. Most of all, I want to finish my career with no regrets—knowing I gave everything I had.

What’s next for you after graduation?
I plan to work in natural resource management or environmental consulting. I’m also applying for assistantships in fisheries management and haven’t ruled out graduate school.

What advice would you give to younger players or incoming freshmen?
Commit fully from day one. Show up early, work hard, and take pride in the small things. Don’t fear failure—use it to get better. The years go fast, and the biggest regret is not giving it everything you had.

What will you miss most about Saint John’s and Johnnie Baseball?
I’ll miss being around my people every day—my roommates, teammates, and friends. And I’ll miss the trips, whether it’s spring break in Florida or long bus rides. Those moments create the stories you remember forever.

Hidden talent or hobby outside of baseball?
I love other sports like hockey, basketball, volleyball, and pickleball, along with hunting, fishing, and just about anything outdoors.

🧢 Where Are They Now?
Henry “Hank” Gallagher ’61

What years did you play at St. John’s, and what position(s) did you play?

1958-1961 Outfielder (kneeling in front on the left in the picture)

Following my freshman year in 1958, when the team (holder of six conference titles in seven years), finished in a first-place tie with St. Mary’s (then a baseball power with inner-city Chicago kids), we fell on lean years.

The one Johnnie star of that era was Al Eisele (SJU ’58), a speed thrower, expecting to go to spring training after a few stops with farm teams in the Cleveland Indians organization. But he threw his arm out (Tommie John was then just a friend and teammate) and went on to a highly-regarded career in journalism in Washington on Capitol Hill (Vice President Mondale hired Al in 1976 to be his press secretary). Years later he told me that he had “an excellent fastball and would have made the big leagues if he only perfected his curve.” (That damn dreaded curveball thing again).

What’s your favorite memory from your time with the team? Any fun stories?

Hands down it was the home run at St. Thomas. At the end of the game, the Johnnie hurler that day, Pat Dolan (SJU ’59), later a coach at St. Cloud Tech, came over and thanked me for helping him get the “win.”

We all enjoyed watching the disputed call “talks” that Coach Ross Horning (after Bill Osborne and before Ed Hasbrouck) carried on with home plate umpires, no doubt filled with taunting remarks that he brought from his professional playing days. And his quips were not limited to the officials. In one game he called for a sacrifice bunt with our slow-moving pitcher Lyle Christie on first. He was easily tagged out on his attempt to steal second. Coach Horning called out, “Hey, Lyle! We know you run with a piano on your back, but you didn’t have to stop and play it!"

What path did you take after graduation? Career(s)? Life after college?

In 1962 I was a lieutenant (ROTC Battle Group Commander in my SJU senior year) in a military police battalion that was deployed (with 10,000 other Army troops) to put down a riot in a southern college town. After order was restored, I was assigned as security officer for the first African American student at the University of Mississippi. In 2012 I wrote “James Meredith and the Ole Miss Riot: A Soldier's Story.” (The book inspired the production of “A Unique Assignment,” a play performed by the History Theatre in St. Paul in 2024.) In 2017 I wrote and self-published “Stepping Around the Cowcatcher, A Minneapolis Childhood.”

Based on my time as a Foreign Service Officer in Vietnam during the war and my travels throughout the country in its postwar years, I turned my hand to writing fiction in 2017 with Billy Comes Home (assisted occasionally by my Vietnamese wife). It’s a story (not yet published) about a Grand Prairie Sioux who must confront his own beliefs about the “afterlife” when he sets out on a journey to Vietnam in 1989 to bring back the ghost of his MIA Green Beret brother who was killed during the war.

I received a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and practiced law for over twenty-five years, Now, as a “recovering” lawyer, I live in Washington, D.C., with my wife who graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1964 as a foreign student. As a U.S. government local hire, i.e., USIA librarian, she could tell you about her escape from her Vietnam the day before Saigon fell.

Are there any ways baseball still plays a role in your life today (coaching, rec leagues, kids playing, etc.)?

Just a guy in the stands knowing (as a friend once told me) that the difference between a baseball fan and a hockey fan is about 20 IQ points.

What does being a Johnnie Baseball alum mean to you?

It’s odd, but people often develop stronger, longer-lasting friendships with ex-teammates than with former classmates.

📸 Johnnies in Action
Follow us on social media:
Instagram – @sjubaseball
X (Twitter) – @SJU_Baseball
Facebook – @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

Two more episodes of the Johnnie Baseball podcast, Home Field Advantage, are near completion. Along with SJU baseball history dating back to 1864, Episode 4 features Justin Rost, Johnnie strength and conditioning coach who works with athletes across all SJU sports. Episode 5 includes comments on the transfer portal and a conversation with Brace Hemmelgarn ’12, a Johnnie outfielder on a MIAC championship team who now directs Minnesota Twins content design and photography. For past and future episodes here is the link Johnnie/Bennie Media Link

We’re also looking forward to another great Johnnie Standup event, which will be held on February 23rd at Fulton Brewery in Minneapolis.

I’m the guest speaker this year, excited to be part of an event I’ve enjoyed attending for many years.

It’s always a great time getting together with a bunch of Johnnies. Johnnie Standup Link

As always, thank you for supporting Johnnie Baseball. We appreciate everyone who follows along, shows up, and stays connected to our program.

Go Johnnies!