Program: Kirkwood
Head Coach: Todd Rima: 13th year
NJCAA Region/Division: Region 11, DII
Email: [email protected]      
Twitter: TRima23  
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Heading into his 13th year at the helm and second year as Athletic Director, Coach Rima looks to lead a loaded Kirkwood squad in pursuit of a Region 11 championship and beyond. After a disappointing end in the Region 11 tournament after posting a 37-22 record, this Eagles squad looks eager for more. The rotation lost its three biggest contributors, but a deep group of sophomores and freshmen looks poised to take over the reins. While the offense loses one of the biggest bats in all of JUCO baseball in Cal Sullivan, they still look primed to fill the gap. The majority of this powerful lineup returns with the inclusion of an impact transfer at short. Kirkwood is set to not miss a beat heading into the Spring, continuing dominance on both sides of the diamond.

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PITCHERS

Despite losing their top three arms to the D1 level, Kirkwood still sits in a primed position to dominate on the mound. This year's rotation is headlined by Iowa transfer Rowan Donels. The right-hander is an RS-FR coming off Tommy John surgery. Working a low-90s sinker, low-80s sweeper, and change-up. Donels tosses from a deceptive lower ¾ slot, showing the ability to attack in zone. A bright spot this fall from the Eagles staff. Behind Donels will be a trio of returner right-handed arms in Jackson Niederwerder, Reece Wrage, and Grant Miller. Niederwerder comes to the rotation with the most experience after tossing 53.1 innings to a 3.71 ERA while striking out 53 and walking only nine. An arm that's going to be leaned on all year for consistency. Wrage follows him, tossing 43.1 innings last year, despite a 5.82 ERA, the righty created the ability to strike batters out, tallying 37 on the year. This fall, he showed the fastball up to 91mph, with a lower-80s slider and changeup. A developing arm to see where he places in the rotation. The final returner to take note of is Grant Miller. The righty is working off a season where he tossed 34.1 innings to a 5.77 ERA while striking out 37 and walking nine. Miller has been an arm continuing to tick up as the fall continues, now seeing the fastball running up to 92.5 mph, sitting in the lower-90s. Rounding out these retuners is right-hander Adrian Broadus. An electric arm that can work out of the bullpen with a fastball up to 91mph has shown it up to 93.5 as of recently. When attacking the zone, it is a strong arsenal with a sharp gyro slider. This is an experienced group with the potential to make noise throughout Region 11.

• RS-FR. RHP Rowan Donels, the long-limbed, lean, 6-foot-5, 206-pound frame, was dominant in his one inning of work Friday night. The right-hander operates out of a loose, repeatable, medium leg kick motion, working long down the hill with a whippy arm working from a lower ¾ slot. Dealing with a three-pitch mix, the fastball was sitting 90-92 mph, a true sinker shape, the slider was 80-82 mph with 2600 RPMs, tending to sweep with sharp break, and the changeup was 80-82 mph, with arm-side fade. In-game, Donels was effectively using the lower half of the zone, able to induce whiffs and weak contact while filling up the zone.

• SO. RHP Adrian Broadus put together an interesting outing on the mound, lighting up the radar gun. The well-built 6-foot, 190-pound right-hander showcased an electric two-pitch mix. The fastball was sitting 89-92 mph, with tons of late life, getting up to 16.4 IVB, and the slider was 79-82 mph, with sharp gyro actions. Broadus works out of a high-tempo, quick tuck motion, getting into the lower-half, followed by a whippy arm from a ¾ slot. When locating in the zone, bats were lagging, unable to catch up, and swinging through the slider with ease.

Despite the returning arms for Kirkwood, there is still plenty of room for freshmen to make their mark. Three arms have caught our eye this fall in left-hander Oliver Lindstrom and right-handers Tate Proskovec and Collin Homan. Lindstrom hails from the Gopher state and, as one of the lone left-handers on the staff, looks to see immediate innings this spring. Proskovec, out of Cedar Rapids Xavier, gave a strong look this fall. The fastball was sitting in the upper-80s, touching 90 with 20-22 IVB, with a pair of developing secondaries. Then Homan strung together a very impressive fall season in front of our staff's eyes. The last time we saw the righty, he was topping out at 84 mph vs, now running it up to 92.5mph. A big leap in development, showing command as well with secondaries following. This freshman class is an exciting one to keep an eye out for this season. Take a look at what our staff had to say about them below.

• FR. RHP Collin Homan stands in as a towering, 6-foot-6, 245-pound frame and put together a quality showing on the mound Friday night. The right-hander worked with some presence on the mound, filling up the zone and making quick work of batters. Operating out of an easy, tall and fall motion with quick and clean, short arm action, Homan delt with a three-pitch mix with a heavy reliance on the fastball. The fastball was sitting 89-92 mph, with a tone of life getting up to 17.7 IVB. The slider was sitting at 77 mph with sharp gyro action. The changeup was in the lower 80s, dropping off from the fastball.

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OFFENSE

Arguably one of the most consistent producers of offense talent, this 2026 Kirkwood lineup is no different from the rest. Headlined by a handful of returners and an impact transfer, the Eagles look to continue their dominance with the bats. The two major returners to this lineup are INF Landon Frost and 2B Blake Lundholm. Frost is the biggest producer coming back after slashing .329/.471/.612, with 12 home runs, 10 doubles, and 50 RBIs. The righty continues to develop his power tool set, reaching a max EV of 104.8 mph, and turning it into in-game results this fall. Behind him is the contact bat of Lundholm, working off a .331/.462/.369 slash line, while driving in 31. A bat that has been seen as more of a contact-oriented hitter, the power has continued to come along this fall as he develops into a more well-rounded hitter. C Ty Andrews and INF Matt Stoltenberg are another pair of returning sophomores looking to continue their impact. Andrews was seen as a glove-first out of high school, but the bat has continued to develop after posting a .286/.460/.579 slash line, with nine home runs, and RBIs. While Stotlenberg looks to build off a strong first-year where he slashed .272/.374/.465, with 23 RBIs. These two look to be key pieces as their development has continued into the fall. Then, RS-SO OF Alex Altmann continues to catch our staff's eyes with eye-popping power. Altmann posted a 110.4 mph max EV, averaging 104.3mph. A physical athlete who can run as well with a 6.62 60-time. Altmann has been translating all of this into in-game results this fall and will be looking to improve on his .266/.360/.440 mark from the previous year. Rounding out this veteran heavy linuep is potentially the spark plug in Kansas transfer Brady Blake. The right-hander is set to take over the reins at shortstop, showing a versatile tool-set that translates into in-game results. When our staff saw him this fall, he lived on the barrel, working all parts of the field, with a flashy glove to follow. An all-around hitter who is set to be a mainstay at the top of this lineup. Below is what our staff had to say about these sophomores.

• SO. 2B Blake Lundholm, the second half of a solid middle-infield duo, is an athletic 5-foot-11, 165-pound frame. The right-handed bat showed well, starting with a 95.1 mph max exit velocity during BP, then followed it up with a pair of knocks, including a ripped double pull-side. Operating out of a simple knee-to-belt load, with hands that create good, separate working quick through the zone with a flat, direct path. Lundholm also showcases an above-average glove, with the ability to play shortstop, with athletic actions and a loose, whippy arm working from multiple slots.

• SO. OF Alex Altmann has an imposing 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame, and put all of it on display, posting eye-popping numbers, with in-game results to follow. To start, during his round of BP, the left-handed bat posted a max EV of 110.4 mph, with a peak bat speed of 89 mph. Clear ability to use all of this frame working out of an athletic open stance, with a toe tap trigger and hands that explode through the zone, creating an uphill path that does damage. In-game, Altmann sent a missile over the center fielder for a solo shot, one of the loudest swings of the day.

 

• SO. SS Brady Blake, an athletic 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame, put together an all-around day Friday, showing off with both the bat and the glove. The right-hander stands in with a mature presence and put together a strong round off BP, posting a max EV of 101.3 mph, max distance of 394 ft, and a peak hand speed of 22.3 mph. Blake is able to use the whole field with quick and compact hands, with an opposite field line drive single during gameplay. Then, with the glove, the shortstop showcased athletic actions with range, making a number of throws to both sides with ease, creating a solid middle infield duo with second baseman Blake Lundholm.

While this lineup is set to be led mainly by sophomores, there has been a trio of freshmen looking to insert their names into the conversation. OF Wrigley Matthys leads the way as a left-handed bat in a righty-heavy lineup. A Bettendorf product shows power from his athletic 5-foot-9, 165-pound frame. A 6.40 runner with clean and confident actions in the field. As the bat continues to develop and prove itself, Matthys is a name to keep an eye out for. Following along is Johnsotn INF Will Nuss. The right-handed bat joins a crowded infield, but looks insert himself into the conversation with the glove as his bat continues to develop. Then rounding out the freshman class is 1B/LHP Jaxton Schroeder. An added left-handed bat out of the reigning 4A state champions, Iowa City Little Hawks. Schroeder is a power bat posting EVs up to 100 mph, but don't be surprised to see him make appearances on the mound. The left-hander has run his fastball up to 86mph and posted a dominant senior year on the mound, looking to be a mainstay at the next level.

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