Northeast Iowa CC 2026 Outlook
January 27, 2026
Program: Northeast Iowa CC 
Head Coach: Conner Klostermann: 1st year
NJCAA Region/Division: Region 11, DII
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: C_Klostermann17
Schedule Link
Roster Link
This marks an exciting year for Northeast Iowa Community College as it launches its baseball program for the inaugural season. As a new member of Region 11 within the ICAAC, NICC enters a competitive landscape and will aim to make its mark early. Leading the new program is Head Coach Conner Klostermann. While relatively young, Coach Kolsterman brings ten years of coaching experience, including his last four at Northern State, where he served as lead assistant coach for the last two years. For how the roster shapes up its exactly what you would expect with 94% of the roster being true freshmen, all looking to build the culture for the program and set it in the right direction. For the rest of the roster, its complied of three redshirts who are set to be the pillars of this team, bringing in the most experience and lessons at this level. It’s an exciting time for the college as this program looks to get started on the right foot.
PITCHERS
With an inexperienced staff, the Cougars are going to have to lean on their lone veteran in redshirt sophomore Caleb Schusted. Transferring in from Oklahoma Wesleyan, the wiry right-hander was sitting low-80s during our fall showcase, with a slider and changeup both in the mid-70s. In a set position to eat a lot of innings this year, look for Schusted to be the leader of this staff. Outside of this veteran arm, eight freshmen have stood the test this fall, with right-hander Jack Fenwick leading the way. Fenwick has a powerful 6-foot-1, 210-pound frame on the mound, sitting mid-80s, topping 88 mph this fall. The secondaries continue to develop and will be ones to look for as we head into the spring.
- FR RHP Jack Fenwick, 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, showed a three-pitch mix that lived in and around the zone. The fastball sat 86–88, the changeup came in at 77–80, and the curveball spun at 75–78. The frame leaves room to grow, and with it, more velocity to come.
Adding some more depth to the staff are two hard throwing righys in Darin Severs and Tyson Starkey. Servers, with still some more room to fill out the frame, showed a three-pitch mix during our fall showcase. The fastball was sitting mid-80s, while the slider was mid-70s with a sweeper shape, and the cutter was sitting mid-80s. Then, Starkey has a developing arsenal sitting in the mid-80s, looking to continue his development and fill out his frame heading into the spring. These two are set to play crucial roles this season, while still up in the air, look for them to have high usage as starters or through the bullpen.
Tyson Starkey from: 9/19/25
Adding to this staff are a pair of freshmen left-handers who stood out this fall. Left-hander Brady Zimmeran leads this duo and will play a pivotal role this season. Set to be a key piece within the bullpen, the fastball was sitting low-80s, paired with a sweeper in the low-70s. Then left-hander Will Hansen is one we haven't seen this fall, but the fastball sits 83-86 mph, T87 mph with a solid slider to pair. An arm that has been continuing to develop and looks to earn valuable time this spring.
The final piece for the staff is a trio of right-handers, all looking to have a piece in a young staff. First off is Ryan Turner, an arm we haven't seen this fall, but all the reports so far have indicated him as an arm to be on the lookout for this spring. Next up is Reed Adler, showing an east-to-west profile with solid ASR with his 85 mph fastball, paired with an upper-70s gyro slider. Then rounding out the staff is Logan Lesser, a name that has truly started gaining traction towards the end of the fall. He’s heavy in the zone and has been showing his abilities when it matters the most with the fastball sitting in the mid-80s. While this staff lacks the experience much of Region 11 already has, they have the potential to make some noise this spring.
Reed Adler from: 9/19/25
TWO-WAY
Looking to play a pivotal role on both sides of the field, redshirt-freshman 1B/LHP Kael Meyers, a transfer from Southeastern CC, has all the makings to be an all-around player for this Courgars squad. The left-handed bat has reached EVs up to 96 mph this fall. He’s looking to provide some power throughout the lineup. While on the mound, the lefty sits in the mid-80s with a solid three-pitch mix. While he doesn't overpower hitters on the mound, he has the ability to miss and match effectively, leading to swing and miss results.
OFFENSE
Much is the same story with the lineup as it is with the pitching staff. Leading this group with the most experience is redshirt sophomore INF Michael Kleinhans Jr, a transferr from Carl Sanburg. This right-hander posted EVs up to 95.6 mph, averaging 92.2 mph, with twitchy hands through the zone, looking to provide high power through the lineup. Now, outside of this transfer, three freshmen have stood out this fall to be major pieces within the lineup. INF Kaden Alstad looks set to reside in the middle of the infield with the chance to stick at short. A left-handed swing posted EVs up to 97.1 mph with hands that work quick and strong through the zone. Then, with OF Rylan Kingrey, he is an athletic build set to play center field heading into the spring. A 6.83 runner, with an arm up to 87 mph from the outfield, rounded out with a max EV of 90.9 mph. Kingergy looks set to make an impact on both sides of the ball and looks to even out the lineup this season. Finally rounding out this lineup is 1B Damin Churchman whos brings even more power to this lineup. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame looks to take over the designated-hitter role after posting a max EV of 97.3 mph with a max distance of 346 feet. While this lineup lacks experience, the power potential leads to an interesting outlook heading into the spring season.
Kaden Alstad from: 9/19/25
2025 ICCAC Fall SHOWCASE
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