Program: Southeastern
Head Coach: Justin Schulte: 20th year
NJCAA Region/Division: Region 11, DII
Email: [email protected]      
Twitter: stin2win  
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Southeastern is poised to maintain its dominance as head coach Justin Schulte enters his 20th season with the program, coming off a 50-15 campaign last year. That season marked a historic one as the first 50-win season in program history, which saw a Region 11 championship and a third straight NJCAA World Series appearance, finishing sixth in the nation. Ever since Coach Schulte took over the reins, the words "winning" and "Southeastern" have gone hand in hand, and as we head into the spring, nothing seems to have changed. Despite losing over 200 innings on the mound and four everyday pieces to the lineup, the Blackhawks look to reload with returning sophomores, an impact transfer, as well as a strong core of freshmen eager to see the field.

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PITCHERS

Although this staff loses seven arms totaling over 200 innings, they look to reload with a core of sophomore arms headed by last year's ace Keaton Fenn. The right-hander came onto the scene last year, tossing 63.1 innings, striking out 59, while maintaining a 5.40 ERA. This fall, Fenn has continued to look the part, able to generate easy swings and misses with the fastball sitting 99-92 mph, with the slider sitting 82-83 mph. Then, looking to back Fenn in the rotation is left-hander Andrew Hamlett. The lefty made ten starts, tossing 48.2 innings in his freshman year, striking out 38 with a 4.62 ERA. He is a clear candidate to take over the number two spot on the staff as he looks to continue the growth and development into this year. Now set to round out the rotation is Grant Mather. The right-hander in his first year made nine starts in 19 appearances, tossing 43 innings with 30 strikeouts and a 6.28 ERA. There is still potential for Mather to play in a hybrid role this season, but look for him to have a more defined one at the top of the rotation. During the fall circuit, he was showing the fastball in the upper-80s, with a slider in the upper-70s, and a cutter at 82-84 mph, finding consistency in the zone early in his outings. These three profile out to the leaders of the rotation as we head into the spring, but their is still opportunities for some shake up, especially with this incoming freshmen class.

Keaton Fenn from: 9/12/25

Before that, attention turns to the bullpen, which headlines two sophomores each looking to play pivotal roles in high-leverage situations this season. Sophomore right-hander Colton Angell comes off a year where he tossed 27.1 innings in 18 appearances, tossing a 3.62 ERA, with 26 strikeouts. The righty shows a four-pitch mix with the fastball sitting at 87-90 mph, slider 79-81 mph, curveball sitting mid-70s, and changeup low-80s. After a strong fall and valuable time in the Northwoods League this summer, Angell looks set to continue his role as a key piece within the bullpen. His counterpart in the bullpen is redshirt sophomore Xzavier Vargas. The right-hander saw limited time last year, tossing 14.2 innings, striking out 15, with a 6.75 ERA. Set to have a larger role this spring, during the fall, the fastball was sitting in the lower-90s with a curveball 76-78 mph. The arm has continued to develop and looks poised to have its best marks yet.

Xzavier Vargas from: 9/27/25

Now, getting back to the freshmen, two have stood out this fall as having the potential to find a way into the rotation or play pivotal roles within the bullpen. Right-hander Kyler Kaczmarski, out of Penn, Indiana, strung together an impressive fall. Kaczmarski showed a three-pitch mix with the fastball topping out at 91 mph with a high-spin slider sitting low-80s, along with the changeup. An effective arm on the mound, this is one to keep an eye out for a starting position this spring. Then rounding out this staff is right-hander Nolan Meis from Lakeside Lutheran, Wisconsin. This righty runs it up to 91 mph, sitting in the upper-80s, and as he continues to develop the secondaries is set to play an important role within the bullpen this year.

Kyler Kaczmarski from: 9/12/25

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OFFENSE

On the offensive side of the ball, the Blackhawks lose four starters and nine total bats, but with returning sophomores, a strong group of newcomers sets up for an exciting season for this lineup. The biggest blow to the lineup comes with INF Juan Fernandez tearing his ACL during the JUCO World Series, as he continues to rehab and sets his eyes on the 2027 season. While a major blow to the lineup, four impact sophomores rejoin the lineup, and it starts with 1B/OF Jackson Petsche leading the way. The left-handed bat took home All-American honors last year after slashing .369/.492/.531, with 10 homeruns, 19 doubles, and 69 RBIs. It’s a mature presence in the box, able to do damage on any count. While his counterpart in the lineup looks set to be INF Efrain Osorio. Another left-handed bat looking poised to improve on his freshman year marks, where he slashed .324/.459/.455, with five home runs, 13 doubles, and 52 RBIs. This fall, the power has seemed to tick up, posting multiple in-game knocks above 95 mph off the bat, looking to have only developed more into the summer. Rounding out the group of returning sophomores is OF James Nydegger, who posted a first year in which he slashed .267/.391/.467, with four home runs, five doubles, and 23 RBIs in 105 at-bats. These returning sophomores look to provide stability throughout the lineup and lead a relatively young lineup heading into the spring.

Efrain Osorio from: 9/27/25

With the turnover faced this season, one incoming transfer has come in and inserted himself as an everyday starter. C Danny Rollins is a redshirt freshman transferring in from Murray State and is projected to start behind the plate for the Blackhawks. After a strong summer with the Burlington Bees, Rollins kept it going this fall, leading up to an exciting spring. Watch for him to have an immediate impact this spring. 

Now time to touch on this freshman class where four names have stood out since reaching campus to be day one impact bats. Set to complete the outfield is Caiden Buonadonna, a bat from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It’s a strong left-handed build, with a 91 mph arm for the outfield, and a max EV of 102.7 mph from previous events. He continues to get stronger and faster, and it was evident this fall. A bat to follow as that maturity in the build and in the box continues to develop. Rounding out the freshmen class are a trio of infielders looking to find their place, whether that is as everyday bats or utility players. Cooper Hughes, out of Liberty, Iowa, starts this group off as a projectable 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame. He saw plenty of playing time this fall and made the most of it. An athletic build, looking to continue his development as he adds more to the frame. Next up is Jake Miller from Marion, Iowa. This is another athletic build, being a 6.63 runner from the past, along with 87 mph across the diamond with a max EV of 96.1 mph. He pairs well with the final freshman we will talk about in Gavin Awbrey. Out of Alleman, Illinois, the righty was always a consistent performer whenever we had the chance to see him during his prep career. A bat that the staff has always liked and is eager to see how the development progresses. These freshmen possess high upside and are all ones looking to make an immediate impact this spring.

Caiden Buonadonna from: 9/27/25

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4-Year Commitments

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