Lake Land College 2026 Team Outlook
January 20, 2026
Program: Lake Land College
Head Coach: Julio Godinez, Seventh year
NJCAA Region/Division: Region XXIV, DI
Last Year’s Record: 45-21
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @LLC_baseball
Schedule link
Roster link
Lake Land College has slowly emerged one of the top junior college programs in the Midwest. Since taking over in 2020, Coach Godinez and his staff have done an exceptional job revitalizing this Lake Land program. After inheriting a team that finished 2-15 in his first season, he led the Lakers to a remarkable 45-21 record this past year. That resurgence culminated in the program’s first World Series appearance since 1988 and a Final Four run that ended with a fourth-place finish.
There is plenty to like about the Lakers this season as they return multiple key contributors from last year’s lineup and pitching staff, while also welcoming a surplus of intriguing newcomers poised to make an immediate impact. After sending 21 sophomores on to four-year schools last season, this Laker squad will feature a wealth of new talent, and it will be interesting to see how that influx meshes with the program’s returning core.
PITCHING
This Laker pitching staff features impressive depth, highlighted by key returners alongside valuable transfers and impact freshmen poised to contribute immediately. The staff returns 136 innings from last year, led by sophomore LHP Lucas Bixby, a recent Austin Peay commit who served as the team’s ace last season. The imposing 6-foot-4, 230-pound southpaw was dominant on the mound, leading the Lakers in multiple statistical categories and earning all-region and all-conference honors, as well as being named the region’s Co-Pitcher of the Year. He logged 78.1 innings, posting a 6-3 record with 85 strikeouts and a 2.53 ERA. Another left-handed returner set to make a continued impact is sophomore LHP Colin McCarty who was a consistent reliever out of the bullpen for the Lakers last season. McCarty has shown the ability to command the strike zone with an effective three-pitch mix, featuring a mid-80s fastball and strong feel for both of his offspeed offerings. He logged 28 innings on the mound last year, posting a 5.79 ERA with 23 strikeouts. Joining the list of key returners on the mound are four right-handed pitchers: sophomore RHP Teague Hallahan, sophomore RHP Tyler Zuber, redshirt-sophomore RHP Will Knapp, and redshirt-sophomore RHP Drake McDonald. Hallahan is a lively low-90s arm who should provide added impact this season. Despite limited appearances last year, he impressed by striking out 14 batters and posting a 2.08 ERA over 8.2 innings. Zuber also shows some noticeable arm talent on the mound, displaying an upper-80s fastball that’s been up to 93 mph in front of our staff paired with a high-spin curveball that’s shown swing-and-miss potential. Knapp is a recent Northern Illinois commit who will look to contribute on the mound after missing last season due to injury. He features a fastball that’s been up to 90 mph and is expected to be a valuable addition to the pitching staff. Rounding out the list of key returners is McDonald, an intriguing right-handed arm who features a fastball that sits in the upper-80s to low-90s and has gained valuable experience on the mound for the Lakers.
Adding to the talent on the mound is a group of five transfers who look poised to make an immediate impact for the Lakers. The first of the key transfers on the mound is sophomore RHP Skyler Lhamon, a recent Bellarmine commit from Olney Central JC. The right-hander will look to build on a solid season at Olney, where he served as one of the team’s primary relievers and spot starters. He logged 33 innings last year, posting a 5.45 ERA with 35 strikeouts. The Lakers will also add two Division I transfers to the pitching staff: redshirt freshman RHP Samuel McArthur from Illinois and sophomore RHP Carter Orner from Purdue Fort Wayne. McArthur is a name that has intrigued our staff since his emergence during his junior year on the high school and showcase circuit. He features an upper-80s fastball that has reached 91 mph with plenty of life out of the hand, complemented by two sharp breaking balls. Orner has been another consistent performer in front of the staff, showcasing significant projectability as a physical 6-foot-7, 225-pound right-hander. He features an effective four-pitch mix, highlighted by a heavy upper-80s fastball and an 11/5 curveball with notable depth. He also mixes in a horizontal slider with sweep and a splitter that plays well off the fastball. Also adding value to the pitching staff are a pair of North Iowa Area Community College transfers in sophomores RHP Ethan Loffer and RHP Carson Bantz. Loffer saw some notable experience during his freshman year at NIACC, starting nine games while tossing 41.2 innings with 40 strikeouts. He showcases an upper-80s fastball that has touched 90 mph, paired with a tight slider and a fading changeup. Bantz is a clean moving projectable 6-foot-5, 220-pound right-hander that has shown an electric three-pitch miss with swing-and-miss potential. He features an upper 80s to low 90s fastball with a ton of life out of the hand, while mixing in a sweeping slider and a heavy changeup that dives at the plate.
This Lakers squad will also be bringing in several key freshman arms who look like they can make an instant impact on the mound. The first of these freshman standouts comes from RHP Martin Villagomez, a lively arm that played an integral role in Reavis’s strong 23-13 season last year. He possesses notable arm strength, featuring an upper-80s fastball that has touched 91 mph. He also mixes in a high-spin curveball/slider combination, with both offerings showing significant depth. The Lakers were also able to add a trio of intriguing arms from the state of Illinois with the arrivals of RHP/INF Madden Johnson, RHP Patrick Kennedy, and RHP Obed Lopez. Johnson is a two-way player who has shown promise on both sides of the ball, displaying strong arm strength on the mound and in the field along with bat-to-ball skills at the plate. On the mound, he features a mid- to upper-80s fastball complemented by a sharp curveball and a tight slider, and he is a newcomer expected to make an immediate impact. Kennedy was a key contributor to a strong Champaign Central pitching staff last year, and he will look to have the same impact for the Lakers this season. He features an effective three-pitch arsenal, highlighted by an upper-80s fastball with sinking action. He also throws an 11/5 curveball with sharp downward movement and a changeup that shows late run and sink through the zone. Lopez is another projectable arm who has shown the potential to eat up innings for the Lakers. He displays an upper-80s fastball that has touched 90 mph, complemented by a sweeping slider with significant depth and a fading low-80s changeup.
OFFENSE
Despite losing several key sophomore bats, the Lake Land lineup will be energized by a strong group of returning players, along with several impactful transfers and freshman additions. The first of the key returners to the lineup is sophomore INF Kaiden Maurer who was a consistent starter as a freshman for the Lakers last season. Maurer has shown above-average bat-to-ball skills, consistently getting his “A” swing off at the plate. He was rarely fooled last season, drawing 40 walks while striking out just 26 times in 62 games. He finished the year slashing .300/.417/.378 with 11 doubles, two triples, one home run, and 11 stolen bases. Another key returner to the lineup is sophomore INF Sharif Colon, who was a significant offensive presence at the plate last season. The athletic right-handed hitter was consistently dangerous at the plate for the Lakers, slashing .347/.412/.564 with 11 doubles, three triples, and nine home runs across 202 at-bats. Providing notable offensive and defensive tools to the lineup is redshirt sophomore MIF Eduardo Letamendi, a versatile player who can handle any position in the infield. Letamendi possesses some easy strength at the plate with the ability to leverage the ball to all fields. At the plate, Letamendi slashed .252/.339/.420 across 143 at-bats, hitting nine doubles and five home runs. Defensively, he shows natural actions up the middle with the ability to cover ground to both sides, a steady glove, and a strong arm across the diamond, which earned him GRAC Gold Glove honors. Other key returners to the lineup include a duo of catchers: sophomore C Nathan Stuemke and redshirt freshman C Logan Winkleman. Stuemke served as the Lakers’ primary catcher last year, demonstrating the ability to handle some of the top arms on the staff with ease. He will also look to build on a solid season at the plate, where he slashed .261/.400/.357 with eight doubles and a home run. Winkleman shows a ton of upside on both sides of the ball despite receiving limited playing time last season. The right-handed hitter has shown easy pull-side power in front of our staff, consistently producing strong, intentful swings. Defensively, he has proven to be steady behind the plate, displaying soft hands in receiving and a strong arm that has reached 85 mph in-event.
This lineup will also be bolstered by three impact transfers who are expected to play significant roles for the Lakers this spring. Two of those transfers come from Northern Illinois, with sophomore C Kyle Hartmann and sophomore OF Jalen House joining the roster. Hartmann is a player that has shown quality tools on both sides of the ball in front of our staff. At the plate, he is an offensive threat with notable bat speed and the ability to drive the ball gap-to-gap. Defensively, he displays a solid feel for the catcher position, pairing athletic actions and a steady glove with a strong arm that has reached 84 mph in-event. House is an elite athlete who has been a consistent performer in front of our staff. Topping out at a 6.37-second 60-yard dash, his top-end speed makes him a major threat on the basepaths. At the plate, the left-handed hitter has shown line-drive contact, allowing him to use his elite speed to his advantage. Defensively, he displays easy range, takes efficient routes, and pairs it with a strong arm in the outfield. The final key transfer is redshirt freshman INF/OF Isaac Flowers from Toledo. The left-handed hitter jumped onto our radar following an impressive junior season and has consistently shown quality bat-to-ball skills. He features a quality feel for the barrel with strong hands and a whole field approach.
To round out an already strong roster, the Lakers will also bring in a handful of notable freshmen who can expect to see playing opportunities this season. Lake Land bolstered its infield depth with the additions of INF/RHP Madden Johnson and CIF Jimmy Downs. Johnson is an athletic infielder who shows quality actions up the middle, a strong arm, and a solid feel for the barrel at the plate. He projects as a valuable utility piece the Lakers can rely on in a variety of situations. Downs is a power-hitting corner infielder who has been a consistent performer for several years and should be able to step into a role in the lineup as he continues to develop. Three other freshmen who look poised to make an impact early on this year are C Benjamin Mitchell, OF Jonathan Medina Jr, and OF Joe Barkley. Mitchell mixes bat strength at the plate with steady actions behind the dish. At the plate, the right-handed hitter shows strong hands with a feel for elevating the ball to the middle and pull-side. Defensively, he is a mobile defender with a quality catch-and-throw, producing a top pop time of 1.95 seconds in-event. Medina Jr. is an athletic outfielder who played a role as a part of a strong St. Laurence lineup that went on to win the 3A State Championship last year. He will look to fill a similar role for the Lakers this spring, bringing above-average agility and a polished left-handed swing. Barkley complements him as another power-hitting outfielder who can provide value to the lineup with his easy pull-side power.
COMMITMENTS
| LHP | Lucas Bixby | SO | Austin Peay |
| RHP | Will Knapp | RSO | Northern Illinois |
| RHP | Skyler Lhamon | SO | Bellarmine |