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Rock Valley JC 2026 Team Outlook

December 22, 2025
Will Calcaterra
Area Scout, Content

Program: Rock Valley
Head Coach: Chad Herren
NJCAA Region/Division: Region IV, DII
Email: [email protected]  
Twitter: @RVC_Baseball 
Schedule Link
Roster Link

Coming off a successful 42-win season, Coach Herren and his staff will look to add on to the success they saw in 2025. The 2025 season saw a dominant offense take charge, with a team batting average of .301 and 69 team home runs in 59 games. Having lost valuable sophomores on both sides of the ball, including RHP Ethan Storm, who was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 13th round this year, the key to their continued success will be the ability to replace key pieces in the lineup. A talented group of returners who already played a big role last season, and a promising freshman class, certainly have the capabilities to do that.  

PITCHERS

As mentioned before, the loss of some very valuable arms will pose a challenge for the freshmen pitchers. Fr. RHP Tyler Bartley impressed at their scout day, showcasing a mature frame and feel for an effective three-pitch mix. Fr. RHP Declan Kmiecik also showcased a three-pitch mix with feel to spin the ball, and could certainly see valuable time on the mound for the Golden Eagles this year. Fr. LHP Jaden Kogutkiewicz shows an intriguing look from the left side, showcasing a long-levered, projectable frame. Rounding it off, Fr. RHP Mercer Krantz showcased a high 80's fastball, touching 90 with feel for three off-speed pitches, including two effective breaking pitches. Let's take a closer look at what our staff had to say at their Scout Day. 

  • RHP Tyler Bartley (Lincoln-Way West) is a high-spin right-hander with some velocity in the Rock Valley pitching staff. Standing 6-foot-1, 205-pounds, Bartley put together one of the best overall bullpens of the event. Bartley started with the fastball, running it up to 89 mph, sitting 86-88 mph with an average spin rate of 2455 rpm. Showed a curveball in the low-70s with an average spin rate of 2611 rpm and -13 in. of average IVB. Flashed a changeup in the high-70s with lower spin rates. An impact arm for the Golden Eagles.
  • RHP Declan Kmiecik (Providence Catholic) a 5-foot-11, 175-pound right-hander with a three pitch repertoire, Kmiecik impressed during the bullpens at the Scout Day. Threw a fastball in the mid-80s, topping at 87 mph with ASR/S, averaged 14 inches of horizontal movement. Mixed in two off-speeds, the slider sat in the mid-70s with higher spin rates, averaged 2614 rpm, and averaged -15 inches of horizontal movement. The changeup was thrown with command and had some higher spin numbers, averaging 2008 rpm.
  • LHP Jaden Kogutkiewicz (Muskego, WI) has been a high upside left-hander dating back to his days as a prep. Standing at 6-foot-5 with clear room to continue to add to his frame, to pair clean and smooth delivery with feel to repeat that only adds to the upside. Showed three pitches throughout the ‘pen a mid-80s fastball that topped out at 86 mph with life out of the hand with plenty of more velo to come. Showed feel to spin a low-70s slider with 17.3 inches of sweep on average to pair with an upper-70s change up with heavy fading action that he has successfully used against both handed batters in prior looks.
  • RHP Mercer Krantz (Lyons Township) the 5-foot-10, 180-pound right-handed led the event in fastball velocity, running the fastball up to 90 mph, sitting in the upper-80s and holding velocity throughout. Flashed a curveball in the mid 70s with an average spin rate of 2353 rpm, and an average IVB of -15 in. The slider was thrown in the upper-70s with an average spin rate of 2683 rpm and showed command/feel. The right-handed worked a change up in the low 80s with an average of 17 inches of horizontal movement.

OFFENSE: SOPHOMORES

The Golden Eagles' offense was a force to be reckoned with last season, achieving a team batting average of .301, a team on-base percentage of .413, and slugging 69 home runs. There will be sophomore production that will be missed, with bats like John Spoto providing 12 home runs and 35 runs batted in, and Konnor Giddley, who provided the Golden Eagles with 50 hits in 151 at-bats last year. This production will need to be replaced if the Golden Eagles continue to build upon the success they saw last year. This is certainly plausible, with plenty of promising returning bats who saw their fair share of success last year. Infielder Dash Denton looks to play a huge role in this Golden Eagles offense this year, following a freshman campaign in which he posted 20 runs batted in and a productive fall. Gavin Obremski is a returning backstop who provided a lot of quality at-bats a season ago, posting a 1.022 OPS with 30 extra base hits in his freshman campaign. Returning outfielder Matthew Thompsen led the team in runs batted in as a freshman last year with 57, and collected 28 extra base hits with 11 home runs en route to a .327/.405/.648 slash line. Sophomore transfer Ryne Lesnik is a pesky left-handed hitting infielder who put up a strong fall season, batting .471 with nine stolen bases and four extra base hits. Jameson Johnson is a returner who's looking to continue to build off great success, posting a slashline of .323/.431/.621 across 53 games as a freshman with 25 extra base hits and 11 home runs. Let's take a deeper look at what our staff had to say about the returning bats at their scout day. 

  •  C Gavin Obremski (Mosinee, WI) is another top returner for the Golden Eagles after hitting .338/.410/.612 with 30 extra base hits and 12 home runs last spring. Strong and physical left-handed hitting catcher took a loud round of BP, launching multiple home runs, even one to the deepest part of the park. Reaching a max exit velo of 102.4 mph with an average exit velo of 92.1 mph with 72.5 mph average bat speed. Defensively showing steady actions with a quick transfer and accurate throws to second base. The left-handed bat plays with a history of performing at a high-level and looks to fit inside the middle of the order at the next level.
  •  OF Matthew Thompsen (Parrish Community, FL) rounds out the impact returners for the Golden Eagles, another middle of the order bat that led the team in RBI with 57 as a freshman while swatting 28 extra base hits with 11 home runs en route to a .327/.405/.648 slash line. Standing at a projectable 6-foot-3, 170-pound frame with clear room to continue to add to his frame. At the plate, the right handed hitter showed feel for the barrel, taking potentially the loudest round of the day, reaching a max exit velo of 103 mph with natural feel to elevate the baseball. Defensively in the outfield Thomspen is an athletic defender that can provide quality defense at either corner with arm strength up to 84 mph.
  •  INF Ryne Lesnik (Tremper, WI) is a transfer left-handed bat standing at 5-foot-8, 155-pounds with room to continue to add to the frame. Started the day running a 6.91 60-yard dash with a 1.65 10-yard split. At the plate, the left-handed hitter has taken pesky and consistent quality at-bats in front of our staff this fall, the bat-to-ball stands out taking a flat path to the baseball with extension past contact. Defensively in the infield, showing steady actions with an accurate arm across the diamond.
  • SO. INF/OF Jameson Johnson (Pecatonica, WI) is one of the top returners for the Golden Eagles this fall after hitting .323/.431/.621 across 53 games as a freshman with 25 extra base hits with 11 home runs. Physical 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame, started his day running a 7.09 60-yard dash with a 1.64 10-yard split. At the plate the right-handed hitter swung a smooth and powerful bat with feel to lift the ball to the pull side. Defensively a capable defender in the dirt at third or in either corner outfield spot. In the dirt the actions are clean with soft hands and arm strength up to 84 mph, in the outfield the arm plays up to 88 mph with steady actions. One of the top uncommitted bats in Region 4 with middle of the order upside at the next level.
    • INF Dash Denton (Burnet, TX) was one of the top performers for the Golden Eagles the entire fall. Standing in at 5-foot-9, 185-pounds with strength throughout the frame.. At the plate, the right-handed hitter was a standout throughout BP, smooth and consistent swing, finding the barrel with ease while launching multiple home runs to the pullside, reaching a max exit velo of 100.5 mph throughout his round of BP. Defensively Denton is an athletic defender in the dirt with steady actions and arm strength up to 86 mph.

OFFENSE: FRESHMEN

With a strong core of returning players, the Golden Eagles will look to their promising freshman class to provide thump in their lineup. Freshman backstop Lawson Alwan provides some thump from the left side, showcasing a smooth left-handed swing with pull-side power to pair with athletic tendencies behind the plate. Outfielder Jackson Neilitz provides tools that could benefit the Golden Eagles on both sides of the ball, showing quality feel for the barrel, speed, and athletic movements in the outfield to pair with arm strength. Middle infielder Luke Schlosser looks like another newcomer who could have a productive freshman year. The left-handed hitting middle infielder impressed in the field, looking to have the potential to have success at shortstop. Another freshman infielder who stood out at their scout day was Landon Ubrig, who showcased a compact bat, advanced arm strength, and athleticism that could keep him on the left side of the infield. Let's take a deeper look at what our staff had to say at the scout day. 

  • C Lawson Alwan (Peoria Notre Dame) is a strong left-handed hitting catcher standing at 5-foot-11, 197-pounds. Started the day running a 6.97 60-yard dash with a 1.60 10-yard split. At the plate the left-handed hitter swings an easy and strong bat with feel to lift to the pull side, reaching a max exit velo of 98.3 mph throughout his round. Defensively behind the dish, showing steady actions behind the plate with soft and quiet hands, accurate arm up to 75 mph working in line to second recording 2.01-2.11 pop times throughout defense.
  • OF Jackson Neilitz (Plymouth, WI) is a freshman to follow for the Golden Eagles, standing at 6-foot-1, 190-pounds with strength throughout his frame. Started the day running a 6.71 60-yard dash with a 1.59 10-yard split and twitch and burst off the line. At the plate, the right-handed hitter took a quality round of BP impacting the baseball consistently while flashing feel to barrel the ball to the opposite field, reaching 96 mph max exit velo throughout the round with 75.6 mph average bat speed. Defensively in the outfield an aggressive and steady defender with arm strength up to 86 mph.
  • MIF Luke Schlosser (Oconomowoc, WI) is a freshman follow for the Rock Valley. The left-handed hitting middle infielder stands at 5-foot-10, 142-pounds with twitch and clear and obvious room to add to his frame. At the plate, the left-handed hitter swings an easy bat with feel for the barrel with feel to drive the ball on a line while reaching max exit velo of 92.9 mph. The defense stands out, looking like a future shortstop, playing with athletic actions with soft hands and range with plenty of arm strength up to 88 mph.
  •  MIF Landon Ubrig (Oshkosh West, WI) is an upside freshman that is a must know name to follow for the Golden Eagles over the next two years. Frame stands out, especially for someone that can play SS, standing in at 6-foot-2, 185-pounds with strength and more room to continue to fill into. Started the day running a 6.92 60-yard dash with a 1.61 10-yard splits showing burst and twitch at go. The defense stands out, a quality defender with range and actions to stick at shortstop long-term with arm strength up to 89 mph. Was a standout during gameplay this fall and looks to make an impact right-away this upcoming spring.

4-Year Commitments

NAME CLASS POS COMMITMENT
Ryne Lesnik SO. MIF Bellarmine University
Gavin Obremski SO. C Western Illinois
Aiden Baerenklau SO. 1B Bellarmine University
Matthew Woodward SO. RHP Valparaiso University

ROCK VALLEY JC SCOUT DAY

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Rock Valley JC Scout Day: Statistical & Data Analysis