Team: Concordia University Nebraska Bulldogs
Conference: GPAC
College Level: NAIA
2021 Overall Record: 42-12
Location: Lincoln, NE
Head Coach: Ryan Dupic
Key Returning Position Players
Joey Grabanski – led the team with 17 home runs as a freshman in 2021.
Keaton Candor – currently shares the career home run record with Jesse Garcia with 29 home runs.
Jesse Garcia – currently shares the career home run record with Keaton Candor with 29 home runs.
Ben Berg – slugged .515 last year as a catcher with 7 HR and 10 2B.
Jay Adams – held a team high .380 batting average as the leadoff man in the lineup.
Jakob Faulk – hit 13 home runs including the go-ahead home run in the Regional Championship against Bellevue.
Teyt Johnson – slugged .532 with 7 home runs and 11 doubles.
Key Returning Pitchers
Nathan Buckallew – received Honorable Mention All-GPAC award as a relief pitcher in 2021.
Shane Whittaker – struck out 48 hitters in 26.2 innings of work.
Jacob Lycan – appeared in 13 games and finished with a 1.37 ERA.
Alex Johnson – struck out 36 hitters in 24.2 innings of work.
Caden Bugarske – threw 8.1 innings in the NAIA Opening Round and only allowed 2 ER.
Impact Freshman/Transfers
Anderson Xapsos – graduate transfer SS from Bluefield College in Virginia.
Ty Nekoliczak – freshman IF/OF from Greeley, Nebraska.
Jaidan Quinn – transfer IF/RHP from Wabash Valley Junior College.
Daniel Rivera – transfer RHP from Point University.
Joel Hernandez – freshman RHP from San Antonio, TX.
What things did you see from the team in the fall?
The ability to drive the baseball for extra base hits and the ability to strike guys out on the mound. We have most of our starting offense from last year returning, so the offense had a really good fall.
What was the focus during the fall for the team?
The focus was on development and getting a little bit better every single day. We want to become really good at making routine plays, throwing strikes, and driving the baseball.
What are the expectations and goals for the team entering the season?
Appearing in the NAIA World Series in 2021 raised the expectations for the future of our program. We are focused on continuing to get better to see what the next steps of our program are.