Last week, Perfect Game – an organization that analyzes college baseball and previews MLB prospects – ranked the NCC baseball team sixth in the nation in their DIII Preseason Top 25 poll.
Last year’s season was cut short due to COVID-19. The team won all seven games they played during that shortened season. Perfect Game lists NCC as the only CCIW team in the Top 25; Concordia University-Chicago is the only other Illinois team mentioned.
“Being ranked sixth means we have a massive target on our backs; every team wants to prove themselves to us and that just gives us more confidence,” said infielder and catcher Joe Rizzo, ‘21.
Earlier this offseason, Collegiate Baseball News gave the Cardinals the 10th overall spot in their DIII Preseason Top 40 Rankings.
Updated schedule releases
Additionally, the team’s schedule is out. The Cardinals start the year at Wheaton College’s Lee Pfund Stadium with a doubleheader on March 7 against Ripon College. The first CCIW matchup will be an away game at Carroll University on March 16.
“Coach Mathey wants us to play the best teams in the country, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” said Rizzo.
The Cardinals travel to Westfield, Ind. the weekend of March 12 during the school’s shortened spring break. They’re set to face off against 10th-ranked Adrian College, Wabash College and Spalding University.
“Early on, when we play Adrian, they’ll probably throw their left-handed starter (Mo Hanley, ranked the number 37 overall prospect in 2021’s College Top 100 MLB Draft Prospects by D1Baseball.com) who throws a mid-’90s fastball so that will be a great challenge,” said catcher Rob Marinec, ‘21.
Marinec, Klemm ranked two top DIII players
Perfect Game also released their rankings of the top 10 players at the DIII level. The list includes senior batterymates Marinec along with right-handed pitcher Charlie Klemm, ’21.
“(They) both compete and lead in their own, unique ways,” said fifth-year pitcher Tyler Jones, ’21. “Rob expects the best from everyone every single day and he plays the game harder than anyone I’ve ever met.”
Jones graduated with his bachelor’s in 2020 and is now getting his MBA at NCC. Moreover, he opted into his fifth year of eligibility after the NCAA granted athletes another year following the cancellation of spring sports. He also notes how hyper-focused Klemm acts, as well as how much his attitude affects the work ethic of the rest of the team.
Both Klemm and Marinec are set to join the newly formed MLB Draft League. The league allows scouts to watch draft-eligible players more closely than before. They will report to the league once the Cardinals’ season ends.
“(When I got named to the league) I knew there would be a decent chance Charlie would join me … when I heard he got the invite I was thrilled,” said Marinec. “Having him there will definitely make it more enjoyable.”
Even with all of the preseason praise, the team still isn’t satisfied. “At the end of the day, preseason rankings mean nothing,” said Klemm, “We still have to go out there every day and play. We know about the targets on our backs and we have to be ready for everything.”
Klemm’s mindset is echoed by Rizzo and the rest of the roster. “We’re coming for that number one spot, and I feel sorry for those in the way,” said Rizzo.
