After Claiming 2022 Conference Crown, Sandburg Baseball Focused on Another Winning Season
BY ZACH AUSTIN
Carl Sandburg College
GALESBURG — The Carl Sandburg College baseball team looks to go back to back in the Arrowhead Conference this year.
The Chargers finished 26-23 overall last season but really turned it up in conference play, going 17-3 and winning the Arrowhead title for the second time in four seasons under coach Josh Foreman.
Sandburg opened its 2023 season Feb. 15 at Heartland, but the Chargers' schedule kicks into gear this weekend as they head south with games Friday at John A. Logan, Saturday at Southeastern Illinois and Sunday against No. 20 Kankakee in Carterville. Sandburg's first home game is scheduled for 3 p.m. March 21 against Southeastern.
The Chargers will face a challenging schedule as they play 15 games this year against teams in the NJCAA Division II preseason rankings.
Fans can follow Sandburg baseball live all season long on the GameChanger app by searching for "Sandburg Chargers."
NOTABLE RETURNERS
Mitch Ball (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria), sophomore OF
• 2022 All-Arrowhead Conference selection
• Led Chargers in home runs (13), RBIs (49) and slugging (.709)
• Finished third on team with .358 average
Chase Mason (Washington, Ill./Washington), sophomore C/IF/P
• 2022 All-Arrowhead Conference selection
• Led Sandburg last year with 14 stolen bases and 31 walks
• Second on team last season with 11 homers
Logan Van Heuklon (Dunlap, Ill./Dunlap), sophomore C/IF
• 2022 All-Arrowhead Conference selection
• Had three-homer game last season at Illinois Central
KEY NEWCOMERS
Bryce Brown (Groveland, Ill./Morton), sophomore IF
• Transfer from Heartland Community College
• Led Heartland with 35 walks last season
• Drove in 6 of his 45 RBIs last season against Spoon River on April 9
Connor Best (Coal City, Ill./Coal City), sophomore RHP
• Transfer from Heartland Community College
• Recorded season-high five strikeouts April 22 last season with Heartland against John Wood
• Foreman: "Connor is an experienced player and has had a lot of success coming from a very good team."
David Smith (Tremont, Ill./Tremont), freshman RHP
• Foreman: "David is a tall (6 feet, 5 inches), hard thrower. He acts as a leader and has the attitude of a winner."
Julian Harris (Rock Island, Ill./Rock Island), sophomore RHP
• Foreman: "Julian is tall (6-6) and throws hard, but he's an accurate pitcher and has a good mindset."
WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS TEAM THIS SEASON?
Foreman: "I say this every year but I have high expectations for this team, and this team has very high expectations for themselves. Our goal is to win a few more and go a little farther."
GAMES TO WATCH
From April 21-23, the Chargers will match up on the road against two preseason-ranked opponents and a conference rival. Sandburg plays April 21 at No. 2 Madison and April 23 at No. 20 Kankakee. In between, they'll face Black Hawk on April 22 in Moline.
THIS WILL BE A SUCCESSFUL SEASON IF …
Foreman: "Our expectations are high. We want to make that second round of our region tournament and give us a shot at nationals. It is really going to come down to winning games when they matter most."
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