Next Up in Valpo Baseball: Opening Weekend of the 2025 Valparaiso University baseball season is here as a new-look roster prepares to embark on a new journey on Friday at Samford in Birmingham, Ala. After a large and impactful senior class departed via graduation, 18 newcomers have joined the program in advance of the 2025 campaign.
 
Last Time Out – A Look Back at 2024: Valpo finished 14-38 overall and 6-21 in Missouri Valley Conference play last season and hopes to return to the MVC Tournament field in 2025. Kaleb Hannahs earned Second Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors last season, while Kyle Schmack finished one home run shy of tying the program's career and single-season records. The team launched 71 home runs, the second most in program history and most since 2001. Alex Ryan made an incredible leaping catch that was featured at No. 4 on SportsCenter's Top 10 plays, robbing a grand slam as part of a 20-0 victory at UIC on April 28. The 2024 campaign also saw Valpo post a fielding percentage of .970 that ranked fourth in program history. The season also saw head coach Brian Schmack reach the 200-win threshold.
 
Following the Beacons: Friday's game will be carried on ESPN+, while no streaming will be available for the Saturday or Sunday contests. Live stats can be accessed for all three games. For in-game updates, follow @ValpoBaseball on X. 
 
Head Coach Brian Schmack: Brian Schmack (202-332) is in his 11th season in charge of the program. He ranks third in program history in seasons coached and games coached as he coached his 500^th game on March 17, 2024 at Campbell. On April 19 vs. Missouri State, he became the third head coach in program history to secure his 200^th win. Schmack, a member of the 2003 Detroit Tigers, served as pitching coach/associate head coach at Valpo for seven seasons prior to his promotion.
 
Series Notes: This will mark the second time these two teams have engaged in a season-opening three game series and first since 2014, when Valpo went to Birmingham and took two out of three, prevailing 6-5 on Opening Day and 11-8 on Saturday to clinch the series before falling in the finale 10-7 in a series that featured three competitive games.
 
Valpo on Opening Day

• Valpo has dropped nine of its last 10 Opening Day games with the one win during that span coming 6-2 at UAB to start the 2021 campaign.
• The aforementioned victory over the Blazers was the squad's first Opening Day triumph since beating Samford 6-5 on Feb. 15, 2014.
• The Beacons will look to get back in the Opening Day win column this year. Most recently, the Beacons started 2024 on the wrong end of a 16-5 score at Alabama State.  

Inside the Schedule

• Valpo will once again face a competitive schedule, which starts against a Samford program that won 36 games last season.
• Valpo is slated to host the earliest home games in program history from Feb. 28 – March 2 against a Niagara team that went 38-17 overall and 20-4 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference en route to a league title and NCAA Regional appearance last year.
• After the early-season home weekend, Valpo will be back on the road for 15 straight, starting with a set at Ohio State (March 7-9), a 29-win Big Ten Conference club in 2024. That trip will continue with a visit to national baseball powerhouse Vanderbilt (March 11) of the Southeastern Conference, a 38-win NCAA Regional team last year against whom Valpo played a competitive, one-run game.
• The Beacons head to Illinois (March 14-16) for the final nonconference weekend series. The Illini went 35-21 overall and 18-6 in Big Ten Conference play last season on their way to the NCAA Regional.
• Valpo begins MVC play against instate foe Indiana State (March 21-23), the defending Valley regular-season champions and a team that won two NCAA Regional games as part of a 44-win season in 2024.
• The league docket features a visit to Evansville, the defending MVC Tournament champion and a team that won 39 games including a regional title and made an NCAA Super Regional appearance last season.
• Valpo will play 10 of its first 24 games against NCAA Regional teams from a year ago.

Beacon Blasts

• Valpo launched 71 home runs last season, surpassing the 1985 season (64) to climb into second in program history.
• Valpo held its highest single-season home run total during the BBCOR bat era that began in 2011.
• The 71 bombs marked the program's most since 2001, a year where the team launched a program-record 81 long balls.
• This marked the first time ever that Valpo has hit at least 50 home runs in back-to-back years, as the Beacons hit 50 long balls in 2023, the fifth most in program history.

Valpo Single-Season Top 5 – Team Home Runs
Rank    Year    HR
1          2001    81
2          2024    71
3          1985    64
4          1999    55
5          2023    50
 
Other Record Book Updates from 2024

• The team had a .970 fielding percentage that ranks fourth in program history, the squad's second straight season at .970 or better.
• Kyle Schmack finished his career with 794 at-bats, third in program history behind Chris Manning (2011-2014, 896) and Michael Arensdorff (2003-2007, 833). He scored 146 runs (sixth in program history), had 223 hits (sixth), 45 doubles (t-sixth), 35 home runs (second), 131 RBIs (fifth) and 98 walks (t-sixth).
• Schmack finished 2024 with 17 home runs, one shy of tying the single-season record as well.
• Brady Renfro finished eighth in program history in career fielding percentage (.989), eighth in putouts (845) and fourth in walks (103).
• Alex Thurston finished fourth in program history in career assists (431).
• Kaleb Hannahs finished tied for sixth in program history in career doubles (45).

In the Other Dugout – Samford  

• Coming off a 36-win season, a 24-10 home record and a 14-7 Southern Conference mark in 2024.
• Won the SoCon Tournament and qualified for NCAA Regionals in 2023, winning a game over Southern Miss in the Regional.
• Picked second in the SoCon Preseason Poll, two points behind preseason favorite UNC-Greensboro in the polling.
• Starting pitcher Miller Riggins, relief pitcher Evan Steckmesser and second baseman Jeffrey Ince were named to the All-SoCon Second Team.
• Under the direction of head coach Tony David, who has been at the helm since 2021 and on staff since 2005.

Pitching Profiles – Probable Starters

• #11 RHP Connor Lockwood, (R-Jr.), (Libertyville, Ill. / Libertyville): Named conference co-player of the year as a high school senior in 2021 and received all-state accolades... Interested in a career in elementary education... Favorite food is deep dish pizza... Finished his freshman season with an 0-5 record and 7.30 ERA in 2022, but did his best work late in the year, posting a 1.80 ERA over his last three regular-season starts... Started his 2023 season with a gem, earning the win thanks to a career-long seven innings and a career-high six strikeouts while allowing no runs on two hits and walking none in an 11-3 victory over Big 12 foe Kansas in Corpus Christi, Texas on Feb. 18, 2023... Made his first appearance since April 2, 2023 vs. Murray State on March 1, 2024 at Elon as after that game he underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery. In his return to the rubber, he started and went three innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and one walk while striking out four... Tossed five shutout innings and earned the win in a 3-2 victory in Game 1 of a doubleheader at The Citadel on March 8, 2024... Threw a complete game to earn the win while scattering eight hits, striking out nine and walking none on March 30, 2024 vs. Bradley. He became the first Valpo hurler to toss a nine-inning complete game in five years and was named MVC Pitcher of the Week on April 1, becoming the second Valpo pitcher since the team joined the MVC to become a multi-time winner of that award.
• #42 LHP Lucas Foley, Fr. (Deer Park, Ill. / Lake Zurich) – 2023 IHSBCA 4A First Team All-State and PBR Third Team All-State... Conference Pitcher of the Year as a senior in high school in 2023... Enjoys water and snow skiing... Has broken his collarbone four times... Favorite musical group is Cold Play... Went seven innings and allowed just one run on five hits while walking none and striking out 11 on Feb. 17, 2024 at Alabama State, getting the start in the second game of a doubleheader and making his collegiate debut. He was one of two freshmen in the country with 11 or more strikeouts in a game over the opening weekend of the season... Allowed one run on five hits and one walk in four innings of a start on March 3, 2024 vs. Binghamton, receiving no decision... Moved to the bullpen and tossed two scoreless innings on March 22, 2024 at Southern Illinois... Struck out the side in his first inning of work and racked up six strikeouts in just 2 2/3 frames of relief on March 26, 2024 at No. 7 Vanderbilt. He was charged with one unearned run on three hits and one walk... Worked three shutout innings while striking out four, issuing no walks and permitting two hits to help Valpo beat Bradley on March 31, 2024.
• #29 RHP Spencer Boynton, R-Jr. (Tampa, Fla. / Seffner Christian) – Was an all-conference honoree at Eastern Nazarene College, where he spent two seasons before joining the Beacons prior to the 2024 campaign, which he missed due to an injury… Hobbies include golf, tennis, ping pong and video games… Favorite movie is The Usual Suspects, food is pizza, pro baseball team is the San Francisco Giants and MLB players are Buster Posey and Kevin Gausman.

Pitching Profiles – Bullpen Bits

• #6 LHP Kaden Kiser, So. (Columbus, Ohio / Hamilton Township) – Played at Bryant & Stratton College in 2024, where he made nine appearances including five starts in his lone JUCO season… Is ambidextrous, writing with his right hand and playing sports with his left (except golf, which he does with his right)… Favorite MLB players are Chris Sale and Elly De La Cruz… Favorite MLB team is the Cincinnati Reds.
• #20 RHP Hunter Frost, Jr. (Farmington, Minn. / Farmington) – Went 4-2 with a 4.50 ERA while appearing in 14 games and making 11 starts for Iowa Central Community College in 2024… 2021 4A Minnesota state champion and 2022 4A Minnesota state runner-up…. Also competed in wrestling in high school… Majoring in elementary education… Favorite pro baseball team is the Minnesota Twins… Favorite food is steak stir fry.
• #26 RHP Ryan Kruse, R-So. (Detroit, Mich. / U of D Jesuit) – In his second season in the program after redshirting at Northern Kentucky in 2023… Made two appearances – both against nationally-ranked competition – and was not charged with any earned runs in 2024… Enjoys golfing, swimming, snowboarding, working out and tennis… Favorite movie is The Dark Knight.
• #27 RHP Kolt Davis, Gr. (Johnson, Neb. / Johnson-Brock) – Played at Wayne State from 2021-2024, where he was a three-time all-conference honoree… Made 31 career appearances and had a 4-2 record while starting twice and nailing down two saves… Favorite MLB team is the New York Yankees and player is Derek Jeter… Hopes to become a human trafficking investigator.
• #31 RHP Joe Seiber, R-Jr. (Homer Glen, Ill. / Lockport) – Third team junior college All-American at Collee of DuPage... Favorite MLB team is the Chicago White Sox... Favorite movie is Billy Madison... Joined the program prior to the 2024 season as a junior college transfer... Earned his first Valpo save with two shutout innings of one-hit ball while allowing no walks to close out a 3-2 win at The Citadel in Game 1 of a doubleheader on March 8, 2024... Tossed three shutout innings while allowing one hit and walking none on March 29, 2024 vs. Bradley... Tossed two scoreless innings of relief on April 9, 2024 at Milwaukee... Earned the victory in relief on April 19, 2024 vs. Missouri State... Flipped two shutout innings on April 30, 2024 at Western Michigan... Pitched two shutout innings on May 14, 2024 at Northwestern… Is the primary returning reliever from 2024 back in 2025.
• #35 RHP Bryce Richter, Gr. (Minneapolis, Minn. / Holy Family Catholic) – Has joined Valpo's program after playing four years at North Alabama, where he graduated magna cum laude and was on the dean's list all four years… Appeared in 20 games out of the bullpen during his four-year career at North Alabama… Threw a no-hitter as a sophomore in high school… Also played four years of soccer and holds the school record for shutouts by a goalkeeper with 19… Pursuing an MBA at Valpo… Favorite food is ground bison and rice with a little Chick-Fil-A sauce.
• #36 RHP Harry Deliyannis, Gr. (Bloomington, Ind. / Bloomington North) – Joined the program after pitching 218 2/3 innings in 43 games during his career at Division-III Pomona-Pitzer that spanned 2020-2024… Had a career ERA of 4.36 with 206 strikeouts against 71 walks… Hobbies include chess, PC, gaming and cello… Favorite musical group is My Chemical Romance.
• #37 Alexander Morrison, Jr. (Pasadena, Calif. / Canyon) – Spent two years at Los Angeles Mission College before arriving at Valpo… Hobbies include fishing and going to the beach… Grew up in Bonney Lake, Wash. riding BMX and snowboarding.

Position Player Profiles – Projected Lineup (not in batting order)  

• #5 Kevin Denty, LF, So. (Tinley Park, Ill. / Marian Catholic) – Played in 29 games and made 27 starts as a freshman in 2024, ranking fourth on the team in batting average at .278… Hit .300 in 10 league games including eight starts in 2024… Had a season-high four hits including two home runs on March 1, 2024 at Elon… Eats Chipotle three times per week… Favorite MLB team is the Chicago White Sox.
• #4 Spencer Warfield, CF, R-Jr. (Fullerton, Calif. / Servite) – Played in five games in 2024 before being shut down for the season with an injury… Appeared in 21 games and made 15 starts in 2023 after seeing action in 18 games and making 13 starts as a rookie in 2022… Favorite pro baseball team is the Los Angeles Angels and MLB Player is Mike Trout… Favorite food is cheeseburgers.
• #22 Ryan Maka, RF, Sr. (Oak Forest, Ill. / Oak Forest) – Also competed in golf in high school... Other hobbies include investing and going to the gym... Favorite TV Show is Stranger Things... Became the first Valpo player since 2018 and second since 2008 to notch a three-homer game on May 13, 2022 vs. Bradley. Had four home runs in that series and five extra-base hits en route to earning Collegiate Baseball Newspaper National Player of the Week recognition... Ranked third on the team in MVC-only batting average at .286 and tied for the team lead with four home runs in Valley play in 2022... 2023 All-MVC First Team and 2024 Preseason All-MVC honors... Posted a .345 batting average in 2023, jumping his average nearly 100 points from the previous season... Hit two grand slams in 2023, becoming the first Valpo player since at least 2006 with two career grand slams... Played in 36 games (all starts) in 2024, hitting .277 with nine doubles, four homers, 20 RBIs and 17 runs scored including a .301 average in 23 league games.
• #33 Liam Patton, 1B, Gr. (Barrington, Ill. / Warsaw) – Spent his first three seasons at Wabash College, where he hit .384 with six home runs, 50 RBIs and a .582 slugging percentage in 2023... Had a go-ahead, two-run single with two outs in the ninth inning on March 5, 2024 vs. Jacksonville, a game Valpo eventually dropped 6-5 on a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth... Came up clutch again in the second game of a doubleheader on March 8, 2024 at The Citadel, when his bases-clearing double in the top of the 10^th spurred a 10-5 victory... Hit his first Valpo home run on April 19, 2024 vs. Missouri State… Totaled 28 appearances and 26 starts in 2024.
• #21 Austin Amburgey, 1B, Jr. (Miamisburg, Ohio / Miamisburg) – Posted a .391 batting average at Marietta College in 2024, ranking third in the league in hitting… Posted a .311 batting average as a freshman in 2023… Has been to three of the top four golf majors and to 14 Major League Baseball stadiums… Favorite TV show is Survivor.
• #9 Connor Giusti, 2B, Gr. (Hoffman Estates, Ill. / Fremd) – Played in 117 games over four seasons at Wisconsin Oshkosh before transferring to Valpo for the 2024 campaign... Named to the all-defensive team and all-conference honorable mention at Oshkosh... Big Chicago Bears fan and loves football... Hit his 11^th collegiate home run and first at Valpo on Opening Night on Feb. 16, 2024 at Alabama State... Homered in consecutive games – April 28, 2024 at UIC and April 30, 2024 at Western Michigan... Had a dramatic, game-tying, three-run homer with two outs in the top of the ninth on May 10, 2024 at Murray State, completing a six-run rally to force extras... Hit his fifth home run in a nine-game span on May 14, 2024 at Northwestern…. Finished the 2024 season with a .252 average and seven dingers while appearing in 46 games and making 44 starts.
• #34 Case Sullivan, SS, R-Fr. (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) – Joined the program after redshirting at Marshall in 2024, where he was a member of the president's list with a perfect 4.0 GPA… Is a triplet with his two siblings, Colin and Lily… Lily plays softball at the University of Akron and Colin is an engineering student at Purdue… Favorite pro baseball team is the Boston Red Sox and player is Mookie Betts.
• #12 Thomas Cooper, 3B, R-So. (Brentwood, Tenn. / Ravenwood) – Appeared in 15 games and made eight starts in 2023 before redshirting in 2024… Was a state runner-up in football in high school… Has a Lego collection… Favorite food is ice cream… Favorite MLB team is the Atlanta Braves.
• #19 Kade Reinertson, C, R-Sr. (Huxley, Iowa / Ballard Community) – Played in 18 games before suffering a season-ending injury in 2023 after playing in 22 games and making 17 starts in 2022... Did not see game action as a rookie in 2021... Named second team all-state in high school in 2019... Also played football and basketball in high school... Kicks with his left foot but does everything else right-handed... Enjoys golfing and disc golfing… Played in 30 games and made 25 starts in 2024.
• #28 Patrick Ilitch, DH, R-Jr. (Detroit, Mich. / University Liggett) – Did not see game action in 2022… On April 28, 2023 at Missouri State, was inserted into the starting lineup less than an hour before game time due to an injury-related scratch and had just two career at-bats prior to the game. He delivered by smacking his first career home run, leveling the score at three in the bottom of the ninth after his team trailed 3-0 with two outs and nobody on base earlier in the inning… Appeared in four games and made one start in 2024… Part of the Ilitch family that owns the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings and Little Caesars Pizza.

Inside the Assistants: Adam Brian is back for a second season on staff, while Brady Nowicki and Kyle Schmack have joined the coaching staff after playing for the Beacons last season.  

• Adam Brian is in his second season on Valpo's staff after graduating from Bradley. He works with the team's catchers, assists with pitching and leads recruiting efforts. Brian's father Braden Brian played college baseball at Eastern Kentucky and was selected in the 30^th round of the 1986 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Montreal Expos.
• Brady Nowicki has joined the coaching staff after playing for the team each of the last three seasons. He will coach the squad's hitters and infielders.  
• Kyle Schmack played for Valpo each of the last five seasons. The son of head coach Brian Schmack, Kyle will coach first base and assist Nowicki in coaching the team's hitters.