No. 3 seeded Johnnies seek more success in ‘25 playoffs than ‘24

The St. John’s baseball team ended their regular season with a 25-14 overall record and a 14-6 record in conference play. The Johnnies will enter the MIAC playoffs as the No. 3 seed. After they lost 11 graduating seniors last season, the team had to redefine their identity this season.

They turned to a combination of new talent and experience, bringing in 13 first-year players and returning two fifth-year athletes, third baseman Joe Becker and first baseman Owen Best.

“I just love it up here, I love all the guys, I love the team chemistry that we have,” Best said. “I wanted to come back and contribute the best way that I can with my play, and also try to help the younger guys learn the game and be a leader here as well.”

Following a doubleheader against Luther to start their season, the team took two trips to play teams they normally would not have a chance to. After a four-game stint in Arizona the team travelled to Florida to play nine games, during which they beat Rutgers-Camden, who was then No. 19 in the nation.

“One thing I think that we are really proud of this year is winning games we were supposed to win. Past few years we’ve dropped a few games here and there that we probably shouldn’t have, but this year we’ve won the games that we were expected to win. We’ve played against good teams and put up good fights, so it’ll be fun to see what we do in the playoffs,” senior catcher Blake Mellgren said.

Head coach Jerry Haugen added that the team has been swinging the bat well and has seen consistent performances from their pitching squad, contributing to their success. The Johnnies returned home to play out their conference schedule, finishing with a record of 14-6 and a winning percentage of .700 in conference play. The Johnnies were particularly potent on their home field, posting a record of 11-3 in games played at Becker Park.

“I think the main thing is just being able to pitch well and throw a lot of strikes because teams will beat you if you’re not pounding the zone, so if you’re throwing strikes and making hitters get themselves out, you’re going to be a really good team,” senior pitcher Connor Hartley said.

Hartley received MIAC Pitcher of the Week honors on two separate occasions this season. The Johnnies success has been headlined by the performance of fifth-year third baseman Joe Becker, who set numerous all-time and single season records for the Johnnie baseball program this season.

“He’s probably one of the greatest baseball players I’ve ever had the privilege to play with. Not many people can do what he can do, but everybody wants to, so he brings everyone’s game up. He’s also a great person, so when you combine those things it’s pretty special,” Hartley said.

Becker now sits outright in first place or tied for that position in 10 different all time batting stats in Johnnie baseball history. He also holds the single season record for most RBIs, set in 2024, and most home runs, a record he set this year with 14. Becker led the conference in home runs, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. He also received MIAC Player of the Week honors one time this season.

“He came in as a very young freshman and he certainly has developed into a pretty good power hitter. I mean, he can change the game in a hurry with extra base hits and home runs,” Haugen said.

Haugen will be retiring at the end of this season, his 48th at the helm of Johnnie baseball. Entering this season, he was No. 5 on the NCAA Division III winningest active coaches list.

“We just want to go out with a bang, for all of us and for coach Haugen, just win as many games as we can here in the stretch and give it all we got, play for each other and play for coach,” Best said.

During a doubleheader game against Northwestern, he achieved career win number 900, becoming the 27th coach in Division III baseball history to eclipse that number.

“I think the team as a whole kind of have a mindset that the season is for him, that we want to have him end it on a good note. It’s really exciting to give him one last push,” Mellgren said.

The Johnnies begin playoffs at home against Bethel on May 8. This postseason will mark the 15th straight year St. John’s has made the MIAC tournament.