BRAINERD — After an eight-game spring trip to Tucson, Arizona, Central Lakes College head coach Blaine Hardy is excited about his 2026 team.
Last season, the Raiders finished 3-21 overall and 2-18 in the Minnesota Collegiate Athletic Conference’s Central Division. Hardy, now in his fourth season as Raider coach, already sees a different mindset with this year’s team.
“I feel confident,” Hardy said. “We were able to work positionally where we want guys to be and see live reps. There were a few games in Arizona where a couple of defensive miscues hurt us, but at the same time, it’s good to have those happen down there. Defense is a good piece for me as a former pitcher. The record on the trip doesn’t show what we accomplished. It was eye-opening.”
Raiders Baseball
Head coach: Blaine Hardy, fourth year
2025 record: 3-21 overall, 2-18 Central Division
Returning players: Ethan Guck, Anthony Micheli, Asher Borle, James Essery, Kadin Belliger
Assistant coaches: Ian Wilson, Keith Peterson
Sophomore Ethan Guck led the Raiders with a .440 average in eight games over spring break. He hit one home run and drove in five RBIs as the Raiders started the season 1-7. Last season, Guck hit .322 with one home run and 11 RBIs.
“Guck was very consistent and he got a little bit tired since he had to pitch as well,” Hardy said. “He has the capabilities of being one of my top pitchers when his command is on.”
Freshman Alex Thoma, from Little Falls, hit .417 in Tucson with five extra-base hits and six RBIs. He plays infield and is a dynamic bat for the Raiders’ lineup.
Central Lakes’ Alex Thoma swings the bat at baseball practice on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at Central Lakes College.
Conrad Engstrom / Brainerd Dispatch
“Thoma is consistent,” Hardy said. “He was consistently putting good at-bats together. He had hard swings and took a little bit off when he got behind in the count and was rewarded for it.”
Sophomore Anthony Micheli hit .350 with one home run and five RBIs to start the season. He played for the Anoka-Ramsey Rams last season and hit .353 with four doubles, two triples and one home run in the outfield.
“Anthony came out of the gate hot,” Hardy said. “He dug himself a little bit of a hole when he came back to reality and we have been able to walk and talk him through the mental side of things. He was able to see success and failure and that will help him have an exceptional season.”
At shortstop, Pierz native and freshman Nate Solinger looks to play there and pitch. He hit .222 in Tucson and pitched seven innings in two appearances.
Raider Schedule
March 21: at Vermilion (2), noon
March 22: at Mesabi Range (2), 1 p.m.
March 25: at Riverland (2), 2 p.m.
April 3: at Anoka-Ramsey (2), 1 p.m.
April 4: hosts Anoka-Ramsey (2), 1 p.m.
April 7: hosts Itasca (2), 1 p.m.
April 8: at Rainy River (2), 1 p.m.
April 11: hosts St. Cloud Tech (2), 1 p.m.
April 12: at St. Cloud Tech (2), 1 p.m.
April 18: hosts Minnesota State (2), 1:30 p.m.
April 19: at Minnesota State (2), 1:30 p.m.
April 22: hosts Riverland (2), 2 p.m.
April 25: at Alexandria (2), 1 p.m.
April 29: at Itasca (2), 2 p.m.
May 1: hosts Ridgewater (2), 2 p.m.
May 2: at Ridgewater (2), 1 p.m.
“Solinger is going to be solid once we have the pitching schedule finalized,” Hardy said. “He did well in Tucson and he’s going to be solid defensively as well. He’s slotted as one of three shortstops and that’s because I have a lot of two-way guys.”
Freshman Nathan Priebe, from Fairbanks, Alaska, is one of the top arms for Hardy. He pitched eight innings in Tucson and struck out 10 in two appearances.
“He’s left-handed, which helps,” Hardy said. “He also took it upon himself to label himself a pitcher only and it makes sense because he understands the game and how to shape his pitches. We have made progress in making him more efficient and better — even on the days he’s not pitching. I know there is a lot more to unlock with him.”
Freshman Fedele Akakpo, from Benin in West Africa, logged 7.1 innings and struck out seven. Guck struck out nine in 5.2 innings and freshman Micah Cosgrove, from Frederick, Maryland, appeared in three games and struck out five in 5.2 innings.
“Once we make some small tweaks with Fedele on the pitching side of things, he is going to do well,” Hardy said. “Cosgrove is a gamer. He doesn’t have the best stuff, but he attacks the strike zone and competes. You need relievers like that and he is solid defensively.”
Freshman Tristian Wilson, from Brainerd High School, is a pitcher and catcher. He hit .100 in 10 at-bats in Tucson and pitched three innings.
“Tristian’s bat is going to play, but even if he didn’t hit, I would be fine with it because he makes everyone better behind the dish as a catcher,” Hardy said. “He knows how to call a game and he receives and throws the ball well.”
Central Lakes’ head coach Blaine Hardy (left) talks with assistant coach Keith Peterson at baseball practice on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at Central Lakes College.
Conrad Engstrom / Brainerd Dispatch
Sophomore Asher Borle is another Brainerd graduate who plays first base and pitches.
Pequot Lakes graduate and freshman Brady Dornseif hit .333 in 12 at-bats in Tucson. He also logged three innings in two appearances on the mound.
“He doesn’t look smooth, but he gets the job done and swung it well in Tucson, too,” Hardy said.
Freshman Jaoquin Magee, from Prescott, Wisconsin, adds depth to the outfield. He appeared in four games in Tucson and hit .300 with four walks.
Raider Roster
Raider Roster
Sophomores: Ethan Guck, Anthony Micheli, Asher Borle, James Essery, Kadin Belliger
Freshmen: Joaquin Magee, Nate Solinger, Alex Thoma, Micah Cosgrove, Fedele Akakpo, Connor Ausland, John Biehn, Nathan Priebe, Marshall Kalm, Scott Lewis, Tristan Wilson, Tim Marcus, Brady Dornseif, Zavier Smith
“We are looking pretty good in the outfield,” Hardy said. “We have Anthony in center, Jaoquin in right and Guck in left. I could not ask for a better athlete. Magee understands the game and understands where to be pitch-to-pitch, which is big in the outfield.”
Freshman Tim Marcus, from Monticello, is a first baseman who missed the Tucson trip. Freshman Connor Ausland, from St. Francis, is a catcher and first baseman who hits left-handed. Freshman John Biehn, from Plymouth, is a solid glove anywhere in the infield. Freshman Marshall Kalm, from Nevis, is a third baseman and pitcher and hit .111 in Tucson.
“We have a ton of two-way guys, so we won’t have guys stuck at one position,” Hardy said. “Kalm’s bat will get going and he understands the game. Biehn called me in November wanting to play baseball and we had a spot for him. He is one of the best gloves we have in the infield.”
Central Lakes’ Marshall Kalm throws at baseball practice on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at Central Lakes College.
Conrad Engstrom / Brainerd Dispatch
Sophomore James Essery, from Sartell, plays infield and Hardy said he has made huge improvements from last season.
“I didn’t trust his ability to field his position last year, but that’s different this year,” Hardy said. “He does everything I ask of him. He does everything behind the scenes that we need and is a good leader.”
The Central Division looks tough with Alexandria ranked 10th and St. Cloud Tech ranked 15th in the NJCAA Division III rankings.
“We didn’t go to Arizona last year and it showed,” Hardy said. “We now have stuff we can bring back to Minnesota and work on. We have pitchers built up. It’s going to be a good year.”