Grand Valley State Fall Report: Trending Up for a Deeper Postseason Run

A team with back-to-back regional appearances, including a GLIAC Tournament Championship in 2024 and a regional host last season, the trend is going up for the Grand Valley State Lakers.

GVSU is coming off a 2025 campaign that saw them finish 43-14 (best since 2011), placing second in the GLIAC with an 18-6 conference record and serving as the Midwest No.2 Regional Host. Entering his third season at the helm with a .652 winning percentage (73-39), Head Coach Jordan Keur is optimistic about a squad that he believes features "a strong blend of experienced veterans and talented young guys."

While the Lakers may not replicate the sheer power numbers from last season, Keur emphasizes a shift in identity. "We're going to be far more athletic across the board," Keur said. "That added athleticism will allow us to put a lot more pressure on teams defensively and play a faster, more dynamic style of baseball."

Grand Valley State will have to navigate the departure of key contributors, most notably starting pitcher Jayden Dentler, a 3rd-Team All-American, and DH Jonas Gulbrandsen, a 1st-Team All-Midwest Region selection. Despite these losses, the program returns six position starters and two key arms, setting a strong foundation for 2026.

Offensive Returners

Leading the charge for the offense is senior shortstop Evan Morrison, a First Team All-GLIAC and All-Midwest Region selection who sets the tone at the top of the lineup. Described by Keur as the "guy that makes everything go," Morrison hit .341 in 223 ABs with 17 doubles and 43 RBI. A menace on the basepaths, he was ranked 5th in the conference in stolen bases and scored a program-record 73 runs last season.

Another critical piece of the infield is senior second baseman Ayden VanEnkevort. An athletic defender who played every day at second, he was a Second Team All-GLIAC selection as a utility player. Last season, in 180 ABs he hit .328 with 3 home runs and 35 RBI, posting a .409 on-base percentage.

In the outfield, sophomore Caden Thelen is a player with immense potential. After starting halfway through his true freshman season, he hit .327 in 98 ABs with 3 doubles and 16 RBI. Keur notes that Thelen "has the rare ability to hit for power and can really run," suggesting he has the highest ceiling of raw tools on the team.

Joining him in the outfield is junior Ryan Stimac, whom Keur regards as the best defensive outfielder in the conference. A solid contributor in right field, in 159 ABs he hit .308 with 6 doubles and 27 RBI.

Anchoring the corner infield is junior third baseman Caleb Estrada. Offensively, he hit .306 in 206 ABs with 13 doubles and 45 RBI. Keur expects a breakout year from Estrada, noting his untapped power potential.

Rounding out the core is two-way standout Jovan Gill (1B/RHP). A Second Team All-GLIAC selection, Gill was a force in the middle of the order. In 186 ABs he hit .317 with 11 home runs and 62 RBI, leading the conference in RBI and ranking 2nd in home runs. Now fully healthy on the mound, Gill has been up to 93 mph this fall and is expected to be a major factor in the pitching rotation as well.

Pitching Returners

The pitching staff returns experience at the top of the rotation. Senior Collin Bradley returns after a stellar season where he was named First Team All-GLIAC. Bradley went 7-2 with a 3.32 ERA in 76.0 IP, ranking 4th in the conference in wins and 5th in ERA.

Junior Owen Avery also returns as a power arm for the Lakers. He went 6-3 with a 4.13 ERA in 69.2 IP, showcasing dominant stuff that ranked him 1st in the conference in strikeout percentage. Keur is looking for Avery to take an even bigger jump this year.

Newcomers to Watch

The Lakers have bolstered their roster with impactful transfers and freshmen. Grad transfer Jacob Skaggs (Pittsburg State) is expected to start in center field, bringing speed and experience after slashing .338/.461/.500 with 22 steals last season. Senior Will Bowen (Hawaii) adds another big bat to the mix. Behind the plate, freshman Noah Brandt, the 12th-rated catcher in Illinois by Perfect Game, will vie for playing time.

On the mound, the Lakers added depth with grad transfer Duncan McLaughlin (SIU Edwardsville - 3.86 ERA over 21 innings last season) and senior Keagan Bobbitt (Roosevelt), a 6'6" lefty who was his former team's ace (58.2 innings). Junior JJ Manion (Kalamazoo Valley CC: 6-2 with a 3.17 ERA over 65.1 innings last season) and sophomore transfer Ty Uchman (George Mason - 20.2 innings over two seasons)—who also plays first base—will provide valuable innings.

Two freshmen right-handers are also turning heads: Jackson Kees, the 74th-ranked player in Illinois from his draft class, and Michael Giroux, a 1st Team All-State selection and Top 50 player in the state of Michigan from his draft class who has been "electric" this fall with a fastball touching 94 mph.

"I believe we have a strong group on the mound," Keur said. "While individual roles are still being defined, I'm excited about the talent and potential within this staff to be really good again." The talent will be tested right out of the gate, as GVSU will open up on February 13th against the team that eliminated them last year, Northwood, at a neutral site (Mtn Dew Park) in Marion, IL.

Development will be really good in the future too, as GVSU has finalized a major nearly $6 million construction project to build a 12,800-sq-ft baseball and softball indoor training facility on campus.

With a shift towards a more dynamic, athletic style of play and a defense that Coach Keur believes could be his best yet, Grand Valley State is poised to remain a contender and continue the trend of building off the previous season. The combination of a returning infield core, impactful transfers, and a reloaded pitching staff suggests the Lakers are ready to build on last season's success and make another deep run in 2026.

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