Roosevelt Fall Report: Lakers Look to Climb the Ladder in Year Two of Division II

The 2025 season marked a pivotal transition for the Roosevelt Lakers, who navigated their inaugural campaign in NCAA Division II after moving up from the NAIA level. Under the guidance of head coach Jason Becker, now entering his sixth year with a 117-118 career mark, the Lakers finished with a 15-36 overall record and a 5-19 ledger in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play. Despite the growing pains associated with the jump in competition, Roosevelt displayed significant resilience down the stretch, winning eight of their final 13 games to rally for a spot in the GLIAC Tournament via a tiebreaker. The highlight of the campaign came late in the year when the Lakers secured the program's first-ever victory over a ranked opponent, taking down conference powerhouse Davenport. As the team looks toward 2026, Becker’s squad aims to channel that late-season momentum into a climb up the conference ladder, emphasizing a gritty, "tough to get out" mentality at the plate.

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The Offense

The Lakers face the task of replacing significant production from their 2025 lineup, most notably the departures of First Team All-GLIAC outfielder James Berry and Second Team All-GLIAC third baseman Koa Ogawa. Berry was an offensive force, hitting .408 with 14 doubles to rank third in the conference in batting average. Ogawa was equally vital, posting a .366 average with a .953 OPS, finishing fifth in the league in hitting.

Looking to fill those shoes is a mix of experienced returners and high-impact transfers. Senior catcher Kyle Jannenga returns to anchor the defense behind the plate; he is projected as one of the top defensive catchers in the GLIAC and contributed a .265 average with 12 doubles and 30 RBI in 136 at-bats last spring. Joining him is senior catcher Jack Hoh, who the staff expects to provide quality defense and a reliable bat, despite hitting .197 with six doubles and 18 RBI in 132 at-bats a year ago. Up the middle, sophomore shortstop Quinn O'Bryan brings sure-handed defense to the infield after driving in 11 runs in 99 at-bats during his freshman campaign.

The coaching staff has aggressively targeted the transfer portal to inject potency into the lineup. CJ Chalk, a transfer from South Georgia State who also pitches, is expected to hit at the top of the order after batting .318 with 11 doubles and 13 stolen bases at the junior college level. At the hot corner, Moraine Valley Community College transfer Alejandro Munoz looks to be a middle-of-the-order run producer, arriving with a .387 average, 15 doubles, and 16 stolen bases on his resume.

Power potential arrives in the form of Cooper Ohlson (Kankakee CC) and Maxwell Bowers (Jackson CC). Ohlson hit .341 with 16 doubles and 53 RBI last season and fits the profile of a run-producer in the middle of the lineup. Bowers brings an impressive track record, having slashed .380 with a 1.001 OPS over 153 plate appearances. Additionally, Mott Community College transfer Ethan Wills (.398 BA, 11 doubles) and freshman Ian Bagaconza (St. Francis HS) add depth and bat-handling skills to the infield mix.

The Pitching Staff

On the mound, the Lakers return key pieces while welcoming experienced arms to bolster the rotation. Sophomore right-hander Kaden Foran is projected to be a solid weekend starter; in 2025, he struck out 43 batters over 56.2 innings. Anchoring the back end of the bullpen is junior right-hander Kevin Schroer, who led the team with five saves last season while posting a 5.68 ERA in 25.1 innings.

Newcomers will play a critical role in stabilizing the staff. Grad student Brennan Cohen transfers from Division III Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where he went 2-5 with a 7.33 ERA in 46.2 innings, and is expected to pitch at the top of the rotation. Another experienced arm, grad transfer Anthony Sorrentino (Lewis), brings 64.1 innings of collegiate experience and is tabbed as a top arm for the staff this year.

The rotation will also feature left-hander Ethan Dorka, a transfer from Harper Community College listed on our impact transfers list after going 7-2 with a 3.21 ERA last season. Right-hander Liam Neely (Texas A&M Texarkana) and two-way player Jace Dominic (New Mexico Highlands) are also slated to contend for weekend starter roles.

Schedule & Outlook

The 2026 schedule presents immediate tests for the Lakers as they look to improve upon their debut Division II season. Roosevelt opens the year with a heavy road slate, including a four-game series against Quincy and a regional matchup with Purdue Northwest in late February. The non-conference highlight is a demanding Florida trip in early March, where they will face perennial national contenders such as Florida Southern (38 wins, regional host) and Northwood (40 wins, defending Midwest Region Champions).

Conference play begins in earnest in late March, featuring matchups against the GLIAC's elite. The Lakers travel to face Davenport, a team they upset last year but who remains a national powerhouse, and host Grand Valley State in April, a perennial heavyweight in the Midwest Region. The season concludes with a home series against Saginaw Valley State in May, providing a final opportunity to secure postseason positioning. If you value this in-depth, non-paywalled coverage of D2 Baseball, please consider supporting our independent reporting efforts. Your contribution helps us continue providing free access to all our articles without relying on restrictive paywalls. To support our work, please visit our Patreon page: patreon.com/diviibaseball