After coming within three innings of returning to the NJCAA Division II World Series following a one-year hiatus, the Madison College baseball team has its collective eyes on making that goal a reality in 2018. For head coach Mike Davenport, that process will likely begin with one of the most dangerous batteries in junior college baseball.

Left handed pitcher Jack Eagan and catcher Logan Michaels were both first team All-North Central Community College Conference selections as freshman in 2017. Eagan, a transfer from Indiana University, struck out the third most hitters in a season in program history and posted a 7-2 record with 2.16 ERA. He followed that up with a sensational summer on the hill for the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters, where he was a Northwoods League All-Star and went 7-0 with a 3.08 ERA. Michaels, a DeForest, Wisconisn, product, opened eyes with consistent and dangerous bat, posting one of the best single seasons of hitting in school history with a .437 average, 62 hits, and three home runs.

"Jack was the anchor of our staff last year. We expect him to build off his tremendous season. Logan had a great all-around year. He does a phenomenal job handling out pitching staff and is a tough out at the plate," boasts Davenport, the program's all-time wins leader about to start his 14th season leading the WolfPack. 

In all, the 'Pack return a dozen second year players from last year's roster, including infielders Garrett McGraw and Tanner Umentum, both of whom also expect to see more time on the mound.

Madison College welcomed 19 first year players to the team, and it's a group that Davenport says will make significant contributions and force some tough decisions when it comes to who sees time in the field.

"It will be a challenge getting enough at-bats and innings for players because of depth. We will likely platoon at many positions, especially early in the season."

Tops among the crop of new players is sophomore pitcher Nate Brown. The righthander transferred to Madison College after spending last spring pitching at the NCAA Division I level with the University of Florida. Brown went 1-0 with a 4.74 ERA with the Gators, highlighted by five scoreless innings against perennial power and in-state rival Florida State University.

Brown, who Davenport says has "three good pitches with above average velocity," could provide a nice 1-2 pitching duo with Eagan. An all-state pitcher on Arrowhead High School's state runner-up team in 2016, Brown was drafted in the 40th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft by the New York Yankees.

A potential candidate for the team's #3 starter could be freshman Brandon Komar, an Elkhorn High School product with an above average curveball. The season will open with a total of 18 potential pitchers on the roster.

"The biggest strengths are quality depth of the pitching staff, and our defensive potential is greater than most years."

Rounding out the list of key newcomers are Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Assocation All-State infielders, Nick Gile and Walker Jenkins. The former will likely hit in the middle of the lineup, while the latter is a plus-defensive shortstop. Out on the grass, freshmen Cameron Cratic and Nate Aide are expected to produce, with Aide entering as one of the team's most talented hitters.

"The team is a good mix of first and second year players. The overall depth is good, which should give us a good chance to make a run at tournament time," suggests the five-time N4C Coach of the Year award winner. 

With eyes on returning to the top of the N4C and Region IV mountains, Davenport suggests one of the biggest challenges in 2018 will be finding and developing depth behind Michaels at catcher.

The four-member coaching staff will begin that process when the team opens the season with its annual Arizona Spring Trip to open the season. The WolfPack begin the 2018 schedule with a nine-inning affair against Scottsdale Community College (11-13) on Thursday, March 8. Madison College and the Fighting Artichokes will play again two days later. In between will be the season's first doubleheader at Chandler-Gilbert Community College (14-13). The ten-day, ten-game trip will also feature back-to-back doubleheaders against Glendale Community College (14-13) and GateWay Community College (12-12). Before departing the desert, the 'Pack will play full, nine-inning games at Paradise Valley Community College (17-8) and NJCAA Division I Central Arizona College (21-5). Chandler-Gilbert is currenty receiving votes in the NJCAA DII Poll, 
(NOTE: All times listed on the schedule page are listed in Madison/Central Standard Time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings time, meaning it is one hour behind Madison leading up to the Saturday night/Sunday morning clock change, after which it is then two hours behind Madison.)

Once back in the Midwest, Madison College, ranked #14 in the BaseballNews.com NJCAA DII Poll, will play three away doubleheaders against Kishwaukee College, Moraine Valley Community College, and Waubonsee Community College. On Tuesday, April 3, the WolfPack will host its home opener against Elgin Community College at Robin Roberts Field. The first N4C doubleheader is at Triton College on April 7, three days prior to Milwaukee Area Technical College coming west for the N4C home opener on April 10. That doubleheader will open with the 100th all-time meeting between the two programs, just 67 days after the two men's basketball programs met for their 100th contest.

Some other key dates on the WolfPack schedule include Saturday, April 14 at defending national champion Kankakee Community College. Madison College owned a 3-2 lead through six innings in the winner take Region IV championship before the Cavaliers rallied for a 9-3 win as part of an impressive march to the program's first national title. Kankakee opens the season ranked #1 by BaseballNews.com, while slipping from #2 to #14 in the NJCAA DII Poll. That same poll saw a drop from #18 to receiving votes for McHenry County College, which will host Madison College on May 1.

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