INA, Ill. (January 18, 2024) -- The Warriors head into the 2023-24 season with high expectations after an up and down season last year under first year head coach Chris Moddelmog.

There are 31 athletes on the team, comprised of 16 freshmen and 15 sophomores.

The freshmen this year are Devin Kiebler (Paducah, KY), Ethan Landis (Calvert City, KY), Kember Whisman (Shelbyville, KY), Colin McClure (Mount Vernon), Drew Bradley (Jasper, IN), Nate York (Evansville, IN), Chase Coulter (Georgetown, KY), Tim Cansler (Hopkinsville, KY), Davis Beale (Paducah, KY), Dom Davis (Bowling Green, KY), James Craven (DuQuoin), Braden Pingel (Murray, KY), Pierce Herrenbruck (Evansville, IN), Eric Bergquist (Fort Collins, CO), Cadwell Turner (Murray KY), Hayden Ralls (Anna), and Nolan Thomson (Newmarket, Ontario).

The sophomores this year are Luke Bullins (Crawfordsville, AR), Justin Stimpson (Evansville, IN), Ethan Hamrick (Mount Zion), Blake Templeton (Fort Collins, CO), Landen Jones (Paducah, KY), Derek Lebron (Rosedale, IN), Houston Compton (Richland, IN), Colby Guy (Barrie, Ontario), Brock Holloway (Mount Vernon), Brady Ingram (Louisville, KY), Jacob Dilday (Hopkinsville, KY), Matthew Ray (Murray, KY), Holton Compton (Richland, IN), and Hunter MacLeod (Abbotsford, British Columbia).

RLC men's baseball Head Coach Chris Moddelmog said that the freshmen they've recruited are doing well in getting adjusted to the team dynamic and culture at RLC. He thanks the sophomores who have put in the work in leading the way for incoming players and setting a good example by working hard.

"We have some really good leadership from our Sophomore class on the mound and the rookies have followed their lead and it is showing," said pitching coach Ted Bergquist.

The returning players have a strong work ethic; they work hard in the classroom and on the field. They are also determined to push themselves to be their best.

"They didn't like how things turned out last year and they want to change that," Moddelmog said. "We lost a lot of close games last year, so we are learning how to win this year. We had a good fall, we found out what makes us good and what we need to improve on to make us stronger athletes."

A few Freshman who were standouts in the Fall were hitters Bradley, McClure, and Turner. "These guys have really put together some good practices and are making an impact on the field for us," said Moddelmog. "We have some big holes to fill at the plate, having lost a lot of our position guys. These three along with a host of other guys are making a push to get on the field early for the Warriors this Spring."

Moddelmog's goals for his team this year is just work on getting better every day. He hopes to make it beyond Regions this year. He recognized the Great Rivers Athletic Conference (GRAC) as one of the best in the country and knows that they will be up against tough teams, but has confidence in his student athletes to go the extra mile.

"When they come to RLC, we want them to leave being good people, good players, and good students," said Moddelmog.

When asked to describe what his goals for this season were in three words, he said: "Learn to compete. Learn to compete every day in everything you do and good things will happen to you."

Their first game is a home game on Saturday, February 10 against Glen Oaks Community College.