Wartburg Knights baseball

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Wartburg Knights baseball
Wartburg Knights logo.svg
Founded1958;67 years ago (1958)
Head coach Casey Klunder (1st season)
Conference ARC
Location Waverly, Iowa
Home stadium Harms Stadium at Hertel Field
(Capacity: 500)
Nickname Knights
ColorsOrange and Black [1]
   
College World Series appearances
1964, 2000, 2005
NCAA tournament appearances
1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017
Conference tournament champions
1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2017
Conference regular season champions
1961, 1962, 1963, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017

The Wartburg Knights baseball program represents Wartburg College in college baseball. The program started in 1958. The team competes in the NCAA Division III and a member of the American Rivers Conference (ARC). [2] The team plays its home games at Harms Stadium at Hertel field in Waverly, Iowa.

Contents

History

The Wartburg Knights baseball team played its first season in 1958, with its first game coming against Iowa Wesleyan. The Knights reached the NAIA World Series in 1964. They hold the record for longest game played when they beat West Liberty State in a 16 inning game. [3] The program rose to national relevance in the late 1990s, early 2000s when Joel Holst was hired in 1996. The program has won a conference leading 22 conference championships, the most recent coming 2017 when they won three straight IIAC titles. [4]

Joel Holst era (1997-2022)

Joel Holst was hired in 1995 and coached his first season at Wartburg in 1996. In his first season they finished with a .500 record at 20-20. Following that season the Knights would go on to win 12 straight conference regular season championships and appeared in the college world series on two occasions (2000, 2005). During the 2005 College World Series the Knights played in two games that set records; the first was the longest game in series history in terms of innings, when they defeated Rowan College in 16 innings 8–6 and then played in the shortest game in series history when they lost to SUNY Cortland 5–0 in 1 hour and 52 minutes. [5] Joel Holst resigned from his head coaching position prior to the 2023 season. [6] Following his resignation, Casey Chaplin was named interim head coach for the 2023 baseball season. [7]

Casey Klunder era (2024-Present)

Following the 2023 season, Casey Klunder, was tabbed as the fifth head coach in program history. [8] He began his tenure at Wartburg with a 12–4 win over Grove City, with a 3–0 start to the year. [9]

Record by year

This is a table of the Wartburg Knights record year-by-year. [10]

Statistics overview
SeasonCoachOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Wartburg (Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)(1958–2017)
1958Earnest Oppermann 11–77–5
1959Earnest Oppermann 9–88–6
1960Earnest Oppermann 7–56–4
1961Earnest Oppermann 14–614–31st
1962Earnest Oppermann 10–610–21st
1963Earnest Oppermann 13–68–41st NAIA Regional
1964Earnest Oppermann 18–69–32nd NAIA World Series
1965Earnest Oppermann 3–8
1966Earnest Oppermann 12–8
1967Earnest Oppermann 15–5
1968Earnest Oppermann 12–8
1969Earnest Oppermann 11–9
1970Earnest Oppermann 12–17
1971Earnest Oppermann 11–19
1972Earnest Oppermann 7–7
1973Earnest Oppermann 9–14
1974Earnest Oppermann 7–185–8
1975Earnest Oppermann 13–146–0
1976Earnest Oppermann 16–168–2
1977Earnest Oppermann 12–2010–21st
1978Earnest Oppermann 16–209–31st
1979Earnest Oppermann 14–1111–11st
1980Earnest Oppermann 9–236–6
1981Earnest Oppermann 17–2110–4
1982Earnest Oppermann 13–197–3
1983John Kurtt 10–226–6
1984John Kurtt 11–169–9
1985John Kurtt 12–1510–10
1986John Kurtt 16–2214–8
1987John Kurtt 15–2011–7
1988John Kurtt 16–20
1989John Kurtt 14–22–110–7–1
1990John Kurtt 12–1910–10
1991John Kurtt 10–228–8
1992John Kurtt 9–256–15
1993John Kurtt 4–162–8
1994Randy Moore 17–148–85th
1995Randy Moore 12–215–147th
1996 Joel Holst 20–20–17–94th
1997 Joel Holst 30–1616–41st NCAA Regional
1998 Joel Holst 40–1020–41st NCAA Regional
1999 Joel Holst 33–13–117–61st NCAA Regional
2000 Joel Holst 41–922–21st College World Series
2001 Joel Holst 37–9–120–21st NCAA Regional
2002 Joel Holst 29–1516–51st NCAA Regional
2003 Joel Holst 33–12–114–61st NCAA Regional
2004 Joel Holst 30–1515–51st
2005 Joel Holst 37–1118–31st College World Series
2006 Joel Holst 27–1511–5T–1st
2007 Joel Holst 28–1318–5T–1st
2008 Joel Holst 27–1517–31st NCAA Regional
2009 Joel Holst 28–2014–104th NCAA Regional
2010 Joel Holst 25–1917–72nd
2011 Joel Holst 26–1816–82nd
2012 Joel Holst 23–2014–103rd
2013 Joel Holst 35–1020–61st NCAA Regional
2014 Joel Holst 25–1719–92nd
2015 Joel Holst 33–1419–51st NCAA Regional
2016 Joel Holst 34–1324–41st NCAA Regional
2017 Joel Holst 33–1419–51st NCAA Regional
2018 Joel Holst 26–1315–62nd
Wartburg Knights (American Rivers Conference)(2019–Present)
2019 Joel Holst 13–269–157th
2020 Joel Holst 9–10–0Season canceled due to COVID-19
2021 Joel Holst 14–2812–206th
2022 Joel Holst 25–2112–126th
2023Casey Chaplin 14–219–156th
2024 Casey Klunder 23–1912–126th
2025 Casey Klunder 21–2012–124th
Total:1272–1012–4

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

    American Rivers Conference tournaments

    Wartburg has made 30 appearances in the American Rivers Conference baseball tournament and 19 appearances in the tournament championship game; both of which is the most in tournament history. [11] They appeared in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. They have an overall record of 67–42, with 10 championships, the last in 2017. [12]

    NCAA Regional appearances

    NCAA Regional Results
    1997 NCAA DIII Central Regional in Carroll, IA

    Lost to Carthage, 2–3
    Lost to Aurora, 11–22

    1998 NCAA Oshkosh Regional hosted by Wisconsin-Oshkosh

    Lost to Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 0–7
    Defeated Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 7–0
    Lost to St. Thomas (MN), 8–16

    1999 NCAA Geneva Regional hosted by Aurora

    Lost to Simpson, 4–6
    Lost to Carthage, 4–14

    2000 NCAA Bloomington Regional hosted by Illinois Wesleyan

    Defeated Aurora, 8–7
    Defeated Westminster (MO), 8–0
    Defeated Carthage, 8–5
    Regional Championship

    2001 NCAA Bloomington Regional hosted by Illinois Wesleyan

    Lost to Hope, 1–2
    Defeated Anderson (IN), 9–1
    Defeated Wisconsin–Whitewater, 6–2
    Defeated Illinois Wesleyan, 11–10(10 inn.)
    Lost to Illinois Wesleyan, 6–7

    2002 NCAA DIII Monmouth Regional hosted by Monmouth (IL)

    Lost to Carthage, 2–3(10 inn.)
    Lost to Aurora, 2–10

    2003 NCAA Clinton Regional hosted by Mississippi College

    Lost to Emory, 4–10
    Defeated Millsaps, 13–12
    Lost to Carthage, 2–5

    2005 NCAA Bloomington Regional hosted by Illinois Wesleyan

    Defeated Washington University St. Louis, 4–2
    Defeated Illinois Wesleyan, 1–0
    Defeated Illinois Wesleyan, 11–5
    Defeated Edgewood, 11–3
    Regional Championship

    2008 NCAA Moline, Illinois Regional hosted by Augustana (IL)

    Lost to Augustana (IL), 5–6
    Defeated Webster, 2–0
    Lost to Linfield, 5–57

    2009 NCAA Moline, Illinois Regional hosted by Augustana (IL)

    Lost to Millsaps, 3–5
    Defeated Fontbonne, 4–2
    Lost to Wisconsin–Whitewater, 3–8

    2013 NCAA Moline, Illinois Regional hosted by Augustana (IL)

    Lost to Adrian, 4–5
    Defeated Ripon, 10–0
    Lost to Augustana (IL), 3–9

    2015 NCAA Waterloo Regional hosted by Wartburg

    Lost to Anderson (IN), 3–4
    Defeated Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 4–2
    Lost to Carthage, 1–4

    2016 NCAA Sauget Regional hosted by Webster

    Lost to Rose–Hulman, 2–7
    Defeated Westminster (MO), 8–0
    Lost to Washington University St. Louis, 1–5

    2017 NCAA Sauget Regional hosted by Webster

    Defeated Webster, 3–0
    Lost to North Central, 3–8
    Defeated Washington University St. Louis, 1–0(13 inn.)
    Lost to Birmingham–Southern, 1–6

    NAIA Area Tournament Results
    1963 NAIA Area 4 Tournament in Kansas City, MO hosted by William Jewell

    Defeated William Jewell, 3–1
    Defeated William Jewell, 3–2
    1963 NAIA Area 4 District Final in Waverly, IA hosted by Wartburg
    Lost to Winona State, 0–4
    Lost to Winona State, 1–2

    1964 NAIA Area 4 Tournament in Waverly, IA hosted by Wartburg

    Defeated William Jewell, 5–2
    Defeated St. Cloud, 5–1
    Defeated Wisconsin State–River Falls, 4–0
    District Championship

    College World Series appearances

    NCAA DIII College World Series Results
    2000 College World Series in Appleton, WI

    Defeated Southern Maine, 2–1
    Lost to Allegheny, 2–3
    Lost to Montclair, 2–7
    6th Place

    2005 College World Series in Appleton, WI

    Lost to Chapman, 1–8
    Defeated Trinity (CT), 4–1
    Defeated Rowan, 8–6
    Lost to SUNY-Cortland, 0–5
    4th Place

    NAIA College World Series Results
    1964 NAIA World Series St. Joseph, Mo

    Defeated West Liberty State, 2–1
    Lost to Grambling, 1–3
    Defeated Mayville State, 9–0†

    † Mayville State's games were all ruled forfeits, with their opponents awarded 9–0 victories.

    Professional Players

    Wartburg has had seven professional baseball players and four selections in the Major League Baseball Draft since it began in 1965. [13] [14]

    YearPlayerDraft RoundTeam
    1967 Robert Meyer49 Minnesota Twins
    1969 Thomas Cain16 Chicago White Sox
    1970 Virgil Erickson22 St. Louis Cardinals
    2001Matt Thede– Gulf Coast League Expos
    2008Ryan Grant– Sioux Falls Canaries
    2011 Bradley Watson37 St. Louis Cardinals
    2023Dylan Gotto– Idaho Falls Chukars

    Current coaching staff

    [15]

    Head coaching history

    As of the completion of 2024 season [10]

    TenureCoachYearsRecordPct.
    1958–1982Earnest Oppermann25292–300–0.493
    1983–1993John Kurtt11192–210–0.478
    1994–1995Randy Moore229–35–0.453
    1996–2022 Joel Holst 27761–407–4.651
    2023Casey Chaplin1†14–21–0.400
    2024–present Casey Klunder 244–39–0.530
    Totals5 coaches68 seasons1272–1012–4.557

    † Casey Chaplin served as the interim head coach for the 1 season following the departure of Joel Holst.

    References

    1. ↑ "Brand Guidlines Wartburg College" (PDF). Retrieved March 22, 2023.
    2. ↑ "Baseball History Wartburg College Athletics".
    3. ↑ "NAIA Baseball Championship Records" (PDF). www.naiahonors.com. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
    4. ↑ Petaros, Nick (May 6, 2017). "College baseball: Wartburg secures third consecutive IIAC title". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
    5. ↑ Dixon, Jim. "Championships record book". D3baseball.com. D3baseball.com. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
    6. ↑ "Wartburg College baseball coach resigns ahead of beginning of season". KWWL. February 24, 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
    7. ↑ Thompson, Nick (February 24, 2023). "Chaplin named interim Wartburg head baseball coach". Waverly Newspapers. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
    8. ↑ Coleman, Rick (May 17, 2023). "Casey Klunder to become Wartburg College Head Baseball Coach". KWWL. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
    9. ↑ Woods, Ben. "Baseball Opens 2024 Season With 12-4 Win". go-knights.net. Wartburg Athletics. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
    10. 1 2 "Wartburg Knights Baseball Record Book" (PDF). Wartburg Knights. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
    11. ↑ "Conference Baseball Tournament History". rollriver.com. American Rivers Conference. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
    12. ↑ Nelson, Jim (May 13, 2017). "College baseball: Wartburg charges into NCAA tournament". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
    13. ↑ "MLB Amateur Draft Picks who came from "Wartburg College (Waverly, IA)"". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved 2024-02-11.
    14. ↑ "ProPlayers from Wartburg". www.baseball-reference.com. Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved 8 March 2024.
    15. ↑ "Baseball Coaches".
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