The end of basketball season is quickly approaching, and the Newman University Jets’ baseball, softball, tennis and golf teams are warming up for spring.
The Jets baseball team, which is off to a 6-2 start, was picked to finish seventh out of 10 schools in the preseason Heartland Conference poll.
However, the hot start the team has had landed it a second place spot in the current conference standings.
The baseball team also landed three players on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason All-South Central Region team. Junior outfielder Tyler Bugner was a first team selection, while sophomore catcher Aaron Mack and sophomore infielder Daniel Jahnke were selected to the second team.
Bugner was also named to the Hero Sports Preseason DII College Baseball All-American team.
The squad, which has earned four of its six wins at home, is set to play four against Southwest Minnesota State at noon Saturday at McCarthy Field at Newman University.
The Jets softball team, 4-8 on the season, was selected to finish fifth out of nine in the preseason Heartland Conference poll and is currently sitting at fourth in conference standings.
The Jets, with six returning starters on the roster, are second in the conference in fielding with a .963 fielding percentage and have the fewest errors in the Heartland Conference thus far. The team is also among the top five in the conference for stolen bases.
The Lady Jets will continue their season on the road with two games starting at 12:30 p.m. Saturday against Southwest Baptist University.
Tennis
The Jets tennis teams were picked to have promising spring seasons, with the men’s team landing a No. 34 national ranking and No. 5 South Central Region ranking, and the women’s team earning a No. 45 national ranking and a No. 7 South Central Region ranking.
This is the men’s third straight national ranking and the women’s fifth.
The men’s squad, 1-3 on the season, is looking to use experience from its eight returners to power through a successful season.
Junior Alejandro Gonzalez was selected once already as the Heartland Conference Player of the Week.
The Lady Jets, 3-1 overall, are currently third in conference standings.
Senior Kate Bugayenko was named Heartland Conference Player of the Week this past week after the team’s 9-0 sweep of McPherson.
The Lady Jets return only four players but look to utilize their young lineup to find success.
Both teams will appear on the court at noon Saturday in Springfield, Mo., to take on Lewis University.
Golf
The Jets golf teams started their spring season this past weekend at the St. Mary’s Men’s Invitational with an 11th place finish. The men’s team, currently third in the Heartland Conference standings, looks to make waves this season with six returning golfers on the roster.
The squad will be back on the green this weekend at the St. Edward’s Invitational in Austin, Texas.
The women’s team, which has yet to play in the spring semester, is sitting at third in the conference standings. They finished last season on a strong note, placing third in the conference tournament and sixth in the Super Regional. The team has four returners on the roster.
The Lady Jets will kick off their season March 7-8 at the Diffee Ford Lincoln Invitational in Edmond, Okla.
