SJU baseball team embark on southern trip

The St. John’s Baseball team started this year with two out-of-state trips to Florida and Arizona. With eight games scheduled over a span of seven days in Florida, the Johnnies finished 4-4 with in Port Charlotte and Fort Meyers with a run differential of 49-43. In Tucson, Ariz., the Johnnies played four games in three days and finished 2-2 with a run differential of 22-17.

The Johnnies’ overall record is 8-6 (.571).

Third basemen Joe Becker is hitting .415 and slugging .849 with nine doubles and four home runs.

“Traveling on these spring trips creates a great team chemistry between everyone. We learn a lot about each other, and everyone tends to open up a lot, which makes the team chemistry solid. I am very thankful that we get the opportunity to play baseball in early March in warm weather, since not everyone gets those opportunities,” Becker said.

Senior starting pitcher Kody Dalen has started this year with a record of 2-0 and an ERA of 0.43 in 21 innings thus far in the 2024 season. On March 4, Dalen earned MIAC Pitcher of the Week for his performance against Wisconsin Superior pitching 10 scoreless innings and eight strikeouts. Dalen pitched six no-hit innings, striking out seven and walking four against Luther. The seven strikeouts propelled Dalen to the fifth all-time strikeout holder in SJU pitching history. Dalen has 23 strikeouts in 2024 and 153 overall.

“My mindset going forward isn’t going to change. I’ve always thought about all the hard work and effort that I have put into baseball during my time here at SJU where I just go out and play,” Dalen said. “Baseball is mostly a mental game, and you just have to trust the process…Keeping my mindset in this space also helps with my confidence. Knowing that I have prepared myself in the best way that I could have boosts my confidence, helping me have the success that I have had.”

Griffin Larson, another senior pitcher, was most recently named MIAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week on Monday. Larson improved to 2-0 on the season with a win over (7-1) Wesleyan. Larson posted five strikeouts and allowed only one hit in six innings. Larson holds a 0.64 ERA through 14 innings pitched with 17 strikeouts.

“It feels good to start off on the right note for the year. Our pitching staff as a whole has done well and has been fun to watch. For now, it has been about trusting my stuff and trusting the defense. Also, attacking hitters and making them work for their at-bats has been my focus so far,” Larson said.

Off the field, the Johnnies have recently updated their home at Becker Park, which features full team locker rooms, study areas, a training room and a rooftop deck that will also serve as a space for tailgating. This addition will help with attracting and recruiting top-tier talent across the nation while accommodating the current players and staff.

“It was incredible seeing it for the first time, and it still feels incredible every day I walk in there. Knowing that there are alumni from SJU that give so much back to the community makes me feel like I’m at home here and that the clubhouse is the baseball teams’ new home,” Becker said.

The Johnnies come back from Arizona to host Bethel to open MIAC play (St. Paul) in a double header on April 3 at Haugen Field.