Culver-Stockton baseball is now back in action as of Feb. 10, starting the season off on a strong note with an exciting 16-14 win over the UHSP Eutectics. Three Wildcats led the way in scoring with senior Kannon Kirk, junior Brandon Diaz Valentin, and junior Jack Linenfelser each getting three runs.
As for what to expect for the remainder of the season, Head Coach Brad Gyorkos had lots to say. “We are coming off a season in which we graduated 20+ guys, so this is a brand new group. They have an extremely high ceiling, but they need to continue to get better to reach it,” Gyorkos stated. “We are really good offensively and if we can throw strikes at a high level on the mound, we have a chance to be pretty good.”
When asked about players to keep an eye out for, Coach Gyorkos listed both returners and newcomers. Returners that he highlighted were Kirk, junior Jeremiah Morris, junior Harrison Oden, and senior Isaiah Naylor. There are quite a few newer faces that, in Gyorkos’s words, “should have a big impact”. The names he listed were junior General Schofield, Valentin, senior Cooper Kiel, junior Cooper Gillette, junior Yohander Ubiera, freshmen Aaron Barr, freshmen Michael Vidal, and freshmen Brayden Prott.
As for players that have emerged as leaders so far this season, the head coach once again highlights the upperclassmen of Kirk, Valentin, and Naylor.
With this combination of talented returners and skilled newcomers, Gyorkos has high expectations for this group. “We need to be playing in the postseason. A conference tournament appearance is the expectation.” When asked what success would look like for the team, Gyorkos simply answered, “Success would be playing baseball in May.”
Lastly, Gyorkos was inquired about what it would take to be a top team in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. “We need to pitch at a high level. Winning baseball games at the top of our conferences demands big time pitching.” However, this doesn’t come without challenges. “We are really young on the mound and inexperienced at some positions,” he said. “There are going to be some roadblocks to success.” However he countered this by adding, “…I think we knock those [roadblocks] down by just playing baseball.”
With the good blend of seasoned veterans and talented newcomers, this 2025-26 Wildcat baseball team looks to be an exciting to watch, and giving fans lots to look forward to.
