Battle Jacks Look Ahead to Northwoods League Opening Day

After a 32-40 Campaign Last Year, Battle Creek is Ready for the 2025 Season

 

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. – The Battle Jacks season from a year ago was an interesting one. In the first half of the Northwoods League season, Battle Creek stood at 19-17 on the year, good enough for second in the Great Lakes East division. Things quickly went downhill for the Jacks, with a 13-23 second half of the year, dropping the team to a fifth place finish in the division overall.

A new season brings a fresh start for Battle Creek, as new players and staff are set to debut and familiar faces return to the organization. The man at the helm for the Battle Jacks remains the same, with Ben Harley returning for his second year as manager for Battle Creek.

 

“Can’t wait for opening day,” Harley said. “We are very excited for the group of players coming to Battle Creek this summer and we feel we can compete for a Great Lakes East division title and chase a Northwoods League championship!”

The rest of the coaching staff will look different for the Battle Jacks this season, with Parker Kauffman stepping in as the assistant coach, Colby Knutzen the pitching coach and Daniel Bower rounding out the staff as the hitting coach for the 2025 season.

 

“I am also very excited about having Dan Bower, Colby Knutzen and Parker Kauffmann join our coaching staff this summer,” Harley said. “Coach Bower has been my right hand man at Centralia College the last 3 years and will make an impact right away with our hitters. Coach Knutzen played for me at Centralia College and now coaches at Bushnell University a very well respected program and Coach Kauffmann bring his experience from a great program at Delta State.”

The coaching staff will not be the only thing that will have a new look in Battle Creek, as the roster turns over to the year ahead. The Battle Jacks are a team with experience, with plenty of returners toeing the rubber and stepping into the box.

Returning players for the pitching staff are highlighted by Central Michigan University RHP Justin Morgan and New Mexico University RHP Jack Messmore. Morgan led the Northwoods League in saves as a member of the Battle Jacks in 2024, while Messmore threw over 16 innings a season ago with a 2.20 ERA.

 

“Last summer gave me a lot of confidence,” Morgan said. “It was my first time being a closer so I didn’t know what to expect. The biggest thing that helped me out was attacking hitters early in the count and not caring if they hit it because I knew my defense had my back.”

Other key returners who will be pitching for the Battle Jacks include Saint Peter’s University RHP Camdyn Martindale who started 9 games for the team last year, Carson Newman University RHP Eli Norris, appearing in 23 games a season ago and Northwood University LHP Connor Foley throwing 30 innings in the 2024 season.

 

“I’m really excited for this season,” Morgan said. “Can’t wait to play for my juco coaches Ben Harley and Dan Bower again. They want to win and they know how to recruit so I’m excited to see all the guys they’re bringing in for this summer.”

 

The Battle Jack bats will have some key returners as well, highlighted by Oakland University MIF Sam Griffith who drove 26 RBIs and got on base at a 0.329 clip. Another major contributor returning for Battle Creek will be GVSU IF Caleb Estrada, who hit 0.274 at the plate a season ago with 13 walks.

 

With the 2025 season coming up fast, new faces are looking to step into the spotlight for the Battle Jacks. Some key new players for Battle Creek on the mound will be Bushnell University LHP Austin Wolfe, who racked up over 50 strikeouts in 12 games started for Beacons, and Youngstown State RHP Tyler Heflin, one of the top rated freshman arms in the country.

 

The lineup will see plenty of new players as well, highlighted by Washington State University 1B Ryan Skjornsby, Grand Canyon University MIF Hunter “Scuba” Smolinski, Seattle University OF Sam Kane and Towson University C Brian Heckelman. 

 

Skjornsby brings a powerful bat to Battle Creek after racking up 10 XBHs in his most recent year as a Cougar and Heckelman led the Towson Tigers with 0.356 average this past season, with great defense behind the plate as well. Kane did it all for Seattle University, with 54 hits and 13 HRs this year, and Smolinski has tallied 4 RBIs with GCU so far, as these athletes will try to bring this same success to Battle Creek.

 

The Battle Creek Battle Jacks seem ready to begin the 2025 season, as we draw closer to the Northwoods League Opening Day. The Battle Jacks open up their season with four straight home games, with 2 games against the Lakeshore Chinooks to open the season May 26-27 and another 2 game series against the Kenosha Kingfish May 28-29.