After a trying 3-46 campaign, Saint Martin’s baseball welcomes a championship-caliber head coach and a bolstered roster to turn the page in 2026. Jacob Garsez, who arrives with a 291-185-1 career record as a collegiate head coach, multiple conference titles (including four at Antelope Valley and the 2023 Cascade Conference regular-season title at Oregon Tech), and the 2023 Cascade Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year honor, takes over the Saints program looking to instill a winning culture right away.
Coaching Staff
New assistants include Ben Harley (pitching coach), who spent five years as head coach at Centralia College, leading the Blazers to a program-record 30 wins in 2024. Ryan Linden (Oregon Tech/AVC alum) returns after assisting at Oregon Tech (2024-25) where he helped set school win records and coached Academic All-Americans, plus prior stops at Antelope Valley and Wilson High School. Trent Verlin joins after serving as lead assistant at Menlo College, with prior roles at Bowling Green State (helped to 38 wins) and Penn State Harrisburg (hitting coach, program-record 33 wins). Taylor Boster returns for the Saints for his seventh season with the program.
Key Offensive Departures
Leading hitters Hunter Sasaki (.324, 42 G) and Alex Hartnett (.317, 6 HR) graduate, along with outfielders Damon Ingram (.326, 14 G), Collin Bell (.197, 3 HR), infielder Michael Grubb (.100), and catcher AJ Killion (.125, 20 G). These losses account for over 150 hits and the team’s primary power production from 2025.
Returning Hitters & Offensive Transfers
Position players returning:
- Evan Nicol, 1B (Jr.) – 46 G/41 GS, .322 (10 2B, 2 HR, 18 RBI).
- Kyle Schabot, UTL (Sr.) – 48 G/47 GS, .310 (49 H, 21 RBI).
- Peter Hollabaugh, INF (Jr.) – 47 G/47 GS, .267 (14 2B, 4 HR, 29 RBI).
- Rylen Miyasaki, INF (Jr.) – 45 G/43 GS, .261 (12 2B, 1 HR).
Incoming transfers: Carson Dunn (Jr., OF – .313 BA, 15 SB at Umpqua CC), Jackson Upton (Jr., C – Yakima Valley College), Noah Albanese (Jr., OF – Edmonds CC), Brenden Haverlock (Jr., OF – Everett CC), Julius Guanio (Jr., OF – College of the Siskiyous).
Pitching Departures
Seniors Aaron Nease (12 App/4 GS, 19.1 IP) and Isaiah Mayfield-Prieto (11 App/7 GS, 29.1 IP) provided flexibility for the Saints in 2025, combining for 50.2 innings across 23 appearances.
Returning Pitchers & Additions
Pitching staff remains largely intact:
- Blaze Wong, RHP (Sr.) – 14 App/9 GS, 56 IP, 39 K
- Nikki Scott II, RHP (Sr.) – 13 App/3 GS, 37.1 IP, 28 K
- Bryson Nakamoto, RHP (Jr.) – 15 App/2 GS, 36.1 IP
- Jake Schumacher, LHP (R-SO) – 13 App/9 GS, 39 IP
Pitching transfers: Hudson Normand (So., RHP – Centralia College), Aidan Bray (Jr., LHP – Corban).
2026 Schedule Highlights
The Saints open with a three-game series at Vanguard University (Jan. 30-31) in Costa Mesa, CA, followed by a Hawaii swing facing Chaminade and Hawaii Pacific (Feb. 6-8). First home dates come February 21-22 vs. Whitworth (doubleheaders both days) at Saints Field in Lacey. GNAC play begins March 6 at Montana State Billings, with key home series vs. Northwest Nazarene (March 13-14), Central Washington (March 20-21), and Western Oregon (April 30-May 1).
