The Wartburg Knights baseball program represents Wartburg College in college baseball. The program started in 1958. The team competes in the NCAA Division III and a member of the American Rivers Conference (ARC). The team plays its home games at Harms Stadium at Hertel field in Waverly, Iowa.

History

The Wartburg Knights baseball team played its first season in 1958, with its first game coming against Iowa Wesleyan. The Knights reached the NAIA World Series in 1964. They hold the record for longest game played when they beat West Liberty State in a 16 inning game. The program rose to national relevance in the late 1990s, early 2000s when Joel Holst was hired in 1996. The program has won a conference leading 22 conference championships, the most recent coming 2017 when they won three straight IIAC titles.

Joel Holst era (1997-2022) Joel Holst was hired in 1995 and coached his first season at Wartburg in 1996. In his first season they finished with a .500 record at 20-20. Following that season the Knights would go on to win 12 straight conference regular season championships and appeared in the college world series on two occasions (2000, 2005). During the 2005 College World Series the Knights played in two games that set records; the first was the longest game in series history in terms of innings, when they defeated Rowan College in 16 innings 8–6 and then played in the shortest game in series history when they lost to SUNY Cortland 5–0 in 1 hour and 52 minutes. Joel Holst resigned from his head coaching position prior to the 2023 season. Following his resignation, Casey Chaplin was named interim head coach for the 2023 baseball season.

Casey Klunder era (2024-Present) Following the 2023 season, Casey Klunder, was tabbed as the fifth head coach in program history. He began his tenure at Wartburg with a 12–4 win over Grove City, with a 3–0 start to the year. In just his third season, Klunder returned the Knights back to the NCAA tournament after a nine year hiatus. They would go on to win 28 games which was also the most since their 2017 season.

Record by year This is a table of the Wartburg Knights record year-by-year.

American Rivers Conference tournaments Wartburg has made 31 appearances in the American Rivers Conference baseball tournament and 20 appearances in the tournament championship game; both of which is the most in tournament history. They appeared in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. They have an overall record of 71–43, with 11 championships, the last in 2026.

NCAA Regional appearances NCAA Regional Results+1997 NCAA DIII Central Regional in Carroll, IA Lost to Carthage, 2–3 Lost to Aurora, 11–221998 NCAA Oshkosh Regional hosted by Wisconsin-Oshkosh Lost to Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 0–7 Defeated Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 7–0 Lost to St. Thomas (MN), 8–161999 NCAA Geneva Regional hosted by Aurora Lost to Simpson, 4–6 Lost to Carthage, 4–142000 NCAA Bloomington Regional hosted by Illinois Wesleyan Defeated Aurora, 8–7 Defeated Westminster (MO), 8–0 Defeated Carthage, 8–5 Regional Championship2001 NCAA Bloomington Regional hosted by Illinois Wesleyan Lost to Hope, 1–2 Defeated Anderson (IN), 9–1 Defeated Wisconsin–Whitewater, 6–2 Defeated Illinois Wesleyan, 11–10(10 inn.) Lost to Illinois Wesleyan, 6–72002 NCAA DIII Monmouth Regional hosted by Monmouth (IL) Lost to Carthage, 2–3(10 inn.) Lost to Aurora, 2–102003 NCAA Clinton Regional hosted by Mississippi College Lost to Emory, 4–10 Defeated Millsaps, 13–12 Lost to Carthage, 2–52005 NCAA Bloomington Regional hosted by Illinois Wesleyan Defeated Washington University St. Louis, 4–2 Defeated Illinois Wesleyan, 1–0 Defeated Illinois Wesleyan, 11–5 Defeated Edgewood, 11–3 Regional Championship2008 NCAA Moline, Illinois Regional hosted by Augustana (IL) Lost to Augustana (IL), 5–6 Defeated Webster, 2–0 Lost to Linfield, 5–572009 NCAA Moline, Illinois Regional hosted by Augustana (IL) Lost to Millsaps, 3–5 Defeated Fontbonne, 4–2 Lost to Wisconsin–Whitewater, 3–82013 NCAA Moline, Illinois Regional hosted by Augustana (IL) Lost to Adrian, 4–5 Defeated Ripon, 10–0 Lost to Augustana (IL), 3–92015 NCAA Waterloo Regional hosted by Wartburg Lost to Anderson (IN), 3–4 Defeated Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 4–2 Lost to Carthage, 1–42016 NCAA Sauget Regional hosted by Webster Lost to Rose–Hulman, 2–7 Defeated Westminster (MO), 8–0 Lost to Washington University St. Louis, 1–52017 NCAA Sauget Regional hosted by Webster Defeated Webster, 3–0 Lost to North Central, 3–8 Defeated Washington University St. Louis, 1–0(13 inn.) Lost to Birmingham–Southern, 1–62026 NCAA Decatur Regional hosted by Millikin Lost to Baldwin Wallace, 3–9 Defeated Millikin, 2–1 Defeated Wisconsin–La Crosse, 7–6 Lost to Baldwin Wallace, 1–11

NAIA Area Tournament Results+1963 NAIA Area 4 Tournament in Kansas City, MO hosted by William Jewell Defeated William Jewell, 3–1 Defeated William Jewell, 3–2 1963 NAIA Area 4 District Final in Waverly, IA hosted by Wartburg Lost to Winona State, 0–4 Lost to Winona State, 1–21964 NAIA Area 4 Tournament in Waverly, IA hosted by Wartburg Defeated William Jewell, 5–2 Defeated St. Cloud, 5–1 Defeated Wisconsin State–River Falls, 4–0 District Championship

College World Series appearances NCAA DIII College World Series Results+2000 College World Series in Appleton, WI Defeated Southern Maine, 2–1 Lost to Allegheny, 2–3 Lost to Montclair, 2–7 6th Place2005 College World Series in Appleton, WI Lost to Chapman, 1–8 Defeated Trinity (CT), 4–1 Defeated Rowan, 8–6 Lost to SUNY-Cortland, 0–5 4th Place

NAIA College World Series Results+1964 NAIA World Series St. Joseph, Mo Defeated West Liberty State, 2–1 Lost to Grambling, 1–3 Defeated Mayville State, 9–0† † Mayville State's games were all ruled forfeits, with their opponents awarded 9–0 victories.

Professional Players Wartburg has had seven professional baseball players and four selections in the Major League Baseball draft since it began in 1965. Year Player Draft Round Team 1967 49 Minnesota Twins 1969 16 Chicago White Sox 1970 22 St. Louis Cardinals 2001 – Gulf Coast League Expos 2008 – Sioux Falls Canaries 2011 37 St. Louis Cardinals 2023 – Idaho Falls Chukars

Current coaching staff Head coach: Casey Klunder Hitting, infield, recruiting coordinator: Tyler Willis Pitching: Kyle Dupic Pitching: Matt Milewski Catching: Hunter Destival Outfield: Jared Pirkl Assistant Hitting Coach: Corey Carlson Strength and Conditioning: Ethan Hayes Athletic Trainer: Danny Drees

Head coaching history

As of the completion of 2026 season Tenure Coach Years Record Pct. 1958–1982 Earnest Oppermann 25 292–300 1983–1993 John Kurtt 11 192–210 1994–1995 Randy Moore 2 29–35 1996–2022 Joel Holst 27 761–407–4 2023 Casey Chaplin 1† 14–21 2024–present Casey Klunder 3 72–56 Totals 5 coaches 69 seasons 1300–1029–4 † Casey Chaplin served as the interim head coach for the 1 season following the departure of Joel Holst.

References

External links