With a record of 29-3, the Ironmen are a win away from tying the baseball program’s all-time season win record. The 1995 Iron went 30-2, establishing the program’s best nearly three decades ago.  

It’s been twenty years since the Iron last tallied 29 victories, hitting the benchmark in back-to-back seasons in 2003 and 2004 under former head coach Mr. Andy Turner. 

Mr. Ryan Short’s 2024 squad is two wins away from etching their names into Community’s record books, something they should have plenty of opportunities to do with three regular-season games remaining and their eyes on a deep postseason run.

The Big 12 Conference champs look to add to their accomplishments this season when they open up postseason play on Wednesday, May 22. 

The top-seeded Ironmen host the winner of Monday’s contest between the seven-seed Moline Maroons and 10-seed Pekin Dragons in the regional semifinals. 

The Ironmen’s record comes courtesy of the team’s pitching, Short said, as the staff has been “pretty close to lights out.” 

Community boasts a 1.57 team ERA, striking out 331 while allowing just 88 walks. 

Ethan Eberle has cemented his status as the Iron’s ace, allowing five runs over 32.2 innings and holding opponents to a .126 batting average.

The Louisville commit leads the team in strikeouts with 74, fanning over 57% of the batters he’s faced.  

The Iron’s depth, Short said, has allowed the team to be successful without relying too heavily on any one member of the rotation. 

Junior Jonah Roper has shown his ability to carve up opponents this season, striking out a team-second 61 batters in 32.1 innings. 

In 24.2 innings of work, Brady Bengston has surrendered 18 hits, holding batters to a .196 average.

Luke Klunke has allowed just two runs in over 27 innings of work, while Kalieb Hackman boasts a .778 ERA in 18 innings. 

The Iron’s depth, Short said, has allowed the team to be successful without relying too heavily on any one member of the rotation. 

“This year,” Short said, “I feel like we have guys who aren’t in our starting lineup every day that could start for a lot of other teams.”

That depth included Jake Branch, Parker Michels, Jack Richards and Kyle Beaty–players who’ve all thrown 10 or more innings this season. 

The four have surrendered a combined 21 runs this season over 55 innings. 

At the plate, Hackman and Ryan Theile have led Community. 

Hackman is hitting .424 with a .528 on-base percentage. The Augustana commit leads the team in home runs (3) and stolen bases (18), and is second in RBIs (27).

Theile leads the team with 29 RBIs, and his 31 hits are good for second on the team.

But there doesn’t seem to be a weak spot in the lineup. Anthony Gura, Owen Cavanaugh, Dexter Niekamp, Lucas Drengwitz, Riley Hendren and Kyle Beaty are all making significant contributions to the stat sheet. 

The lineup will have the opportunity to sweep the Big 12 when they host the 4-22 Danville Vikings.

The Iron are 17-0 this season against conference foes.

In the teams’ last matchup, Community run-ruled the Vikings 13-0. 

A previous version of this story inaccurately identified the Iron program record.