Baseball closes 2021 regular season with Senior Day cancelations
DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College baseball team was set to close out its 2021 regular season with Senior Day on Sunday, but the home doubleheader against Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference rival Bluffton University at Defiance High School was canceled due to cold, rainy weather.
DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College baseball team was set to close out its 2021 regular season with Senior Day on Sunday, but the home doubleheader against Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference rival Bluffton University at Defiance High School was canceled due to cold, rainy weather.
A total of 14 Defiance seniors were to be honored on Sunday in head coach Derek Woodley's 14th season with the Yellow Jackets. The senior players are listed below in numerical order.
Jersey number: 1
Parents: Nolita Niederhelmen (mom) and Tom Hines (dad)
Positions: Pitcher/outfielder
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Seasons in the baseball program: 4
Major: Integrated social studies with a minor in leadership studies
Future plans: To be a high school social studies teacher.
Jersey number: 4
Parents: Gayle Thomeier (mom) and Dan Thomeier (dad)
Position: Outfielder
Hometown: Wickliffe, Ohio
Seasons in the baseball program: 4
Major: Graduated on May 8 with bachelor's degrees in mathematics and sport management, and a minor in business administration
Future plans: To get his Master of Business Administration at DC.
Jersey number: 5
Parents: Amy Marcellino (mom) and Keith Kuzujanakis (dad)
Positions: Infielder
Hometown: Centerville, Ohio
Seasons in the baseball program: 2
Major: Graduated on May 8 with a bachelor's degree in business administration (marketing concentration)
Future plans: To be a part of a team that creates commercials for a company.
Jersey number: 6
Parents: Sheri Tomalak (mom) and Troy Tomalak (dad)
Positions: Pitcher/Infielder
Hometown: Tecumseh, Michigan
Seasons in the baseball program: 4
Major: Integrated social studies
Future plans: To be a high school history teacher and baseball coach.
Jersey number: 8
Parents: Denise Kaffenbarger (mom) and Paul Kaffenbarger (dad)
Positons: Infielder/Outfielder
Hometown: De Graff, Ohio
Seasons in the baseball program: 4
Major: Integrated social studies major with a minor in leadership studies
Future plans: To be a high school social studies teacher and coach.
Jersey number: 11
Parents: Annette Brazen (mom) and Jim Brazen (dad)
Position: Pitcher
Hometown: Oxford, Ohio
Seasons in the baseball program: 4
Major: Graduated in December 2020 with a bachelor's degree in integrated mathematics; now in Defiance's Master of Arts in Education program
Future plans: To be a high school math teacher and coach in Columbus, Ohio.
Jersey number: 15
Parents: Lori Good (mom) and Craig Good (dad)
Positions: Pitcher/Outfielder
Hometown: Napoleon, Ohio
Seasons in the baseball program: 2
Major: Graduated on May 8 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice
Future plans: To be a baseball coach.
Jersey number: 21
Parents: Marcy Kestner (mom) and Scott Kestner (dad)
Position: Outfielder
Hometown: Maineville, Ohio
Seasons in the baseball program: 4
Major: Graduated on May 8 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and minor in leadership studies
Future plans: To work in marketing or supply chain management.
Jersey number: 24
Parents: Kathy Johnson (mom) and Todd Johnson (dad)
Position: Catcher
Hometown: El Paso, Illinois
Seasons in the baseball program: 4
Major: Graduated on May 8 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science and minor in psychology (cum laude honors)
Future plans: To attend Concordia University Chicago for a master's degree in exercise science, and to be a strength and conditioning coach.
Jersey number: 25
Parents: Sandy Minner (mom) and Charles Minner (dad)
Position: Infielder
Hometown: London, Ohio
Seasons in the baseball program: 2
Major: Graduated on May 8 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science
Future plans: To do personal training and attend graduate school for physical therapy.
Jersey number: 26
Parents: Kristy Powell (mom) and Bill Powell (dad)
Position: Pitcher
Hometown: Commerce Township, Michigan
Seasons in the baseball program: 4
Major: Graduated on May 8 with a bachelor's degree in biology
Future plans: To work in a lab and get his MBA.
Jersey number: 30
Parents: Emily Reese (mom) and Kent Reese (dad)
Positions: Pitcher/Infielder
Hometown: Constantine, Michigan
Seasons in the baseball program: 4
Major: Graduated on May 8 with a bachelor's degree in sport management and minor in business administration (magna cum laude honors)
Future plans: To get his MBA at DC, and to be an athletic director and coach.
Jersey number: 34
Parents: Kari Bohlman (mom) and Jeff Bohlman (dad)
Position: Pitcher
Hometown: Centerville, Ohio
Seasons in the baseball program: 4
Major: Graduated in May 2020 with bachelor's degrees in business administration and sport management; graduated on May 8 with his MBA.
Future plans: To work for a marketing firm in his hometown.
Jersey number: 39
Parents: Jennifer Nies (mom) and Robert Nies (dad)
Position: Pitcher
Hometown: Logansport, Indiana
Seasons in the baseball program: 4
Major: Graduated on May 8 with a bachelor's degree in accounting and minor in chemistry
Future plans: To go to dental school or get his MBA at Defiance.
The Yellow Jackets finish the regular season with a 6-31 overall and conference record, and are the No. 10 seed in the upcoming HCAC Championship. First-round tournament play begins this weekend with best-of-three series at the higher seeds. DC's opening game at top-seed and conference champion Transylvania University is slated for 6 p.m. on Friday in Lexington, Kentucky.