By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
The St. Joseph Mustangs will feature a heavy dose of local talent, with 13 players from the St. Joseph area on the team this summer.
The Mustangs also will see four players return from the 2019 MINK League Championship squad as they seek a seventh title this summer at Phil Welch Stadium.
Some familiar names highlight the roster, including two former Lafayette baseball players, Ike Book and Cole Slibowski. The Mustangs also feature Jaren Guck from Bishop LeBlond and St. Joseph Central alum Dawson Smith, who enters his third season with the Mustangs.
There will also be five former Savannah baseball players - Braden Berry, Micah Diamond, Dakota Spicer, Chase Spoonmore, and Noah Bodenhousen.
East Buchanan’s Harper Beattie is also on the Mustangs' roster. Mid-Buchanan alum Brady Holden and former West Platte Blue Jay Mack Stephenson will both be return for the Mustangs.
Stephenson has already been named the starting pitcher for the Mustangs' season opener against the Des Moines Peak Prospects on June 2nd in St. Joseph. The Peak Prospects are the newest member of the MINK League.
To go along with a large local group, third-year manager Johnny Coy brings in a range of new players from Rhode Island to Japan.
“These players are all so excited to come to St. Joe and put on the Mustang uniform,” Coy said in a statement. “St. Joe has a great reputation all across the country as one of the best places to play summer collegiate baseball. I am excited to see what they can do on the field and try to bring another championship back to our city.”
Coy’s coaching staff will feature former Mustangs pitcher Preston Bailey as the pitching coach, Jeremy Franke as hitting coach, both having coached with the team in previous years. New to the coaching in 2021 is Wes Sanger, who will serve as the Assistant Bench Coach.
The full schedule can be viewed here. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 816.279.STJO
2021 St. Joseph Mustangs roster
Catchers
Reid Briney- Missouri Western State University
Jax Himell- Lamar CC
1st base
Sean O’Malley- Salve Regina
2nd base
Noah Bodenhousen- North Central Community College (Savannah)
Ryosuke Tada- Japan
Shortstop
Cole Slibowski- KCK (Lafayette)
Harper Beattie-Benedictine (East Buchanan)
3rd base
Chase Spoonmore- Iowa Western (Savannah)
Michael Paule- Jefferson College
Outfield
Brady Holden-Missouri Western (Mid-Buchanan)
Derrick Mayes-Southern University
Sam Kissane-Lindenwood University
Dakota Spicer- Truman State (Savannah)
Ike Book- Lincoln Trail (Lafayette)
Jake Grauberger-Johnson County CC
Pitchers
Dawson Smith- Emporia State LHP (St. Joseph Central)
Mack Stephenson- William Jewell RHP (West Platte)
Justin Wood- Missouri Western
Drake Kanallakan-Maryville University
Will Hann-Barton Community College
Jaren Guck-Truman State (Bishop LeBlond)
Danny Hammond- Creighton
Jacob Wierich- Missouri Western
Micah Diamond- Northeastern JC (Savannah)
Braden Berry- Iowa Western (Savannah)
Tyler Boyett- Southwestern
Jeremy Gutierrez- Salve Regina
Tanner Lukowski- Fort Hays State
Eli Tormes- KCK (Smithville)
Jay Greco-North Central Community College
Matt Fred- Texas Wesleyan University