2023-24 Sandburg Baseball News

27 Chargers, 2 Sandburg teams named NJCAA All-Academic
27 Chargers, 2 Sandburg teams named NJCAA All-Academic

July 18, 2024

Two Chargers were named NJCAA All-Academic First Team for recording a perfect 4.0 GPA. Another nine received second-team honors (3.80-3.99 GPA), and 16 earned third-team honors (3.60-3.79 GPA).

67 Chargers earn Academic All-Region 4 for spring semester
67 Chargers earn Academic All-Region 4 for spring semester

July 15, 2024

Nineteen Chargers had a perfect 4.0 GPA, and each Sandburg team was represented within that group of student-athletes with an unblemished GPA.

61 Chargers get Academic All-Arrowhead Conference honors
61 Chargers get Academic All-Arrowhead Conference honors

June 25, 2024

Carl Sandburg College boasted 61 student-athletes who earned Academic All-Arrowhead Conference honors in the 2023-24 academic year. All 11 Chargers teams had at least one player named academic all-conference.

Chargers baseball outfielders Wiegand, Hankins earn All-Region 4 honors
Chargers baseball outfielders Wiegand, Hankins earn All-Region 4 honors

June 03, 2024

Freshman Austin Wiegand was voted to the All-Midwest District/Region 4 Division II Second Team, and sophomore Payton Hankins was named to the All-Midwest District/Region 4 Division II Rawlings Gold Glove Team.

Sandburg baseball alumnus Porter named new head coach
Sandburg baseball alumnus Porter named new head coach

May 21, 2024

Carl Sandburg College turned to a familiar face to be the new leader of its baseball program. Brandon Porter, a Sandburg baseball alumnus who went on to lead one of the most successful high school programs in the area for a decade, has been hired as the Chargers’ head coach.

Chase Mason, Austin Wiegand and Noah Wolf infographic
Sandburg baseball puts 3 on All-Arrowhead Conference team

May 14, 2024

Three of the Sandburg baseball team’s top hitters were voted by league coaches to the All-Arrowhead Conference team. Redshirt sophomore Chase Mason, sophomore Noah Wolf and freshman Austin Wiegand were selected to the team after helping the Chargers to a 10-9 record in conference play.

Chargers drop opening 2 contests at Region 4 sectional
Chargers drop opening 2 contests at Region 4 sectional

May 10, 2024

The Sandburg baseball team outhit its opponent in each of its games Friday in the Region 4 sectional, but the Chargers dropped both contests to end their season.

Frank Kelch (left) and Payton Hankins (right) were the guests on Episode 21 of the Sandburg Athletics Podcast.
Sandburg Athletics Podcast, Episode 21: Hank & Frank — Payton Hankins & Frank Kelch

May 08, 2024

On Episode 21 of the Sandburg Athletics Podcast, Chargers baseball sophomores Payton Hankins and Frank Kelch join us to talk about how home runs come in different-sized packages, their "Step Brothers" photo recreation and why Payton's family banned a pitch in Wii baseball.

Chargers drop 2 at No. 10 Blackhawks to close regular season
Chargers drop 2 at No. 10 Blackhawks to close regular season

May 07, 2024

The Sandburg baseball team finished one game and played another as the Chargers wrapped up their regular season Monday night at 10th-ranked Southeastern.

Sandburg baseball starts Region 4 sectional Friday at Rock Valley
Sandburg baseball starts Region 4 sectional Friday at Rock Valley

May 07, 2024

The Sandburg baseball team earned the sixth seed in the Region 4 Division II tournament and will play in the sectional round Friday and Saturday at Rock Valley.

Prince returns to lineup, but Chargers drop 9-inning contest to Cougars
Prince returns to lineup, but Chargers drop 9-inning contest to Cougars

May 02, 2024

Will Prince made an impact in his first game in more than three weeks, but the Sandburg baseball team dropped a nine-inning contest 9-3 at Illinois Central on Wednesday evening.

Wiegand deals on mound, delivers at plate in Chargers’ split with Black Hawk
Wiegand deals on mound, delivers at plate in Chargers’ split with Black Hawk

May 01, 2024

Austin Wiegand shined at the plate and on the mound in Game 1, and Frank Kelch homered in both contests as the Carl Sandburg College baseball team split an Arrowhead Conference doubleheader against Black Hawk on Tuesday at the Hungate Baseball/Softball Complex.

Chargers drop 2 to Braves despite Smith’s solid outing on mound
Chargers drop 2 to Braves despite Smith’s solid outing on mound

April 29, 2024

The Carl Sandburg College baseball team jumped to an early lead in Game 1 but dropped both ends of an Arrowhead Conference doubleheader at Black Hawk on Saturday as the teams began a four-game, home-and-home series.

Kelch’s go-ahead HR in extras, Wiegand’s gem send Chargers past Highland in Game 1
Kelch’s go-ahead HR in extras, Wiegand’s gem send Chargers past Highland in Game 1

April 25, 2024

The Carl Sandburg College baseball team pushed its Arrowhead Conference win streak to nine games with a dramatic extra-inning victory in Game 1 at Highland before falling to the Cougars in Game 2 of a conference doubleheader Thursday.

Wilkerson goes wild with 3-HR game in sweep of Illinois Valley
Wilkerson goes wild with 3-HR game in sweep of Illinois Valley

April 24, 2024

Jace Wilkerson went deep three times in Game 2 and the Carl Sandburg College baseball team pushed its Arrowhead Conference win streak to eight games with a doubleheader sweep Tuesday over Illinois Valley on Paint the Field Red Day at the Hungate Baseball/Softball Complex.

Chargers downed on road by No. 8 Hawks
Chargers downed on road by No. 8 Hawks

April 23, 2024

Eighth-ranked Heartland jumped to an early lead and defeated the Carl Sandburg College baseball team 14-1 in seven innings in a single contest Monday evening.