The 2026 college season will be here before you know it as the majority of our NCAA D2 squads will begin their seasons the last weekend of January.

In the past, we have looked ahead to the season with season previews, but this year we are changing it up a bit with a fall report that will also provide a look to the season ahead.

SSBR recently sent out questionnaires to each head coach of the small college (NCAA D2, NAIA, NCCAA) and JUCO schools in the state. We asked them to provide who their top returners, top newcomers, and top performers were in the fall. We’ve compiled that information into the fall report with an outlook for the upcoming 2026 season.

Today’s team: Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm

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Level: NCAA Division 2

Conference: Great American Conference

2025 Overall Record: 3-30

2025 GAC Record: 9-41 (12th)

Head Coach: Chris Moddelmog

Head Coaching Experience: 21 years (16 in College, 5 in High School, 1st at SNU)

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Top Returning Players

• Christian Garcia (RHP): Strike thrower that competes on mound; already shown improvement from 2025

Top Newcomers

• Braden Pingel, CF (Rend Lake College): Plus defender in CF; Looks to be a leader in the offense as well
• Garrett Payne, RHP (NOC Enid): Projects to be an anchor on the pitching staff; Competes on the mound

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Top Performers in Fall

• Christian Garcia (RHP): Senior; consistent
• Garrett Payne (RHP): Leader on the pitching staff
• Chris Gaudio (RHP): Newcomer that will provide veteran experience
• Jaxon Gless (C): Steady behind the plate; Improved from his 2025 campaign .296/.397/.463, 3 HR, 16 RBI
• Blake Brinkmeyer (3B): Lefty bat that provides veteran presence in the lineup; 2 years at SNU .274/.340/.373, 2 HR, 45 RBI

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Outlook

It’s no secret that times have been hard in Bethany the last few years. However, with new head coach, Chris Moddelmog, there is new excitement in the Crimson Storm program.

Moddlemog brings 21 years of head coaching experience at multiple levels. Along the way he has had successful teams at various places. He was named the Jayhawks East Coach of the Year while at Ft Scott CC, he led fellow GAC team Ouachita Baptist to a #2 national ranking, and at his last stint at Rend Lake College, he led them to the NJCAA Region Final last year.

The head coach also said how excited he was to see this team compete on the field in the Spring.

Moddlemog did say that his team will be looking for some depth in the pitching staff in 2026.

The Crimson Storm do return 3 of their top hitters from 2025 in Gless, Brinkmeyer, and Aiden McCullough.

If Braden Pingel (a JUCO transfer who played for Moddlemog at Rend Lake College) can be the leader at the top of the lineup, and a few more guys step up offensively and on the mound, don’t be surprised to see the Crimson Storm improve on their win totals from 2025.

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