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: Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers

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Level: NCAA Division 2

Conference: Great American Conference

2025 Overall Record: 30-22

2025 GAC Record: 17-16 (7th)

Head Coach: Ryan Bowen

Head Coaching Experience: 9 years (all at NWOSU)

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Top Returning Players

• Chase Gordon (Jr), C: Returning starter; .339/.454/.522 in 2025
• Will Kates (Sr), RHP: All GAC 1st Team and All Central Region Team in 2025; 13 starts with a 6-3 ERA and 2.42 ERA
• Logan Sandoval (So), RHP: 2025 GAC Freshman of the Year; 4-3, 4.86 ERA in 2025
• Kaden Spray (Jr), LHP: Starter and reliever in 2025; 38 IP, 3-0, 4.70 ERA
• Kyle Holzer (Sr), RHP: Key reliever in 2025; Projected for a more pivotal role in 2025
• Elias Herrera (Sr), RHP: 41 IP in 2025 (most out of bullpen), 3-1, 5.44 ERA

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Top Newcomers

• Matthew Bailey, C/INF (Lower Columbia CC): NWAC West Region 2nd Team Catcher
• Blake Mattern, OF (Lower Columbia CC): NWAC West Region 2nd Team
• Ryan McClasky, RHP (Lower Columbia CC): NWAC West Region 2nd Team Reliever
• Trey Barkman, RHP (Ohio University): Over 20 IP out of bullpen in 2025
• DJ Barrett, OF (Chandler-Gilbert CC): Strong, athletic with power potential
• Cole Barton, 3B (Rose State College): Back to back All Region 2 Gold Glove winner
• Aex Dabrowski, OF (Cochise JC): 2nd Team All Conference and All Region
• Alex Figueroa, RHP (Utah Valley University): Led Cochise JC in appearances in 2024
• Amari Goodfellow, OF (Tacoma CC): NWAC West Region 2nd Team
• Jailon Goodfellow, OF (Tacoma CC): Versatile, athletic, potential power
• Trey Gray, INF (SW Oregon): Hit .315 with 9 SB in 2025
• Tyler Hogan, INF (Edmonds CC): Middle of lineup hitter at Edmonds
• Levi Joyce, INF (Edmonds CC): Athletic, utility infielder
• Nathan Nunez, RHP (Rose State College): 20+ IP in 2025; can pitch multiple roles
• Alex Stewart, RHP (Ellsworth CC): Bullpen arm
• Dominic Wade, RHP (Ellsworth CC): Bullpen arm

Top Performers in Fall

*Coach elected to not name top performers in the Fall

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Outlook

NWOSU has made the GAC Tournament 3 out of the last 5 seasons including the last 2 seasons in a row. The Rangers look to get back there in 2026 with an even higher finish in the regular season.

The bulk of the returners for the Rangers in 2026 are on the mound. They are led by senior, Will Kates from Newcastle HS who was a All GAC 1st Team and All Central Region performer in 2025. Kates led the GAC in batting average against, 2nd in ERA, and 5th in innings pitched. Joining him in the rotation with be the GAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year, Logan Sandoval.

Like many teams we’ve covered, NWOSU will have several new players in the lineup. Head coach, Ryan Bowen says it is a “talented group,” and they have “a lot to prove.”

Bowen also said the “Fall was challenging as (they) were all getting to know each other, but (he) likes the way things have gone. It is a very hard working group that is determined to help our program keep climbing and knocking down doors.”

If the Rangers can gel on offense, with their returning experience on the mound, we expect the team in Alva to do just that.

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