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: Redlands CC Cougars
Level: NJCAA Division 2
Region: Region 2
2025 Overall Record: 50-9
2025 Region Record: 18-6 (1st in Div)
Head Coach: Jonathan Monk
Head Coaching Experience: 1st year overall
Top Returning Players
- Bodee Mausser, 1B/OF: 2025: G 37, .407/.4767/.722, 6 HR, 39 RBI
- Preston Gajewski, INF: G 21, .387/.472/.516
- Robert Evans, C: 2025: G 26, .351/.479/.596, 2 HR, 19 RBI
- Collin Berry, LHP: 2025: G 6, 1-0, 1.04 ERA, 8.2 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 6 K
- Cade Dickinson, RHP: 2025: DNP
- Jakeb Koop, RHP
Coach Monk says these are all “guys that continue to grow in their program. They bring our program together daily. (They) are leaders that love to compete in everything they do. They’re going to set a tone for our program.”
Top Newcomers
- Austin Wylie, RHP (Timber Creek HS, TX)
- Brady Broeckel, RHP (Celina HS, TX)
- Tres Lorah, RHP (Elgin HS)
- Kolson Edge, RHP (Boswell HS)
Coach Monk says, “(These) are guys that work fast and attack the strike zone. (They) are fun to watch on the mound. (They) have had success in their careers to this point and continue to climb the mountain daily. I’m excited to see them compete in college baseball.”
- Jacob Gallegos, INF (Lewisville, TX): Quiet approach in the box; Can seem “boring” and that is ok; Plays hard
- Caden Orr, RHP (New Mexico JC): Hungry; Has played at a high level at every stop; Knows what winning is supposed to look like
- Aidan LeMasters, INF (Ouachita Baptist): Improved in the Fall; Looking to make an impact
Top Performers in Fall
- N/A
Outlook
The Mavericks will have a new man at the helm this year as former coach, Michael Keeran left Tonkawa after 2 years to take the Missouri Western (NCAA D2) job in June. Tonk won 92 games in the 2 seasons under Keeran so the new man will have to fill some big shoes.
Fortunately for the Mavs, they didn’t have to look far as they turned to Jonathan Monk who was on Keeran’s staff the last 2 seasons. It should be a pretty smooth transition as Monk is already familiar with the program and knows what it takes to win in Tonkawa.
As far as 2026, the Mavs look, once again, to be really good. They have a group of returners that did extremely well when they got the chance to play and they are eager to show what they can do. Couple that with some of the better players from the region joining the program and other with high level experience, you have a formula for a winning season.
Coach Monk does not shy away from saying their goal is to end the season playing in Enid in the National Tournament. He is “excited to see his team compete. It is a competitive league with really good teams across the board. That is what excites our program – having the opportunity to play great competition.”
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