While major league pitchers and catchers have yet to report for spring training, the Sandburg baseball team is set to start its spring season.
The Chargers — whose roster boasts 30 newcomers — open their 2026 campaign by facing Three Rivers in a weekend series on the turf at Arsenal BG Ballpark in Sauget. The teams played a nine-inning game at noon Saturday, followed by a doubleheader at noon Sunday.
Sandburg’s first home date is a doubleheader at noon March 7 against Milwaukee Area Tech.
The Chargers finished 14-33 last year in their first season under 2008 alumnus Brandon Porter, but Sandburg managed to put together a .500 mark (10-10) in Arrowhead Conference play with a roster that had just nine sophomores.
KEY RETURNERS
Colton Allen (Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg), sophomore C/1B
• All-Arrowhead Conference designated hitter as a freshman.
• Played in all 47 games last season, batting .360 with 26 RBIs.
Brady Veselack (El Paso, Ill./El Paso-Gridley), sophomore shortstop
• Played in 44 of 47 games as a freshman, hitting .296 with 11 doubles and 19 runs scored.
• Will play shortstop this season after seeing time at three positions in 2025.
Ethan Krei (Metamora, Ill./Metamora), sophomore LHP
• Top returning pitcher after throwing 39 innings as a freshman.
• Posted a 2-4 record and struck out 27 batters last season.
Damien Snell (Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg), redshirt freshman IF
• Redshirted last year because of injury but was one of the Chargers’ top players during the fall season.
NEWCOMERS TO KNOW
Clayton Cawley (Metamora, Ill./Metamora), sophomore RHP
• Transfer from Morton.
• Porter: “Clayton had a good fall for us, and I expect him to pitch big innings for us this spring.”
Chuck Hathaway (Mackinaw, Ill./Deer Creek-Mackinaw), freshman OF/RHP
• Batted .475 during the Chargers’ fall season.
• Porter: “He’s a big part of our lineup and will pitch some big innings out of the bullpen.”
Braley Burford (Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg), freshman 1B
• Porter: “Braley was one of our best hitters in the fall. We’re expecting him to bat in the middle of our lineup.”
WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS SEASON?
Porter: “Our goal is to get better every single day, and so far we’ve done that throughout the fall and in our spring practices. If we stay healthy, we should be able to compete for a conference title and in our region play. We’re a young team, but we do have the right pieces to compete.”
GAMES TO WATCH
• Feb 27-28 at North Arkansas
• March 22 vs. Rock Valley
• March 26 vs. No. 7 Southeastern
• April 4 at Black Hawk
• April 7 at Black Hawk
• April 20 at No. 4 Heartland
• April 28 vs. Elgin
HOW TO FOLLOW THE CHARGERS
• Get live updates on GameChanger. Search for “Carl Sandburg Chargers” to follow the team.
• Sign up for SportReporting to get free text and email notifications of Chargers game results.
• Follow @SandburgNJCAA on Twitter.
• Like @sandburgchargers on Facebook.
• Follow @sandburgchargers on Instagram.
***Courtesy of Sandburg College***
