CHICAGO, Ill. -- As the 2026 season approaches, North Park Baseball prepares for another competitive year under head coach Luke Johnson, who enters his 21st season leading the Vikings. Johnson's tenure includes a CCIW championship as recently two seasons ago and the program's sixth consecutive appearance in the CCIW Tournament last spring.
All-Region Returners
North Park returns a strong core highlighted by several All-Region performers.
Junior catcher Reyn Matsuzaki enters 2026 following one of the most complete offensive seasons on the roster. He finished 2025 with a .350 batting average, collecting 55 hits in 157 at-bats, including 8 doubles and 9 home runs. His 42 RBI and .573 slugging percentage made him a central force in the Vikings' lineup as a sophomore and he was also a threat behind the plate, nabbing 17 would-be base stealers.
Senior outfielder Joe Perona returns after a pair of standout seasons, including a 2024 All-Region campaign in which he hit .351 with 60 hits, 8 doubles, 5 triples, and a swiped a program second-best 43 bases. He followed that performance with another strong year in 2025, batting .338 with 53 hits, 7 doubles, and 3 home runs while maintaining a .413 on-base percentage. The dynamic leadoff hitter enters his final season ranked 7th all-time at North Park with 73 stolen bases, needing 25 to become the all-time leader.
Senior infielder Rylan Kawakami adds further stability after hitting .309 last season with 47 hits, 7 doubles, and 2 home runs. Displaying a .397 on-base percentage, he consistently reached base and contributed 26 RBI and 16 runs scored. He enjoyed 14 multi-hit performances, swiped 17 bases and made 64 assists from second base.
Senior right hander Ethan Condit anchors the pitching staff and looks to return to his All-Region 2024 campaign. During that season, he made 19 appearances in late-inning, multi-inning roles, recording five wins, five saves, and a 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio with 36 strikeouts across 34.1 innings. Kast year, he enjoyed a nearly identical K-BB ratio, fanning 32 batters against 11 walks.
Key Returning Contributors
Several additional returners provide production and experience in key roles from the past season.
Sophomore outfielder Vinnie Marvucic impressed as a freshman with a .311 batting average, 38 hits, and a .414 on-base percentage. He became the first NPU freshman to earn a spot on the all-conference team since Gold Glove center fielder Jared Cantu earned the honors in 2017. His 5 doubles and 2 home runs contributed to a .402 slugging percentage, leading to Second Team All-CCIW honors.
Sophomore two-way player Taylor Joseph recorded 12 hits and 4 doubles in his first collegiate season, adding 5 RBI while posting a .292 on-base percentage. The physical right hander also is an emerging force on the mound, allowing only three hits in 27 batters faced last season.
Senior infielder Enzo Vertucci contributed 22 hits in 95 at-bats last season, including 2 home runs and 12 RBI. His 12 walks elevated his on-base percentage to .327, and he recorded 193 putouts with 11 assists at first base.
Sophomore infielder John Greenwood emerged as one of the most efficient offensive newcomers early in 2025, hitting .360 with 9 hits, including a pair of doubles, and a .440 slugging percentage. He was off to a very promising start in his freshman season before it was cut short due to injury..
Returning Arms
Jackson Nuese (SR/RHP) was one of North Park's most frequently used arms in 2025, making 11 appearances with 6 starts while logging 42.2 innings. He posted a 3-2 record and held opponents to a .241 batting average, one of the lowest marks on the staff. He fanned 38 batters and logged multiple outings of 5+ innings.
Senior right hander Samuel Jackson enters 2026 as an arm with starting experience and a history of effectiveness when healthy. Last season, he appeared in 11 games and made four starts to total 30 innings of work, punching out 32 batters. He struck out six batters in two different games and will certainly be leaned on to go deep into games for the Blue & Gold this season.
Senior right hander Zach Price contributed primarily in short relief opportunities, including a one-inning appearance late in the season in which he allowed two hits but no runs while issuing one walk. He surrendered 11 earned runs in 27 innings fo work, fanning 21 batters against 12 walks to record a pair of saves.
Sophomore left hander Peter Pipikios was another developing arm who logged middle-inning work last season. In one of those outings, he delivered 1.2 innings of relief, allowing two hits and two runs while striking out one.
Sophomore left hander Tommy Eck appeared in relief during the 2025 season, emerging as a go-to lefty for coaches Luke Johnson and Trent Abernathy. He carried a 1-1 record with a 2,89 ERA, striking out eight batters in nine innings of work.
The Vikings also welcome back five other arms that saw innings in 2025: Garon Maxon (5 APP, 8 K's), Jesus Garcia III (3 APP, 4 K's), Jake Nawrocki (2 APP, 3 K's), Parker Dailey (1 IP, 0 ER), and Brendan Crowley (1 APP, 0 ER).
Outlook for 2026
The Vikings were picked to finish fifth, earning 34 points in a bunched up 2026 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Preseason Coaches' Poll. North Central, the 2025 tournament champion, earned 62 points and six first-place votes as the preseason favorite while Illinois Wesleyan reeled in 57 points with a pair of first-place votes.
North Park opens its season this coming Friday, February 13, in Montgomery, Alabama against Huntingdon College. First pitch at Neal Posey Field is set for 3:30 PM CT.
