University of St. Thomas Athletics
MIAC Memories: Baseball had tough tests around the league
7/20/2021 11:56:00 AM | Baseball
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Editor's Note: This is another is a series of stories on St. Thomas' rich history of athletics competition in the MIAC. St. Thomas is closing out its Division III and MIAC chapters and will join four new conferences starting in fall 2021 as part of its transition into Division I athletics.
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St. Thomas Baseball -- MIAC Memories
Tommie MIAC Regular Season Championships (38):
1920, 1923, 1924, 1934, 1938, 1940, 1946, 1951, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1965, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021
Tommie MIAC Team Playoff Championships (10) (event started in 2000):
2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014
MIAC Coach of the Year (11):
Steve Schmid (1986)
Dennis Denning (1996, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008)
Chris Olean (2012, 2013, 2021)
MIAC Player of the Year Awards (7):
Joe Meyer (1986), Buzz Hannahan (1998), Jake Mauer (2001), Brett Olson (2005), Tayler Rahm (2011), Tim Kuzniar (2013), Tyler Peterson (2014)
MIAC Pitcher of the Year Awards (9):
Chris Olean (1999), Brian Krause (2005), Lonnie Robinson (2007), Matt Schuld (2010), Dylan Thomas (2012, 2013), Eric Veglahn (2016), Henry DeCaster (2017), Graham Laubscher (2021)
More Highlights
Since joining the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) in 1920, the Tommies have won a league-best 37 regular-season championships -- twice as many as the next school on the conference baseball title list.
The Toms have also captured 10 of the 21 MIAC tournament titles contested since the format began in 2000.
St. Thomas has reached the NCAA Regional playoffs 22 times, including 21 trips in the last 24 seasons.
The Tommies have won seven regional crowns and advanced to seven NCAA College World Series. They claimed the national title in 2001 and 2009; took second in 1999, 2000 and 2021; and placed third in 2012 and 2014.
Did You Know?
Coach Dennis Denning was the 2001 Division III National Coach of the Year. Denning coached his 1,000th game in his 30-year prep and college coaching career at St. Thomas in 2007 and retired in 2010. He was inducted into the Minnesota State High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2005 and College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011.
Chris Olean has taken three teams to the College World Series and twice has been named Midwest Region Coach of the Year. He's mentored seven pitchers who have received All-America honors, and his Tommie teams ranked among Division III's top 10 most seasons in ERA.
Two-time All-American Jake Mauer and was drafted in the 23rd round by the Minnesota Twins. Mauer retired in 2006 due to injuries after five pro seasons where he reached Class AA. He was a coach and manager in the Twins' minor-league organization until his 2017 retirement.
In each of the last 26 seasons, St. Thomas Baseball has an alum playing or coaching in professional baseball.
The Tommies have won 77 NCAA tournament games in 22 appearances, led by NCAA titles in 2001 and 2009, runner-up finishes in 1999, 2000 and 2021 and thirds in 2012 and 2014.
MIAC Parity
All 11 MIAC baseball programs have won at least one regular-season or playoff championship over the last 30 seasons. Seven different programs have competed in the NCAA playoffs in the last 12 seasons.
Three times in the last 12 seasons -- 2009, 2012 and 2021 -- St. Thomas had a top-three NCAA finish despite not winning the conference playoff crown.
Eight different MIAC programs have had an MIAC Player of the Year or Pitcher of the Year over the last 12 seasons.
They Said It:
"I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to compete and coach in the MIAC for the last 25 years. This is a high-quality league made up of great institutions, great coaches, and terrific student-athletes who truly value their academic and athletic experiences.
"We developed many great rivalries over that period of time, rivalries that were special because of the people. We've been fortunate to see so many terrific baseball coaches in this conference, coaches that play the game the right way and compete with class and respect. Understandably a certain level of intensity came along these rivalry matchups, but there was always a mutual respect for opponents in the MIAC. As likeminded schools with a likeminded purpose, it was a pleasure to leave it on the field against worthy opponents.
"One of the most gratifying things for me is seeing how far the conference has come in terms of competitiveness on the baseball field. There was a time when there were two or three teams regularly at the top of the league every year, and some teams had trouble competing with the top tier. Now from top to bottom the MIAC is deeper and stronger, and you have to earn every single win you get. "
"Our baseball program has enjoyed a great deal of success during its time in the MIAC, making multiple World Series and national championship games to go along with capturing a number of conference championships. Even with all of those accomplishments, I take special pride in seeing how our young men develop as players and people. To see these guys at alumni events years down the line, I'm so impressed by all that they have accomplished, and I'm proud to have been a part of their lives. Although this era of St Thomas baseball has come to a close, I'm excited for our next chapter and building new rivalries and traditions as we move into Division I and the Summit League in 2021-22."
Chris Olean, Tommie Baseball Head Coach and former player and assistant coach
