The DII baseball season is winding down, as we will have the bracket for the tournament on May 11. After four months of consistently pounding the strike zone, let's take a look at some of the pitchers who shined brightest — and who could become legends of May.
Focusing our attention on starting pitchers, this is a list of people that have high strikeout numbers to go with low ERAs. Some are slugging at the plate as well as excelling on the mound, while most are finding their way into the division's statistical leaders in multiple categories.
DII BASEBALL 2025
📊&Բ;The previous Power 10
⚾️&Բ;Ashland baseball's John Schaly talks bats, balls, and his record-setting win
🔮&Բ;Wayne's way-too-early guesses on the eight for Cary
🏆&Բ;Tampa looks to set the record for most DII baseball championships
DII baseball's kings of the hill
Seton Hill's dynamic duo: Ian Korn and Jon McCullough
Ian Korn
The Griffins have one of the best pitching staffs in DII — and it is because they have a pair of aces that lead the weekend rotation. Korn, a 6-foot righty, is currently 9-1 with the best ERA in DII baseball (1.42), the second-best WHIP (0.84) and 66 strikeouts in 63.1 innings. He features a two-seam fastball that sits 90-93 mph, cutter, curve and changeup. He uses all four pitches to throw for strikes anywhere in the count, leaving him with many an out pitch.
"After an outstanding summer in the Prospect League, and almost two years post Tommy John, he's really developed confidence and has learned how to dominate both sides of the plate with his arsenal," head coach Marc Marizzaldi told me.
McCollough — a 6-foot-2 righty — has been a steady force in the Griffins rotation for four seasons, but this is his best year by far. Heading into the PSAC tournament, he has an 8-3 record with a 1.89 ERA and 0.96 WHIP, both of which are in the top 10 of DII baseball. He, too, has a four-pitch arsenal with a two-seam fastball, cutter, curve and changeup.
"Jon's changeup has really been his most effective pitch this year, to both righties and lefties," Marizzaldi said. "We joke that Jon is boring on the mound, because there's hardly every any traffic, and his games go so quick — he's a veteran that's pitched in some big games during his career, one that boasts over 200 innings, over 200 strikeouts and 22 wins."
Kolby Dougan, Pittsburg State
The Gorillas are having a big year, currently No. 2 in the Central Region. Dougan leading the way on the bump has been a big reason why. He flashed his strikeout potential at Kansas — striking out 114 in 91.2 innings from 2022-24 with the Jayhawks — and is now lighting up the MIAA. Dougan is currently 7-0 with a 2.03 ERA, the best WHIP in DII baseball at 0.77 and 102 strikeouts in 62 innings — his 14.81 strikeouts-per-nine lead DII.
"Kolby sits 89-92 with high spin rate that allows him to strike out guys with the fastball," head coach Bob Fornelli said. "He also has a 12-6 curve that allows him to be really effective and a change as his third pitch. Kolby is one of the most competitive players I've been around. He gives us a chance to win every time he pitches."
Maddox Long, Harding
Long is one of the breakthrough stars of 2025. The 6-foot-5 righty has always been solid — he was an All-American and the ABCA Central Region pitcher of the year last year — but his numbers this year are near the top of DII. He is currently 11-3 with a 1.66 ERA (fourth in DII), 110 strikeouts in 92.1 innings pitcher and a 1.01 WHIP. Per head coach Patrick McGaha, Long's slider is his best pitch. His command of it is exceptional, and he throws it with confidence anywhere in the count, generating swings and misses and mixes it very well off of his sinker and fastball. The slider sits 83-85 with sharp, late break.
"Maddox is a young man of high character and great work ethic," McGaha said. "The standard and expectations he sets for himself on a day-to-day basis because of those two attributes are rare to find in a player. He chases excellence in everything that he does while having fun and enjoying the game."
Keegan Batka, Davenport
The Central Michigan transfer is having an outstanding run through the GLIAC and helping Davenport potentially capture that No. 1 overall seed in the Midwest Region. A 6-foot-2 righty, Batka leads the Panthers with an 8-1 record, 2.18 ERA and 0.94 WHIP to go with 81 strikeouts in 74.1 innings pitched and a microscopic .196 batting average against. His fastball, which sits 92-94 but has been clocked at 97, is his bread and butter, with plus command of it. He also mixes it up with a slider, curve and changeup.
"Keegan is very efficient," Panthers head coach Kevin Tidey said. "He has good command of all his pitches so he is able to throw his pitches in any count. His ability to log strikeouts and have a low number of walks sets him apart. Teams have to earn everything they get against him because with his low number of walks he doesn’t give anyone anything."
Drake Fontenot, Delta State
Fontenot was recently names the Gulf South pitcher of the year, so that tells you why he made the list right off the bat. Long was a breakthrough star; Fontenot was a breakout star. In 2023 he had a 6.05 ERA followed by a 5.85 ERA last year. This season, Fontenot is 9-1 with a 1.96 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP and 78 strikeouts. Fontenot has three pitches, including a nice 12-6 breaker, but Statesmen head coach Rodney Batts feels Fontenot is so effective because he has two great pitches.
"His sinker has a lot of sink to it that induces a lot of ground balls," Batts said. "His slider is his strikeout pitch, but really a pitch he has a lot of confidence in and has the ability to throw anywhere in the count.
"His biggest attribute could be his competitive nature on the mound. He knows he does not throw 95 so he trusts his stuff and the work that he puts in in between starts."
Cole Calnon, Northwest Nazarene
Calnon is one of a few players that is getting it going both at the plate and on the mound. The starting shortstop has been stellar, hitting with a .304 average, .881 OPS and 16 extra base hits with 15 stolen bases. But the focus here is on his pitching, and he is one of a pair of undefeated starting pitchers for a Nighthawk team vying for the top seed in the West Region. Calnon is 9-0 with a 1.78 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 57 strikeouts. The 5-foot-10 righty edges out his pitching-mate Ernesto Lugo-Canchola (9-0, 2.27 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 80 Ks) on this list because he has eight complete games, tied for the most in all college baseball at any level.
Head coach Joe Schaefer raved about his slider, which has a lot of lateral movement.
"He tunnels it off the fastball really well and is a three-quarters slot guy," Schaefer said. "Typically, his fastball is about 84-86. He's a strike thrower who relies heavily on ground balls. He is as much of a competitor as anyone I have ever coached."
Ryan Humphreys, Westmont
The Westmont weekend starter has had a great season. What really stands out and gets him on this list is his April. He's made five starts, pitching 31 innings over that span and has allowed two earned runs while striking out 40. That lowered his season ERA to 2.46 behind a strong 1.04 WHIP and .181 batting average against. Head coach Paul Svagdis thinks his best pitch is a 90-91 fastball that has plus spin, which obviously adds to his strikeout totals. He also has a 12-6 curveball and changeup.
"Ryan has been a workhorse and competitor on the mound for the team this past season," Svagdis said. "I really enjoy watching him compete day in and day out for our club"
James Sill, Molloy
Sill is another two-way star making the list. The 6-foot-3 first baseman doesn't play every day he's not pitching, but he has posted an .801 OPS at the plate. Again, Sill is on this list because of his pitching, and he has been the best for a Lions team that is hoping to break through and come out of the East Region. He's 5-2 on the season with a 1.52 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 67 strikeouts in 59.1 innings pitched. Head coach Joe Fucarino called him a competitor on the mound and noted that his fastball was of plus quality to go with multiple secondary pitches. If Molloy wants to take down Southern New Hampshire to be the first East Region team in Cary in what seems an eternity, it will do it on the arm of Sill.
Louis Magers, Minnesota State
If there was a John Olerud Award (given to the best two-way player) for just DII, Magers would likely win in a landslide. The 6-foot-five right hander is hitting .318 with a 1.105 OPS to go with 12 doubles, 16 home runs, 65 RBI and 51 runs scored. That's enough to have him in the player-of-the-year conversation with how well the Mavericks have played... except his pitching has been just as important for Minnesota State. He had his one bad start of the year in April which skews his numbers a bit, but he is still 5-0 with a 2.54 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 34 strikeouts.
"Louis has a large frame — tall, broad-shouldered and durable-looking with room to fill," head coach Matt Magers said. "He generates a natural downhill plane with his fastball that goes 91-94 mph with late ride when he stays on top of it. The secondary pitches are useable and located in hitting counts. The curveball has an 11-5 break and changeup has good velocity separation giving him a three pitch mix that keeps hitters off balance.
"What makes Louis successful goes beyond the physical tools. His effectiveness comes from a combination of natural talent, a high compete level, and a strong awareness of hitter tendencies."
8 more that have had great years:
- Josh Dykhoff, Minnesota-Crookston. Another two-way star, Dykhoff hit .333 with a 1.059 OPS, 13 doubles, 13 home runs and a team-high 55 RBI to go with 10 stolen bases. He's also been the ace of the staff with a 3.27 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 79 strikeouts in 77 innings.
- Rijnaldo Euson, Francis Marion. The Patriots found themselves in the national rankings and No. 1 in the Conference Carolinas tournament. Euson certainly was a driving force, striking out 114 in 98.1 innings pitched.
- Dawson Montesa, Adelphi. The sophomore pitcher was sensational and could be one of the best in DII in 2026. He went 8-1 with a 1.99 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 105 strikeouts with just 24 walks over 72 innings.
- Evan Oakley, Kentucky Wesleyan. The junior righty may have been overlooked on the Panthers, but he shouldn't be. He went 8-3 with a 1.78 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 91 strikeouts in 75.2 innings.
- Ty Riley, Fort Hays State. Riley improved on his 2024 Tigers debut with a 9-1 record, 2.91 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 111 strikeouts in 89.2 innings pitched and a .185 batting average against.
