Turning the page: Xavier baseball enters a new era
By Dominik Reimonenq
The start of the 2026-27 school year marks a new beginning for Xavier Athletics. The university’s sports teams are following cheer and cross country in transitioning from the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) to the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC). The move shifts competition from west of the Mississippi River to the Southeast, with conference members located in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. The transition comes after a stretch of dominance by nearly every sport on campus. For baseball, however, the change represents an opportunity for a fresh start.
“As a coach, I’ve learned that a down year doesn’t necessarily mean the following year can’t get turned around,” assistant coach Kent Evans said. “As long as everyone goes out there, stays locked in, competes every day, and gives it their all.”
Many are hopeful about what this shift will bring to the program. The transition introduces a new group of conference opponents and gives the team an opportunity to establish itself in a different competitive environment. After a challenging season, the change offers a chance to build on lessons learned, strengthen team chemistry and approach the upcoming season with renewed determination. For incoming players, the move also presents an opportunity to become part of a new chapter in Xavier baseball history.
“I’m excited to be a part of the program and to usher in this new era of Xavier baseball within the new conference,” said pitcher Mike Walker, a freshman computer engineering major from Hammond, Louisiana.
Xavier baseball mustered just eight wins last season despite facing what was described as the toughest schedule in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Moving into the new conference is viewed as a fresh start for the program, presenting an opportunity to turn the page and compete against a new group of regional opponents.
Returning players know firsthand the toll that grueling schedule took, but they also recognize the determination it fostered within the clubhouse.
“Going through what we faced last year tested every single guy on this roster, but it forced us to grow up fast,” said infielder Brad Sigler, a sophomore business management major from Plantation, Florida. “Now, stepping into the SSAC with a clean slate feels like a reward for all those tough battles. We know what it takes to compete at the highest level, and we’re ready to translate that experience into wins.”
That gritty mindset will be vital as the team takes the field at new venues across the Southeast. While competition in the SSAC remains fierce, the move offers a competitive reset. The team will also face a different travel landscape, with regional trips potentially allowing players to devote more time and energy to development and consistency.
“The conference switch gives our guys renewed energy, but at the end of the day, success isn’t given by a change of scenery. It’s earned through daily execution and trusting the process we’ve built together,” Evans said.
With a talented incoming freshman class eager to make an immediate impact, experienced returners ready to lead and a coaching staff charting a new course, Xavier baseball enters the season with an opportunity to redefine its trajectory. The program now has a chance to turn the challenges of last season into motivation and establish a new standard of success in the SSAC.
Xavier baseball opens its season Jan. 29 against Miles College at Wesley Barrow Stadium. The team’s first home game is scheduled for Feb. 16 against Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) at Skelly-Rupp Stadium.
“The SSAC is home to many of the most fearsome competitors in the NAIA. XULA fans can look forward to a challenging, yet exciting 2027 baseball season,” Sigler said.
