Hawks Open 2026 Season with Four-Game Set at St. Charles

Jair Diaz

Men's Baseball | 2/16/2026 6:18:00 AM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 | Box Score 4 Cottleville, MO: The Hawks baseball team kicked off its 2026 season on the road in Cottleville, Missouri, taking on NJCAA Division I opponent St. Charles Community College for a four-game weekend series. The two teams squared off in back-to-back doubleheaders, first on Friday, February 13, and again on Sunday, February 15, marking the Hawks' first action of the new campaign.

The matchup provided an early test for Harper against a St. Charles squad that finished 26-34-2 last season while playing in one of the country's toughest JUCO regions. For the Hawks, it was a chance to measure themselves against higher-division competition, build early-season chemistry, and set the tone for what's expected to be a highly competitive year.

Below is a full recap of each game from the Hawks' opening weekend in Missouri.

Game 1: Hawks Open Season with 6–4 Win
The Hawks opened their 2026 season with a well-rounded 6–4 victory over St. Charles Community College in Friday's first game. Harper came out strong in the top of the first, scoring twice after Alex Tabbert (Prospect High School) drew a walk and Connor Kave (Hersey High School) singled to center, each driving in a run. The Hawks added another run in the third after a Cougar error extended the inning, giving Harper a 3–1 lead.

St. Charles cut into the deficit with solo home runs in the fourth and fifth innings, but the Hawks' pitching and defense held firm the rest of the way. Starter Logan Sarna (Mukwonago High School) threw three innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out four. Griffin Kelly (Buffalo Grove High School) earned the win in relief, tossing four innings and giving up just two runs on two hits.

The Hawks were aggressive on the bases, swiping seven steals without being caught. Cooper Nelson (Fremd High School) led the offense, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Kave added two hits and two stolen bases. Harper played clean defense behind its pitching staff, committing no errors, with Nick Drtina (Nazareth Academy) recording nine putouts.

It was a strong all-around effort for the Hawks, who executed in key moments and showed their early-season composure in the win.

Game 2: Hawks Fall in Extra-Inning Battle, 9–8
In the nightcap, the Hawks and Cougars traded blows in a high-scoring matchup that ended with St. Charles walking off 9–8 in eight innings. Despite the loss, Harper showed resilience and offensive firepower, putting together a huge seven-run fifth inning to take a commanding lead before the Cougars rallied late.

Brayden Clancy (Lake Park High School) put the Hawks on the board early with an RBI double in the first. Harper broke through in the fifth, stringing together six hits to score seven runs, highlighted by a two-run single from Kelly. Collin Roche (Nazareth Academy) and Michael Mango (Lyons Township High School) also came through with timely hits during the rally.

St. Charles clawed back with three runs in the seventh to tie the game, then plated the winning run in the bottom of the eighth on a double by Goering. Harper finished with 10 hits, led by Clancy's 3-for-5 performance that included a double. Kelly and Roche each drove in two runs, while Mango added two hits. The Hawks stayed aggressive on the basepaths again, stealing five bases and turning a double play.

David Essien (Fremd High School) started for Harper, striking out five in 2.1 innings while giving up one earned run on one hit. Though the Hawks couldn't close out game two, their bats stayed hot and their competitive edge was clear throughout the doubleheader.

Game 3: Hawks Fall in 11-Inning Battle, 5–4
In the first game of Sunday's doubleheader, the Hawks dropped a tough 5–4 loss in 11 innings despite leading for most of the game. Harper struck first in the second inning when Aidan Nohava (Brother Rice) launched a solo home run to center field, his first of the season. Roche extended the lead with a two-run triple in the third, putting the Hawks up 3–0.

St. Charles chipped away with a two-run homer from Glency in the bottom half of the third and tied it in the seventh on a double and a wild pitch. Harper's pitching staff held strong into extras, but the Cougars eventually pushed across the winning run in the 11th.

Riley Blackwell (Hersey High School) started for the Hawks and was steady through four innings, allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts. Jonah Elvidge (Lincolnwood High School) took the loss in relief despite a solid three innings of work, striking out three. The Hawks finished with 10 hits, led by Roche (2-for-3, two RBIs), Mango, and Nelson, who each had two hits. Kave was active on the bases, stealing three of Harper's four bags. The defense was clean for a second straight game, committing no errors and turning a double play.

Game 4: Hawks Outslugged 12–9 in Finale
The final game of the weekend turned into an offensive shootout, but the Hawks came up short, falling 12–9 in another back-and-forth contest. Harper briefly took control early, highlighted by a two-run double from Kave and an RBI single from Matt Guza (Prospect High School) in the second inning to grab a 3–1 lead.

After trading blows through the next few frames, the Hawks surged ahead again in the third when Kelly doubled home two, followed by a triple from Kave and another RBI single from Guza to make it 7–4. St. Charles responded immediately with a four-run bottom half and reclaimed the lead. Clancy tied the game at eight in the fourth with a solo home run to right, but the Cougars capitalized on walks and a sacrifice fly later in the inning to take the lead for good.

Harper tallied 12 hits in the loss, led by Tabbert, who went 3-for-3, and Kave, who drove in three runs. Clancy and Guza each had multiple hits, while the Hawks turned another double play defensively. Jay Younan (Taft High School) started on the mound, allowing four runs in two innings before the bullpen took over.

Weekend Recap: Hawks Leave Missouri Battle-Tested
The Hawks wrapped up opening weekend in Missouri with a 1–3 record, splitting Friday's doubleheader and dropping two close games Sunday. Each contest showcased flashes of what this experienced Harper squad is capable of — strong starting pitching, aggressive baserunning, and timely hitting throughout the lineup.

Offensively, the Hawks combined for 40 hits over four games, averaging 10 per contest, while several newcomers made immediate impacts in their collegiate debuts. On the mound, the staff showed depth and command against a strong NJCAA Division I opponent in St. Charles.

Although the results didn't all go their way, the Hawks left Cottleville with valuable experience and plenty of confidence heading into the rest of their early-season schedule.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#26 Riley Blackwell: LHP; 6' 1"; Freshman; L / L

#31 Brayden Clancy: UTIL; 5' 8"; Sophomore; L / R

#3 Nick Drtina: RHP / 1B; 6' 3"; Sophomore; L / R

#43 Jonah Elvidge: RHP / UTIL; 5' 11"; Freshman; R/ R

#29 David Essien: RHP; 6' 3"; Sophomore; R / R

#6 Matt Guza: C / 1B; 6' 2"; Sophomore; R / R

#8 Connor Kave: CF; 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore; L / L

#19 Griffin Kelly: LHP / 1B; 5' 11"; Freshman; L / L

#2 Michael Mango: SS / 2B / 3B; 5' 10"; Sophomore; L / R

#9 Cooper Nelson: INF; 6' 0"; Freshman; R / R

Players Mentioned

#26 Riley Blackwell
: 6' 1"; Freshman; L / L
: LHP

#31 Brayden Clancy
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; L / R
: UTIL

#3 Nick Drtina
: 6' 3"; Sophomore; L / R
: RHP / 1B

#43 Jonah Elvidge
: 5' 11"; Freshman; R/ R
: RHP / UTIL

#29 David Essien
: 6' 3"; Sophomore; R / R
: RHP

#6 Matt Guza
: 6' 2"; Sophomore; R / R
: C / 1B

#8 Connor Kave
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore; L / L
: CF

#19 Griffin Kelly
: 5' 11"; Freshman; L / L
: LHP / 1B

#2 Michael Mango
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; L / R
: SS / 2B / 3B

#9 Cooper Nelson
: 6' 0"; Freshman; R / R
: INF