Chicago, Ill. - Head baseball coach Ed Zeifert stood on the edge of the Keating Center back courts with a quiet confidence, watching his team move through warmups in their final practice before opening the 2026 season. Illinois Tech baseball's season opener is hours away now, and the energy around the program fells different—steady, focused, and rooted in something deeper than wins and losses.

"I'm excited about where we are," Zeifert said. "One of the things this team really had to do was reflect and decide who they wanted to be and what their standard was."

After a tough season in 2025, the Scarlet Hawks return with a renewed sense of purpose. Players recommitting to the culture Zeifert and his staff had built, welcoming a talented freshman class and a mid-year transfer who fit seamlessly into the locker room. The goal is not just to play baseball; it is to play it the right way—together.

"There's been a commitment to Illinois Tech, to Illinois Tech baseball, and to each other," he said. "They've committed to that standard and to the bigger purpose."

Building from Within

The Hawks' identity starts on the mound. Experience returns across the pitching staff with graduate student Jon Gori and Senior Cameron Bracewell, giving Zeifert confidence that last year's growing pains will turn into this year's strengths.
"Our pitching staff should be well improved from where it was last year," he said. "We had a lot of guys who got innings and went through some things they can build on."

The infield brings a mix of familiar faces and emerging talent. Even after the graduation of longtime anchor Mike Paxson, the group remains steady and dynamic. Jack Friar returns, while Matt Bovey enters the season playing the best baseball of his career. Young players are pushing for time, creating healthy competition from within.

In the outfield, the standard remains high with veteran leader Tyler Gutsfeld and newcomers eager to make an impact. "We've got guys out there who can really cover ground," Zeifert said. "And I'm excited to see what Ryan Fastiak can do as a freshman."

At the heart of it all is catcher Philip Bentz, who set the tone as a first-year player and now leads both by voice and example. "Sometimes we take Phil for granted," Zeifert said. "In a lot of years in this league, he would have been the freshman player of the year. He's got all the tools back there." Supporting him is a deep group that blends experience and promise. Jonah Wilkes brings a veteran presence in his fifth year, while Matt Riley and Tommy Kramer continue to push the standard in practice. The result is a unit capable of handling any moment—so long as the pitchers do their part. "It'll be a lot more fun if we're getting guys out from the mound," Zeifert said, smiling.

Simple Baseball, Shared Goals

For Zeifert, success isn't complicated. It comes down to discipline, toughness, and playing the game with clarity. "Are we tough enough to play baseball and only play baseball?" he said. "Not try to do the other things and not try to be heroes."

The roadmap is straightforward: play simple, fundamental baseball and let the results follow. In the short term, that means staying true to their standard through the season's first dozen games. "Can we support each other enough through some ups and downs to put ourselves in position to play very good baseball?" Zeifert said. "That's the focus before we even worry about the conference or win's and loses."

Long term, the aspirations are clear. "We'd like to see ourselves in the conference tournament," he said. "The goal every year is to win the thing and keep this group together as long as possible."

Family Beyond the Foul Lines

Ask Zeifert what matters most, and he'll point to the people around him. "Our assistant coaches work extremely hard and deserve a lot of credit for where we're at as a program," he said. He's equally grateful for the support from the athletics department, specifically athletic director Usha Gilmore, Athletic Department Coordinator Nathan Diambra, Athletic Trainer Mika Sanchez, and Athletic Development Coach Carissa Sain who "have our backs every moment of every day."

But the heart of Illinois Tech baseball, he said, extends beyond the dugout. "We work really hard to say that this is a family," Zeifert said. "If you're in our program for five minutes, you see that. Our parents are a tight-knit group, and the culture expands beyond our little bubble."

From grandparents in the stands to fans who travel hours to see a weekend series, the Scarlet Hawks' community is woven into every pitch and every inning. "We'd be in the tall grass without our families," Zeifert said. "I'm excited to get on the field for them as much as I am for us."

As the team opens its season, Zeifert's message remains steady—play simple, stay together, and trust the standard they've chosen. The scoreboard will take care of itself."