Courtesy photo of the sophomores on the Alpena Community College baseball team.

ALPENA — The Alpena Community College baseball program continued its upward climb this spring, reaching new milestones both on the field and in the classroom, the college said in a press release.

The Lumberjacks finished the 2026 season with 12 conference wins, the most in program history, another significant step forward for a program that was rebuilt from the ground up just four years ago.

ACC’s mission extends well beyond wins and losses, focusing on preparing student-athletes for success both during and after their time in Alpena. This spring, 11 members of the program graduated from ACC, a reflection of the program’s continued commitment to academic achievement and personal development.

For many players, the next step includes continuing their baseball and academic careers at four-year institutions. Seven student-athletes from this year’s roster have committed to continue both their education and baseball careers at four-year programs, the most in a single season in program history.

Those student-athletes include:

– Marcus Castellon – University of Tennessee Southern

– Lane Gross – Earlham College

– Max McCarty – University of Pikeville

– Jacob Brohl – Lawrence Technological University

– AJ Wheelock – Viterbo University

– Aiden Bishop – Russell Sage College

– JJ Salas – Grace Christian University

With this year’s commitments,15 former ACC baseball players have now advanced to four-year programs since the program’s return.

Not every player’s path looks the same, and that is something the program takes equal pride in. Several graduating student-athletes will now transition directly into the workforce after earning their degrees, another important measure of success for the program.

“Success in our program is not defined by one path,” said Head Coach Rob Enslen. “Whether a player moves on to a four-year school, enters the workforce, or pursues another opportunity, our goal is to help prepare them for what comes next. We are proud of the progress this group made both on and off the field.”

In just four seasons, ACC baseball has grown from a startup program into a competitive and respected program within the MCCAA, built on player development, accountability, and creating opportunities for student-athletes.

With 12 returning players, an incoming class of 18, and momentum at an all-time high, ACC baseball is positioned to continue its upward climb heading into the 2026-27 season.