Baseball | 12/8/2025 2:50:00 PM

The Cloud County Community College baseball program had seven student-athletes sign early with NCAA Division I schools, the biggest early signing period ever in program history.

The seven players to sign this fall are: Simon Baker - Missouri State University; Evan Bogart - Wichita State University; Lucas Laukkanen - USC Upstate; Cole Linton - Tarleton State University; Joey Marino - USC Upstate; Cohen Nelson - University of Nebraska; and Stocton Timbrook - Kansas State University.

"We are so incredibly proud of these guys for earning these opportunities at the next level. This is the biggest early signing group we have ever had," head coach Eric Gilliland said. "Many of these guys played instrumental roles in our historic season last year. We look forward to them leading us on the field this spring and following their careers beyond Cloud County."

In 2025, Cloud County established a new program record for wins in a single season with 48, marking the team's third 40-plus win season in the last four years. The 2025 season also saw the T-Birds shatter multiple program records, including games played (65), at-bats (2021), hits (681), runs (603), singles (435), doubles (143), runs batted in (545), and highest-fielding percentage (.970). Cloud County also secured their fourth consecutive top-three finish in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference - West Division by going 25-7 in conference play and sweeping three of their four-game conference matchups.

Linton earned Pitcher of the Year and First-Team All-KJCCC West honors after posting a 7-2 record on the mound last season. Linton, originally from Goodland, Kansas, had a 4.28 ERA after throwing in a team-high 69.1 innings where he allowed 33 earned runs on 68 hits with 55 strikeouts while walking only six batters. Linton pitched three complete games and had six games with five or more strikeouts.

Nelson started six games and made 15 appearances in the Cloud County pitching rotation last season. Nelson, a native of Grand Island, Nebraska, had a 4-1 record with a 6.37 ERA. Nelson pitched in 29.2 innings, allowing 21 earned runs on 42 hits with 33 strikeouts.

Timbrook, an honorable mention All-KJCCC West selection, made 23 appearances and four starts for Cloud County in 2025, ending the year with a 5-2 record and a 5.13 ERA. Timbrook, from Abilene, Kansas, threw 40.1 innings, giving up 23 earned runs on 39 hits while striking out 42 batters.

Bogart, a native of Salina, Kansas, made 12 appearances including one start for Cloud County last season. Bogart had a 2-1 record with a 6.51 ERA after throwing 27.2 innings, allowing 20 earned runs on 34 hits with 33 strikeouts.

Marino, an honorable mention All-KJCCC West middle infielder, batted .373 on the year with 76 hits, 50 runs scored and 68 RBI. Marino, originally from British Columbia, Canada, had a .474 on-base percentage and was second on the team in doubles with 16 while adding one triple and eight home runs.

Laukkanen, another middle infielder from British Columbia, Canada, finished the 2025 season with a .317 batting average with 46 hits, 38 runs scored and 38 RBI. Laukkanen was second on the team with 10 home runs.

Baker, a transfer from Gonzaga University, did not play in 2025. Baker, a redshirt freshman, hails from Cochrane, Alberta and Cochrane High School, where he earned MVP honors at the 2023 T12 Tournament,  the largest futures showcase event in Canada. Baker has also earned spots on the Canada Junior National team, Team Alberta (four times), and earned a Silver Medal at the Canada Summer Games in 2022.

These seven players and the rest of the 2026 Cloud County baseball team will open their spring season on the road in Tyler, Texas on Friday, February 6, playing Tyler Junior College and Arkansas State University-Mountain Home.