Leavenworth, Kan.—The Spring is almost here, despite the impending snow fall this weekend, and the feeling of baseball season is palpable.

Entering his sixth season at the helm, head coach Bruce Peddie believes the University of Saint Mary Spires men's baseball program is as close as it has been to breaking through in one of the NAIA's toughest leagues. Built on competitiveness, commitment and a gritty approach, the Spires see this spring as their best opportunity yet to contend in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference and establish themselves as a consistent presence.

Peddie, who has modeled the Spires' structure and standards after his head coaching experiences at Division I programs such as the University of New Orleans and the University of Louisiana-Monroe, says the identity of the team feels firmly in place. The staff has "developed a program the right way," he said, and believes the current roster understands the time, energy and effort required to compete week in and week out in the KCAC, where there is truly no "off weekend." With no soft spots in the schedule, the expectation inside the clubhouse is to be one of the league's top eight teams and secure a berth in the KCAC tournament.

On the field, the Spires will lean on depth across the infield and a versatile mix of arms to stay in games and create pressure offensively as well as providing athleticism and defensive range in the gaps. On the mound, USM is tasked with stabilizing the pitching staff and controlling the game, giving themselves a chance to win on the bump.

Offensively, the Spires have re-calibrated their recruiting to better match their ballpark and conference demands. Peddie says the staff has implemented slightly more small ball and emphasized speed, but noting the group showed "a little more juice this year than we have in the past" during fall scrimmages against competitors such as Kansas City Kansas Community College, Rockhurst and William Jewell. With improved athleticism and situational execution, Saint Mary expects to manufacture runs while still having enough pop to change innings with extra-base hits.

The Spires will find out early how far they have come. Saint Mary opens at home Friday, February 6^th and Saturday, February 7^th at home in Leavenworth against Dordt before jumping quickly into a 10-game conference stretch that coaches describe as a "gauntlet." The Spires face Tabor College on the road February 14^th and 15^th, then host perennial KCAC powers Oklahoma Wesleyan University on February 20^th and 21^st and Kansas Wesleyan University on February 28^th, with a trip to Ottawa University mixed in, programs that are consistently in the conference and/or NAIA national tournament, the early run will reveal pretty quick what the Spire squad is about. For a group that now expects to be in the KCAC tournament conversation, that demanding February slate represents both a measuring stick and an opportunity to prove the Spires' evolving identity is ready to translate into results. To listen to Coach Bruce Peddie's entire 2026 KCAC Baseball Media Day interview, head over to Urban Edge Network.