Emily Orsini, Managing Editor
A 51-3 overall record. A 44-game winning streak entering the World Series. A national championship won in walk-off fashion. By nearly every measure, the Big Red baseball team had a season to remember in 2026.
Six players earned All-American honors, and coaches Mike Deegan and Ryne Romick received Coach of the Year recognition.
Among the standout performers was Jack Lutte ’27, who was named Region 7 Player of the Year by both D3baseball.com and ABCA/Rawlings, becoming the first Denison player to earn both honors since 2021.
“Jack is as good of a hitter as anyone in the country,” said Deegan. “I mean, he could play Division I, [at a] Power Four [school]. But you don’t see him carry himself that way.”
To Deegan, Lutte’s confidence on the field is what helps set him apart.
“[Lutte] is confident and has a presence about him in the batters box. Since he’s been a freshman, he is super comfortable in that space.”
Lutte was at the plate with runners on first and second with none out in the bottom of the 10th inning in the third game of the Championship Series at the College World Series against Endicott College. The coaches had a decision to make.
“That’s probably a bunt situation with nine out of 10 people,” said Deegan. “But we felt we had the best hitter in the country [up to bat] and we’re going to let him [swing away].”
“I was back to trying to swing to advance the runners,” said Lutte. “I knew I had to just stick to my approach, stick to what had given me success in the past and try to not let the moment get too big.”
Lutte proceeded to rip a hit off the right-field wall.
“[When I hit it], I knew I got it good,” he said. “Once I saw [the ball] hit off the wall, I knew that the game was probably over, and that we had done it. We had won – accomplished this goal we set out and that teams the past 13, 14 years have been chasing.”
The walk-off was a fitting finish to what had already been a career year for the catcher.
Lutte ended the season with a .436 batting average in 181 at bats. He walked 33 times, hit 13 home runs and had 70 RBI. This level of success wasn’t new for Lutte. In 2024 he batted .407 with 41 RBI and in 2025 he batted .409 with 61 hits and 37 RBI.
“Freshman year, I came in, and I had a really great fall [season]…I knew I was gonna be able to make an impact that year, but I didn’t really know if it was gonna be,” said Lutte. “But really was learning a lot from the seniors that brought me under their wing and taught me about what it meant to be a Denison baseball player.”
Over time, Lutte went from learning what it meant to be a Denison baseball player to becoming one of the players helping define that standard.
“[Lutte] kind of has stepped up into a feature role,” said Deegan. “The way he prepares…I don’t think there’s undue pressure on him.
I think he just goes about his business. It’s fun to see all of our players and how they evolve and mature over their 4 years and [Lutte] is no different with that.”
Now, Lutte is the veteran he once looked up to.
“It’s my senior year,” said Lutte. “I can kind of see the light at the end of the tunnel with my time at Denison. It’s a little bittersweet.”
“All of us, as seniors, are gonna do our best to serve others and pour into the guys, and try to make the most [of it]. Try to be back to back [national champions], of course, but try to make it the most memorable years we have left.”