As winter loosens its grip on the Midwest, the Rock Valley College baseball program is getting ready to turn the page to spring and open another competitive NJCAA season. With a blend of returning experience, fresh faces, and a demanding early schedule, the Golden Eagles are setting their sights on building momentum early and their annual spring break trip will play a major role in that mission.

Rock Valley will head south for an extended spring break trip that takes the team to Unon, MO; Memphis, TN; and Dyersburg, TN, where they will play 16 games over the course of the trip. The stretch will serve as both a season opening challenge and a crucial evaluation period as the coaching staff looks to define roles, test depth, and sharpen the team's identity."This trip is always a cornerstone of our season," Head Coach Herren Stated. "Playing that many games in a short window forces our guys to compete, adjust, and grow quickly. It's a great measuring stick for where we are."

Sophomore returning players Matt Thompson, Gavin Obremski, Jameson Johnson, Matthew Woodward, Dash Denton, Aiden Baerenklau will help lead the charge for the Golden Eagles this spring. Obremski and Johnson are returning 2^nd team All-Region 4 players. "Gavin is going to be our leader on the team. He's coming off a year with 12 home runs, and 17 doubles. We will need Gavin to remain at the top of his game. Jameson is also coming off a great year with 11 HR's, 13 doubles, and 50 RBI's.  He can play multiple positions which makes valuable to help the program succeed. 

The trip begins in Union, MO, where the Golden Eagles will kick off their schedule against quality early-season competition. From there, Rock Valley travels to Memphis, TN , a baseball rich environment that consistently provides fast-paced, high energy games. The journey wraps up in Dyersburg, TN, where the team will log a heavy portion of its games and settle into the rhythm of daily competition. "When you spend that much time together, you learn a lot about each other," said Chad Herren. "It brings everyone closer and sets the tone for the rest of the year."

RVC Home Games: Northeast Iowa Community College, Prairie State, Madison College, South Suburban College, Kishwaukee College, Waubonsee Community College, Black Hawk College-Moline, Kankakee Community, Illinois Valley, College of DuPage, College of Lake County.

RVC Away Games: Lake Land College, East Central College, Southwest Tennessee, Dyersburg State Community, Carl Sandburg, Morton College, MATC, Elgin Community, McHenry County, Oakton College, Madison College, Heartland Community, Bryant & Stratton, Harper College, John Wood Community, Sauk Valley Community.

Following the spring break swing, Rock Valley will return home battle-tested and better prepared for the grind of the NJCAA season. The Golden Eagles are eager to translate the experience gained on the road into success back in Illinois, where conference games and postseason aspirations await.

There is a great mix of returning talent with brand new fresh faces, the Golden Eagles are poised for a competitive season ahead. For complete RVC Baseball Schedule