Photo courtesy of the Murray County Wheel-Herald: The 2026 Murray County Central baseball team consists of (front row, left to right) Jackson Kline, Levi Kopperud, Carter Hanson, Alex Heard, Dane Hanson, Finn Schneider, Jackson Clarke, (back row, left to right) Tristan Behrends, Teague Meyer, Noah Frisk, Krew Schneider, Danny Larson, Cayden Veldhuisen, Dugan Kluis, Gabe Tentinger and Carson Lewis.

SLAYTON — The Murray County Central baseball team is playing with a chip on its shoulder and is off to a flying and undefeated start to the 2026 season, as the Rebels look to make a deep playoff run behind a large group of experienced returners.

Off to a 9-0 start this season, remaining as the Independent area’s last undefeated team, the Rebels have made a statement early on. Three of their early wins have been won by mercy rule, along with six shutouts.

Behind MCC’s successful start is returning nearly the same roster from last year, including a handful of talent offensively, defensively and on the mound.

MCC had a successful season last year, going 16-3 overall. But the Rebels are ultimately looking to avenge their early exit from last season’s section tournament. They came up short to Minneota 9-8 in extra innings in the elimination bracket, after first falling in the South subsection championship 7-5 to Yellow Medicine East, who went on to become section runners-up.

A big key piece for the Rebels is the return of Krew Schneider, both as a pitcher and at the plate. Schneider could not pitch the entirety of last season due to rehabbing from labrum surgery, but is back this year and off to a commendable comeback.

“They’re [our expectations] are definitely high. We had a good season last year … We have a little bonus [this season]. Krew Schneider was unable to pitch or play in the field last year, but we got him back healthy now,” head coach Paul Counter said. “We are off to a very good start, and we are just looking to continue to improve every day.”

Through MCC’s first nine games this season, Schneider has seen the most time on the mound with 24 innings and has thrown 30 strikeouts while allowing just five hits and holding onto an impressive .000 ERA.

Schneider is also one of the Rebels’ leading hitters. He has recorded a team-high 16 hits through the first nine games, four home runs, and 17 RBIs with a .516 batting average.

“He [Schneider] has honestly been better than ever. He has been a big plus for us,” Counter said.

Despite his injury taking him off the mound last season, Schneider was still able to bat and played a big role. He finished with 26 hits, a team-high 29 RBIs with one homer and a .491 average.

MCC is loaded with talent, and other big returners for the team this year include Teague Meyer, Dugan Kluis, Cayden Veldhuisen, Gabe Tentinger, Tristan Behrends, Carson Lewis and Carter Hanson — All of whom played pivotal roles in last season’s success as well.

Meyer and Kluis are also big assets to MCC on the pitching and batting fronts. Both have 26 strikeouts on the year so far, between 15 and 14 innings, respectively, and are also holding off opponents successfully. Meyer is holding near a .467 ERA to start, while Kluis also has a .000 ERA to begin.

“They [the pitchers] have been off to great starts on the mound. After those three [Schneider, Meyer and Kluis], we look to Tristan Behrends and Cayden Veldhuisen,” Counter said.

Kluis also serves as the team’s primary catcher, with Danny Larson also stepping in occasionally behind the plate.

Meyer had a big year and led MCC last season offensively with 40 hits, two homers, 33 runs, 16 stolen bases and a .580 batting average, along with 15 RBIs. Kluis also had 21 hits, 17 RBIs and 19 runs with a .412 average.

Tentinger and Veldhuisen also had 22 and 20 hits last season, respectively, and put up big numbers across the board as they look to do the same this year again.

In the Rebels’ start this season offensively, in addition to Schneider, Behrends, Lewis, Kluis, Meyer and Veldhuisen have all had success connecting at the plate, adding to MCC’s versatile depth.

“Our hitting has been up and down [this season], but it always seems to be that way at the start,” Counter said. “Hopefully, as we get deeper into the season here, we can get a few more guys going.”

MCC also plays with an aggressive baserunning strategy, already tallying 33 stolen bases collectively through the first nine games. Veldhuisen and Noah Frisk have been perfect at stolen base attempts to begin, while Meyer and Tentinger follow with strong running as well.

Meyer, Veldhuisen and Tentinger are also accounting for the most runs, each with 10 or more to start the season.

MCC graduated Dylan Kluis last season, who played a big role offensively and was the team’s leading pitcher. But, with the amount of returning talent and depth, the Rebels have been able to successfully pick right back up where they left off as they ultimately look to keep building off their current momentum in preparation for the postseason.

With Counter noting goals this season of remaining competitive and looking to win the conference and the section, a section championship would give MCC a state tournament berth for the first time since 2001.

The Rebels are also looking to go as far as they can this season with their talent, as this year’s senior class includes Tentinger, Hanson, Veldhuisen and Meyer. Counter noted that the team heavily looks up to its senior leadership. Schneider, Behrends and Lewis are in their junior-year campaigns.

“We just need to stay hungry, and not [stay] satisfied where we are now. From the previous couple of years … We [know] we just have to stay hungry to get better, and to be ready for anything,” Counter said. “Our first goal is to win our conference, that’s number one. We would like to host in the sections, and then obviously compete for the section title.”