Coffeyville, Kan. - Coffeyville Community College Red Raven baseball opens the 2026 season this weekend, and key sophomore returners are hoping to guide the team back to postseason success.

Red Raven baseball experienced one of the strongest seasons in program history last year, winning 35 games, including a home playoff series against rival Butler, before falling in the Region semifinals. The team will be looking to replace the production of numerous departing sophomores, but do have a number of key returners that will be leading the charge this year.

Webb Fern is a Pittsburg native who appeared in 12 games last season, reaching base in four of his ten plate appearances. He says the returning group learned a lot about the program and the standards it is held to.

Sophomore outfielder Colton Ruedy returns more experience than nearly anyone on the offensive side of the ball, picking up 40 hits and 32 runs batted in across 41 games, including a walk-off single to beat Johnson County and clinch a home playoff series. Ruedy says this year's team has shown good signs early of making another run.

Pitcher Omar Ruiz will be tasked with being one of the leaders of the pitching staff, which lost the top two starters and closer from last year's team. He says the incoming class has impressed early, and this team has a high ceiling.

Red Raven baseball opens their season at Walter Johnson Park tomorrow afternoon when they host Southwestern Community College.