Idaho Vandals Club Baseball Reaches Back-to-Back Regionals After Historic Turnaround
From Five Wins in Five Years to Back-to-Back Conference Champions
For most of its existence, the University of Idaho’s club baseball program was easy to overlook. Founded in 2019, the entirely student-run team spent its first five seasons grinding through the National Club Baseball Association (NCBA) with limited resources, no coaching staff, and very little to show in the win column. Through fall 2019 to spring 2024, the Vandals posted a combined record of just 5–37.
That era is now firmly in the rearview mirror.
Over the past two seasons, the Idaho Vandals club baseball program has undergone one of the more remarkable turnarounds in the NCBA, compiling a combined 24–14 record and earning back-to-back Rocky Mountain North Conference titles. This spring, the team entered the NCBA Division II regional tournament held May 1–3 in Providence, Utah, carrying a 12–5 overall record and a conference championship already in hand.
“It’s been a dream come true,” said Jake Nelson, the club’s president and manager. “My first two years with the club were brutal; we didn’t win many games. To go from that to where we are now, it’s something we’re really proud of.”
Last season’s regional appearance was the first in program history. Making it back in 2026 signals that what Idaho has built is not a fluke — it is a program on the rise.
Elite Offense and Road-Warrior Resilience Power the Vandals
Idaho’s success this spring has been fueled by one of the most productive offenses in the NCBA. In just 14 games, the Vandals have totaled 124 runs and 34 extra-base hits. Eight players have logged at least 20 at-bats, and four of those eight are hitting .429 or better. As a team, Idaho boasts a .474 on-base percentage — a figure rarely seen at any level of competitive baseball.
“We’ve been really strong at the plate,” Nelson said. “Top to bottom, everyone has contributed.”
The pitching staff has also improved, with added depth in both the starting rotation and bullpen allowing the team to remain competitive across full weekend series.
The Vandals clinched the Rocky Mountain North Conference title on April 12 following a decisive series win over Montana. After dropping Game 1 by a score of 12–10, Idaho responded with a 15–0 shutout in Game 2 and a 9–4 win in Game 3. Earlier in the spring, the team took two of three from Washington State before sweeping Eastern Washington in a three-game series.
Perhaps no game better illustrates the character of this year’s squad than a March contest against Eastern Washington. After jumping out to a large lead, the Vandals surrendered 15 runs in a single inning and found themselves trailing by six. Rather than collapse, Idaho rallied to win 24–23 in one of the wildest games of the NCBA season.
“That’s just who this team is,” Nelson said. “We’re never out of a game.”
Logistical challenges have also tested the program throughout the year. Limited field availability in Moscow meant the Vandals played just three home games all season — all of them in Pullman against Washington State. The remainder of the schedule was played entirely on the road.
“We’ve become road warriors,” Nelson said. “At this point, we’re used to it.”
Without an official coaching staff, team leaders handle everything themselves: organizing practices on the sprint turf outside the Kibbie Dome, scheduling games, coordinating travel, and managing the program’s finances. Funding comes largely from player dues, fundraising efforts, and sponsorships, with only partial support from the university.
“This is a really tight-knit group,” Nelson said. “Everyone holds each other accountable. We don’t have coaches, so it’s on us to make sure we’re doing things the right way.”
The program has also given back to the Moscow community, with players volunteering with youth baseball programs and participating in local facility improvement projects.
One of the most encouraging signs for the program’s future is the makeup of the roster, which is predominantly freshmen and sophomores — meaning the core of this championship-caliber group is only getting started. For a program that once struggled to find five wins across five full seasons, the Vandals’ trajectory looks as promising as any club program in the NCBA’s Rocky Mountain region.
For more on Idaho Vandals athletics, including football head coach Thomas Ford’s offseason plans ahead of the program’s spring game, visit our coverage at Head Coach Thomas Ford Talks Idaho’s Spring Game and Offseason Plans and Ford, Vandals Eye Growth and Execution Heading Into Spring Game.
What Comes Next
The Idaho Vandals club baseball team competed in the NCBA Division II regional tournament in Providence, Utah, May 1–3. Results from that tournament will determine whether the program advances further in national postseason play. With a young roster and back-to-back conference titles already secured, the Vandals appear positioned to remain a force in the Rocky Mountain North Conference for seasons to come. Updates on the regional tournament outcome and the program’s offseason plans are expected in the coming weeks.