Kappelmann Inks With University of Arkansas at Little Rock

LIBERAL, Kan. – Seward County Community College sophomore right-handed pitcher Brooks Kappelmann signed with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock baseball program on Monday in a ceremony in the Hall of Saints on the campus of SCCC.

Kappelmann, a Liberal native, will take his talents to Little Rock after the completion of his sophomore year at SCCC. Little Rock, led by head coach Chris Curry, is an NCAA Division I university that competes in the Ohio Valley Conference. Last season they won the OVC Tournament advancing to the Baton Rouge Regional, hosted by LSU. They won postseason games over Rhode Island, No. 20 ranked Dallas Baptist and No. 1 ranked and eventual national champion LSU.

"The first phone call I had with the coaches, they seemed real and personable," said Kappelmann. "The pitching coach Evan Lee played in the majors three years ago so he knows how to get there and how to succeed in baseball. He showed us the trends of players improving under him so far this fall. Little Rock showed that they wanted me the most out of the other schools and it made it nice that I liked it anyways."

"Honestly it's pretty surreal," Kappelmann said. "My whole life it was my goal to play Division 1 baseball. I'm very thankful."

Kappelmann missed a chunk of his freshman season with injury but made nine starts for Seward, throwing 37.2 innings. He held a 4.54 ERA and struck out 47 compared to 15 walks. Kappelmann was named the KJCCC and NJCAA Player of the Week after tossing a seven-inning no-hitter with 14 strikeouts in a win over Otero.

"My arm is feeling a lot better. I'm very excited for the spring. Our team looks a lot better," Kappelmann said. "Coach Davidson (SCCC head coach Mike Davidson) and King (SCCC assistant coach Austin King) push us every day. They want us to be the greatest we can be. They have helped me a lot and I can't thank them enough."

"He's had a great fall and his velocity has bounced back," Coach Davidson said. "Brooks is a team-oriented guy and I appreciate that about him. He's worked hard on and off the field. He's come a long way from the bat boy we had here years ago. We wish him well and are glad he's on our team and don't have to face him."

Kappelmann suited up for Liberal High for four years at multiple positions. As a senior he averaged .465 at the plate with seven doubles, six triples, 23 RBI, 28 runs, and nine stolen bases to earn WAC Player of the Year and 1st Team All-State honors for the second straight year.

Former Saint RHP Cole Evans previously played for Little Rock from 2020-22 after being a second team All-KJCCC pick in 2018 as well as ranking sixth in program history for strikeouts.

Kappelmann and the Saints look to the spring as they open the 2026 season on Saturday, January 31st, in Lamar, Colo., for a game at Lamar CC.