By Ken Hansard
The Goddard Lions baseball team is a culture with a rich tradition. The Lions are a program that has grown accustomed to fielding teams that are capable year in and year out of challenging for both league titles and post-season honors. After a rebuilding year in 2025 that saw the Lions struggle a bit at times, Lincoln Jensen, senior pitcher and third baseman, and his teammates, have a golden opportunity to put Goddard back on people’s radars.
Jensen did his part to help the Lions’ attack last season, both from the mound and at the dish. While on the hill, Jensen recorded an remarkable 63 strikeouts over the 40 innings that he pitched. He was equally impressive at the plate, where he posted a batting average of .368, with 28 hits, including six doubles and two triples. He says of these accomplishments: “I was most proud of my pitching because I was pretty dominant at times, and I feel like most of the time that I was on the mound, I controlled the game well.”
Every baseball player, at some point, must understand that it is a game where being successful 30 percent of the time is solid output. That can be tough on a player’s mentality, but Lincoln has worked to overcome the ups and downs that are inevitable, “It’s tough when it’s difficult to find the strike zone when pitching or if you are in a hitting slump, but my mindset has changed a lot over the last year, and my confidence has risen.”
Now, Jensen wants to help instill some of that confidence in his teammates, and he is excited about a couple of opportunities on his horizon. “I’m looking forward to playing with my teammates one more time, but I’m especially excited about playing our senior night and also getting to play a game or two at Equity Bank Park.” As a senior, Jensen also recognizes his responsibility to pass on the Lions’ culture to his younger teammates, “I see myself as a leader and want to use that to help others gain confidence.”
After graduation, Lincoln plans to continue his studies and his athletic career at Hutchinson Community College.
