Spartans Open Season March 4 Against Genesee CC

A deep roster of returning sophomores and a talented collection of newcomers have Cayuga Community College Baseball hoping to take the next step in the postseason in 2025.

The Spartans are looking to build on their 2024 record of 24-15, good enough for a second-place finish in the Mid-State Athletic Conference (MSAC) and Region III's East Division. That solid season earned them an opening round home playoff series, where they fell in three games to Genesee Community College.

Cayuga has won two of the past three MSAC titles and reached the postseason each year since the program's inaugural season in 2018-19. Coach John Rizzo believes the Spartans have the talent this year to move past the opening round of the playoffs and reach the Region III Final Four.

"We have a strong incoming class. We have quality returning players on the mound and in the field, and the top and middle of our order will mostly be players with a year's experience against collegiate opposition," said Rizzo. "We have a lineup that understands situational hitting and can score in different ways — guys who can get on-base and run, and guys who can drive the ball."

The Spartans return several top hitters from last season, including third baseman Kevin Dolan, who won a NJCAA Gold Glove while batting .333 and scoring 31 runs. He's joined by returning shortstop Jacob Laird, giving the Spartans two outstanding defenders on the left side of the infield.

Outfielders Owen Browne and Luca D'Emilio return after strong seasons as freshmen, and experienced outfielders Michael Blowers and Jean-Paul Anthony are also back for second seasons. Primary leadoff hitter Mike DeRosa, who finished among the team leaders last season in runs, RBI and stolen bases, also returns for his sophomore season.

On the mound, the Spartans return valuable contributors from 2024, including Antonio Munoz, Andrew Seward and Ethan Benedict. They and a corps of talented freshmen arms will be backed by a Spartans defense that was the best in the NJCAA last season with a .974 fielding percentage.

The Spartans will once again face a challenging schedule in one of the top regions in NJCAA Baseball. Their division schedule includes a four-game series against Herkimer College, Region III's representative in the 2024 World Series, as well as four-game slates against playoff teams in Hudson Valley Community College and SUNY Adirondack.

They also have two-game series scheduled against Region III opponents who regularly make the postseason in SUNY Niagara, Finger Lakes Community College, and Genesee.

"Region III is strong. Every year it's one of the best in the country," said Rizzo. "Each year we try to put together a schedule that will challenge our team. That's how we as a team, and our players as individuals, will get better."

The Spartans' season-opening series against SUNY Niagara was postponed due to inclement weather. Their opening series is now scheduled for March 4 at home against Genesee. They're then on the road in Maryland on March 8-9 for doubleheaders against CCBC Essex and CCBC Catonsville.