Record-Setting Season for Spartans
It was a record-breaking 2026 season for Cayuga Community College Baseball, with the roster smashing more than a dozen individual- and team-best marks.
Powered by a deep pitching staff and a lineup that scored almost nine runs a game, the Spartans tied a program-best with 31 wins and captured Cayuga's fourth Mid-State Athletic Conference title. The Spartans finished third in Region III's East Division before losing to Erie Community College in the postseason.
Coach John Rizzo thanked the sophomores for their leadership, and said the team and individual successes were attributable to the off-season work and commitment from the roster.
"Our sophomores set the tone for the season, but the entire roster worked hard to put the team in the best possible position to succeed. That dedication from everyone was the primary reason we had this type of season," said Rizzo. "We have to carry that forward into next season, with this year's freshmen taking over the leadership of our program. I believe they can do that and continue moving our program forward."
Cayuga faced a challenging schedule in 2026, with five preseason teams ranked in the top 15 on their schedule. The Spartans opened the season 19-6 and won their first 11 conference games, eventually finishing 14-4 in the MSAC and 20-8 in East Division play.
The lineup set new single-season marks in runs (457), hits (489), homers (27), doubles (114), RBI (404), extra-base hits (155), total bases (712), walks (238), hit-by-pitch (99), and stolen bases (116). The rotation set single-season bests in saves (6) and strikeouts (244).
At the plate Cayuga was led by sophomores Jeremy Recio, Jakson Ross, and Eathen Yoon, and freshmen Tyler Black, Chase Mascelli, Tristan Sierra and Ben Hatfield.
Recio, who capped an outstanding two-year career by being named All-Region First Team, batted .397 with 61 runs and 51 RBI and led the team with eight homers. Recio leaves Cayuga as the career leader in games played (96), at-bats (298), runs scored (101), hits (127), triples (13), RBI (102), total bases (216) and extra-base hits (54), as well as tying for the career lead in homers with 11.
Leadoff hitter and catcher Jakson Ross set single-season records in runs with 65, walks with 35, and hit-by-pitch with 26, and tied the record of 26 stolen bases. He also set career records in walks (55), stolen bases (45) and hit-by-pitch (31).
Black led Cayuga with a .417 average, hit five homers, and set single-season program records in at-bats with 163 and RBI with 66. Mascelli batted .386 with 40 runs and 34 RBI, Yoon hit .378 with four homers and 42 RBI, Sierra batted .354 with 37 runs scored, and Hatfield batted .350 with 39 runs and 35 RBI.
On the mound, sophomore Dylan Gordon led the team with 43 1/3 innings pitched, earning four wins and tying a single-season mark of 11 games started. Freshman Jancarlos Rodriguez led the Spartans with six wins and 37 strikeouts, Jack Walters had five wins, and Ashtyn Traugott-Knoll had four wins and 34 strikeouts.
Sophomore James MacLean was the Spartans' primary reliever for the second straight season, setting program records for single-season appearances with 20 and career appearances with 37. He threw 37 2/3 innings in 2026, striking out 31 and tying the single-season and career saves marks with three.
Sophomore pitcher Kyle Peryer threw 34 innings with three wins and tied the program record with 19 career games started. He also tied teammate Isaac Allison for most career complete games with five. Allison threw 37 1/3 innings in 2026, tying with Gordon for the team lead with two complete games apiece.
The strong seasons netted several Spartans regional and conference awards. Along with being named All-Region First-Team, Recio was named All-Glove and All-East Division, and was named All-Conference. Black, Rodriguez, Ross and Yoon were All-Region Third-Team; Black, Ross and Yoon were named All-Conference; and MacLean and Mascelli were Conference Honorable Mention.