Skidmore College and Ithaca College have been selected as the top divisional teams in Liberty League Baseball for the upcoming 2026 season in a vote by the conference’s head coaches.
The East Division is poised to have a tight race at the top of the standings, as the top three teams in the preseason poll are separated by just five points. Skidmore, which has claimed three of four East Division titles (divisions in the Liberty League started in 2022), leads the poll with three first-place votes and 15 points. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), the defending Liberty League Champions, was picked second with 13 points and one first-place vote. Union College earned 10 points and one first-place vote for third. Vassar College (8 points) and Bard College (4 points) round out the East.
Meanwhile, in the West Division, there was little doubt about the preseason favorite, with Ithaca collecting five of a possible six first-place votes and 25 points (coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team). The Bombers closed out 2025 with their third West Division title in four years. Clarkson University was selected second with 19 points, while Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) was third with 15 points. The Tigers were followed by the University of Rochester (14), Hobart College (12), and St. Lawrence University (5).
East Division Preview
Skidmore College
Skidmore wrapped up the 2025 campaign at 21-17-2 overall and went 12-6 against conference opponents (9-3 East). The Thoroughbreds open 2026 with 18 upperclassmen leading the way and boast a deep pitching staff, highlighted by All-Liberty League starters Chase Siegel (First Team) and Quinn Hocom (Third Team). Siegel posted a league-best nine wins (9-1) with a 4.11 ERA across 65.2 innings. He struck out 59 batters and limited opponents to a .278 batting average. He ranked fourth in the Liberty League in innings pitched and fifth in strikeouts. Hocom led the conference with 71 strikeouts, throwing 53.0 innings over 11 starts. He finished 4-0 with a 4.50 ERA and allowed two runs or fewer in seven outings. EJ Stefanelli, an All-Liberty League Third Team selection, is back to power the team’s offense following a successful rookie season. In 24 games last year, he posted a .338 batting average with five doubles, two home runs, and 21 RBI. Eddie Galvao also provides a punch at the plate after appearing in 37 games and batting .328 with 42 hits, five doubles, a team-best three triples, and seven home runs.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RPI (31-16, 12-6 Liberty League) capped off 2025 by winning its first Liberty League Championship since 2015 and advancing to an NCAA regional final. The Engineers reeled off four straight wins after dropping the conference tournament opener en route to the 2025 title. There will be big shoes to fill with the graduation of nine, including Liberty League Co-Player of the Year Ayush Krishnappa. However, a core nucleus of players from the 2025 squad is back (8 seniors, 8 juniors, 8 sophomores). Seniors Matt Chotiner and Robbie Reddington headline the lineup after appearing in 38 and 24 games last year, respectively. Chotiner hit .298 while totaling eight doubles, one triple, 22 runs scored, 26 RBI, and 17 walks. Reddington batted .256 with 21 hits, eight runs, and 14 RBI. Sophomore Michael Lebenson (43 games) emerged as a key offensive contributor during his rookie season in 2025. An All-Liberty League First Team selection, Lebenson led the team with 14 doubles and ranked third with a .361 batting average. He added 57 hits, 38 runs, and 29 RBI, finishing second in the league in doubles, third in hits, and tied for sixth in at-bats with 158.
Union College
Union will aim to improve last year’s overall record of 22-17 (8-10 Liberty League, 7-5 East) in 2026. The Garnet Chargers are led by a trio of All-Liberty League honorees in first-team selections Caleb Miller and Andrew Keavney, as well as third-team pick Dylan Swarts. Miller hit .289 with a team-best seven homers, three triples, 27 RBI, and 38 runs scored on the season, while adding 20 walks and 23 stolen bases. Miller ranked fourth in the conference for both home runs and triples. Keaveney made 23 starts in 25 appearances last season and compiled a .363 batting average. He also recorded nine doubles, 15 RBI, and 14 runs scored. Swarts was the only Garnet Charger to start all 40 games in 2025. He posted a .331 batting average to go along with 11 doubles, two triples, three home runs, 26 RBI, and 34 runs scored. He led the squad with 15 multi-hit games and reached base a team-best 36 times. He was among the league’s top 10 in hits (T-4th), at-bats (5th), and doubles (T-7th). Swarts also saw some time out of the bullpen; in 13.0 innings, he went 3-0 with a 4.85 ERA and 11 strikeouts. Jacob Skarlis (11 appearances, 2-4, 3.99 ERA) and Alex Oppenheimer (16 appearances, 2-0, 6.08 ERA) are also back to bolster the pitching corps. The pair combined for 53 strikeouts in 73.1 innings of work.
Vassar College
Vassar closed out 2025 at 14-19 overall and advanced to the Liberty League Crossover Series for the third consecutive year. In 2026, the Brewers will be led by five seniors, including All-Liberty League Third Team selection Jensen Bergman and Addison Lee. Bergman boasted a team-best batting average of .363 while also pacing Vassar in hits (41), runs scored (30), and walks (20). He also produced six doubles, three triples, and a pair of home runs. Lee returns after missing last season due to injury and will look to return to his 2024 form. In 2024, he appeared in 10 games with eight starts (2-2), logging 41.0 innings and tallying 45 strikeouts. Lee is joined by fellow returning starters junior Will Darrell (9 starts) and junior Grant Maryott (6 starts), who each made a team-high nine appearances on the mound last season. Darrell led the Brewers in innings pitched (39.1) and strikeouts (48), finishing with a 5.95 ERA. Maryott (4.50 ERA, 4-1) logged 38 innings with 37 strikeouts and held opposing batters to a team- and league-best .191 batting average.
Bard College
Bard returns a wealth of experience in 2026, bringing back 26 players from last year’s roster after welcoming 17 first-year players in 2025. Senior Kane Morgan returns to anchor the pitching staff. He tossed 34.0 innings with 28 strikeouts across nine appearances, including five starts last season. Xavier Webb is also back following a strong offensive season in 2025. In 30 games, Webb went 34-for-96 (.354) while leading the team in both runs (20) and hits (34), and he added 10 RBI. Sophomores Rob DeBello and Andrew Plenn will provide an additional boost to the batting order. DeBello hit .371 in 22 games (20 starts), tallying 26 hits, nine runs scored, and 12 RBI. Plenn (.241) appeared in 23 games with 21 starts, recording 13 hits, 14 runs, and five RBI. They both ranked among the league’s top 10 in fewest strikeouts. DeBello tied for fourth with eight, and Plenn was eighth with 10.
West Division Preview
Ithaca College
Ithaca finished last season at 26-15 overall and 16-5 against conference opponents (10-5 West), advancing to the league championship game for the fourth consecutive season. The Bombers enter 2026 with a young roster following the graduation of nine from last year’s squad and the addition of 18 first-year players. However, a strong returning core provides veteran leadership, highlighted by All-Liberty League selections Jack Picozzi (Pitcher of the Year, First Team), Ethan Fantel (Second Team), and Camden Laney (Third Team). Picozzi led the conference with 25 strikeouts looking and ranked fourth in total strikeouts. Picozzi was also among the league’s top 10 pitchers in innings pitched (7th), opposing batting average (8th), and ERA (9th). Fantel paced Ithaca offensively with a .371 batting average as well as 33 hits, 22 runs, nine doubles, three home runs, and 22 RBI. He ranked second in the league in on-base percentage (.540), ninth in slugging percentage (.573), 10th in batting average, and tied for fifth in walks (29). Laney hit .344 with 27 RBI, nine doubles, and three home runs. He was third on the team in batting average, second in doubles, and third in homers. Matt Curtis also returns after appearing in 33 games last year, where he recorded a .302 batting average with 32 hits, including 11 extra-base hits (8 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR).
Clarkson University
Clarkson looks to build on its 2025 season, where the Golden Knights went 18-15 overall with a 10-8 mark against conference opponents. With just six players graduating, Clarkson enters 2026 as one of the conference’s more experienced squads, and expectations are high in Potsdam. They are headlined by the return of three All-Liberty League Second Team selections—Beau Vardion, Joe Figliolino and Aidan Kuefner. Vardion topped the team in batting average (.382) and slugging percentage (.657) as well as extra-base hits (12 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR) and 32 RBI. Among league leaders, he was third in slugging percentage, fourth in doubles, and eighth in batting average. Figliolino appeared in all 33 games last year. He recorded a .323 batting average to go along with a team-best 39 runs and five home runs as well as 40 hits and 30 RBI. He ranked seventh in the Liberty League for runs scored. Kuefner hit .295 on the year and was second on the team in both runs (34) and hits (41), while placing fourth in RBI (22). He was also speedy on the base paths with a team-high 15 stolen bases, good for eighth in the conference.
Rochester Institute of Technology
RIT closed out last season at 22-14 overall with an 11-9 mark against conference opponents (8-7 West), and the Tigers enter 2026 as a seasoned team. They are led by returning seniors Jackson Rusiecki (All-Liberty League Second Team), Jarin Moses (All-Liberty League Third Team), and Charlie Slaymaker (All-Liberty League Third Team). Rusiecki paced RIT with a .353 batting average and 42 hits, including 12 doubles and one triple, while adding 29 runs scored and 27 RBI. Among conference leaders, he ranked fourth in walks (30), tied for fourth in doubles, and was sixth in on-base percentage (.503). Moses hit .248 and led the team in extra-base hits with 10 home runs, nine doubles, and one triple. He totaled 35 hits, 34 runs scored, and a team-best 43 RBI. He ranked third in the league in home runs and fourth in RBI. Defensively, the second baseman recorded 89 assists, ninth most in the conference. Slaymaker batted .324 (46-for-142) with nine doubles, six home runs, 31 runs scored, and 33 RBI. He also posted a .973 fielding percentage with 36 putouts, 71 assists, and just three errors.
University of Rochester
Rochester enters the season looking to improve upon its 16–17 overall record from 2025, which included a 10–10 mark in Liberty League play and a 7–8 record in the West division. The Yellowjackets will be a young squad in 2026 as they welcome 17 newcomers to complement 16 returning players. Sammy Besztery is back after starting all 33 games last season. He hit .292 with 10 doubles, one home run, 33 runs scored, and 22 RBI. Defensively, the shortstop recorded a team-best 104 assists, good for fourth in the Liberty League. He was also fourth in the conference for sacrifice bunts (6). Benjamin Garber also returns following a strong first-year campaign in which he appeared in 21 games (19 starts). He posted a .308 batting average along with 20 hits, three doubles, two triples, one home run, 16 runs scored, and 19 RBI. On the mound, Andrew Lenhard highlights the returning pitching staff. In 2025, he made eight appearances, including three starts, going 3-1 with a 4.24 ERA over 17.0 innings, striking out 10.
Hobart College
Hobart aims to build on last season’s momentum after finishing the year at 18-17 overall (10-10 Liberty League, 7-8 West), marking the program’s first winning season since returning to varsity status in 2023. The Statesmen are guided by a veteran group of 14 seniors in 2026, including pitcher Teck Nash (All-Liberty League Third Team) and second baseman Christian Petry. Nash (2-4) made 10 starts last season, logging 62.2 innings with a 4.31 ERA and a team-high 37 strikeouts. He was fifth in the league in innings pitched and fifth in strikeouts looking (16). Trevor Kimball (2-2, 3.47 ERA) also returns to bolster the bullpen after making eight starts in 2025. Petry provides an offensive spark after starting all 36 games last year. He hit .274 and was second on the team in stolen bases (19), walks (25), runs (33), and on-base percentage (.475). He topped the league in hit by pitch (25), while ranking sixth in stolen bases (21) and tenth in on-base percentage. Sean Garvin (All-Liberty League Third Team) is another key returner; he also started all 35 games last season. He batted .279 with 34 hits (7 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR), 25 runs scored, and a team-best 26 RBI.
St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence enters the 2026 season with a mix of veterans and newcomers with 22 upperclassmen (11 seniors, 11 juniors) and nine first-year players. The Saints’ pitching staff is anchored by a pair of junior left-handers in David Zuhlsdorf and Boden Driscoll. Zuhlsdorf made seven starts last season with a 4.66 ERA. In 38.2 innings, he struck out 37 and held opponents to a .266 batting average, good for ninth in the Liberty League. Boden Driscoll tossed a team-best 39.1 innings in nine appearances in 2025. He totaled 31 strikeouts and walked 10 with a 5.26 ERA. Senior John Gannon and junior Mike Siano return to lead the batting order after being two of only three Saints to start all 34 games last season. Gannon posted a .231 batting average with 25 hits, 16 runs scored, and a team-best 22 RBI. Siano hit .235 to go along with 20 runs, 17 RBI, and 18 walks. In limited action at the plate (58 at-bats), Donnellan belted two homers, walked six times, and was hit by pitch 10 times for 15 bases on the year.
The 2026 season is slated to begin on Friday, February 20, with three teams kicking off non-conference action (St. Lawrence, RIT, Hobart). St. Lawrence is in Delaware, taking on Bates at noon, while RIT faces off against The College of New Jersey in Flemington, N.J., at 3:00 PM. Hobart has a doubleheader on Friday against Hanover College (5 & 7 PM) in North Carolina. League and divisional play begins one month later, Friday, March 20, with five three-game sets (East: Bard-Skidmore, RPI-Vassar; West: Clarkson-RIT, St. Lawrence-Hobart, Rochester-Ithaca).
2026 Liberty League Baseball Preseason Poll – East
Place. Team, Points
- Skidmore, 15 (3)
- RPI, 13 (1)
- Union, 10 (1)
- Vassar, 8
- Bard, 4
2026 Liberty League Baseball Preseason Poll – East
Place. Team, Points
- Ithaca, 25 (5)
- Clarkson, 19 (1)
- RIT, 15
- Rochester, 14
- Hobart, 12
- St. Lawrence, 5
*First-place votes are in parentheses