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EspañolPLATTSBURGH — A new-look Plattsburgh State baseball team is scheduled to open its 2026 season Sunday with an 11 a.m. doubleheader against Vassar College in Annandale-on-Hudson.
The 2025 campaign didn’t go as well as hoped as the Cardinals finished 12-21 overall and 4-14 in the SUNYAC.
While Plattsburgh had its share of one-sided losses, it also has a number of close setbacks, which could have changed the season around if those outcomes had gone Plattsburgh’s way. Nine of the Cardinals’ 21 losses were by a run.
There are 47 players currently on this year’s roster, including 20 first-year players and some transfers.
“It’s like the 2022 team we had,” Plattsburgh head coach Sam Quinn-Loeb, who will be entering his fifth season as head coach, said.
“We have a lot of young guys. Definitely, we had a big recruiting class, and if this group stays together for four years, we’re hoping to move up to second, third or fourth in the conference.
“The team has been practicing well and seems to have good team chemistry. There has been pretty good competition for positions. We just need to make the routine play and have quality at-bats. We’re hoping to surprise some teams.”
The only position players who return with a lot of at bats from last year are outfielder Colin Ross (.338 batting average, six home runs, 16 RBI) and first baseman Austin Caldwell (.269 batting average, 10 RBI).
But the Cardinals will be rebuilding their pitching staff.
“We feel we have a strong group, and we need to get prepared for conference play,” Quinn-Loeb said. “We’re looking to find some momentum early in the season and get squared away before our first conference series.
Junior Jack Castillo and senior Isaiah Maines are among those returning as starters on the mound.
“Castillo got a taste of it last season and will be good for us, and Maines can be good when he’s on. He pitched seven strong innings against Oswego last year,” Quinn-Loeb said.
Junior transfers Anthony Mante and Jason Carrasco and sophomore Marc Cancelliere are expected to play key roles.
“Definitely, we needed to recruit some pitching,” Quinn-Loeb said. “Mante had a good fall for us; Carrasco comes from Onondaga Community College, and Cancelliere played at Belmont Abbey.”
Junior Justin Sargent will be counted on, and the Cardinals will also feature some first-year pitchers in Dom Benedetto, John Esposito, Ryan Loughlin, Max Palermo and Angelo Trusso.
“We should have a lot of pitching,” Quinn-Loeb said. “Sargent has seen time on the mound, and when he’s on, he’s good.”
The Cardinals have two first-year catchers in William Keefe and David Wallace, to go along with junior returner Ian Warren.
Outfielders returning to the team include senior Ryan Hart and juniors Frankie Kowal and Jackson Pam. First-year player Logan Provost is expected to be in the mix.
In the infield, junior Tyler Martin will be at second base with senior Bostyn Duquette at shortstop. Junior Jonathan Beale will be in rotation at infield spots.
Duquette, who attended Plattsburgh High, is one of three local players on the roster, along with first-year infielders Braeden Calkins, of Plattsburgh High, and Seth Petrashune, of Saranac.
Junior Mike Piccirillo is a good defensive player at third base. Piccirillo got in 38 at bats last season and batted .342.
“Our infield defense should be fine,” Quinn-Loeb said.
The farthest Plattsburgh State will go south this season is Pennsylvania.
“We’ve been out for a few times so far, but the first games of the season are always difficult,” Quinn-Loeb said.
The Cardinals are scheduled to open SUNYAC play March 20 at league power Cortland.
“We’re hoping to surprise some teams.” Sam Quinn-Loeb Plattsburgh head coach