Coming off one of the best seasons in the program's history, the Case Western Reserve University baseball team will look to reload behind a maturing pitching staff and a core of young and talented hitters as it enters the 2026 campaign.
The Spartans, who ended the season ranked 13th in the D3baseball.com Top-25 poll, reached the Super Regional round of the NCAA Division III Championship last year for the first time in program history, finishing the season with a 30-14-1 overall record. CWRU extended its stretch of consecutive 20-win seasons (not including the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign) to 15 years, while also winning its second-straight University Athletic Association Championship with a 14-5-1 conference record.
The Spartans' success during the season was the result of a dynamic offense that finished the campaign ranked 12th among Division III teams in hits (537), 18th in home runs (51), 21st in batting average (.330) and runs (415), and 23rd in doubles (102), while setting program records for home runs, runs scored, and stolen bases (113). However, this year's team will have to overcome the loss of several key players, including All-Americans Nick Harms and Dane Camphausen, All-Region honorees Jack Anderson and Franco Alonso, and all-UAA recipient Zack Carinci. However, with several position players ready to step into larger roles, and a pitching staff that has the potential to mature into a team strength, the Spartans appear primed to continue their successful run of late.
Leading the way (both on the mound and at the plate) is all-region utility player and junior Tyler Stillson. Stillson started all 45 games for the Spartans last season, batting .345 with a .955 OPS, eight home runs, and 48 runs batted in, while making nine starts on the mound and going 2-1 with a 6.02 ERA. In addition to serving as the team's designated hitter, he should form a formidable duo atop the CWRU rotation with junior southpaw Quinn Saunders, who finished the season strong last year, recording a 3-1 record with a 4.14 ERA, 56 strikeouts in 45.2 innings, and a .228 opponents' average in 2025. Additional experienced options for the starting rotation include senior right-handed pitcher Archer Stankowski (6-1 with a 4.98 ERA over 15 appearances and three starts), sophomore left-handed pitcher Charlie Griffith (4-1 with a 6.02 ERA in 11 appearances and eight starts), sophomore right-handed pitcher Eric Colgrove (1-1 with an 8.06 ERA in 10 appearances and five starts), and sophomore right-handed pitcher Ayush Shetty (1-0 with a 4.80 ERA in 14 appearances and two starts).
Each of those pitchers could also see time out of the bullpen in 2026, especially Stankowski and Shetty, who exhibited the ability to pitch well in relief last year. The Spartans will also be returning the majority of their impact arms from last year's bullpen, including junior righty Zach Barnes (3-2, 9.30 ERA, 13 appearances, two saves), sophomore righty Oliver Miller (3-2, 3.90 ERA, one save in 15 appearances), sophomore lefty Jeff Radinsky (2-0, 5.94 ERA, 13 appearances), sophomore left Anton Sabo (2-0, 6.17 ERA, eight appearances), senior right Austin McGowan (1-1, 8.06 ERA, eight appearances), and sophomore right Cody Hughes (13.50 ERA, eight appearances). Sophomore righties Jack Millman and Jacob Montemore will also look to make an impact after being limited by injuries last year, while first-year righties Takeshi Malady and Coleman O'Donnell will add to the pitching staff's depth in 2026.
The Spartans' infield will mostly be new faces, with the exception of junior Nate Arterburn, who started all 45 games at shortstop last year and batted .268 with 30 RBIs and earned a spot on the NCAA Cleveland Regional All-Tournament Team. CWRU will add experience and talent to the infield with graduate student Eli Westrick, who was a D3baseball.com All-American as an undergraduate at Wooster, and can play at any of the infield positions, but will likely start at first base. Sophomore Calvin Gelle saw action in eight games as a first-year player in 2025 and is an option for the team at third base to start the year, while first-year player James O'Connor will have a chance to immediately enter the lineup at second base. Stillson could also see time at first base, while additional infield options include sophomore Charlie Dickie, and first-years Jaxon Knutson, Carson Matula, and Tucker Greer.
Behind the plate, senior catcher Sean Donahue appears ready to step into a more consistent starting role after appearing in 21 total games last year, including 10 as a starter, and batting .275 with four doubles. Junior Carson Walker will add additional experience to the position, while first-year Collin Pool will be another option at catcher for CWRU.
The Spartans' most experienced returning outfielder will be senior Matt Trout, who started 15 games last season and played in 27 total, batting .275 with an .853 OPS, along with a pair of home runs and 16 RBIs. Senior Jasiah Harris, a career .294 hitter with 20 stolen bases over 65 games, will make the move to the outfield this season, while senior Thomas Downs and sophomore Evan Garbincus should also see significant playing time. Additional first-year options include Cole White and Elijah Sledge, while Emilio Manz and James Very could see time in both the outfield and the infield.
CWRU Head Coach Matt Englander will begin his 20th season at the Spartans' helm just one win shy of 450 for his career with an all-time record of 449-298-3, good for a .601 winning percentage. He will be assisted by pitching coach Steve Gruenberg, who is starting his sixth season with the squad, and Matt Johnson, who is embarking on his second year with the team.
In what would be the earliest home-opener in program history, CWRU is slated to begin its 2026 season at Nobby's Ballpark with a three-game series against Oswego State on February 20 and 21. The Spartans will then travel to Washington, Pennsylvania, for games against Washington and Jefferson and Scranton, before closing out the early part of their schedule at home against Oberlin on March 4.
The Spartans will head south for spring break, traveling to Lexington, South Carolina, for the 2026 Spartan Southern Classic, where CWRU will face Swarthmore, Marietta, Mitchell, and Johnston & Wales. After returning north, the Spartans will take on John Carroll (March 21) and Mount Union (March 22) in doubleheaders before starting UAA play.
CWRU's 20-game conference schedule will start with a four-game home series against Brandeis from March 27-29, before traveling to Atlanta for a key matchup at Emory from April 3-5. Another key matchup will follow at home against Chicago (April 10-12), before CWRU concludes UAA play at NYU (April 17-19) and at home against WashU (April 24-26). The Spartans will conclude their regular season with games against Baldwin Wallace on the road on April 29.
CWRU will aim to qualify for the NCAA Championship for the fourth consecutive season and the ninth time overall in program history. The regional round will be held from May 15-17, followed by the super regional from May 22-23. Should they advance, the Spartans will not have far to travel for the NCAA Finals, which are set to be held at Classic Park in nearby Eastlake, Ohio.
