WATERBURY, Conn. -- A couple of years removed from their first-ever Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Championship, Post University Baseball will look to climb back to the summit of the conference as an underdog in the 2026 season. In Tuesday's CACC Preseason Coaches Poll, the Eagles were picked to finish sixth in the conference, which has switched to a full 12-team standings format versus the two divisions of years past.

Last season's East Region representative in the NCAA Tournament, Felician University, was picked to win the conference with 118 points and nine first-place votes, followed by Wilmington University in second with 107 points and two first-place votes. Rounding out the top three was Jefferson University with 100 points, while the only other first-place vote was awarded to Dominican (N.Y.), picked to finish fifth with 88 points. Goldey-Beacom College was picked just above the Chargers in fourth with 91 points. 

Having more newcomers than returners, the Eagles will be plenty battle-tested between the typical conference slate and the early-season non-conference games that they will play down south in February and March. Wasting no time taking on tough competition, the Eagles head to Tampa, Florida, in early February for a three-game set against the top team in the nation and defending NCAA Champions, the University of Tampa. Days later, they will head to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for East Region games against Franklin Pierce University, last year's runner-up in the East Region, Mercy University, Southern Connecticut State University twice, and Molloy University. 

A four-game set against Cedarville University in North Carolina will precede their trip to Boca Raton, Florida, to face Bentley University twice, the Lions of Molloy again, and Lynn University before heading back up north, where they will play 34 conference games to end the regular season. The 2026 CACC Baseball Championship will be held at Post's home field in Municipal Stadium from May 7th to May 9th. All eight qualifying teams will square off in best-of-three doubleheaders on May 1st, with the "If Necessary" games slated for May 2nd. 

Among those returners, the biggest offensive weapons Post will have for their final seasons are graduate students Hunter Keller, Evan Cornwell, and Andrew Hartman, all of whom missed most or all of the 2025 season with injuries. Two-way player Harby Valera will enter his senior season, as will catcher Manny Contreras and right-handed pitcher Justin Portes, all three of whom saw a decent amount of playing time last year.

Of their offensive players last season, five of the top seven players are gone for Post with Damaurys Rodriguez (.429 BA), Justin Rivera (.360 BA), Jaylen Kelley (.300 BA), and Hayden Roberge (.272 BA) graduating, while Isaiah Velazco (.325 BA) transferred. However, both infielders in Jesse Alfalla, who missed some time at the end of last year with an 4injury and batted .347 with 21 RBIs and seven stolen bases, as well as Rene Vega III, who hit .333 with 26 RBIs and four stolen bases, are both back. 

Both of the top two starters last season for the Eagles graduated in Brennan Holligan and Joe Christiana, leaving the door open for Sebastian Velasquez, Justin Portes, and Zion Fraser, who made ample starts last season to look to take their place. Junior right-hander Jack Martineau will also look to make his return to the rotation after suffering a season-ending injury last year following 14 innings of work last year. Notably out of the bullpen, both CJ Pierce (five saves) and Logan Pulitano (three saves) are back in the fray, along with Valera, who made nine appearances out of the pen.

The 2026 season will kick off for Post on February 13th against the #1 University of Tampa in Florida at 6:00 PM. The first home game for the Eagles will be on March 11th at 12:00 PM against Caldwell University.