North Warren baseball team seeks to repeat 2025's success

CHESTERTOWN | Although the North Warren baseball team — state Class D finalists last season — lost their ace pitcher Wyatt Jennings and talented catcher Tyler Hitchcock to graduation in June, the Cougars remain a formidable threat in 2026 as the remainder of their talented roster returns this year. Each of the players on the 2026 team played a role in the team's success last season, when they made school history by winning their first baseball Sectional championship, earning their first regional title, and competing in the state championship game. With nine of the 2025 players who made this historic postseason run returning, the team's 2026 prospects are very strong. Jennings is considered the best pitcher in school history, having reached 200 strikeouts during the 20-25 state championship game. However, the returning lineup of pitchers is strong. Owen Schaefer, now a senior, is a left-handed pitcher who won many of the 2025 games that propelled the Cougars to the state finals game with his array of pitches that have proven difficult for opponents to hit. He will be backed up by junior Maceo Matson, who was the relief pitcher in the state semifinal game, and sophomore Brodie Rooker, a seasoned athlete, is joining the Cougars' talented bullpen. The team will be missing Jennings powerful bat, but North Warren's offense will still be remarkably strong this year, as their returning players all contributed. In the 2025 state semifinal, Schaefer not only relieved Jennings, but he also scored a run after earning a walk; and in the regional finals game, Schaefer scored a run. Rooker, Matson, seniors C.J. Barlow, Will Lindsley and junior George Hilton each made pivotal hits in the state semifinal game — Barlow's hit scored two runners for the go-ahead run, Matson hit a double and senior Will Lindsley hit a vital sacrifice bunt. Senior Dan Mattison hit a key RBI double in the regional final. In the 2025 Sectional championship game, Mattison hit a double that scored the two go-ahead runs. and Rooker dived to catch a line drive with runners on base that would otherwise have scored and would likely have changed the game's outcome. Alongside these players on the 2026 team are A.J. Masiello and Connor Clench-Matteo, both seniors, and Patrick Viele, a junior — all experienced athletes. To replace Hitchcock behind the plate, Cougars coach John Kelly said he will have a "committee of catchers" composed of Matson, Rooker and Lindsley. Nearly all the athletes on North Warren's 2026 baseball roster were key players on the 2025-26 Cougars basketball team, which recently won the Section II Class D championship, baseball coach John Kelly noted. "These kids have been in very competitive situations," he said, noting that his players have proven they can perform under pressure. Kelly also said he was impressed with the North Warren fans, who he said have been an important factor in his team's development and its success in recent years. "Our community is amazing," he said, noting that about 250 North Warren fans traveled to Plattsburgh to witness the Cougars play their 2025 regional semifinal game. Kelly said he has high expectations for his 2026 baseball team, and his players are enthusiastic about the upcoming season, which begins Wednesday, March 25 with a home game versus Northville. The game is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. "I think the future is bright," Kelly said of the 2026 season. "As long as our pitchers' arms hold up, we will be right in the mix."

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North Warren baseball team seeks to repeat 2025's success

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