Atlantic Region Crossover Preview
- Robert Frey
- 1 hour ago
- 9 min read
The 2026 season is shifting into high gear this weekend as the first annual Atlantic Region Crossover takes over West Virginia. We’ve got a massive 12-team field spread across Mylan Park, Kendrick Family Ballpark, and Frank Loria Field, making this one of the biggest early-season litmus tests on the schedule.
Between #24 Cal (PA) trying to keep their perfect start alive and Salem coming in red-hot on a six-game win streak, there is no shortage of storylines. Whether you're looking for dominant rotations or offenses that are already putting up video game numbers, these 18 games are going to tell us a lot about who the real contenders are in the Atlantic. I'll be on the ground across all three sites to see how it all shakes out.
Here’s a short breakdown of the twelve teams in action this weekend (all game times are ET, subject to change)
Bloomsburg
2-0
Schedule
Saturday, February 28 - 3 PM @Mylan Park - Frostburg State
Sunday, March 1 - 11:30 AM @Mylan Park - IUP
Bloomsburg opened their season last Saturday by sweeping a doubleheader against Holy Family before weather cancelled the Sunday doubleheader. Freshman Dylan Hirsch went 4-for-5 in two games, while Grant Russo went 6-for-9 with two doubles. Both Mike Miller and Matt Freda made the most of the run-scoring opportunities, as they each tallied four RBI in the two games.
Allowing just one run over two games typically means starting pitching was great, as was the case for the Huskies. Game one was led by four scoreless by Brandon Wozniak, who allowed just two hits. Game two was led by 3.2 scoreless from Andrew Armstrong, who allowed 3 hits and struck out six. Landon Lorson struck out three over 2.1 scoreless innings of relief in that second game .
No.24 Cal (PA)
3-0
Schedule
Saturday, February 28 - 3 PM @Frank Loria Field - Salem - Stats
Sunday, March 1 - 2:30 PM @Kendrick Family Ballpark - Shepherd - Stats
The Cal (PA) Vulcans began their 2026 campaign last weekend, hosting and sweeping Ohio Dominican in a 3-game set under first-year head coach Joey Noro. Six-foot-seven senior Connor Evans was unbelievable at the plate last weekend, going 10-for-12 with 5 extra base hits, 6 RBI, and 7 runs. Peyton Ford in just 7 at-bats had 4 hits and 4 RBI. Conor Carney, Brandon McClain-Banks, and Chad Helwich each had a weekend of 1.000+ OPS in 10+ at-bats.Â
Beau Bigam struck out five over five, allowing just one run in his first start to get the win. Freshman Evan Stranko got the win in relief on opening day, going 3 scoreless.
Fairmont State
1-3
Schedule (All games at Mylan Park)
Friday, February 27 - 11:30 AM - Lock Haven - Stats
Saturday, February 28 - 11:30 AM - Shepherd - Stats
Sunday, March 1 - 3 PM - Lake Erie - Stats
Fairmont State opened its 2026 last weekend hosting Walsh (another team in this crossover) going 1-3. Their lone win was a 13-12 walk-off winner in Game 4 of the series, where Drew Emrich tied it with a 2-run home run before Bryont Green won it with a single. Both Green (7-for-14) and Emrich (2-for-4) hit .500 on the weekend. Green leads the team in hits and is tied for the team RBI lead with 4, alongside teammate Kris Sutton.
On the pitching side, Connor Tingler threw four scoreless in his start on Game 2 of the series, allowing just two hits with three strikeouts. He’ll continue to be a big rotation arm for the Fighting Falcons. If you can remember, in 2024, Tingler threw a no-hitter against now defunct Notre Dame College.
Frostburg State
4-2
Schedule
Friday, February 27 - 2:30 PM @Kendrick Family Ballpark - Walsh - Stats
Saturday, February 28 - 3 PM @Mylan Park - Bloomsburg
Sunday, March 1 - 11:30 AM @Frank Loria Field - Lock Haven
Frostburg State began its season taking two of three against then-Top 40 squad Ashland. The Bobcats won on a walk-off hit on opening day via a Jackson Schalick single. The following weekend, Frostburg State beat Goldey-Beacom twice in a doubleheader before losing in a one-run game to a Slippery Rock team that is receiving votes in our poll. Schalick leads the team with both nine hits and RBI, as well as three doubles. Drew Jourdan leads the team in hitting, with a .408 average and a 1.038 OPS.
On the bump, the squad is led by left-hander John Smith, who threw five scoreless in relief with seven strikeouts against Ashland before entering the rotation to throw 5.1 innings of one-run ball against Goldey-Beacom. Smith leads the team with a 0.87 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. Joey Serafin is 2-0 out of the bullpen in his two appearances, not allowing a run in 5 total innings. Zach Dodson carries a 2.70 ERA over 10 innings (two starts).
Glenville State
6-2
Schedule
Friday, February 27 - 3 PM @Frank Loria Field - ShepherdÂ
Saturday, February 28 - 2:30 PM @Kendrick Family Ballpark - IUP
Sunday, March 1 - 3 PM @Frank Loria Field - Walsh
Glenville State is riding the momentum of back-to-back series wins, beating both Mansfield and Lock Haven three out of four times each. The offense is paced by Adam Bright, who boasts a .370 average and 1.062 OPS, alongside Greyson McNeill, who has contributed seven RBI and a .308 average.
On the mound the Pioneers are holding opponents to a paltry .223 batting average. Leading the way is Grant Landis, who leads the starters with a stellar 0.78 ERA over 9 innings. He is supported by William Chu, who maintains a lean 0.64 WHIP across 11 innings (3 appearances, one start), and Adrian Orozco, who leads the pitching staff with nine strikeouts over 8.1 innings.
Illinois Springfield (UIS)
7-3
Schedule
Friday, February 27 - 3 PM @Mylan Park - Lake Erie
Saturday, February 28 - 11:30 AM @Frank Loria Field - Walsh
Sunday, March 1 - 11 AM @Kendrick Family Ballpark - Salem
UIS is off to a strong 7-3 start, which includes a sweep of Savannah State (who beat Tampa 7-0 on Tuesday) and a series split of then-rank Florida Southern.
The Prairie Stars’ pitching staff is led by starter Ben Benoit, who holds a 3-0 record and a 2.55 ERA with 16 strikeouts to just 3 walks. The bullpen has been equally dominant; Isaac Graf has racked up 14 strikeouts in seven scoreless innings, while Jaden Mathon maintains a 0.00 ERA after 5.1 scoreless innings over three appearances.
The offense is anchored by Kody Morton, who leads the team with a .421 average. Tommy Atkinson provides the power with 20 RBI (8th nationally with 2 RBI per game) and two home runs in just 10 games, while Corey Boyette bolsters the lineup with a .543 on-base percentage, a .364 average, and two homers of his own.
Indiana (PA) (IUP)
1-2
Schedule
Saturday, February 28 - 2:30 PM @Kendrick Family Ballpark - Glenville State
Sunday, March 1 - 11:30 AM @Mylan Park - Bloomsburg
IUP started last weekend, dropping a non-conference doubleheader to West Chester on Feb 20. The Crimson Hawks won the first game against RV Jefferson on Feb 21 via a walk-off walk in 12 innings before the second game was suspended due to darkness (makeup TBD).
The bullpen threw well in these three games, combining for a 2.92 ERA over 12.1 innings. Jhamil Rivera was most notable, going 3.1 scoreless in that Jefferson game before handing it off to Nathan Porath to get the win.Known commodity Ricardo Aponte had a pair of extra base hits and 3 RBI to lead the team over the weekend, while David Kessler led the team by collecting 5 hits.
Lake Erie
0-7
Schedule
Friday, February 27 - 3 PM @Mylan Park - UIS
Saturday, February 28 - 11 AM @Kendrick Family Ballpark - Lock Haven
Sunday, March 1 - 3 PM @Mylan Park - Fairmont State
Lake Erie is looking for their first win after dropping a 3-game series to Salem and a 4-game series to Saginaw Valley State. Brendan Hazuda leads the team in hitting with a .286 average, while Hunter Aurand leads the team with a .958 OPS with a pair of home runs and 3 RBI.
On the other side of the ball, Dominic Poltrone leads the team with a 4.15 ERA over 8.2 innings with 8 strikeouts. Matthew Lorencz has a 4.50 ERA over two relief appearances, totaling six innings.
Lock Haven
1-3
Schedule
Friday, February 27 - 11:30 AM @Mylan Park - Fairmont State - Stats
Saturday, February 28 - 11 AM @Kendrick Family Ballpark - Lake Erie
Sunday, March 1 - 11:30 AM @Frank Loria Field - Frostburg State
Lock Haven opened its season last weekend against Glenville State, going 1-3. The Bald Eagles lone win was a 9-4 ballgame in Game 3 of the series. Despite that, the pitching staff has a respectable 3.64 ERA and a .262 batting average against. Tyler Serb allowed just one earned run in his 4.1 innings of work. Brady Myers struck out eight in his six innings of work.
Offensively, Lock Haven was powered by Braden Cummings, who went 6-for-8 with a pair of RBI. Nick Negola hit the team’s lone home run and leads the team with three RBI.
Salem
6-3, winners of six in a row
Schedule
Sunday, March 1 - 11 AM @Kendrick Family Ballpark - UIS
After coming off a season-opening sweep by UNC Pembroke, Salem has won six straight, with 3-game sweeps over both Lake Erie and Clarion. In that Lake Erie series, Jackson Thoma threw a no-hitter where he struck out twelve batters. Conor Thiele in three starts is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA over 15 innings. Out of the bullpen, Richie Preston has been dominant over 10.1 innings (4 appearances). Preston has a 1.74 ERA, a 0.58 WHIP, and a .118 batting average against.Â
Offensively, four different players are hitting above .350 (Cody Thomas - .375, Landon McAlpine - .364, Aaron Forbes - .361, and Brandon Hoftijzer - .355). Hoftijzer is most notable, as he leads the team in doubles (5), RBI (9), slugging percentage (.613), and OPS (1.018).
Shepherd
6-3
Schedule
Friday, February 27 - 3 PM @Frank Loria Field - Glenville State
Saturday, February 28 - 11:30 AM @Mylan Park - Fairmont State
Sunday, March 1 - 2:30 PM @Kendrick Family Ballpark - Cal (PA)
Shepherd has been off to a great start to begin this campaign with a 6-3 record. That began with a 3-game sweep on the road at Chowan, a series win (2 of 3) against Holy Family, and a single win in a three-game set against Concord. Many of those wins is fueled by an offense that is hitting .348 with a .477 on-base percentage. Ryan Fluharty is the key cog, leading the team with both 14 hits (.400 average) and 14 RBI. Also hitting .400 is Ethan Burgreen, who is also 9-for-11 in stolen base attempts. Alex Rose in just 15 at-bats has a pair of home runs.
Riley Morgan has done will to anchor the bullpen, throwing 7.2 innings over three appearances with a 2.35 ERA. Henry Ortiz is 2-0 over 9 innings of work.
Walsh
3-1
Schedule
Friday, February 27 - 2:30 PM @Kendrick Family Ballpark - Frostburg State - Stats
Saturday, February 28 - 11:30 AM @Frank Loria Field - UIS
Sunday, March 1 - 3 PM @Frank Loria Field - Glenville State
As mentioned before, Walsh opened up last weekend at Mylan Park, going 3-1 against Fairmont State. In that series Brodey Acres was on a tear, going 9-for-16 (.563) with 4 extra base hits and 7 RBI, including going 4-for-4 with 4 RBI in the final game of the series. Joining Acres in that tear was Ryan Bruni, who went 7-for-15 with 7 RBI. Josh Alagrin had four of his six hits go for extra bases, while Chris Kramer had 5 hits and 5 stolen bases last weekend.
How about the combined three rotation arms of Nick Petro, Sam Yoder, and Ryan Chambers? Combined, the three went 13.2 innings, allowing 11 hits and just three runs, good for a .220 batting average against and 1.98 ERA.
It’s going to be a busy three days with 12 teams constantly moving between these three sites, but there’s no better way to get a feel for the region than seeing everyone in one spot. From Illinois Springfield’s big bats making the trip over to Fairmont State looking to protect their home turf at Mylan Park, the matchups are as good as they get for early March.
I’ll be on-site all weekend capturing highlights and tracking who steps up when the lights are on.