ECC Baseball Tournament Preview

The East Coast Conference (ECC) tournament arrives at the Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale this week with a familiar crown already glistening on the horizon. Molloy University, the regular-season titan, doesn't just enter as the host—they enter as the gold standard of a four-team double-elimination sprint that promises to be a battle of high-stakes pitching and opportunistic bats. For the rest of the field, the mission is simple: find a way to slay the Lion in its own den. LINKS: ECCTournament Central: https://eccsports.org/tournaments/?id=112 Conference Tournament Hub (for game times, video, and live stats): https://www.diviibaseball.com/conf-tournament-hub MIAA All-Conference selections: https://eccsports.org/news/2026/5/6/molloy-lands-nine-on-east-coast-conference-baseball-all-conference-teams.aspx

Note: Four-team double elimination bracket.

The Standard: #1 Molloy (36-9)

Molloy hasn’t just won; they’ve bullied. The Lions lead the ECC in Batting Average, HR, RBI, and ERA, creating a gap between them and the field that feels as wide as the Atlantic. They aren't just the reigning champs—they are the team that refuses to leave the throne.

The heart of the order is a nightmare for opposing coaches. Sean Welsh has been a metronome of all-around hitting, hitting a blistering .409 with a 1.242 OPS and 12 home runs, while Steve Mulqueen provides the spark at the top with a .369 average and double digit doubles and home runs (11 each). On the mound, the Lions boast the most clinical arm in the conference in James Sill. Sill enters with a pristine 6-1 record, a 2.86 ERA, and 66.0 innings of veteran composure. Rounding out the rotation is Mike Knapp (7-1, 3.54 ERA in 56 innings) and JC Kiss (7-1, 3.61 ERA, 62.1 IP), forming a rotation that makes a three-game series feel like an uphill climb in the mud.

The Challenger: #2 Mercy (26-22)

Mercy comes into Uniondale with a blue-collar grit and a pitching staff that was second in the conference in ERA and batting average against.

It all starts with two-way player Nevin Scaperotti, who is hitting .357 at the plate and is 6-2 with a 2.71 ERA on the mound. Zach Ashline leads the team with 5 HR and 42 RBI. The pitching staff is where the Mavericks truly shine. Ryan DiNapoli has a 4.11 ERA over 46 innings and threw a complete game shutout against Staten Island in his last start. In the bullpen, Samuel Gil has 5 save and a 3.75 ERA.

The Tradition: #3 St. Thomas Aquinas (26-21)

The #3 St. Thomas Aquinas Spartans (26-21) arrive with the weight of tradition and a lineup that can hurt you in a dozen different ways. STAC has always played its best baseball in May, and this year is no different as they follow the lead of Nick Oelcher, who hit .380 with 38 RBIs and 14 doubles. Alongside him is C.J. Cumbo, a veteran presence who slashed .343 with 8 home runs and a team-high 42 RBI. The Spartans' rotation relies on the grit of Christian Varela, who grinded through 45 innings this spring to a 3-1 record and a 5 ERA. To close games, they turn to James Garcia, who has 10 saves and a stellar 1.50 ERA, noting a quality option in the backend.

The Wildcard: #4 D'Youville (18-30)

Finally, the #4 D'Youville Saints (16-27) bring the chaos factor to Uniondale and have a pretty good two-way player to do so.

 Billy Morris is the heartbeat of this team, batting .348 and pitching to the tune of a 4.23 ERA over 66 innings. He is paired with the steady Colby Wilson, who is hitting .364 with 12 HR and 42 RBI. On the mound, Jakob Denall and Ty Graczyk round out the rotation with Denall posting a 4-3 record with a 5.09 ERA.

With the first pitch scheduled for Thursday morning, the ECC tournament is a four-day chess match. Molloy has the home field and the trophies, but in double elimination, one cold afternoon can change the narrative for good.