Eckerd Fall Report: Tritons Aim to Flip the Script in 2026

NOTE: This article was written on January 30th, but not published until February 6th. Information may differ.

The 2025 campaign was a grueling test for the Eckerd Tritons, who finished the year with a 10-38 overall record and a 5-24 mark in the ultra-competitive Sunshine State Conference. The season was defined by a difficult 12-game skid to close out the spring, including a final series sweep at the hands of Embry-Riddle (FL). Despite the struggles, there were flashes of brilliance, such as a dominant 15-0 shutout against Tiffin and a gritty series win over Albany St. (GA) to open the year. Now entering his ninth season at the helm, Head Coach Josh Beauregard—who holds 151 career victories—is tasked with leading this program back to the winning standard it set in 2019. With 30 newcomers joining the roster, the Tritons are leaning heavily on a massive influx of transfer talent to spark a turnaround at the Turley Athletic Complex.

The Offense

The Triton lineup returns a veteran core that should provide stability while the 22 new transfers find their footing. Leading the charge is senior infielder Dawson Jones, who enjoyed a breakout 2025 season. In 144 ABs, Jones hit .340 with 15 doubles, 1 HR, and 18 RBI. His ability to find the gaps was nearly unmatched in the region, as he ranked 24th in the conference in batting average. Joining him in the senior-led core is outfielder Luis Garrido, a consistent presence who, in 194 ABs, hit .309 with 10 doubles, 2 HR, and 18 RBI. Garrido also displayed high-end speed, swiping 7 bags and ranking 38th in the conference for stolen bases.

Adding further veteran punch is Zade Stark, who provided the primary power source for the Tritons last spring. In 150 ABs, Stark hit .307 with 6 doubles, 5 HR, and 37 RBI. His production was vital in conference play, where he ranked 21st in home runs and 26th in RBI across the Sunshine State Conference. Christian Cabina also returns to the infield after a season where, in 139 ABs, he hit .288 with 8 doubles, 2 HR, and 26 RBI. Behind the plate, Dylan Escobar provides a steady hand; in 106 ABs, he hit .302 with 6 doubles and 12 RBI. The outfield depth is bolstered by senior Kam Gelwick, who in 167 ABs hit .246 but showcased significant pop with 5 HR and 23 RBI.

The newcomers bring eye-popping numbers from the transfer portal. Hunter Rebhan, a junior transfer from Tallahassee CC, arrives after hitting .337 with 9 HR and a .409 OBP. He is joined by center fielder Cory Hodierne, a Limestone transfer who hit .351 and utilized his elite speed to record 22 stolen bases. Ean Gimson, a junior from Lake Sumter CC, adds more athleticism to the dirt after hitting .307 with 2 HR and 11 stolen bases.

The Pitching Staff

Rebuilding the pitching staff was clearly a priority for Josh Beauregard this offseason, as the Tritons look to improve upon a collective ERA that struggled under the weight of the SSC's elite offenses. Sophomore southpaw Jacob Thomas returns to anchor the rotation after gaining significant experience as a freshman. Thomas posted a 2-4 record with a 6.79 ERA in 57.0 IP, showing promise by striking out 42 batters. Senior Dearl Edens will be expected to eat significant innings after recording a 0-5 record with a 5.17 ERA in 31.1 IP last season, primarily as a starter.

The bullpen sees the return of Rocco Calise, who served in a swingman role last year, posting a 1-6 record with an 8.64 ERA in 50.0 IP. Calise proved he could miss bats, racking up 42 strikeouts. Nick Rainey and Cooper Nelson also return to provide veteran presence; Rainey notched one save in 39.0 IP, while Nelson struck out 26 batters in 22.1 IP.

The staff's ceiling, however, may be determined by the "Portal Power" brought in this fall. Tyler Brashear, a redshirt sophomore transfer from East Carolina, brings Division I experience to St. Petersburg. He is joined by Maryland transfer Grey Willis and Grady Bivens, a junior from East Georgia, who should immediately compete for high-leverage roles. Additionally, JD Hay arrives from Tallahassee CC following a season where he threw 40.1 IP with a 5.80 ERA.

Schedule & Outlook

The 2026 road to redemption begins at home on January 30th with a three-game set against Flagler, a team that finished 2025 with a solid 30-20 record. The non-conference slate also features a key early-season road trip to Middle Georgia State, a new Division II member formerly of the NAIA.

As the calendar turns to conference play, the Tritons face a gauntlet of regional heavyweights. They will host the defending back-to-back National Champions, Tampa, in early May—a squad that went 55-10 last year. Other critical matchups include a home series against Florida Southern, a South Regional host in 2025, and a late-February road trip to face Nova Southeastern. If the Tritons can find consistency from their new-look pitching staff and the high-average bats of Dawson Jones and Luis Garrido, they could very well find themselves climbing back into the Sunshine State Conference conversation.