Felician Fall Report: Repeat the Success
- Robert Frey
- Dec 31, 2025
- 4 min read
The 2025 season was nothing short of historic for the Felician Golden Falcons. Under the guidance of head coach Chris Langan, now entering his milestone 23rd season as the longest-tenured skipper in program history, the squad shattered the school record with 43 wins. Finishing 43-22 overall and 28-8 in the CACC, the Golden Falcons captured the program's first-ever World Series appearance, cementing a new standard of excellence for the program. Despite the graduation of some key contributors, the mood in Rutherford is far from complacent. The fall season was described by staff as "extremely competitive," with energy and focus reaching new heights as the team looks to prove that last year’s run was a baseline, not an outlier.
The Offense
The Golden Falcons return 57.6% of their offensive production, anchored by a core that balances veteran savvy with explosive potential. Leading the charge is senior catcher Luis De La Cruz, who is widely regarded as one of the premier backstops in the Northeast. De La Cruz was a steady force at the plate in 2025, hitting .319 in 191 at-bats with 21 doubles, 7 home runs, and 48 RBI. He is joined by fellow senior Haiden Walters, a four-year starter at third base who provides significant thump in the middle of the order. In 223 at-bats last season, Walters batted .309 with 7 home runs and a team-high 58 RBI, a mark that ranked sixth in the conference.
The outfield gains a massive boost with a healthy Rocko Brzezniak, known as a "great kid who embodies the spirit of the program", returning to right field. Possessing All-American potential, Brzezniak was electric when available, posting a .382 average in 144 at-bats with an impressive 1.026 OPS. His batting average ranked ninth in the CACC, underscoring his efficiency at the plate. Shortstop Matt Scrivanic also returns for his senior campaign after an injury-plagued season that still saw him deliver a clutch grand slam in the super regionals against Franklin Pierce. In 144 at-bats, Scrivanic hit .250 with 3 home runs and 35 RBI, and a return to full health could see those numbers climb with some great defense. Additionally, the lineup anticipates the return of senior infielder Ernesto Polanco, who missed time due to ACL surgery but is expected to be a major piece of the offensive puzzle in 2026.
New blood will also play a critical role in sustaining the offense. Junior outfielder Andrew Lombardi transfers in from national champion JUCO RCSJ-Gloucester, where he slugged .623 in limited action due to a hamstring injury. When healthy, Lombardi swings a bat as dangerous as anyone in the lineup. He is joined by Bryce Curry, a physical 6'3", 210-pound transfer from Division I Hofstra. Curry, who hit .256 in 90 at-bats at the D1 level, brings "juice" from the right side and offers versatility at both third and first base.
The Pitching Staff
On the mound, Felician retains 60.8% of its innings, headlined by CACC Pitcher of the Year Max Weber. The 6'8", 235-pound right-hander returns as the undisputed staff ace after a dominant junior campaign where he went 9-3 with a 4.48 ERA in 82.1 innings pitched. Weber was a strikeout machine, fanning 102 batters, leading the conference in strikeout percentage at 27.6%, and has generated draft buzz after touching 96 mph this fall. Slotting in as the projected number two starter is redshirt junior Sadier Vicioso. The lefty proved to be a workhorse, compiling a 6-4 record with a 5.27 ERA in 83.2 innings pitched.
Depth in the rotation and bullpen appears to be a strength, with sophomore right-hander Andrew Gendi taking a major step forward this offseason. Projected as a mid-week starter, Gendi sat 89-92 mph in the fall after posting a 1-0 record with a 5.23 ERA in 32.2 innings out of the pen last year. The staff is further bolstered by intriguing newcomers, including "unicorn" transfer Christian Colmery from Delaware. Colmery brings a low-90s fastball and the versatility to start or relieve.
Freshman right-hander Devin Malvasio, another product of the RCSJ-Gloucester championship program, is finally healthy and showing consistent low-to-mid 90s velocity. From the left side, Charleston Southern transfer Chris Laieta offers a low-90s fastball with "absurd" spin rates, making him a likely staple in the bullpen with spot-start capability. Perhaps the most imposing new arm is sophomore Chris Zajac, a transfer from Indiana. Standing 6'8" and 240 pounds, Zajac features a low slot delivery with high ride, sitting 90-93 mph.
Key Departures
While the future is bright, the Golden Falcons must replace significant production lost to graduation. The offense bids farewell to Jaxson Wall, a dynamic utility player who hit .402 in 214 at-bats with 5 home runs and 51 RBI, leaving a hole in the middle of the order. Also departing is Bryan Santana, who batted .367 in 120 at-bats, and Chris Corchado, who hit .344 in 209 at-bats. On the mound, the team loses right-hander Logan Waltz, who was a reliable arm with a 2-2 record and a 3.98 ERA across 72.1 innings.
Schedule & Outlook
Felician wastes no time testing its mettle, opening the 2026 campaign with a challenging trip in Virginia Beach to play Millersville (a perennial powerhouse in the PSAC), East Stroudsburg ( the defending Atlantic Region champions) and Molloy (a perennial powerhouse in the ECC) around February 13 (times TBD). It doesn't get any easier the next week, as they travel to Myrtle Beach on February 19 against Southern New Hampshire University, followed by matchups with Adelphi, Mercy, and Queens. The early non-conference slate also features regional tests against Pace and D'Youville before CACC play begins.
Key conference series include a mid-April home stand against Caldwell and a late-April clash with Dominican University of New York, both pivotal for seeding in the CACC North. With a veteran core returning, a deep pitching staff anchored by an ace, and an influx of high-level transfers, Coach Langan’s squad has all the potential to surpass their 2025 season success. If you value this in-depth, non-paywalled coverage of D2 Baseball, please consider supporting our independent reporting efforts. Your contribution helps us continue providing free access to all our articles without relying on restrictive paywalls. To support our work, please visit our Patreon page: patreon.com/diviibaseball