Post Fall Report: A High-Stakes Schedule Tests a New-Look Roster

The Post Eagles enter the 2026 campaign following a 2025 season that was defined by both historic consistency and a frustrating finish. Under the guidance of Head Coach Ray Skjold, now entering his seventh season with a career record of 125-114 , the program secured its fourth consecutive CACC Tournament appearance—a feat never before achieved in school history. Despite a solid 26-25 overall finish and a 22-14 mark in conference play , the Eagles ended the year on a difficult nine-game skid. This late-season slide has clearly informed Skjold’s approach to the new year, as the fall focused heavily on building the type of roster depth required to withstand the rigors of a full collegiate season. With the memory of being the CACC North Regular Season and Tournament Champions in 2024 still fresh, the Eagles are eager to prove that last year’s finish was merely a developmental hurdle rather than a decline.

The Offense

The Eagles’ offense underwent a significant facelift this offseason, returning only 41.6% of its plate appearances from a year ago. To bridge the gap, Skjold has brought in a haul of high-ceiling transfers to join a core of versatile returners. Leading the charge is Jesse Alfalla, who paced the team in batting average last season. In 144 ABs, Alfalla hit .347 with 3 triples and 21 RBI, and his ability to play multiple positions makes him the Swiss Army knife of the lineup. He is joined by Rene Vega III, a reliable presence at second base who hit .325 in 169 ABs with 8 doubles and 28 RBI. Vega III was particularly impressive in terms of discipline, ranking 4th in the conference in K percentage. Another critical returner is Hunter Keller, who was limited to just 27 PAs due to injury last year but hit .259 with a double and 4 RBI in his shortened stint. The staff is also high on Evan Cornwell, a 2024 CACC Second Team selection who is back after missing the entirety of last season.

The influx of new talent is headlined by Kevin Diaz, a junior transfer from North Central Texas College who hit .315 last season. Diaz is expected to be a dynamic catalyst at the top of the order, utilizing his speed and defensive range in the outfield. Perhaps the most physically imposing addition is Jayren Foster, a 6-foot-6 sophomore transfer from SE Arkansas. Foster arrives after slashing .377/.450/.635 with 12 doubles, 9 HR, and 44 RBI, as well as an All-Star nod in the NYCBL this past summer. Additionally, Andrew Hartman emerged as a breakout candidate after leading the team in hitting during the fall exhibitions.

The Pitching Staff

While the offense retools, the pitching staff offers a bit more continuity, returning 54.8% of its innings from 2025. CJ Pierce returns to anchor the back end of the bullpen after flourishing in a closer role as a freshman. Pierce posted a 2-2 record with a 6.75 ERA and 5 saves in 18.2 IP, striking out 21 batters against 12 walks. He will be joined by Zion Fraser, a versatile arm who served a dual role as both a starter and a high-leverage reliever. Fraser finished with a 4-2 record and a 6.57 ERA in 38.1 IP, recording 33 strikeouts. Another arm the Eagles are thrilled to have back is Justin Portes, who missed most of 2024 with an injury but appears fully healthy heading into the spring.

The rotation will also lean on Sebastian Velasquez, who logged a 1-3 record with a 7.34 ERA in 34.1 IP last year. Velasquez showed flashes of dominance, ranking 9th in the conference in K percentage as a reliever. Logan Pulitano provides a reliable long-relief option, coming off a season where he went 2-1 with 3 saves and a 4.86 ERA in 37.0 IP. Adding to the depth are two promising freshmen from the New Jersey and Connecticut prep ranks: Justin Hascup, the 64th-ranked player in New Jersey according to Perfect Game, and Jacob Schrage, who posted a 1.73 ERA his senior season of high school.

Key Departures

The Eagles must replace some of the most decorated players in program history. Justin Rivera departs after an exceptional season where he earned ABCA Second Team All-East Region and First Team All-CACC honors. Rivera hit .360 in 175 ABs with 14 doubles, 3 HR, and 56 RBI, ranking 7th in the conference in RBI. Also moving on is Damaurys Rodriguez, a Second Team All-East Region and All-CACC outfielder. Rodriguez was an offensive juggernaut, hitting .429 in 147 ABs with 4 HR and 35 RBI, while ranking 3rd in the conference in batting average and 4th in OPS. On the mound, the loss of Joe Christiana will be felt; he was a two-time Second Team All-CACC selection who finished last year with a 6-1 record and a 4.86 ERA in 53.2 IP. Finally, the Eagles say goodbye to Isaiah Velazco, an All-CACC utility man who hit .325 with 17 doubles and 45 RBI.

2026 Schedule & Outlook

Coach Skjold has constructed a schedule that leaves no room for a slow start, adhering to the philosophy that "to be the best, you have to beat the best". The Eagles open their season on February 13th with a three-game road series against the defending back-to-back National Champions, University of Tampa, a squad that finished last year with a staggering 55-10 record. The road doesn't get easier in Myrtle Beach, where Post will face Franklin Pierce University, the NE10 Northeast Division Champions and a regional powerhouse that went 35-22 last spring, making a Super Regional.

As the calendar turns to March, the Eagles head to Florida for matchups against Molloy University, the reigning ECC Champions and a regional qualifier , and Lynn University, another South Regional tournament participant.

The home opener at Municipal Stadium is set for March 11th against Caldwell University. Key conference tests follow in late March and April, including series against Chestnut Hill College, a 2025 CACC Tournament team, and Jefferson University, the CACC South Division Champions who hosted the East Regional last year. The regular season concludes with a home-and-home series against University of Bridgeport and a final clash with Goldey-Beacom College, another CACC and East Regional tournament team. This schedule is designed to battle-test the Eagles' new-found depth before the CACC tournament in May. 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