FREDONIA, N.Y. -- The Fredonia State baseball program is slated to open its season on Saturday at Westminster, and enters the 2026 season with renewed energy and a new voice in the dugout as Head Coach and Dunkirk native Frank Jagoda III begins his first year leading the Blue Devils. After a productive fall and winter, Jagoda is eager to see his group translate preparation into performance once games begin.
"Really looking forward to getting started," said Jagoda. "I am thankful to get outside these past few weeks. I am looking forward to seeing this group compete. They have put in the work from fall ball through the off-season programming and into spring and I am excited to take the next step."
The Blue Devils are coming off an 11–23 overall campaign in 2025, including a 4–14 mark in SUNYAC play, and will look to take a step forward in a conference that remains one of the most competitive in Division III. Fredonia State was picked sixth in the 2026 SUNYAC Preseason Coaches Poll. Cortland, Oswego, Oneonta, New Paltz, and Plattsburgh, were ahead of the Blue Devils, with Canton rounding out the poll.
The 2026 schedule features a challenging non-conference opening stretch before the heart of SUNYAC play. Fredonia State opens the season with a road doubleheaders at Westminster and Hilbert. The Devils will then head south for a multi-day Russ-Matt spring trip in Florida, where they face a slate of neutral-site games against Penn State Altoona, Calvin, Rutgers-Newark, Franklin & Marshall, Principia, and Bates.
SUNYAC action begins in late March with a road series at New Paltz, followed by a stretch of home games at Ludwig Field against Hilbert, Keuka, and Plattsburgh. The home slate continues into April with conference series versus Oneonta (April 3–4) and Oswego (April 17–18), while key road trips include Cortland (April 10–11) and SUNY Canton (April 24–25). The Devils have also have non-conference matchups with Penn State Behrend, Pitt-Bradford, Geneva, and Hobart.
Fredonia State brings back a key returnees as well as a balance of transfers and incoming freshmen players. The outfield group includes Nick Vitelli, Cole Schraufstetter, Domenic Hickok, Noah Panek, Jacob Brand, and Josh Warthling.
The infield is anchored by experienced players AJ Roach, Bryce Firkins, Ryan Mettler, Andrew Tucker, Tucker Schwab, Giovanni Amodeo, and John Aivaliotis. Behind the plate, senior Vinny Grazioplene is joined by Conor Tyree, Josh Monti, and Zachary Richards.
On the mound, Fredonia State returns a large pitching staff with a mix of right- and left-handed arms. Veterans Morgan Zientara, Michael Byrns, Riley Cardinali, Andrew Giardini, Josh Martos, Owen Ludwig, and Nick Syposs provide experience. Underclassmen like Mike Gangloff, Zachary Zentz, Landon Roach, Nico Garlic, Jarret Jordan, Brennan Bowes, and Seth Soultanidis will look to prive depth to the bullpen. Two-way contributors such as Jayden Serotti, Brayden Willats, Maddox Sheesley, and Ethan Drummond give the Blue Devils additional flexibility.
Jagoda is joined on staff by assistants Ryan Hann, Brendan McCrosson, Evan Harrison, and Frank Jagoda II.
