Cobleskill, N.Y.: The SUNY Cobleskill men's baseball team will begin their first season of membership in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) ranked first in the conference's season opening Western Division Pre-Season Poll. The Fighting Tigers are entering their first season of membership in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) after posting an 8-5 record in the pandemic shortened 2020 campaign. Cobleskill is currently 1-1 overall on the season to date splitting their season opening doubleheader at NCAA Division III regional power SUNY Cortland on Saturday in Cortland, N.Y.

Fighting Tiger head coach Lance Ratchford was pleased with the team's ranking and the prospects for the upcoming season.
"We are grateful for where we are ranked and for how far we have come as a program these past few years. This is a testament to all the hard work and sacrifice of our players and staff. We have a talented and special group of young men and we are excited to play this year and prove that we belong among the league's best."

The Fighting Tigers will be led by three veteran players who were identified as the Top NCAA Division III Baseball Players for the 2021 season by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. Junior outfielder Nick Thomas, Scotia, N.Y., Scotia-Glenville High School/Hudson Valley Community College, who is currently batting .375 with a homer and two RBI, junior shortstop/outfielder Eddy Garcia, Bronx, N.Y., World View High School, who was 1-for-7 against Cortland with a run scored and a stolen base along with senior outfielder/first baseman Jayson Maxwell, Newport, N.Y., Notre Dame High School, who is currently batting .500 with an RBI and a run scored

Among the newcomers, junior transfer Samuel Gutierrez, Bayside, N.Y., Martin Van Buren High School/Queensborough Community College, is a left-handed hitting first baseman/outfielder who is currently hitting .286 with a double and a RBI.

The Cobleskill pitching staff will return junior southpaw Devin Lewis, Cobleskill, N.Y., Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, who is 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA heading into league action and senior right hander Jarrod Williams, Baldwinsville, N.Y., C.W. Baker High School/Finger Lakes Community College, who is 0-1 overall with a 4.76 ERA.

A pair of freshman right handers will also be counted on for production this year as Andrew Jarkow, Glen Head, N.Y., North Shore High School, and Stephen Tejada, Queens, N.Y., High School for Construction, should see plenty of action this season.

Head Coach Lance Ratchford has compiled a 25-28 overall record since taking over the program in 2019 while leading the team to a birth in the 2019 North Eastern Athletic
 
Conference (NEAC) Championship Tournament for the first time in program history after finishing 9-9 overall in league play during the year.
The Orange & Black will next be in action on Saturday April 3 when they host North Atlantic Conference (NAC) rival SUNY Canton at Fighting Tiger Field beginning at 12:00 p.m.  Due to pandemic restrictions no spectators will be allowed at any Fighting Tiger home contests.