GREENVILLE, Pa. (Feb. 25) -- The Thiel College Baseball team enters the 2026 season with its sights set on returning to the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship Tournament for the third consecutive season under the leadership of 27th-year head coach
Joe Schaly.
The Tomcats come into 2026 with a younger squad after graduating 10 seniors and grad students from last season. Schaly, however, sees the positives in having a younger squad as it allows for greater competition in practice with guys looking to make their mark in 2026.
"I think we're going to be a fun team to watch," Schaly said in his season preview interview with Sports Information Director Dante Parente. "There's competition at every position and guys are playing for starting jobs, which should raise guys to the best of their abilities."
Thiel figures to be led offensively by
Calvin Cackowski (Wickliffe, Ohio/Wickliffe), an ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Third Team and All-PAC First Team honoree last season. Cackowski led the PAC in slugging (.662) and home runs (nine) while finishing third in total bases (88) last season.
On the mound,
Brady Rzodkiewicz (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek) will step into a larger role as he is the lone starter who returns with significant innings and experience in the past.
The 2026 Tomcats are captained by
Colton Brightwell (Eighty Four, Pa./Bentworth) and
Cole Sherwin (Karns City, Pa./Karns City).
Thiel was picked to finish eighth in the PAC Preseason Coaches' Poll as Brightwell, Cackowski and Sherwin were all named Players to Watch for the upcoming campaign.
Pivotal contests and dates of significance on the 2026 schedule can be found below. The full schedule can be found
here or by clicking the blue box above.
Key Dates
- Feb. 28: Opening Day DH vs. Juniata
- March 7-14: Spring break trip to Florida featuring eight games over eight days
- March 21: PAC opener at Hiram
- March 24: Home PAC opener versus W&J
- March 29 - April 4: Three-game homestand versus Mount Union (March 29), Penn State Shenango (April 1) and Chatham (April 4)
- April 22: Home finale versus Westminster
- May 2: Regular season finale at Waynesburg
- May 6-9: PAC Championship Tournament at W&J
Roster
The 2026 roster can be found
here or by clicking the blue box above.
Looking Ahead
The Tomcats open the 2026 campaign Saturday with a home non-conference DH versus Juniata beginning at 1 p.m.
