New Season, Same Grit: Wooster Baseball Eyes 2026 Campaign

Photo credit: Matt Dilyard, The College of Wooster

Spring is closer than you think in Northeast Ohio, and after weeks of snow and bitter cold, that’s something to celebrate. Baseball is just around the corner, which means another season on the diamond for the Wooster Fighting Scots.

Wooster opens their 2026 campaign on February 20th in Atlanta. They’ll square off against three strong southern teams: Oglethorpe, Maryville, and Transylvania. The Scots’ home opener is February 28th at Art Murray Field against Oneonta.

Last season, Wooster stumbled to a 1-7 start but showed amazing grit as they turned things around. They had a 13-game winning streak at one point and finished 24-17-1 overall.

Head coach Aaron Swick, now entering his third season with Wooster, is looking to take another step forward. “I think everything really starts with culture,” Swick said. “We wanted to make sure we establish the right ingredients to help chase excellence on and off the field.” For Swick, that means focusing on the daily process. “Really it’s consistent daily choices…in terms of your work, your attitude, and your effort.”

Building a Foundation

Swick’s approach isn’t about circling one rival on the calendar. Instead, he’s helped the Scots set their own bar. In November, the team and coaches brainstormed goals together with everyone being challenged to own their preparation. The result is a group focused on being “the last team standing” with a mindset that’s built on consistency, discipline, and what Swick calls the “1% mentality.”

Swick believes leadership isn’t something you assign with a title. “Leadership is a trait that’s transferable amongst all people,” he said. Instead of traditional captains, the Scots have a communication council that includes players from different classes and positions. That’s how the team’s voice is established.

The Scots’ mission sums it up:

“A collection of internally driven individuals who are united together in the pursuit of excellence in all endeavors pushing through any adversity we encounter. We will display positivity, accountability, and a growth mindset that will leave a lasting legacy on campus, in the community, and with one another as we grow into future husbands, fathers, and leaders.”

To support that mission, the team leans on five pillars:

• Open Trusting Brotherhood
• Win Anyway
• Relentless Pursuit
• Honor the Program
• Be Present

 

On the Mound

 Wooster brings back almost its entire pitching staff from last year, including three proven arms for the rotation. Jack Spring, a first-team all-conference selection, “pitched phenomenal, really big games,” according to Swick. Sophomore Dame Frayne was a workhorse from opening weekend through the postseason and Michael Scarpelli led the team in wins. “We feel like we have three guys that have experience in that space, giving us an opportunity to create depth or length in games,” Swick said. There’s competition for the fourth and fifth starter spots, but Swick likes the different pieces – lefties, righties, diverse arm slots, and overall stuff. He’s hoping the staff can keep opponents off balance. Constantine Vernadakis, last year’s setup man, will move into the closer role this season.

Jack Spring led the Scots’ rotation last year with a 2.40 ERA over 63.2 innings

Around the Diamond

The Scots’ offense will feature a mix of familiar faces and promising newcomers. Ryan Kramer returns as a middle-of-the-order threat—“a special talent who can change the game in one swing,” Swick says. Zack Barienbrock, an all-conference third baseman, is back to anchor the infield. Catcher Colin Leslie looks to stay healthy and build on his 2025 fall season in which he was the team’s best hitter.

Ryan Kramer (22) slashed .376/.424/.669 last season with 10 home runs and 52 RBI.

 

Luke Rizzo, who started at shortstop as a freshman, will shift over to second base after a hot finish last season at the plate. Freshman Noah Lindberg will step in at shortstop.

The outfield is set to have a new look. Andrew Kerr will be in center field, and freshman Owen Sherrill will be in left. Transfer additions Mason Johnson (Clark State) and Koa Siu (from a Northwest DIII program) bring depth and power to the DH and corner outfield spots.

This year’s roster is as geographically diverse as ever, with 40 players from 16 states and all five time zones.

40 players representing 5 time zones. 5 weeks from first pitch. pic.twitter.com/Fwy71calD7

— Wooster Baseball (@WoosterBaseball) January 16, 2026

 

Check out the Scots’ full roster here.

 

The Path Ahead

Denison is still the team to beat in the North Coast Athletic Conference, but the new NPI (computer-based postseason ranking) means every win and strength of schedule count more than ever. The league adds John Carroll this year, while Hiram has moved to the PAC.

Wooster finished fourth in the 2025 NCAC regular season standings behind Denison, Wabash, and Wittenberg with a conference record of 11-4-1. However, the Fighting Scots made it to the NCAC tournament championship final, falling to Denison and just shy of an automatic bid to the NCAA DIII Championships.

Improvement and Emphasis

Generating more consistent offense is a point of emphasis for the Scots this season. Swick wants his team to play with the enthusiasm of Opening Day and the World Series every time they take the field. As one of the players recently put it: “It’s called playing baseball, not working baseball.”

Art Murray Field remains one of the most unique home settings in the conference and the Scots are hoping to see the stands packed this spring. Swick shared, “Our guys certainly appreciate the support and the excitement that comes from lots of noise in the stands.”

So, come and cheer on the Fighting Scots this season. If you can’t be there in person, you can still join in—all games are free to stream online.

This year’s squad promises to be an exciting blend of experience and new talent, poised to take another step forward—or even to be the last team standing.

 

 

J.W. Mulpas resides in Northeast Ohio and is a lifelong Cleveland sports fan. His favorite baseball player of all-time is Indians legend and 2018 Hall of Fame inductee, Jim Thome. He enjoys playing Fantasy Baseball, especially dynasty leagues. J.W. is the creator of CLEBoxscoreBeat.com and is also a contributor at Prospects1500.com. You can follow him on X @CLEBoxscoreBeat.