WARREN, Mich. – A new year and a new era for Macomb Community College Baseball gets underway Friday (Feb. 20) in Rome, Ga., at the Georgia Highlands Classic. After earning a share of back-to-back MCCAA Eastern Conference Championships in 2024 and 2025, the Monarchs will look to build off their recent success with a talented roster and new leadership under the direction of first-year head coach Nick Caruso.

2025 Review
The Monarchs finished the 2025 campaign with a 35-17 overall record, a share of the MCCAA Eastern Conference title and a first-round postseason series victory in the Region XII Tournament. The 35 victories—highlighted by the Monarchs winning 18 of their last 20 regular season contests—marked the program's most wins in a season since 2012 (37). Other key highlights included a pair of Top 25 victories, including one Top 10 NJCAA Division I upset.

Coaching Staff
Caruso, a Macomb baseball alum and last season's associate head coach, takes the reins of the program after former head coach, Taylor Grzelakowski, moved on to the NCAA Division I level as an assistant at Michigan State University. A good portion of the coaching staff remains intact as fellow program alum, Josh Medrano, returns in 2026 as an assistant coach in charge of the catchers, while Logan Wood is back as pitching coach. Nathan Sier, a strength and conditioning coach in the Washington Nationals organization, remains the program's Director of Strength and Conditioning and Kyle Lugar assists with pitching development and recruiting efforts.

Newcomers to the staff include another program alum, Patrick Adams, as well as Ben Wilcoxson. Adams has assumed the recruiting coordinator role and is the team's hitting and outfield coach. Wilcoxson oversees the infielders.

Schedule Overview
The Monarchs begin a highly challenging non-conference slate on Friday at the Georgia Highlands Classic where they will open against perennial NJCAA Division I power Wabash Valley College at 10 a.m. Wabash Valley enters Friday with 11 games under their belt and an 8-3 record after scoring 19-or-more runs in nearly half of their games played. A pair of games against NJCAA DII No. 12 Catawba Valley Community College are next before the Monarchs close out their Georgia trip against the host and NJCAA DI 15^th ranked Chargers. Catawba Valley (4-6) also has a 10-game advantage on the Monarchs while the Chargers (14-4) will be nearly 20 games into their campaign.

Following the Georgia trip, the Monarchs will head to Lake Land College in Illinois Feb. 27-28 for the Otto Memorial Tournament. The Monarchs will play four games in Illinois, beginning with one against the host and NJCAA DI 21^st ranked Lakers, two against Rock Valley College and one opposite South Suburban College.

A trip to the Sunshine State is next as the Monarchs will play eight games in Central Florida at the 2026 RussMatt Invitational. A doubleheader against NJCAA DII No. 18 Kirkwood Community College highlights an eight-game slate that spans March 7-11. The Monarchs will play two against Andrew College on their way home from the RussMatt Invitational and will open the 25-game MCCAA Eastern Conference schedule with a single 9-inning tilt against Mott Community College at home on March 17.

For the complete schedule, visit: https://macombmonarchs.com/sports/baseball/schedule

Watch this weekend's games at Georgia Highland live on GHC's AWRE TV!
Note: a monthly/PPV subscription may be needed to watch the games.

Friday - 10:00 AM: Macomb vs. Wabash Valley: WATCH
Friday - 1:00 PM: Macomb vs. No. 12 Catawba Valley: WATCH
Saturday - 10:00 AM: Macomb vs. No. 12 Catawba Valley: WATCH
Saturday - 1:00 PM: Macomb at D1 No. 15 Georgia Highlands: WATCH
 
Returning All-Conference Honorees
After sending a host of former standouts on to the next level, including five from last year's team to the NCAA Division I ranks, the Monarchs will be a new-look team entering the 2026 campaign. Returning all-conference honorees from last season are Dominic Cavacini (Honorable Mention All-Conference), Nathan Fidelino (Second Team All-Conference and All-Freshman Team) and Aidan Miller (Honorable Mention All-Conference).

Returning Statistical Leaders
Fidelino was 5-0 on the mound while hitting .409 with 14 doubles, four triples and four home runs in 2025 and was followed by Aidan Miller who hit .323 with 10 doubles while driving in 23 runs. Cavacini hit .327 in 30 starts and Buster Debol recorded a .292 average in 27 starts. Brendan Przybycki is the team's returning ERA leader after posting a 2.89 with a 1.34 WHIP in 2025 as part of a 2-1 record in nine appearances. Matt Dickinson and Evan Robinson also finished within the top six in ERA last season for the Monarchs.

Talented Newcomers
A deep and talented class of newcomers is poised to play a feature role this season. Standout freshmen include Greg Burns, Norberick Garcia, Evan Morrison and Kaiden Pollock among several others. The transfer class features Josh Kasner (University of Michigan), Marwynn Matthews Jr. (Western Michigan University), Ryan Sommer (Taylor University) and Lochlan Stoudt (Northwood University).
 
Follow the Monarchs
Fans can follow Macomb baseball throughout the season via the following links:

• MacombMonarchs.com (schedule, stats, news and more)
• Twitter/X (any live stream links will be posted here) and Instagram - @MacombBaseball
• GameChanger (live stats – no video / where service/data is available)