JACKSON, Mich. – The No. 22 Macomb Baseball team saw its historic season come to an end Friday (May 15) in the championship round of the NJCAA Region 12 Tournament. The Monarchs dropped a 13-5 affair to No. 1 Kellogg Community College in the winner's bracket final before falling by an 8-4 final to third-seeded Cuyahoga Community College in an elimination game.
The losses wrapped up a historic season for the Monarchs under first-year head coach and program alum, Nick Caruso. Ending the season at 37-17 overall, the 2026 edition of Macomb Baseball produced the most wins since the 2012 team finished with an equal record. In addition to the most wins in 14 years, the Monarchs secured the program's first outright MCCAA Eastern Conference Championship since 1987 with a 20-5 record and earned no worse than a share of their third straight league crown.
GAME ONE: No. 1 Kellogg 13, No. 22 Macomb 5 (7 inn.)
A back-and-forth affair between the Bruins and Monarchs was blown open in the bottom of the sixth inning when Kellogg plated five runs to take a 9-5 lead. The nation's top ranked team added four runs in the bottom of the seventh to earn the run-rule victory, plating nine unanswered in two innings after the Monarchs held a narrow 5-4 lead.
Aidan Miller went 3-for-4 at the plate to continue his strong tournament, while Evan Morrison and Brett Leonard recorded an RBI each. Buster Debol was 1-for-4 with an RBI while Lochlan Stoudt was 2-of-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Johnathan Meyette got the start and struck out eight in five innings of work.
GAME TWO: Cuyahoga 8, No. 22 Macomb 4
The tough day continued for the Monarchs in the nightcap as Cuyahoga jumped out to a 2-0 lead and responded with runs every time the Blue & White brought their own across in the 8-4 decision. Brett Leonard got the scoring started with a 2-run home run in the third to tie the game, 2-2, but the Triceratops went ahead a half inning later and never looked back.
Debol was 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and an RBI to pace the Monarchs, while Lochlan Stoudt was 2-for-5 with a RBI double. Zackary Grinde and Marwynn Matthews Jr added two hits each for the Monarchs in the season finale.
On behalf of the baseball program, Macomb Athletics would like to thank all the student-athletes and staff for an incredible 2026 season. We wish the sophomore class the best of luck with their future endeavors and look forward to another great season ahead in 2027.
