Baseball Season Preview: Monroe County Division II

Tyler Estelle (5) returns to the lineup for a Webster Thomas squad that reached the NYS Class AA semifinals in 2025. (Photo: LAURA ACCIAIO)

A full slate of games are on the schedule this week for Section V Baseball. Previews for Brighton, Churchville-Chili, Gates Chili, Irondequoit, Spencerport and Webster Thomas will get fans ready….

BRIGHTON BRUINS

Last season: Finished 12-8, lost to Penfield in Class AA quarterfinals.
Coach: Jason Wasserman, 194-168/18th season.
Top returners: Jack Edelstein Sr. INF (Second Team All-County/Vermont State University commit); Patrick Newcomer Sr. 2B; Max Sheehan Jr. P/1B; Nate Bondi Jr. C; Noah Deitz Jr. INF.
Top newcomers: Owen Hoefen Jr. P/OF; Drew Sienkowski Jr. P/OF; Jack Morgan Jr. P/INF; Ethan Bialaszewski So. 3B/1B; Hudson Coles So. CF/C.
Next game: Tuesday, April 14th vs. Webster Thomas.
Sectional titles: 1 (’96).

CHURCHVILLE-CHILI SAINTS

Last season: Finished 19-5, Monroe County Division II champions, Class AA finalist.
Coach: Bob Rule, 32-13, third season.
Top returners: Bobby Rule Jr. Jr. P/OF (5-2, 1.097 ERA, .347 BA Section V Class AA Team, First Team All-County); Anthony Indiano Jr. P (9-1 2.042 ERA, Second Team All-County); Will Sheible Sr. P/1B (2-0, 1.221); Nick Vaccaro Sr. SS, (.343 BA, Second Team All-County); Josh Miner Sr. 2B (.245 BA, Alfred State commit).
Top newcomers: Jayden Jager Jr. OF; Jayden McCardle Jr 3B; Jordan Wilson Jr P/C.
Next game: Wednesday, April 15th at Irondequoit.
Sectional titles: 6 (’98, ’93, ’92, ’89, ’73, ’63).

GATES CHILI SPARTANS

Last season: Finished 7-14, lost to eventual NYS semifinalist Webster Thomas in the Section V Class AA quarterfinals.
Coach: Dean Dingee
Top returners: Jaylen Givens Sr. CF/P (.370 BA/First Team All-County); Gavin Sweeney Sr. P/3B (.339 BA); Bruce Hanna Sr. SS/2B (Second Team All-County/Genesee CC commit); Nick DiFrancesca Sr. OF (Genesee CC commit); Andrew McManus Sr. C (SUNY Fredonia commit).
Top newcomers: Nate McKinney Jr. 3B/1B/P/OF; Ryan Stade Jr. OF.
Next game: Wednesday, April 15th at Greece Athena.
Sectional titles: 1 (’68)

VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM LAURA ACCIAIO.

IRONDEQUOIT EAGLES

Last season: Finished 6-15
Coach: Joe Kuhn, 75-54, seventh season.
Top returners: Max Spitz Sr. SS/P (Fifth-year starter, Three-time All-County selection, Alfred State commit); Landon Bryan Sr. C/P (Fourth-year starter, Clarkson University commit); Jimmy Jackson So. C/P/IF/OF (Second-year starter); Alex McGlaughlin Sr. 3B/P (Third-year starter); Braydon Delly Sr. P/Util (Second-year starter, Finger Lakes CC commit); Jack Niggli Jr. P/OF).
Next game: Wednesday, April 15th vs. Churchville-Chili.
Sectional titles: 5 (’00, ’96, ’89, ’85, ’37).

SPENCERPORT RANGERS

Last season: Finished 6-15, lost to Victor in Class second round.
Coach: Larry Frisa, 74-144/14th season.
Outlook: After a season defined by development and resilience, the Spencerport Rangers enter the spring ready to transform last year’s “growing pains” into this year’s competitive edge. In 2025, the Rangers leaned heavily on a youthful core – starting three ninth graders and two sophomores — navigating the inevitable hurdles of varsity baseball. Spencerport aims to capitalize on last year’s invaluable experience. Competing in the notoriously deep Monroe County Division II, the Rangers know there are no easy nights on the schedule.
Next game: Friday, April 17th vs. Rush-Henrietta.
Sectional titles: 3 (’76, ’68, ’42).

WEBSTER THOMAS TITANS

Last season: Finished 19-6, Section V Class AA champions, NYS Class AA Regional champions, lost to Horseheads (IV), 2-0 in NYS Class AA semifinal.
Coach: Kevin Neenan, 150 – 88/13^th Season
Top returners: Tyler Estelle Sr. SS/P (First Team All-County, .330 BA, 25 R, 23 RBI, 3 2B, 2 3B, 13 BB, 4 SB); Max Seaver Jr. P/OF (Second Team All-County, 7-2, 1.41 ERA, 58 K, 15 BB); CJ Sciortino Jr. C/SS/2B (.250 BA, 5 R, 5 BB); Jake Schoen Sr. 1B/P (4 H, 2 RBI); Dan Check Sr. OF (4 H, 3 RBI).
Top newcomers: Joey Rotondi-Hrywnak Sr. 3B/P; Garrett Hogan Sr. OF/P; Max Bowers Jr. C/3B/P; Andrew Calabrese Jr. 1B/P; Everett McCann Jr. 2B; Colin Miller Jr. 3B/1B; Chase Palermo Jr P/OF; Alex Wright Jr. OF/C; Colin DiCicco So. 2B/SS/OF; Sean Griffin So. OF; Nico Santoleri So. P/2B/SS; Colin Swing So. P/OF; Liam White-Scuderi So. OF.
Next game: Tuesday, April 14th at Brighton.
Sectional titles: 4 (’25, ’22, ’21, ’05) *Webster won titles in ’98, ’93, ’92, ’89, ’73 and ’63.