UPDATE: Tri-C swept a doubleheader against host Edison State on Friday afternoon by scores of 14-10 and 15-14. This means the Triceratops have won 32 games in a row. They oppose Edison State again on Monday at Ron Mottl Field in Parma.

PARMA, April 18 — Back at the end of February, things looked bleak for the Cuyahoga Community College men’s baseball team. The Triceratops were 1-4 and hosting a good Michigan program in Macomb Community College. Tri-C lost the first game 8-5, but rallied by scoring two runs in the final (seventh) inning to defeat Macomb 7-6.

They haven’t looked back since, cranking out 29 additional consecutive victories. Tri-C stands at 30-5 now and has (what is believed to be) the nation’s longest active winning streak among all college baseball programs this season – 30 consecutive victories.

 “What has made this team so good is that they have 100% bought into our standards and process,” says Kyle Stahlberg, third year head coach of the Triceratops. “This squad in particular has really embraced this work ethic, and they live by these standards every day.

“When you operate at this (high) level of consistency over the course of a year, great things are going to happen,” Stahlberg adds.

Pacing the way for Tri-C on offense are Kohan Merrit, Jackson Boles, Diddy Farell and Brendan Hazuda. Merritt, a speedy freshman shortstop from Belle River HS in Ontario, is hitting .406 with 29 RBIs, 47 runs scored, and 35 stolen bases.

Boles, a freshman outfielder from Glen Oak HS, has a .416 batting average to go along with 43 RBIS and 54 runs scored. Hazuda, a sophomore catcher from Clay High School (Oregon Ohio) is hitting .396 with 40 RBIs and 33 runs scored. And Farrell, a freshman outfielder from North Royalton, leads the regulars in batting with a .461 average along with 52 runs scored and 26 RBIs.

Offensively, Tri-C’s batters are the next Murder’s Row. They have a team batting average of .369 and score an average of 11 runs a game. The team has a .509 on base percentage and a .550 slugging percentage. Opportunistic on the base paths, the Triceratops have swiped 182 bases while only being caught 21 times.

On the mound, pitchers Keagan Gilbride, Vinny Gallaher, Mitchell Harder, and Mason Wolf carry much of the load.  Gilbride, a freshman right hander from Tallmadge HS, is 3-0 and possesses a 3.77 ERA.  Gallaher, another freshman from Clay HS, has a 4-1 record. Harder, a sophomore from Anthony Wayne HS, is 3-1 with a 2.97 ERA, and Wolf, a freshman from Chardon HS, has a 3.69 ERA. All told, Tri-C pitchers are holding enemy batters to a .239 batting average, a full 130 points beneath their own offense.

Overall, the Triceratops are 18-0 in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference play and have the top record among NJCAA Region 12 Division II programs.  (See link below)

Stahlberg cites a couple of other factors which have been critical to the team’s success.

“What makes this group so unique is that we have numerous ‘glue’ guys, guys that lead, bring energy, and create an environment that feels like family,” he explains.

Additionally, Stahlberg praises his coaching staff, comprised of assistants Matt Kehrin, Bryan Miller, Tim Miller, and Jake Solomon.

“We have one of the most well rounded and complete coaching staffs. Not only their knowledge base, but the way they connect with our guys – and push the bar to be better – is a massive foundation for our success.

A team doesn’t get to 30 consecutive wins without close calls. One such nailbiter was against perennial baseball powerhouse Hocking College.  It took a Hazuda single in the ninth inning, scoring Boles, to break a tie and propel Tri-C to a 6-5 victory in the second of two games against the Hawks on April 13. 

“This series (with Hocking) provided adversity and challenges that were a great experience for our guys,” Stahlberg says. Just two days later, Tri-C traveled in bitter chilly weather to Perrysburg to oppose nationally ranked Owens Community College.

“Owens is always very good,” Stahlberg says “We had 20-30 mph winds in our faces and it felt about five degrees out there. But starting pitchers Dylan Allamon and Ethan Ebert stepped up, and we won the two contests 9-4 and 9-2.”

NEXT UP:

The Triceratops travel to Edison State (Piqua) for a double header on Friday, and then Edison State heads to Parma Ron Mottl Field in Parma for two more games on Monday, April 21 scheduled for noon and 2 p.m.

https://region12.prestosports.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/standings

https://region12.prestosports.com/tournaments/bsb2/2024-25/index

Tri-C’s statistics:  https://athletics.tri-c.edu/sports/bsb/2024-25/teams/cuyahogacommunitycollege

COLLEGE BASEBALL WINNING STREAKS

NCAA Division I, Florida Atlantic, 34 straight (1999)

NCAA Division I, Texas (34 straight) 1977

NCAA Division III, Trinity College (44 straight), 2008

NCAA Division II, Savannah State, (46 straight) 2000

OTHER ACTIVE WIN STREAKS

Hudson Valley Community College (26 straight) NJCAA Div. III

PHOTOS OF THE ENTIRE Tri-C TEAM ARE HERE:

https://photos.tyzen9.com/index.php?/category/49   

Photos courtesy of Tyzen 9 Photography

eyeoncleveland founder John Kerezy, associate professor of Media & Journalism Studies at Cuyahoga Community College, is this story’s author