MAYS LANDING — The Atlantic Cape Community College Buccaneers baseball program returns in 2026 to its previous status as a Division III National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 19 team in the Garden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) after competing as a club team in 2025.
Last year’s program rebuild, on the heels of a cancelled 2024 season, coincided with the opening of Atlantic Cape’s new state-of-the-art, $1.8 million baseball field on the College’s Mays Landing campus.
Returning for his second season, Head Coach Alex Tafaro acknowledged the challenges of the job and the difficulties that last season’s rebuild brought, but he is eager and excited for a return to Division III level baseball in 2026.
“Last season was challenging for myself, the coaches and the team. We played a club schedule and dealt with low numbers as we rebuilt the program from scratch. We won a game, tied a varsity JUCO (junior college) team and we were competitive in a lot of our games,” admitted Tafaro. “(Playing in Division III) was a big goal for 2026. The team, coaches and myself are very excited to be competing at the varsity level this year. I am really looking forward to playing every team in the conference and seeing our guys rise to the challenge.”
As with most other junior college baseball programs throughout the northeastern states of the country, stubborn winter weather has made it nearly impossible to properly prepare for the new season. Tafaro, and assistant coaches Joseph Schipsi and Ryan Jose, have been putting their squad of student-athletes through rigorous indoor practices in Jonathan Pitney gymnasium.
“It’s (the weather) impacting us the same way it is everyone else. It presents a challenge, but it’s something out of our control. We have gotten a lot of good work accomplished inside and our guys have done a good job just putting their heads down and getting the work in that we can,” said Tafaro.
The Buccaneers are returning four sophomore student-athletes to the team this season: (left to right) first baseman Keegan Rothman (Northfield), first baseman Tyler McDaniel (Oceanview), outfielder Amir Brown (Atlantic City) and starting pitcher Josh Witmer (Absecon).
“We expect our four returning players to make impacts for us. (Josh) Witmer, last year’s team MVP, returns as a pitcher and we expect a big year from him,” said Tafaro.
The team’s sophomores will be supported by a dozen freshmen student-athletes, who will form the nucleus and future of the program as it continues to regain its footing in the NJCAA’s Region 19 and the GSAC.
“We have a lot of new talent that will be taking the field for us this year. We are excited about the energy and impact they can provide us,” said Tafaro.
First-year student-athletes include: second baseman Andrew Craig (Williamstown), catcher Josue Cuadrado (Buena), pitcher Ian Elko (Egg Harbor Township), Angelo Gonzalez, left/right fielder Logan Hammer (West Creek), catcher Jeanpaul Matos (Camden), John Morales, shortstop Ransel Perez (Atlantic City), second/third baseman Luis Quinones (Pleasantville), outfielder/pitcher Kevin Reyes (Absecon), left fielder Logan Totten (Wildwood) and outfielder/pitcher Terrence Venable (Egg Harbor Township).
With additional depth on the roster, talented returnees leading the way and energetic rookies looking to make their mark, Tafaro expects to see improvements in every facet of the Buccaneers game this season.
“We have a complete team this year. We are on the younger side, but we are excited for the guys to rise to the challenge,” added Tafaro.
Due to winter weather postponements, the Buccaneers are scheduled to open their season on Tuesday, March 10 at Union College of Union County, NJ, 3 p.m. The home opener at the Mays Landing campus baseball field is currently scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, 3 p.m. against Union College of Union County, NJ. Please visit events.atlanticcape.edu/baseball for an up-to-date Buccaneers baseball schedule. For more information, visit atlanticcape.edu/baseball.
This press release is not AI-generated.
About Atlantic Cape Community College
Established in 1964, Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States accredited, Hispanic Serving Institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers 47 undergraduate degree programs, and 34 certificate and workforce development professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and for more than 50 years, our highly-acclaimed Nursing program. Atlantic Cape also partners with several four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree without having to leave home.
