Baseball Set to Begin 2025 Campaign on the Road Against Kean on Thursday; Home Opener Scheduled for March 1

2/19/2025 1:00:00 PM | By: Julia Cuttone, OW Athletic Communications Intern

OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. - The SUNY Old Westbury Panthers baseball team is set to embark on another highly anticipated season in the coming days. The Panthers are entering the season ranked sixth in the Skyline Conference preseason poll, earning 54 points in the annual rankings voted on by the league's head coaches. The poll serves as an early projection of the teams expected to compete at the top of the conference standings.

Head Coach Rod Stephan, entering his 19^th season at the helm of the program, remains committed to the team's continued growth and success. "Our goals are to win the Skyline Conference and Regionals, keep everyone happy and healthy, graduate our seniors, and maintain a team GPA above 3.0," said Stephan. He added, "We are excited about our new additions, first-year student-athletes and transfers, who will help us achieve these objectives for years to come."

The Panthers are looking to build on a 2024 season in which they posted a 14-20 overall record and a 9-11 mark in conference play. Despite early challenges, Old Westbury fought through adversity throughout the year. The season underscored the team's resilience and provided a foundation for future success.

With several key returners and a strong incoming class, Old Westbury is focused on building its pitching staff and offsetting the loss of four key hitters who graduated. "Our key area is pitching. We are working hard to improve our returning players while bringing in new talent," said Stephan. Recently, it was announced that Pat Quinn joined the coaching staff as the team's new pitching coach.

Recruiting has also received a boost with the return of the Panthers' home field, a factor that has significantly enhanced their ability to attract top student-athletes. "All coaches face challenges with the transfer portal but having our field back has allowed us to recruit more effectively. The key to overcoming the portal is finding and bringing in the right people," Stephan said.

Beyond their on-field goals, the Panthers continue to achieve in the classroom. "I am most proud of our players' success academically and the fact that we now have 20 former players competing professionally," Stephan added. The team recently earned the 2022-23 Team Academic Excellence Award from the American Baseball Coaches Association, reinforcing its dedication to balancing athletics and academics.

Stephan is eager to return to the home field and integrate the new talent into the lineup. "I'm excited to play on our field again and to see our freshmen and transfer players contribute to our long-term goals," he said.

The Panthers are set to kick off the 2025 season on the road on Thursday, February 20 on the road against Kean. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 PM. Following that, the Panthers will open the year at home on Saturday, March 1 against Penn State Altoona.

For more information on the SUNY Old Westbury Panthers baseball team, including their full schedule and roster, visit the official athletics website.

"The most rewarding part of coaching is watching our players graduate, start their careers, and build their lives and families," Stephan reflected. "I hope they remember that I made them better players, treated them fairly, and that they truly enjoyed their time at Old Westbury. Always play hard—you never know who is watching."

2025 Skyline Conference Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll

Pl., Team (2024 Record, 2024 Conference Record), Pts. (first-place votes)
1. St. Joseph's-Long Island (33-14, 18-2 Skyline), 99 (9 first-place votes)
2. Farmingdale State (24-15, 13-7), 90 (2)
3. USMMA (27-16, 15-5), 78
4. Maritime (26-13, 14-6), 72
5. Purchase (20-20, 12-8), 60
6. Old Westbury (14-20, 9-11), 54
7. Manhattanville (20-21, 11-9), 52
8. Mount Saint Vincent (16-21, 10-10), 38
9. Mount Saint Mary (11-29, 5-15), 31
10. St. Joseph's-Brooklyn (8-28, 3-17), 21
11. Yeshiva (0-26, 0-20), 10

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