2025 Season Preview
As the 2025 season approaches, the Delaware County Community College (DCCC) Phantoms baseball team is gearing up with renewed determination and a fresh roster loaded with young talent. Under the leadership of head coach Ryan Hunter, now in his second season, the Phantoms aim to build upon the foundation set in the 2024 campaign.
Coach Hunter, reflecting on the previous season, emphasized the importance of leadership and dedication for the young group of Phantoms, stating, “Many of these young men joining the program embody my philosophy of being truly dedicated to putting in the work to get better daily, and their collective leadership has to drive this team if we want to have a successful season.”
Key Players to Watch
While last year’s team saw significant contributions from players like Cidrick Navas (Manor College) and Gabe Palandro (Penn State Hazelton) in the 2024 season, the 2025 roster introduces returning talent infused with an incoming class of new talent poised to make an impact. Two returners Benjamin Beasley & Izaah Perocier, both graduates of Upper Darby High School, are expected to bring veteran leadership, along with Eric Engesser of Downingtown West High School, last year’s team MVP, who aims to add power to the middle of the batting lineup. Kiyon Pinkney, 2024 graduate of Frederick Douglass High School (Upper Marlboro, MD) and 2024 All-Metropolitan Baseball Team award recipient, is one of three out-of-state players who signed a national letter of intent and made the journey to DCCC to be a part of Coach Hunter’s first recruiting class, with large expectations of restoring pride in the Phantoms baseball program. He is joined by Landyn Washington, graduate of Red Lion Christian Academy (Bear, DE) and Jackson Davis, graduate of Saint Elizabeth High School (Wilmington, DE). They’re joined by Josh Claycomb, graduate of Chichester High School (Boothwyn, PA), who was the only player local to Delaware County to sign a letter of intent with DCCC. These four recruits aim for spots in the starting lineup, and join a roster loaded with first year players.
The starting pitching rotation will be led by second year player, Hunter Whitten. Whitten led the team, and was among leaders in Region XIX in innings pitched in 2024. Projected to join him in the rotation are the aforementioned Davis, and Matt Delacruz, transfer from West Chester University. Freshman Brady Kopishke will also see significant innings on the mound as a reliever, as will Claycomb and Engesser. Newcomers Jeremy Cronin and Talon Mohl will also compete for innings on the mound as well.
Season Outlook
The Phantoms face a challenging 43-game schedule, competing against seasoned National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II and III opponents, along with formidable teams from other conferences. This is the largest schedule the Phantoms will have played since joining the NJCAA. The season & home opener is slated for February 28 at 3:30 p.m. against the Atlantic Cape Buccaneers. The Region XIX schedule offers a few big challenges, as four competitors are ranked in the pre-season national top 20. The first of those challenges is a weekday two-game set with the Middlesex Colts, ranked 18th in the nation, on March 18-19. This series is immediately followed by a EPAC clash with the Northampton Knights, ranked 5th in the nation, in the three-game weekend series March 21-22. The month of April kicks off with a three-game weekday series against the Brookdale Jersey Blues, who started the year as the 3rd ranked team in the nation. As April nears a close, a three-game weekend series takes place with the back-to-back, defending National Champion RCSJ-Gloucester Roadrunners on April 25-26. The Phantoms will see a former player on the field, as they travel to Manor College on April 29, where Cidrick Navas now plays. The season will conclude with Sophomore Day on May 5, as the Phantoms second-year players will take the home field for the last time in the regular season against the Raritan Valley Lions at 3:00 p.m.
Despite a young roster laden with first-year players, the team’s ambitions remain high. The coaching staff has emphasized building a cohesive unit, focusing on teamwork and communication both on and off the field. As the season unfolds, the Phantoms are determined to showcase their skills and strive for a successful campaign.
For more information on the Phantoms baseball team and the complete 2025 season schedule, visit dcccphantoms.com.