Cougars Earn Top Seed Entering Region 20 Division II Championship
Frederick Community College baseball delivered another championship‑caliber regular season in 2026, closing the year with a 33‑13 overall record and a dominant 23‑5 mark in Region 20 Division II play. The Cougars won 19 of their last 20 Region 20 DII contests to earn them a No. 19 national ranking in the latest NJCAA Division II Baseball Poll heading into postseason competition.
FCC proved difficult to beat in any setting. The Cougars went 16- 5 at home, 9- 7 on the road, and 8- 1 in neutral-site games, combining explosive offense with timely pitching to control series and sweeps across the region. The Cougars scored 434 runs in 46 games, batting .335 as a team while posting an exceptional .481 on‑base percentage and a .574 slugging percentage.
Offensively, Frederick's lineup overwhelmed opponents with both power and patience. The Cougars totaled 64 home runs and 152 extra‑base hits while drawing 288 walks and stealing 145 bases. Freshman Vincenzo Cusat emerged as one of the most dangerous hitters in Region 20, hitting .450 with nine home runs, 45 RBIs, and a team‑leading .810 slugging percentage. Cusat consistently delivered in key moments and added value as a two‑way contributor throughout the season.
Sophomore Luis Perez Alfaro anchored the heart of the order, driving in a team‑high 56 runs while batting .409 with nine home runs and 24 extra‑base hits. Cole Swinimer provided a dynamic presence at the top of the lineup, recording 10 home runs, 47 walks, and a .570 on‑base percentage. Casey Westerberg continued his production with a .411 average and 42 RBIs, while Clayton Dorsey added 44 RBIs and eight home runs to give FCC depth throughout the order. Andrew Varga rounded out the offensive core with 43 RBIs and a .506 on‑base percentage.
On the mound, the Cougars leaned on pitching depth to complement the offense. FCC finished the regular season with a 5.84 ERA and five shutouts. Sophomore Evan Hassinger led the staff with an 8‑2 record and a 2.81 ERA, striking out 63 batters in 51.1 innings while holding opponents to a 1.19 WHIP. Ethan Duff delivered consistent starts all season, going 7‑1 with nearly 10 strikeouts per nine innings. Out of the bullpen, freshman Matthew Calabrese posted a 3.74 ERA with two saves, while Colin Milligan recorded a 4.63 ERA with 44.2 innings pitched with 51 strikeouts.
The Cougars carry strong momentum into the postseason after closing the regular season with sweeps of Chesapeake College, CCBC Catonsville, and the College of Southern Maryland. Those performances solidified Frederick's position as the top seed entering regional play.
That postseason now comes to Frederick, as the Cougars host the Region 20 Division II Baseball Championship Tournament from May 14‑16. The final four teams will compete for the regional title and an automatic berth to the NJCAA Division II World Series. Frederick enters as the No. 1 seed, with CCBC Essex earning the No. 2 seed. Both teams receive byes into the final four and will await the winners of the quarterfinal rounds. FCC's first postseason game is scheduled for Thursday, May 14 at 3 p.m.
A Region 20 title would add to an already storied tradition. Frederick has claimed Region 20 championships in 2015, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025, and the program has established itself as one of the most consistent in NJCAA Division II baseball. This decade alone, the Cougars have made World Series appearances in 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025, and punched their ticket five more times, continuing a history that includes additional trips dating back to 1998.
The Region 20 champion will advance to the 2026 NJCAA Division II World Series, scheduled for May 23‑30 at David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid, Oklahoma. With a powerful lineup, dependable pitching staff, and the advantage of hosting postseason play, Frederick Community College enters the tournament chasing another regional championship and another opportunity to compete on the national stage.