Lyndonville, VT - The Vermont State University Lyndon baseball team will travel to Myrtle Beach, SC, this week and open their season this weekend with three games at the Ripken Experience Spring Training tournament. The season kicks off with a game against Hanover College on Friday morning at 10:00 am. Then on Sunday, the Hornets will take on New England College in a doubleheader.
Lyndon returns 21 players from its 2025 roster. Graduate student left hander Carlos Rodriguez (La Mirada, CA) and senior right hander Nathan Bigelow (East Hampton, CT) are expected to head up the starting rotation. Rodriguez returns to action after missing last season with an injury. Rodriguez was 2-2 with 41 strikeouts and a 4.67 earned run average in nine appearances in 2024. Bigelow made eight appearances last season, posting a 3-3 record and a 5.45 ERA with 30 strikeouts.
Seniors Isaiah Gutierrez (Nashua, NH) and Mike Redmond (Plantation, FL) are expected to compete for spots in the starting rotation, while two more seniors, Matt Gonyeau (Saint Albans, VT) and Keegan Stephenson (Lander, WY) are the leading candidates to emerge as closers out of the bull pen. Senior Ryan Alt (Poultney, VT) and sophomores Tyler Kimball (Vergennes, VT) and Adam Guenther (Southington, CT) have also seen significant time on the mound, giving the Hornets one of the more experienced pitching staffs in the North Atlantic Conference.
In addition to logging innings on the mound, Gonyeau and Alt are expected to appear in the everyday lineup. Gonyeau can catch, play third base or outfield, while Alt will see time as a first baseman, and potentially as a designated hitter. Gonyeau hit a team best .352 last season with 12 extra base hits and 21 runs batted in. Alt hit .317 with six doubles and 17 RBIs.
Sophomore infielder Eyon Tembreull (Vergennes, VT) is expected to build on a solid rookie campaign in which he hit .280 and played in 31 of 34 games, starting 29 times. Other returnees include graduate student outfielder Matt Doherty (Gardner, MA), senior infielder Ian Hedgepeth (Norwich, VT), junior infielder Andrew Lovejoy (Milton, VT), five sophomore outfielders, Sean Dunton (Quecheee, VT), Michael Matsi (Las Vegas, NV), Zinabu McNeice (Brattleboro, VT), James Ripley (Jeffersonville, VT), and Brayden Ross (West Bridgewater, MA), and a trio of sophomore catchers, Carter Paquette (Shoreham, VT), Jess Seaton (Yorkville, IL) and Austin Bigelow (East Hampton, CT).
Four transfers bring added experience to the roster. Senior infielder Braeden Adams (Montpelier, VT) played two seasons at New England College. Sophomore utility player Tredell Blow (Yorktown, VA) played previously at Bryant & Stratton College-Albany. Freshman infielder Cesar Cisneros (National City, CA) played at Southern California Leadership University. Senior outfielder Jeren Harrison (Charlotte, NC) spent a year each at Mid-American Christian University and New River Community College.
Seven freshmen round out the roster. They include pitchers Matthew Chamberlain (Burlington, VT) and Ethan Cross (Millbrook, ON), first baseman Eric Hernandez Jr. (Fairfax, VT), infielder Ismael El Gharbi (Revere, MA), and outfielders Jack Daicar (Kingston, ON), Aaron LeFrancois (Rutland, VT), and Luke Senecal-Lamothe (Benson, VT).
After the Hornets return from South Carolina they will resume their 40-game schedule at Anna Maria College on March 14th. Lyndon will also play three non-conference games against Fisher College, two games apiece against Wentworth Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and the University of Maine at Augusta. Norwich University, and one game against Middlebury College.
This season each of the NAC's seven baseball playing schools will play four games against each of the other six conference opponents, for a total of 24 NAC games. Lyndon will open NAC play with a four game series against Thomas College on April 3rd and 4th. The top four teams in the conference standings will qualify for the NAC Championship Tournament in May, with the tournament winner earning automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
Cameron Curler returns for his fourth season as head coach of the Hornets. He will be assisted by Nate Stewart, Drayton Harris, Steven Friscia, and TJ Santaw.
Curler believes that Lyndon's experience will serve them well this season. "We have seven seniors who have seen time on the mound and should anchor our pitching staff. Our lineup will be anchored by Gonyeau, Alt, and Tembreull, as well as a few transfers who should compete for significant roles."
Lyndon will be looking to improve upon a 2025 campaign which saw them go 12-22 overall and 3-9 in NAC play. The Hornets will be seeking their first NAC playoff berth since the 2019 season.
