Historic Win: Dean Baseball Dominates in First Conference Playoff Appearance
- Skylar Raskevitz
- May 2
- 4 min read
The Dean College Bulldogs used a six-run fifth inning to power past the Colby-Sawyer Chargers 11–1, marking a milestone moment for the program in its postseason debut.
The Dean College Bulldogs entered their first-ever conference playoff matchup with familiarity against the Colby-Sawyer Chargers, as the two teams had already met twice earlier in the season. After dropping the first matchup and bouncing back to win the second, the Bulldogs looked to carry that momentum into the postseason.
With focus and discipline on both sides of the ball, Dean delivered, defeating Colby-Sawyer 11–1 in a commanding performance that was highlighted by a massive fifth inning surge.
Before the game, the Dean Daily had the chance to speak with several senior players about what it meant to finally reach the conference playoffs. Senior Tyler Giambra admitted there were mixed emotions heading into such a big moment, explaining that while he was excited, there were also nerves because the team had never played in a game of this magnitude before.
Spencer Lichstrahl echoed the confidence of the team, saying the Bulldogs felt ready to go and focused on taking things one game at a time.
When asked about their goal now that they had reached the postseason, the answer was simple: win the tournament and go all the way.
Luke Fahey, who delivered the game-winning hit that helped send Dean to the playoffs, said it was a great experience to reach this point but added that it would not mean much unless the team continued to win.
Captain Jacob Paschetto reflected on his time at Dean and, despite an impressive season filled with personal accomplishments, said his proudest moment was making the playoffs as a team after several difficult seasons. For the seniors, simply reaching this stage together meant more than any individual recognition.
The Dean Daily also had the opportunity to interview head coach Tyler Fitzgerald about what this postseason moment means for the program. In his first season leading the Dean College Bulldogs, Fitzgerald said making the playoffs is a great start, but emphasized that simply reaching the postseason is not the end goal.
According to him, once a team gets there, the expectation shifts to winning the entire tournament. Reflecting on the season, he credited the team’s toughness and adaptability, explaining that the players embraced a new style of play and handled adversity well, even as injuries and roster changes forced others to step up throughout the year.
Looking ahead to next season, with 14 players graduating, Fitzgerald acknowledged there will be many new faces joining the program, including freshmen and junior college transfers, but said the standard will remain high. In fact, he made it clear that the expectation will still be to win a conference championship.
When asked whether making the playoffs in year one creates more pressure, Fitzgerald said he does not view it as pressure, but rather as setting a new standard. Referencing a lesson from former NFL coach, Jimmy Johnson, he explained that circumstances should not change how a team plays, whether it is a playoff game or a regular conference matchup, the focus remains the same: go out and win the game in front of you.
With that mindset established, the Dean College Bulldogs took the field ready to execute.
Dean struck first early in the game when a sequence of timely hits moved runners around the bases before Lichstrahl drove in the Bulldogs’ first run with an RBI single.
Strong defensive play supported starting pitcher Philip Curran, as the Bulldogs recorded clean outs across the field to keep Colby-Sawyer from building any momentum through the opening innings. A sacrifice fly ball later in the third inning extended Dean’s lead to 2–0, giving the Bulldogs a steady advantage heading into the middle of the game.
After a quiet fourth inning from both teams, the energy shifted dramatically in the fifth. Curran set the tone by striking out the first batter of the inning and the Bulldogs defense quickly followed with a pair of routine outs to complete a quick 1-2-3 frame. When Dean returned to the plate, the offense exploded.
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Back-to-back hits from Luke Fahey and Paschetto put runners on base before Gavin Goss drew a walk to load the bases. Lichstrahl then delivered one of the biggest swings of the game, blasting a double that brought two runs across the plate and ignited the Bulldogs’ dugout and crowd.
The rally continued with a bunt laid down by Captain Colin Favata and defensive error allowed another run to score, followed by an RBI hit down the left field line by Captain Nick Amendolara and a two-run single through center field by Dylan Altermatt. By the time the inning ended, Dean had poured on six runs and completely shifted the momentum of the game.
With a commanding lead, the Bulldogs continued to apply pressure in the sixth inning, adding two more runs after confusion in the outfield allowed additional runners to cross
the plate. Dean’s defense remained steady behind Curran, limiting Colby-Sawyer to just one run late in the game.
In the seventh inning, Dean sealed the victory when Goss put the ball in play and defensive errors brought home the final run, securing an 11–1 win and marking a historic moment for the Bulldogs in their first conference playoff appearance.
Powered by clutch hitting and a game-changing fifth inning, Dean College now moves forward with momentum and confidence as their postseason run continues.
The Bulldogs will travel to Mitchell College Mariners tomorrow, May 2nd, for a 12 p.m. matchup, where a win would send them on to the championship game on Sunday.
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