The Rochester City Athletic Conference, once a staple of high school baseball in the region, will field just three varsity teams next spring. East High School’s Eagles, the School of the Arts (SOTA) and a newly formed squad drawn from several district schools will carry the league’s hopes for 2027.
Rebuilding the pipeline
Coach Kyle Crandall of East High admits the shrinking roster is a stark reminder of a trend that has seen many schools drop varsity programs across the country. Yet he remains hopeful, pointing to a renewed focus on middle‑school and junior‑varsity pipelines that could replenish talent in the years ahead.
SOTA, fresh off a third straight tournament championship, entered the 2026 season with a perfect blend of experience and youthful vigor. Coach Cameron Scharf was honored as RCAC Coach of the Year, and standout players such as Henry Hawkinson, Bennie Laver and Vision Smith earned first‑team selections on both the RCAC and Section V Class A all‑star lists. Kyle Markham and Eric Jones were named RCAC Player of the Year and all‑star respectively, while James 'Ham' Laver is projected to return for his third varsity season at SOTA.
East High, despite a strong regular season, fell early in the Section V tournament before rallying to capture the City Cup over their rivals. The team’s early exit underscored the broader challenges facing the league, as reduced varsity participation forces schools to seek competitive non‑league opponents to avoid winless or losing campaigns.
The upcoming merger of Edison Inventors, Wilson/Early College Wildcats and Padilla at Franklin/World of Inquiry Bulldogs will reshape the lineup, consolidating the district’s resources into a single new program. This realignment is expected to influence scheduling, rivalries and the overall competitive balance of the conference.
As the 2027 season approaches, the RCAC’s future remains uncertain. Leaders like Kyle Crandall and Cameron Scharf are betting on grassroots development and strategic non‑league matchups to keep the sport alive, while the league itself ponders how to maintain relevance in Section V’s evolving landscape.