Rams Charge into National Championship
The West Chester Golden Rams erupted in celebration after a 9-2 triumph over Millersville that clinched their first Division II championship appearance since 2022. The victory came in a best-of-three super regional sweep, cementing the team’s resurgence on the national stage.
Key contributors included Hunter Smith, Kyle Lazer, and Julian Costa, whose performances defined the game. Austin Stalker launched a three-run home run in the opening frame, while Stalker’s bat helped fuel a 13-hit attack. Senior Kyle Lazer limited the opposition to two runs over 71⁄3 innings, and freshman Landen Rozich closed the game with a flawless 12⁄3 innings to earn the save.
The 2022 campaign still looms large in the program’s memory. That year the Rams defeated Southern New Hampshire and Angelo State before falling to eventual national champion North Greenville in the semifinals. This time, redshirt senior Julian Costa pushed the program’s single-season win record to 12, having taken a no-hitter into the seventh inning.
Looking ahead, West Chester will open play in the eight-team double-elimination bracket on Friday at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. The Rams enter the tournament with momentum, aiming to translate their regular-season dominance into a national title.