News

DeLand, Fla.- The 2025 FCSL season is about to begin and the DeLand Suns are one team that can’t wait to get things started. For head coach Cameron Jergens and his staff, this season is an opportunity to finish what they started.

Last years was Jergens’ first as head coach of the Suns. In 2024 he led the team to a 16-15 record. But more importantly, he led the team to an appearance in the FCSL Championship. However, the season didn’t end the way team had hoped, as they fell to the Leesburg Lightning in two games. 

While impressive to make a run to the championship in your first season as head coach, coming up just short has left a sour taste in not just Jergens mouth, but in the mouth of all of the coaches on his staff. Third base coach and former Suns player Sean McArdle said that the team is looking to finish the job this season. 

“Expect hardware in Deland.” McArdle said.

The group making up the 2025 Suns is a mix of talented collegiate veterans and newcomers, all from different backgrounds. The team will have five players returning from last year’s DeLand team: catcher Joshua Valente (Brewton Parker), infielder Judson Ceyanes (Trevecca Nazarene), outfielder Gavin Thomas (Davidson), outfielder Holden Brauner Undecided (Currently State College of Florida) and pitcher Paul Janeczko (Rollins). The rest of the 27-man roster is made up of first-year Suns players. Four of those newbies are recent high school graduated and will be using this season to get experience facing collegiate competition before they begin practicing with their chosen university in the fall.  Those players are outfielder Nathan Ricko, infielder Meridian Leffew, infielder Cade Centracchio and catcher Samuel Fernandez.

With what the coaches believed is a roster full of talent, the Suns are ready and excited to try and earn another shot at a league championship in 2025. By having a full year to get acclimated to the team and by putting together a strong group of players and coaches, Jergens had one thought on the team before the start of the season: “We’re in a much better spot.”

Sun fans from all around Central Florida can catch the start of the new DeLand Suns baseball season this Friday, May 30, at 6 p.m. The team will play on the road against the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs at Rollins College Alfond Stadium. After a rematch against Winter Park on Saturday, the Suns will then play its first home game of the season on Sunday, June 1st, at 7 p.m. at the beautiful Conrad Park at Stetson University, where they will face off against Winter Park again.

Tickets can be purchased online at http://pointstreaksites.com/view/fcsl/deland-suns/suns-tickets or in person at the gate of Conrad Park at each home game.

Nick Porcelli (University of Central Florida)