Stonehill Baseball snowed out in Florida

By Annie Renz 

Stonehill Baseball’s business trip to Florida to face Florida Gulf Coast University turned into an extended vacation thanks to the Blizzard of ‘26.  

After a long weekend of baseball, the team planned to fly home Sunday, February 22. Then news broke that their flight was cancelled the Sunday morning before their final game. 

“They were debating flying us back on Wednesday so that we could go to class and then leave that night for Virginia,” said junior Nate Kearney.  

The team was slated to travel down to Virginia Military Institute the following weekend. What was initially planned as two away trips turned into one.  

While the Stonehill student body hunkered down in their dorms, the team took advantage of a few extra days under the Florida sun.  

“We had two practices at Florida Gulf Coast’s fields, they had a beautiful set up,” said Kearney. “Knowing that there’s three-and-a-half feet of snow back at school right now, none of us are upset about being stuck in Florida.” 

Kearney said when the team wasn’t on the pitch, they spent their two extra days walking around Fort Myers, shopping at the luxury outlets down the street, and even going to the beach. 

Their premature spring break ended later in the afternoon on Tuesday, February 24 as the team boarded a bus headed for Virginia, a trip that would take about eighteen hours.  

WCVB Channel 5 got in contact with Head Coach Sean Callahan while the team was on the road. In case you missed it, their interviews with captains Ryan Douglas and Sam Parks aired on television.  

“It’s been a little bit of a rollercoaster, but I want to shout out our coaches for running everything smoothly,” Douglas told WCVB. “We got our work in to make sure we are ready to go for this weekend, and the guys are loving it.” 

Parks said the extra days down in Florida gave the team the opportunity to do what they haven’t been able to in Easton – get outside on the field.  

As the long road trip continued towards Virginia, the team was brought back to a colder reality. Because they were expecting to come home before the second away trip, they did not have their warm gear and parkas on hand.  

Kearney said eight players didn’t travel to Florida. He said those players got their own bus to take from Stonehill to VMI, and they brought the team’s warm gear and parkas down with them. 

The team arrived to their hotel in Virginia Wednesday morning.  

“No one got any sleep,” said Kearney. “I slept for like two hours.” 

The team spent Wednesday catching up on sleep. They’ll face VMI in a round of 3 games Friday through Sunday. 

After over a week away from campus, the team will arrive back home Sunday night.