Lansing baseball gears up for sectionals

For the last few seasons, Lansing baseball has consistently brought home some postseason hardware. In 2022, it was a Section IV Class C title. In 2023, they did it again in Class B and made it all the way to the state championship. Last year, the Bobcats claimed their first IAC championship in 11 years. This time around, the Bobcats have their sights set on more glory.

Lansing enters the Section IV Class B tournament with a record of 12-5. Things started off slow after losing two of their first three games. But then everything started to click, rattling off 10 straight victories.

“I think we made everything simple,” said second-year head coach Tyler Mattoon. “I could tell in those first couple of games, guys—especially the new guys—were trying to do more than what we needed them to do. [It was] just going back and telling them to just do their parts, do the simple things, and that kind of helped. You saw it as we got in that winning streak.”

The Bobcats have had some gauntlet of a schedule. In terms of state-ranked opponents, they’ve faced Trumansburg (twice), Union Springs, Corning (who they defeated 2-1), and the defending Section IV Class B champions Oneonta. Those battles will go a long way in helping them get set to face some stiff competition down the line.

“It’s preparing us to see the best of the best when it comes into sectionals,” Mattoon said. ”We know that we’re going to see the best pitchers that teams can offer. We’re going to see the best effort that teams can offer. I tell my guys to challenge themselves in the moment. Just go out there, compete daily. It showed especially against those AAA schools that we played in Corning and Fayetteville-Manlius. It’s just challenging them to live in the moment but not make it too big for themselves.”

Another aspect that will undoubtedly aid the Bobcats is that they’re an experienced group. That’s especially the case for their senior class consisting of Henrik Axelson, Korbin Lovejoy, Jaxson Mayo, and Ryan Pettograsso-Houk. The quartet has won almost everything under the sun for Lansing, and that winning pedigree will be a big boost come postseason time.

“That whole group has got the same mindset of what they want to do,” Mattoon said. “Being there in that big run that they had [in 2023], they know the expectation. They make sure guys are focused in that leadership aspect. Each one of them brings their strong suit when we need it. Down in Corning, it was a tie game, and I had Jaxson and Korbin come through with some big hits for us. Ryan’s been a staple on the bases for us… Henrik is another stable guy that I’m going to trust and is going to have to pitch some big innings in sectional play.”

The junior class is mostly made up of newcomers. While Alex Boles has been part of multiple postseason titles, the quartet of Dasch Benson, Owen Hansen, Brandon McMillen, and Ryan Thompson have found their way into the starting lineup. Given that they helped the junior varsity team win another IAC title last year, they too bring a championship background to the varsity level.

“I like their versatility,” Mattoon said. “All of them had strong JV seasons last year. I’ve asked them to do different roles coming into this season, and all of them have accepted… They challenge themselves. That’s what I’ve asked them to do is challenge themselves early so when we get to these things like sectionals and playoffs, it’s just another day of baseball. It’s nothing different.”

The lone sophomore on the team also brings plenty of experience. Logan Mayo was only in eighth grade when he burst onto the scene in 2023 and helped the Bobcats come within one win of a state title. He’s stayed the course this year both on the mound and at the plate.

“He doesn’t let the moment get too big for himself, “Mattoon said. “It’s impressive, especially as a sophomore. Being young as he is, he just lives in the moment, stays calm under pressure. On the mound, I can always trust him. At the plate, he’s starting to get his form back. He’s starting to hit the ball. He’s making it harder for teams that work around us, especially if he’s behind a Pettograsso and in front of his brother [Jaxson]. Teams are going to have to pitch to him.”

As Lansing ramps up for its opening game of sectionals on May 23 in the quarterfinals, one thing is for sure: The Bobcats are battle-tested and ready for another deep run in the postseason.

“When we’ve played those bigger schools, I challenged them to go out and play no matter who’s throwing against us, what their batting order is,” Mattoon said. “Play our baseball, play calm, play under composure and just do the little things. Don’t look into the future of the game. Don’t look in the past. Just live in that pitch at that moment.”