It’s always a special time in Lansing whenever baseball season rolls around. The Bobcats prowl onto the diamond every year in search of glory in the IAC, Section IV, and beyond. Those great expectations have stayed the course entering this year under a new head coach.
Aidan Cobb is now at the helm. He follows a successful two-year stint for Tyler Mattoon in which the Bobcats won the IAC title in 2024 and made the Section IV Class B championship last year. Cobb is eager to maintain the Bobcats’ proud history in this next chapter of Lansing baseball.
“For me, it’s about continuing the strong culture and tradition that we have here in Lansing and doing my best to try to continue that,” Cobb said. “I’m really excited to be in the position. I hope that we can continue that Lansing tradition that is strong and maybe have a little bit of a chip on our shoulder while we do it.”
Cobb coached the modified team for two seasons before becoming the junior varsity head coach and varsity assistant coach last season. That means he’s previously coached everybody on the team to some extent, and that strong level of familiarity has been a big help as he transitions into a big role.
“I know those guys and know how they tick,” Cobb said. “I’ve been talking to a lot of the juniors. It’s an opportunity for them to step up and really show what they’ve got on the highest level. I have a lot of confidence in those guys stepping into those roles.”
Two of the main tenets of Lansing’s identity over the years has been toughness and playing with something to prove. Cobb shares those same ideals, but he also wants his team to find its own identity, especially when the going gets tough.
“You find out who you are when your back’s against the wall a little bit,” Cobb said. “That’s where you find what your identity is. When you overcome those hurdles in those game situations, that’s when you really entrench it.”
The Bobcats graduated a few key players from last season, namely a quartet of now-college baseball players: Ryan Pettograsso-Houk (Canisius University), Jaxson Mayo (SUNY Oswego), Korbin Lovely (SUNY Canton), and Henrik Axelson (Cayuga Community College). But they also retain plenty of talent, highlighted by Alex Boles. The senior is coming off an All-State season where he led the team with a .516 batting average during the regular season. Cobb has turned to him and fellow senior Dasch Benson for their leadership.
“The second I got the job, those are the two guys that I reached out to to see what culture we need from their perspective as well and how I can assist that from the player’s side,” Cobb said. “I want the players to be able to take accountability for themselves, too. The captains set the tone with that. For the first couple weeks here, they’ve done a really good job of setting the tone, being leaders, leading by example, all those things.”
Logan Mayo is the Bobcats’ top returning pitcher. Like Boles, he was an IAC All-Star last year after posting a sub-3.00 ERA on the mound. The junior is also a threat at the plate and on the basepaths, making him one of many versatile threats for the Bobcats.
“He’s a great competitor,” Cobb said. “He’s another guy where I can slot him in different places. I think he’ll be a little bit of a spark plug at the top of the lineup. He’s definitely dangerous on the bases. Pitching-wise, I like him against anybody. I’m a real big fan of how he approaches the game. He’ll definitely be a key factor for us this year.”
Along with Mayo, Boles, and Benson, the pitching rotation will be staffed by senior Ryan Thompson along with junior newcomers Aeden McMillen and Joel Ouellette. McMillen was the starter for the Bobcats’ JV team during last year’s IAC championship in which the Bobcats took down rivals Trumansburg 9-1 to win their fourth straight title.
Other players to be on the lookout for include senior returner Owen Hansen and junior debutants Tyler Smith and Jackson Woods.
The last time Lansing took the field, they were defeated by Oneonta in the Class B final. The Bobcats are hungrier than ever to make amends and get another shot at winning another sectional title.
“We’re going to have to really compete,” Cobb said. “We lost a lot of talent last year, so to even get to that level is going to be a challenge. But I believe in my guys, and I think we’re building a culture of self-belief, and if we can play that complimentary baseball that I’m trying to preach behind that strong pitching, I like us against anyone.”
