Lehman Lightning Breaks Losing Streak

Lehman Baseball team preparing for their match up against Mount Saint Vincent.

PHOTO CREDIT: EDWIN DIAZ

By Adrian Gonzalez

Though the men’s baseball team, the Lightning, had a rough start to 2025 with an 0–13 record, Lehman College went on to win its first game of the season on April 8, ending a 42-game losing streak dating back to 2023 by defeating Yeshiva University 7–6 in the first game of a doubleheader. Yeshiva University later ended its own 100-game losing streak in the second game, winning 9–5 over the Lightning.

In the run-up to that win, on March 13, players and coaches spoke about the challenges they face when competing against other college baseball teams and shared their season goal: to win a CUNYAC Conference Championship for Lehman College.

Ryan Rosa, a right-handed hitter and junior at Lehman who plays shortstop for the Lightning, has been on the team since 2023, starting 27 games across the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Rosa spoke before the game against Mount Saint Vincent about his leadership role in the infield, communication with teammates, and offseason preparation

“We got workout programs this year—make sure you’re getting in your own reps without a coach, heading to the batting cage, or even throwing the ball against the wall,” said Rosa. “The most difficult thing about playing shortstop is you’re the leader and have a lot of responsibility in the infield— also keeping your other teammates in check to make sure they are in the proper fielding position for a specific batter.”

Christopher Cruz, a sophomore at Lehman College and Bronx native who plays as the primary center fielder, spoke about his mindset when preparing to catch fly balls. “In the outfield, the most difficult position to play is center field because you have to be the heart of the outfield. You have to be everywhere, backing up everyone and communicating with your outfielders,” said Cruz. He added: “Playing college baseball compared to other leagues I’ve played in is so much more competitive—people take it more seriously.”

College baseball carries much more weight compared to local leagues, with the CUNYAC Championship being one of the most prominent accolades a CUNY athlete can achieve.

Former Lehman baseball player Christopher Delgado was appointed head coach in the summer of 2024. Speaking before the doubleheader against the University of Valley Forge, Delgado discussed his goals and the team’s progress during the 2025 season.

“The most difficult thing about this season is rebuilding a program with limited resources. My goal is to definitely win a championship—that’s the ultimate end goal for 2025,” said Delgado. “The 0–6 record currently doesn’t reflect us as a team—it just reflects the result of the game. There are a lot of highlights in those games… we couldn’t close out those games the way we wanted to,” he added. “The last time Lehman went on a deep playoff run was in my senior year in 2023. We made it to the championship and ended up losing that year.”

Delgado played in the 2023 season, when Lehman faced off against the CCNY Beavers in the CUNYAC Baseball Championship at Maimonides Park. The Lightning came up short, as the Beavers claimed the title for only the second time in program history.

The last time Lehman College won a championship was in 1995, under coach Steve Macias. That year, the Lightning posted a 21–13 record and defeated Staten Island 5–0 in the title game. Lehman has won a total of four CUNYAC Baseball Championships and is looking to add a fifth after a 30-year drought.

“AS COACHING STAFF, WE TRY TO DO OUR BEST.” – Assistant coach Ethan Madera

Assistant coach Ethan Madera, a new addition to the Lehman Athletics coaching staff, has been helping players develop their knowledge and skills on the field.

“Coaching the Lehman baseball team has been great. It’s challenging. We’ve got a great group of guys who are committed to the process, and as a coaching staff, we try to do our best and put them in the best position to win games,” Madera said. “The most difficult thing so far this season has been playing in the cold weather. This year, we’ve got a great balance of players in their undergraduate years—we’ve got a couple of seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen.”