West Haven Sailors 2026 Season Preview
Paul Jaccoi
6/5/20262 min read
The 2025 CCBL Champions are preparing for their sixth season as one of the most successful clubs in the league since debuting in 2021. How will they fare coming off a third league championship in five years?
Boasting a record of 83-44-5 (.628 winning percentage) in five seasons of play, including three league championships (2021, 2023 and 2025) and a regular season championship in the 2022 season, the West Haven Sailors have asserted themselves as one of the more dominant teams in the CCBL; and they are aiming to show no signs of slowing down heading into the 2026 campaign.
The roster holds an even mix of underclassmen (15) and upperclassmen (14) with plenty of depth at various positions. Perhaps the most intriguing position battle to watch leading up to the start of the regular season is who will be the backstop for West Haven. The departure of two-time All-Star and 2025 CCBL All League First Team catcher Tim Cap leaves an opening for six rostered catchers to win the starting job before the Sailors’ first game on Sunday, June 7th.
On the topic of departing players, four out of the five CCBL All League representatives from the Sailors are no longer with the team. Senior starting pitcher Steve Cifarelli is the only remaining member as he looks to wrap up his CCBL career with another impressive season on the mound. Starter John DeBarber, another senior starter, is looking to earn his first All League Team nomination after being named an honorable mention in back-to-back seasons, along with an All-Star appearance in 2024.
With only four new freshmen, the Sailors are projected to rely on familiar faces on the team to stay put near the top of the league's standings. However, a first-year ballplayer to keep an eye on is West Haven native Jose Padilla who can provide a boost on both the mound and as a utility option in the infield.
West Haven will boast four returning All Stars from the 2025 season; senior third baseman/shortstop Ryan Slack, senior pitcher Jack Hawes, sophomore shortstop Derek Porto and junior outfielder Kyle Justo. A star-studded left side of the infield in Porto and Slack are two positions the Sailors won’t have to worry about during the summer.
The 25 returning players is something we can expect team owner and manager Tim Binoski put to use given his track record of player development. With a strong nucleus of players returning from a championship winning team, West Haven enters the 2026 season looking to become the first back-to-back champion of the CCBL since the Southington Shock won three straight league titles from 2014-2016.
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