WEST CHESTER, PA — The West Chester University Golden Rams baseball team saw their season come to a close this past Saturday with a 6–1 loss to East Stroudsburg University. In a game marked by offensive contrast, East Stroudsburg tallied 13 hits to West Chester’s 4, sealing the Golden Rams’ postseason fate.
Following the team’s exit from the NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament, head coach Mike LaRosa shared his thoughts on the season’s conclusion: “Down the stretch of this season we didn’t play great baseball. I felt like the combination of our bats not going the way they had been put some pressure on the pitching and that created some more pressure on our pitching. I felt like at times we were kind of hanging on every pitch, which is a tough spot to be in. Early in the season we were playing really free and easy and we tightened up a little bit down the stretch, which ultimately is on me.”
LaRosa credited East Stroudsburg for their strong performance, praising their execution on both sides of the ball: “They did a solid job of keeping everything down and on the corners and were tough to hit throughout the night, while getting some big hits of their own when they needed them.”
Although the Golden Rams wrapped up an impressive 35–17 campaign over the course of the season, the early playoff exit made parting with the senior class especially difficult for LaRosa: “I really feel for our senior class,” he said, reflecting on the emotional end to the season. “The coaches and our younger guys get to come back and try to make another run at this thing next year but unfortunately those guys don’t. After going two and out last year I know they really wanted to come back and rewrite the story so not getting it done hurts a little bit extra. This senior class had unbelievable people across the board. It was a high character group with great work ethic and great leadership.” He added with admiration, “This class was a really special group that you hate to see leave and you know they are gonna be very successful in whatever they do in life after baseball. It’s hard to lose a group like that but I think they did a good job passing all that down to the underclassmen so their legacy will certainly stick around.”
With another season behind the Golden Rams, LaRosa—five years into his tenure as the program’s 29th head coach—continues to build on a strong foundation and lead a team that remains competitive year after year.
In 2022, just his second year at the helm, LaRosa led the Golden Rams to a 36–15 record (.706), an Atlantic Regional championship, and a memorable run to the NCAA Division II National Championships, where the team finished 2–2.
The following year, he once again guided the Golden Rams past the 30-win mark, leading them to the championship game of the PSAC Tournament before losing to Seton Hill. The team finished the season with a 32–20 record (.615).
Building on the success of the previous two years, the 2024 season marked a new high point for LaRosa and the Golden Rams. The team set a program record with 39 regular-season wins and a school-best 25 victories in conference play. They also set the mark for consecutive wins, piecing together a remarkable 21-game streak. Including the postseason, LaRosa guided West Chester to a 43–9 record (.704), capped by a dominant 4–0 run to claim the PSAC Tournament title before falling in the NCAA Regionals.
Since assuming head coaching duties in 2021, LaRosa has led the program to a cumulative record of 166–72.
LaRosa’s connection to the program runs deeper than his coaching success. He was a four-year starter for the Golden Rams from 2002 to 2005 and served as team captain in both his junior and senior seasons. The former second baseman was named NCAA Division II National Defensive Player of the Year in 2003 and finished his collegiate career with a .362 batting average. He currently ranks fifth in program history with 234 hits and was inducted into the West Chester University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.
Although the 2025 season ended earlier than hoped, the Golden Rams’ success under LaRosa reflects a continuation of the program’s proud tradition. His leadership has helped sustain West Chester’s reputation as a Division II contender, and recent seasons suggest the program is well-positioned to remain a force in the years ahead.
Go Golden Rams!
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