The 2025 season did not pan out as the Park University Gilbert baseball team expected. Injuries put many of the players the Bucs were counting on this season on the injured list. It would have been easy for the Bucs to throw in the towel in a meaningless series to end the season. But the Bucs came out strong in the final series winning its first conference series of the year after sweeping Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in the final double header of the season 12-11 and 6-2 on senior day.

Game 1 – Park Gilbert 12, Embry Riddle 11

This was a see-saw offensive battle as the two teams combined for 23 runs and 29 hits.

ERAU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first before the Bucs answered with a four spot of its own on in the second. The Eagles than answered with a four-run third and the track meet was on.

In the fourth Park Gilbert took a five-run lead after posting seven runs. An RBI knock from Caleb Rozier got things started and it was finished with a bases clearing double from Jesh Leckey.

But the game was far from over. The Buc bats went cold for a pair of innings while the Eagle mounted a comeback. One run in the sixth and four in the seventh tied the game at 11-11.

The Bucs went ahead for good in the bottom of the seventh, but not in the fashion you would imagine in a game such as this one. A hit by pitch, walk and single loaded the bases. The game winning run was then scored via a balk from eagles pitcher Kyle Riley.

Spencer Jacobs who came on in relief in the top of the seventh picked up the win after holding ERAU scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings. Jacobs (1-1) threw three scoreless innings to pick up his first win of the season. He allowed three hits and struck out three.

Offensively, Leckey went 3-5 with two runs scored and four RBI. Four other Bucs had two hits including RJ Molina who also added two RBI.

Lost in the excitement of the game was what was at stake for Embry Riddle. The Eagles were still in the postseason hunt and needed to win both games today and get some help to make the GSAC Tournament. This loss eliminated them from playoff contention.

Game 2 – Park Gilbert 6, Embry Riddle 2

The Bucs held their senior ceremony in-between games to honor 19 players who will be leaving the program. With the momentum of winning game one and the excitement of celebrating their teammates, the Bucs came out energized.

The Eagles jumped out in font with two runs in the top of the first, but this would be all they could musted in the season finale. The Bucs pitching staff would surrender only four hits over the final six innings.

The Bucs would score one run in the first and tie the game with one run in the fourth. Head coach Kelly Stinnett was slowly removing seniors from the game to standing ovations from fans and teammates alike and those ovations seeming gave more energy to the team as the game moved along.

Jesh Leckey and Isaac Echiveste singled to drive in the go ahead runs in the fifth and then the Bucs would tack on two more in the sixth as Andrew Allanson completed his career as a Buc with a laser double to drive in the final run.

Also at stake in this game was the Park Gilber stolen base record. Senior Will Fleece who set the school single season record for steals with 28 a year ago needed two steals in this final game to become the all-time record holder.

In his first at bat of the game, Fleece laced a single to left. He then proceeded to steal second to tie the mark and then he didn't wait long, swiping third to break the mark of 42 set by Chris Amador two years ago.

Brendan Blakeman finished his Buccaneer career with a 3-3 day at the plate with three runs scored.

On the mound, Sunny Patel, PJ Jimenez, Gabriel Silva and Adrian Gamez combined to shut out the Eagles over the last six innings. Jimenez picked up his first win as a Buccaneer in his last appearance in the Bucs uniform. He also did it with a flourish striking out the side.

The Bucs finished the season with 17 wins, but the story of the year was Buc first baseman Diego Bejarano who finished his career as the leader in seven career offensive categories. He also set the single season batting average mark, finishing the year with a .433 batting average, 43 points better than the next highest single season average in school history.