Growing up, Mitchell Cavanagh said he always had a baseball in his hands. He developed a passion for the sport at a young age and, with encouragement from his parents, he continued to pursue baseball throughout his life.
His path to Oswego State has not been of the regular variety, however.
While playing for the Oneida High School Indians, Cavanagh received honors including 2014 Tri-Valley League Player of the Year, second team all-state selection in 2014 and was a four-year letter winner for the Indians, while holding the position of team captain for two years.
Cavanagh started his collegiate career at St. John’s University. In his freshman season, the Oneida, New York native appeared in six games, posting a 1.93 ERA out of the bullpen in 4.2 innings pitched.
Cavanagh then transferred to Salt Lake Community College for his sophomore year to play for the Bruins. At his new school, Cavanagh started a game for the first time in his collegiate career. He appeared in 15 games and started four, but posted a 2-5 record in 39.2 innings. During that season, he struck out 32 batters, which ranked him sixth on the team.
This helped the right-hander open doors to continue playing the game of baseball.
After drawing interest from the baseball program at Oswego State, Cavanagh made a final decision to transfer and was added to the 2017 roster.
“I knew this program was on the rise,” Cavanagh said. “And they’ve been getting better every year and I wanted to be a part of something special.”
Despite once being on a Div. I roster, Cavanagh cited the condition of the facilities on Oswego State’s campus as one reason that drew him here.
“The Romney Fieldhouse is awesome,” Cavanagh said. “We didn’t have anything like that at St. John’s.”
He felt welcomed by his teammates and the coaching staff as well, which helped him adjust to become a solidified member of the pitching staff.
Cavanagh has been atop of the rotation and has a 4-0 record through five starts this season. He leads the Lakers’ starting pitchers in ERA (2.30), strikeouts (31) and has allowed 22 hits, the least among regular starters on the staff.
“Mitchell has had a great year up to this point and now he just needs to continue to get better and better and be a guy down the stretch,” said men’s baseball head coach Scott Landers. “With Mitch, I knew what he was capable of.”
Cavanagh has been named SUNYAC Pitcher of the Week twice since his start as a Laker. He has also contributed at the plate through 20 games. The transfer junior is batting .250 with two RBI and three total bases in 12 at bats.
Cavanagh is fitting into place as the ace in the rotation and will need to continue his early success as SUNYAC play roars on.
“I love it here and being a Laker,” Cavanagh said. “I want to go out there and pitch the best game I’ve ever pitched in my life every time I’m on the mound.”
