Pioneers Announce 2026 Promotional Schedule & Next 10 player signings

The Elmira Pioneers have officially released their 2026 promotional nights at Historic Dunn Field.  This season the Pioneers will have at least twelve give-away items, four fireworks nights – May 29th, June 12th, July 2nd, & July 24, and much more! The Elmira Pioneers are proud to announce their newest 10 signings for the 2026 season. Welcome Caleb Delaney - OF (Rowan College Of South Jersey), Jayln Tidwell – INF (Erskine College), Elmira New York Natives and sons of former Kansas City Royal Matt Burch, Landen RHP (Middle Tennessee State) & Larson Burch RHP (Wabash Valley), Lukas Rylander – RHP (Norwich University), 2025 Returner Manoel Essley - INF (Elms College), Michael Gardner – INF (University of Kentucky), Michael Ferranti – OF (Onondaga Community College), 2025 & Elmira New York Native Michael Palmer – INF (Mansfield University), & Michael Schettino – INF (Palm Beach Atlantic University).

Elmira’s opening day on Friday May 29th – 6:30 PM vs Batavia Muckdogs will feature a post-game fireworks show presented by Hilliard Corporation & Southern Tier Custom Fabricators. This year will also have Fireworks on Friday June 12th -6:30 PM vs Auburn presented by Centralus Health, Thursday July 2nd presented by Weis Markets & Friday July 24th at 6:30 PM presented by Hilliard Corporation & Southern Tier Custom Fabricators.  The Pioneers will also have two free T-shirt Nights (Wed. June 10th courtesy of Hilliard & Thu. July 11th). Fans can enjoy a Post Game Catch on the Field for Father’s Day on Sunday June 21st – 2 PM after the game, Mini-Bat Giveaway Night (Courtesy of Blaze Brockway Contracting) on Friday June 26th, Free Hilliard Baseball Night (Sun. July 12th – 2PM), the Pioneers will also host several community nights like Military Appreciation Night (Fri. June 26th – 6:30 PM), Bring Pet Food Get In Free night on Thursday July 16th (benefiting the Chemung County Animal Shelter), & Domestic Violence Awareness Night on Saturday July 18th at 6:30 vs Batavia, plus much more.  The full promotional schedule is available online at www.theelmirapioneers.com.

Caleb Delaney is a 5’11”, 185-pound outfielder, who is currently a freshman on the Rowan College Road Runners. Delaney has capitalized on his first year in college baseball by succeeding with the bat, averaging .367 with 47 RBI. He has found a way to get on base at a rate of 48.5%, providing the Pioneers with a man who can get on early and often.

Jalyn Tidwell is a first-year infielder at Erskine College, standing at 6’3” 225-pounds. Originally from Chichester, Pennsylvania, Tidwell started his first collegiate game at third base on March 31st against Claflin. Tidwell would hit a home run, two doubles, and brought home four runs in the outing.

Landen joins his younger brother, Larsen, as a member of the Elmira Pioneers. Landen is a 6’4” 200-pound right hander who plays collegiately for Middle Tennessee State. He started his senior season with the Blue Raiders throwing 11.2 IP without a run allowed—the first three were no hit innings for a save. Landen brings Division one experience from the Conference USA, where he was on the Commissioner’s Honor Roll last year.

Larsen Burch returns for a third season with the Elmira Pioneers as a 6’3”, 180-pound pitcher from Elmira, NY. Burch has played his collegiate sophomore season with Wabash Valley College, where he has appeared in 12 games, winning two and getting a save in another. Last season, with the Pioneers, he started two of the ten games he appeared in, picking up a complete game against the Niagara Ironbacks.

Lukas Rylander is a 5’11”, 209-pound right-handed pitcher, who is currently a freshman at Norwich University. Rylander is from Adams, Massachusetts, and has pitched in three contests this season. His outing against Vermont State Lyndon saw Rylander go 1.2 IP with three strikeouts.

Manoel “Manny” Essley returns to the Elmira Pioneers for a second season following a transfer from Community College of Baltimore County, Essex, to Elms College. At Elms he has hit two home runs, stolen five bases, score 17 runs and hit for 11 RBI. The 6’0” infielder from Duxbury, Massachusetts, appeared in four games last summer for Elmira, and recorded two hits.

Michael Gardner is a 6’1” 185-pound infielder from Oyster Bay, NY. Gardner is a first year at the University of Kentucky, after being a Top 500 overall prospect, and ranked within the top 20 for New York. Last summer, Gardner played in the South Florida Collegiate Baseball League where he got on base half of the times he went to the plate and scored 16 RBI.

Originally from Endicott, NY, Mike Ferranti is a 6’0” outfielder who is currently playing for the Onondaga Community College Lazers. In his career with the Lazers, Michael has been a consistent hitter with a .346 batting average. Ferranti has added an additional three homeruns and 31 RBI to his resume.

Michael Palmer returns to the Elmira Pioneers for his third season with the team. Palmer, the 6’4” infielder from Niagara, is currently playing first base at the Mansfield University of Pennsylvania following a transfer from Niagara County Community College. Last season with the Pioneers he had eight extra-base hits and 19 RBI.

Michael Schettino returns to summer collegiate baseball with Pioneers following a year absence when he played in the Great Lakes Collegiate League in 2024. Schettino is a senior at Palm Beach Atlantic University where he commands the infield. The 6’1”, 195-pound Schettino has batted .250 in his collegiate career and started 17 games this season with the Sailfish. Schettino is originally from Weston, Florida.

Opening day is Friday May 29th – 6:30 PM with post game fireworks courtesy of Hilliard Corporation & Southern Tier Custom Fabricators.  Season tickets start at just $99, visit www.theelmirapioners.com for your seats today! If you or someone you know is looking to sponsor the Pioneers, season tickets, group events, or host a picnic email Marc Witt mwitt.canusa@gmail.com.  See you in May at Dunn Field & GO PIOS!