Terni Leading the Way as Mitchell Chases GNAC Title

Montville graduate Chas Terni Jr. helps power Mitchell College's explosive offense in pursuit of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference championship.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 1:00am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the dynamic action of a college baseball game, with sharp geometric shapes and planes of navy, green, and orange conveying the energy and intensity of the sport.Mitchell College's explosive offense, led by junior slugger Chas Terni Jr., has the Mariners poised to capture the GNAC regular season title.New London Today

Mitchell College's baseball team is riding an impressive offensive attack to the top of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference standings, led by junior outfielder Chas Terni Jr. Terni, a Montville graduate, has been a key contributor, blasting his team-leading 8th home run of the season and driving in runs as the Mariners have won 4 games in a 30-hour stretch. The Mariners are 21-8 overall and 14-2 in GNAC play, putting themselves in position to capture the regular season title and host the conference tournament.

Why it matters

Mitchell College's success this season has been fueled by its potent offense, which is batting an impressive .349 as a team. Terni has emerged as one of the team's top power hitters, setting the program's career home run record in the Division III era. The Mariners' ability to score runs in bunches has them in prime position to win the GNAC regular season title and host the conference tournament, which would be a major accomplishment for the program.

The details

In Sunday's doubleheader sweep of Lasell, Terni blasted a 400-foot, two-run home run in the first game and also had a single, double, and an RBI in the second game. Overall this season, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound junior is batting .386 with a team-best 37 RBIs, ranking second in the GNAC in both home runs and RBIs. Mitchell coach Shawn Gilblair has praised Terni's maturity and improved approach at the plate, which has allowed him to tap into his significant power potential.

  • On Sunday, April 13, 2026, Mitchell College swept a doubleheader against Lasell College.
  • Earlier that weekend, on Saturday, April 12, 2026, Mitchell College swept a doubleheader against Elms College, winning 13-5 and 21-2.

The players

Chas Terni Jr.

A junior outfielder for Mitchell College and a graduate of Montville High School. Terni is batting .386 with a team-leading 8 home runs and 37 RBIs, and has set the program's career home run record in the Division III era.

Shawn Gilblair

The head coach of the Mitchell College baseball team, who has praised Terni's maturity and improved approach at the plate this season.

Dougie DelaCruz

A former Mitchell College player who previously held the program's career home run record in the Division III era, which Terni has now surpassed.

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What they’re saying

“They're definitely long. We've got a great group of guys. It's funny, just playing baseball with your boys, just like when you were kids.”

— Chas Terni Jr., Mitchell College Junior Outfielder

“One thing that hurt him year one and year two was just not enough bat to ball. But he's maturing. He's got a better approach. He's got a more professional approach. The biggest thing for him is managing the ups and downs of this game and the frustrations with it.”

— Shawn Gilblair, Mitchell College Head Coach

What’s next

With only seven regular season games remaining, including four in GNAC play, Mitchell College is focused on capturing the GNAC regular season title and earning the top seed in the conference tournament. The Mariners are in prime position to host the GNAC tournament if they can maintain their hold on first place in the standings.

The takeaway

Mitchell College's explosive offense, led by the power-hitting exploits of junior Chas Terni Jr., has the Mariners in prime position to win the GNAC regular season title and host the conference tournament. Terni's maturation as a hitter has been a key factor in the team's success, as the Mariners look to capture their first GNAC championship since joining the league.