La Academia Leones Baseball

“Deeds NOT Words”

Est. 2022

We appreciate any and all donations to our program to enhance the experience of our players and scholars!

Please click the link above to donate

WHO WE ARE…

The LAPCS baseball program was founded in the fall of 2021. However, 2022-2023 is our first year being a part of the PIAA District III league. Our program began by wanting to provide another choice of athletic outlet for scholars to be able to express themselves and explore their passions. Athletics provide the opportunity to encourage scholars to maintain academic success in the classroom, as well as provide the potential for future collegiate academic and athletic participation.

There are several goals that we have for our baseball program. The first is to pursue excellence not only in the game of baseball but as well as academic performance within the classroom. Secondly, we want to provide each player with a safe environment and atmosphere that encourages mental, social, and emotional growth and maturity that can be later geared toward real-world applications. Lastly, we want to enforce the importance of teamwork, good sportsmanship, and appropriate responses to success and adversity to help develop courageous leaders both on and off the baseball field.

Come out and support us!

Meet the Coaching Staff

Ben Closson – Head Coach

Ben Closson has joined LAPCS athletics as the second head baseball coach in program history. Closson, a native from Buffalo, NY, has played 5 seasons at the collegiate level and coached both at the high school and college ranks as an assistant coach. He will serve in this role in addition to his middle school teaching position.

As a coach, Closson served most recently as a volunteer assistant coach with Milton Hershey School, where he assisted with hitters and catchers at all levels of the program. He also had two stints as an assistant coach in the New York Collegiate Baseball League in 2021 and 2022. Closson holds his “ACE” baseball coaching certifications from Team USA Baseball. When asked about his goals for La Academia’s baseball program he stated, “It is important that our players are scholars first and well-rounded individuals. Not only do we hope to compete on the field, but off the field as well, in the classroom and as rising young men. Confidence and work ethic must be built, so our players/scholars find success beyond graduation”.

As a player, Closson was a top-10 ranked high school catcher by Prep Baseball Report in the state of New York and committed to the defending division 3 national champion and #1 nationally ranked Cortland State. After an arm injury, Closson returned close to home to attend Houghton University. There, he achieved accolades such as 2x NCCAA All-America Scholar Athlete, Empire 8 President’s List, ACBA/Rawlings All-Region Team, Empire 8 All-Conference Team, and Empire 8 Player of the Week. He was also a member of the first team to earn a postseason bid for a young Houghton University baseball program. As a graduate student at Penn State-Harrisburg, Closson was a SAAC representative and Northeast Conference Scholar Athlete, although his time was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a career ending arm injury. 

Closson has earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Adolescence Education from Houghton University in 2020 and a Master of Education in Teaching and Curriculum from The Pennsylvania State University in 2022.

Jeremias Tirado – Assistant Coach

Jeremias Tirado is entering his third year as an assistant coach for La Academia baseball. Tirado, a native of Lancaster, PA, has 13 years of coaching experience including coaching positions with Lancaster Recreation and Salsa Baseball. Tirado has strong ties to the Lancaster community and plans to continue to make an impact in the lives of young individuals within the city of Lancaster. As a player, he mostly played the positions of 3rd baseman and outfielder. He will predominantly serve as a hitting/fielding coach for the Leones during the 2024 season. Tirado currently holds a position as a subcontractor, remodeling and improving homes in Lancaster and Dauphin counties.

Jasson Read-Jean – LAPCS CFO/Volunteer Assistant Coach

      Bio Coming Soon!

Kieran Kearns – Volunteer Assistant Coach

Kieran Kearns has joined LAPCS athletics as a volunteer assistant coach for the 2024 season. Kearns, a native of Saylorsburg, PA, has played 5 seasons at the collegiate level as a pitcher for Penn State-Harrisburg. During his time as a player, Penn State-Harrisburg made 4 postseasons and won back-to-back Northeast Athletic Conference championships in 2021 and 2022. Kearns, a right-handed pitcher, was predominantly used as a relief pitcher with a fastball reaching as high as 94 mph. Kearns will predominantly help with the development of pitchers. Kearns currently holds a position as a civil engineer with Constellation Energy, a national energy production company.

Kearns earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University in 2021 and is currently pursuing his Master of Science in Civil Engineering. 

Roster

• 2024 Game Schedule TBA 03/01/2024
  • Current rosters, team stats, and player stats can be found at MaxPreps.
    These will be updated by Coach Closson regularly.

Partnerships

The Lancaster Barnstormers allow LAPCS to practice and compete at their home field, Clipper Magazine Stadium, which has recently been named the #1 ballpark in America by Ballpark Digest. The Barnstormers annually donate to La Academia Baseball and are a promising partner for the future of LAPCS athletics!

Team History

Year-by-Year Results and History since establishment in 2022.

Forms

• See this file for Eligibility Requirements.
• Physical (Needed each year at the start of the season.)
• Emergency Contact Form (Needs to be updated regularly by guardians.)

Practices

• As events are changed, you will see updates here, on our Calendar page, and on our school’s social media.

Games

• As events are changed, you will see updates here, on our Calendar page, and on our school’s social media.