Led by 2 dominant Colins, West Genesee baseball wins 1st state championship

West Genesee vs Cornwall Central NYSPHSAA Class AA boys baseball Championship at Mirabito Stadium Saturday June 13, 2026 in Binghamton, NY (Robert Grossman | Contributing Photographer)

All-Central New York High School Sports Awards 2026: Meet the coaches of the year

All-CNY coaches of the year

West Genesee baseball coach Kevin Krause, on the 48 hours following his team’s win in the state Class AA title game:

“For me, I’ve probably had about 200 texts and it’s just been crazy with all the people that have reached out. I’ve heard from people all the way back to 1976 at West Genesee who have reached out. When we pulled in (the school) over on Hinsdale, coming up over the hill and seeing all the people, the fire engines, I was blown away by the amount of support we had. I shouldn’t be, because at our state championship game, the crowd was super big for us, super loud, and our student section was just amazing.”

Krause on the bleach-dyed haircut he got to keep a promise to his team:

“They wanted me to do it last year. I said, ‘You win the state championship and I will.’ The job is finished and the haircut is done. I’m a bleach boy now.”

West Genesee baseball coach Kevin Krause, a former Wildcat who played pro baseball, on why coaching the team to a state title was more rewarding than any of his athletic accomplishments:

“Winning the state championship is better than when I got drafted by the Brewers. It means everything to me because I’m from Camillus. I’ve spent my whole life here, and the coaches that I have are former players or players who played at West Genesee. And we just love our kids and try to help them be the best they can be so that they can have great success and enjoy their experience at West Genesee playing baseball.”