Tarp Skunks set a number of team records during 2026 season
Tarp Skunks set a number of team records during 2026 season
Whiffy, the Jamestown Tarp Skunks’ mascot, is pictured at the grand opening of The Zone in the Northwest Arena in July. Photo courtesy Jamestown Tarp Skunks Facebook page
The Jamestown Tarp Skunks Collegiate Baseball Team posted a number of firsts in 2026, including projecting that the non-profit organization will break even, along with record-breaking game attendance, ticket and merchandising sales. P-J file photo
Whiffy, the Jamestown Tarp Skunks’ mascot, is pictured at the grand opening of The Zone in the Northwest Arena in July. Photo courtesy Jamestown Tarp Skunks Facebook page
The Jamestown Tarp Skunks Collegiate Baseball Team posted a number of firsts in 2026, including projecting that the non-profit organization will break even, along with record-breaking game attendance, ticket and merchandising sales. P-J file photo
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The Jamestown Tarp Skunks collegiate baseball team achieved several milestones this year, making 2026 a commemorable one for the eclectic organization.
One of the most important targets most non-profits, 501(c)(3) organizations (which the Tarp Skunks organization is), strive for is to cover their costs by breaking even – making sure the account books are in the black and not red at the end of the year. And by all accounts, according to the Tarp Skunks’ General Manager, Christian Dolce, they are on track to reach this milestone.
"We're still waiting on the final numbers for the season," he said. "But it looks like we are projected to break even – a first for the team."
Dolce reported that although merchandise and ticket sales are significant contributors to the team’s revenue streams, in-person sales still greatly surpassed online shopping.
"Around 90% of all sales were from in-person purchases at the games," he added. "Only about 10% came from online sales – that's still a large figure, though."
Dolce said he was pleased with baseball operations this year and proud of the many milestones the team accomplished on and off the field.
" Overall, we are extremely pleased with the season and the continued growth of the organization. Averaging more than 1,000 fans per game for the first time was a major milestone for us and shows the support this team continues to receive from Jamestown and the surrounding communities," he said. "From a baseball standpoint, reaching the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season and earning another home playoff game continued the consistency we have established on the field. Our fans have really embraced the team, and the atmosphere they created throughout the summer made Diethrick Park a great place to play."
Dolce said one of the most important things the team did this year actually happened off the field.
"One of the things we are most proud of is that our growth goes beyond attendance and revenue. More than 5,000 kids were able to attend games for free through the Whiffy Fund, we hosted more than 20 youth groups, and 150 kids participated in our instructional camp," he said. "Creating an affordable, family-friendly experience and giving local kids opportunities to be around baseball continues to be a major focus for us."
On the field, the actual team continued to impress Dolce with its winning ways by reaching its fourth playoff berth.
"From a baseball standpoint, reaching the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season and earning another home playoff game continued the consistency we have established on the field. Our fans have really embraced the team, and the atmosphere they created throughout the summer made Diethrick Park a great place to play," he said.
The Jamestown Tarp Skunks play in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. The PGCBL is a collegiate summer baseball league that was founded in 2010. As of 2025, it has 16 teams, all located in New York except for one team based in Ontario, Canada. Furthermore, each team plays a 48-game schedule over eight weeks from June to August, followed by playoffs in early August so that players can head back to college.
Dolce expressed gratitude for local-area business sponsorships, emphasizing the significant impact their support had in enabling fans to attend a home game.
"The support from our sponsors was also tremendous. Every home game had a presenting sponsor this season, and five of those games were buyouts that allowed fans to attend free of charge. That support from local businesses plays a huge role in our ability to provide the experience we do for the community," said Dolce.