WEST CHESTER, Pa.- After playing a significant role in guiding the West Chester University baseball team to an appearance in the final game of the Division II Baseball National Championships against Tampa in Cary earlier this month, standout senior pitchers
Julian Costa (Mantua, N.J./Clearview) and
Kyle Lazer (Havertown, Pa./Msgr. Bonner & Prendie) have both signed Atlantic Professional Baseball League contracts with the York Revolution and Lancaster Stormers, respectively.
The two longtime teammates will now be foes in the rivalry dubbed the War of the Roses between Lancaster and York this summer as they each continue their baseball careers in the Atlantic Professional Baseball League, established in 1988 and has the distinction of being Major League Baseball's first Professional Partner League, a proven gateway for players to reach the major leagues and a recognized leader in baseball innovation. The ALPB has sent more than 1,400 players to MLB organizations and represents the highest level of professional baseball outside of the MLB and includes players who have played at the A, AA, and AAA levels, and more than 40 % of the players in the league have MLB Service time.
The ALPB stretches across the mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, including the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars, Lancaster Stormers, Long Island Ducks, Staten Island FerryHawks, and the York Revolution, along with the Charleston Dirty Birds, Gastonia Ghost Peppers, High Point Rockers, Lexington Legends, and Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.
The consensus Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Year and a Consensus All-American (NCBWA Honorable Mention, ABCA Third Team, D2CCA Second Team), Costa enjoyed a stellar senior season for West Chester, pitching to a record of 12-3 with a 2.59 ERA and a .257 batting average against with 88 strikeouts in 97.1 innings of work, including four complete games and three shutouts. Costa became the first WCU pitcher in team history to eclipse 300 innings pitched in his career with his start against Tampa in the Division II Baseball National Finals, and also finished his career as the WCU career leader in wins, strikeouts, no-hitters (one in 2025 and another in 2026) and the career innings pitched record. The redshirt senior lefty also finished his time as a Golden Ram as the NCAA DII active career leader in wins and shutouts, while finishing among active pitchers in strikeouts with 305.
An All-Tournament team selection after throwing West Chester's first complete game in the National Finals since Joe Gunkel threw a pair in 2012, Lazer finished his final season with a record of 9-1 and a 3.44 ERA with 73 strikeouts in 81 innings of work and held opponents to a .252 batting average against in those 81 innings. He struck out 11 against Tampa in his complete-game victory for one of three complete-game wins on the season for the Second Team All-PSAC East selection.
Lazer made his debut for the Stormers in a win over the Long Island Ducks and earned the win in relief, allowing three runs on three hits, while walking three and striking out a pair. Costa is expected to make his ALPB debut later this weekend.
Lazer and Costa are just the latest Golden Rams to continue their careers this spring, as
Casey Vaughan, who finished his playing career in 2025 and coached for West Chester for much of the 2026 season, began his post-collegiate career for the Idaho Falls Chukars in late May. Vaughan, an infielder, is batting .250 (18-for-72) with 10 RBI, thanks in part to four doubles and a home run in 20 games played.
With the MLB Draft due to be held on July 11-12 in Philadelphia as a part of MLB All-Star Week, Costa and Lazer are in good company in the Atlantic League as 12 players from the Atlantic League have already had their contracts purchased by an MLB or international team, including six pitchers.
