Baseball Earns Second Seed In MASCAC Tournament
Buzzards Bay, Mass. - Westfield State College has earned the top seed in the 2010 Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference Baseball Championships, which begin with first round play on Thursday, May 6th and continue in a double elimination format on both Saturday and Sunday, May 8th and 9th.
Westfield State will host fourth-seeded Bridgewater State College in one first round contest on Thursday afternoon at Alumni Field in Westfield, Mass. beginning at 3:00 p.m. EDT, while second-seeded Framingham State College will host third-seeded Worcester State College in the other first round contest on Thursday evening at Bowditch Field in Framingham, Mass. beginning at 7:00 p.m. EDT. The tournament continues on Saturday morning at Westfield State’s Alumni Field in a double elimination format beginning at 10:00 a.m. EDT, with the championship round set for Sunday afternoon beginning at Noon EDT, as the 2010 MASCAC champion receives an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Baseball Championships.
Head Coach Ray Arra’s Owls claimed the MASCAC regular season championship by winning 12 of 14 league contests, as Westfield State brings a 28-7 overall mark into post-season play. Sophomore Matt Kelly (Weymouth, Mass.) leads the Owls at the plate with a .415 batting average that includes 51 hits, two homers and 24 RBI, while senior Jeff Fields (Pittsfield, Mass.) follows at a .413 clip that features 11 doubles and 24RBI. Senior Jesse Vermeersch (Marlboro, Mass.) and junior Tymon Muska (Brimfield, Mass.) have posted identical 5-0 marks on the mound for Westfield State with a combined 42 strikeouts to date.
Framingham State brings an overall mark of 23-15 into postseason play along with an 11-3 MASCAC slate under Head Coach Brian Blumsack, as the Rams are led offensively by freshman Will Crofton (Hopkinton, Mass.), who is hitting at a .377 clip with three homers and 26 RBI, while junior Corey Ketterer (Plymouth, Mass.) follows at .362 with seven doubles and 25 RBI. Junior Tommy Lindberg (Stratford, Conn.) has notched a 5-1 mark on the hill for Framingham State with a 3.77 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 43 innings to date.
Worcester State claimed the third seed in this year’s MASCAC Championships with a 10-4 league slate under Head Coach Dr. Dirk Baker, as the Lancers stand at 28-9-1 overall and are led at the plate by juniors Corey McDonald (Hudson, Mass.) and Nick Fluegge (Ware, Mass./Ware), who have combined for 13 homers and have driven in 34 runs apiece to date. Senior Joey Lucier (Brockton, Mass.) has been the top hurler for Worcester State this spring with a 6-2 mark to go with a 4.70 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings.
Bridgewater State rounds out the 2010 MASCAC championship field, as the Bears enter this year’s tournament with an overall mark of 17-18 under Head Coach Rick Smith, including an 8-6 slate in league play. Juniors Matt Greenberg (Norwell, Mass.) and Ian Williams (Taunton, Mass.) lead the way offensively for Bridgewater State with a combined nine homers and 62 RBI, while sophomore Jim Balboni (Townsend, Mass.) sports a 6-1 mark and a 2.70 ERA on the mound for the Bears.
Westfield State captured the 2009 MASCAC Baseball Championship with a 4-3 win over Worcester State in the title game.
2010 Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference Baseball Championships
(Double Elimination Format)
THURSDAY, MAY 6TH - FIRST ROUND
Game #1: #4 Bridgewater State (17-18, 8-6) at #1 Westfield State (28-7, 12-2) 3:00 pm
Game #2: #3 Worcester State (28-9-1, 10-4) at #2 Framingham State (23-15, 11-3) 7:00 pm
SATURDAY, MAY 8TH - SEMI-FINALS (AT ALUMNI FIELD, WESTFIELD, MASS.)
Game #3: Loser Game #1 vs. Loser Game #2 10:00 am
Game #4: Winner Game #1 vs. Winner Game #2 1:00 pm
Game #5: Winner Game #3 vs. Loser Game #4 4:00 pm
SUNDAY, MAY 9TH - CHAMPIONSHIP (AT ALUMNI FIELD, WESTFIELD, MASS.)
Game #6: Winner Game #4 vs. Winner Game #5 Noon
Game #7: Winner Game #4 vs. Winner Game #5 (if necessary) 30 min. following
Release courtesy of MASCAC Media Relations.