Bears are Golden in New England

Mass-Boston's Ryan Walsh will be key for another successful season in 2011. Mass-Boston sports information

By Tristan Hobbes, 
for D3baseball.com

Paul Herring may never speak truer words again. In the 2010 New England preview, Herring stated that there was going to be the opportunity for a surprise team to make it to Appleton. While they might not have seen themselves as a surprise team, the Mass-Boston Beacons certainly stunned a lot of baseball fans across the region last spring with their run through the Little East Conference and New England Regional tournaments. The Beacons won eight straight games in Mansfield, Conn., and qualified for the school’s first World Series by winning the eight-team tournament as the seventh-seed. Although the Beacons went 0-2 in Appleton, the seed has been planted in New England for more surprise teams to take their shot at glory.  

The parity in New England last spring was unbelievable and that appears to be the case again in 2011. Yearly powers Eastern Connecticut, Southern Maine and Trinity (Conn.) are coming back down to earth after dominating the regional landscape for the good part of 15 years, allowing teams like Mass-Boston, St. Joseph’s (ME), Keene St. and Western New England a chance at a trip to Appleton. With all the parity last year, it is hard to imagine there being more this year but this could be the year that a GNAC or TCCC team finds itself in Appleton. And don't forget the NECC with an automatic bid awarded for the first time this spring.

Still, it is one thing to see it on paper and another to have it translate to on field success. But since Mother Nature has decided to give New England a weekly snowstorm this year, paper is all we have at this point.

New Faces: John Rypel, Gordon: John Rypel comes to Gordon after spending the last four years as a pitching and catching coach, recruiting coordinator, and assistant sports information director at Maryville College in Tennessee. During his tenure with Maryville, a member of the Great South Athletic Conference (GSAC), the baseball program set seven school records and saw five pitchers honored with conference and regional awards enroute to a pair of GSAC championships.

Kraig Kupiec, Newbury: Kraig Kupiec is entering his first season as head baseball coach at Newbury after serving three seasons as the assistant coach at the Mass–Boston. During his time at Mass-Boston the baseball program was the Little East Conference Champions 2010, New England Division III Regional champions 2010 and went onto the Division III College World Series.

Chris Bessey, Maine-Farmington: Chris Bessey returns to Farmington after attending the school from 1989-93 and playing baseball and basketball. He replaces Dick Meader, who spent 18 seasons at the helm of the baseball program. Bessey comes to Farmington after 14 seasons as the head varsity baseball coach at Jay High School where he amassed 141 wins at Jay and the Tigers won the State Class C championship in 2002 and reached at least the regional semifinals in six seasons.

Greg Harjula, Lasell: Greg Harjula will begin his first year as head coach of the Lasell College Baseball program, after a three year stint as assistant coach of the Lasers. Coach Harjula has been with the Lasers’ baseball program for all four seasons since the inception of the program, in 2008.  Harjula came on board with the Lasers during their initial year as a club sport, and then helped the team to an incredibly successful inaugural season as a varsity NCAA team, in 2009.  

Brian Hamm, Amherst: After an extensive nationwide search, the Amherst Lord Jeffs have chosen to make interim head coach Brian Hamm the full-time head coach. Hamm served four years as Bill Thurston’s top assistant after coming over from Middlebury, where he served as an assistant for three years.

Jeff Scafidi has compiled an 1.122 OPS during his first two seasons with Anna Maria. Anna Maria sports information

The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC): New England’s biggest conference featured six 20-win teams in 2010 and Western New England (34-12) needed an amazing four-day stretch to emerge from the loser’s bracket to win their third straight title. Western New England, Curry (30-13) and Endicott (28-18) all finished in a three-way tie for first and the Colonels wrapped up their season with an ECAC championship.

In 2011, the Golden Bears will rely on the return of all but one pitcher that saw time last spring. Matt Rogers (10-1, 3.46, 80.2 IP) and Kevin Jefferis (7-1, 2.93, 59 SO) headline the starting staff and Mike Lawlor (4-1, 7 saves, 1.47, 47 SO) is back as the team’s closer. All three pitched on short rest in TCCC championship game last year. The offense will have to replace All-America first baseman Joe Griglun but do return three of their top-five hitters. Jason LeClerc (.384, 13 2B, 50 R) returns behind the plate and outfielder Tom Bouvier (.346) and infielder Mike Rubino (.345, 12 2B) round out the top returnees.

The team that could surprise everyone in the region except themselves is the Anna Maria AMCATs (21-20). The AMCATs had their best season in program history last year and return their entire starting lineup and pitching staff in 2011. Leading the way will be junior designated hitter and D3baseball.com honorable mention All-America Jeff Scafidi (.486, 15 2B, 5 3B, 5 HR, 49  RBI). Scafidi had one of the best seasons in Anna Maria history and will be joined by Michael Galvin (.351, 29 RBI, 47 R) and Mike Guarnieri (.338, 9 2B, 34 RBI). Zach Rafferty (3-4, 4.21, 62 SO) and James McNamara (6-6, 4.38) will lead a staff that will try and lower a 5.45 ERA from a year ago.  

The Endicott Gulls had a terrific season last spring thanks to some stellar underclassmen and will be led by those same players again this spring. Junior Colin Sitarz (.379, 13 2B, 37 RBI) and sophomore Eric Lemke (.344, 30 R, 15 SB) come back as the Gulls top two hitters and sophomore Brendan Pittsley (2-1, 4.91) returns as the most successful starter. Matt Sharon (3-0, 2 saves, 4.12) returns as the top reliever.

The 2010 ECAC runner-up, Wentworth (29-15) will need to fill a big void on the pitching mound in order to have another good spring. The Leopards lost their top three pitchers, a combined 20 wins, to graduation. Offensively, though, the Leopards return four of their top five hitters; Jake McManus (.373), Conner Flisnik (.348, 14 2B, 35 RBI), Matt Jordan (.338, 10 2B, 50 R) and Ben Danker (.317, 14 2B).

It will be tough for Curry to repeat their ECAC run as they lost ECAC Player of the Year Tim Sweeney and six-game winner Cory Moore. Brad Hawn (.423, 10 2B, 40 RBI, 45 R) returns as the top hitter and Mike Hughes (8-1, 3.47) is the teams most successful returning pitcher.

Todd Keneborus, an outfielder for St. Joseph's (Maine), was a 2011 preseason D3baseball.com All-American selection. St. Joseph's (Maine) sports information

Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC): Discussions involving the GNAC over the past seasons have always involved Suffolk (21-17), St. Joseph’s (ME) (35-13) and Western New England (before they switched conferences) and it will be no different in 2011. The Monks are not only the odds-on favorite to win the GNAC for the third time in four years, but a strong candidate to make a run at the New England title in May. Head coach Will Sanborn has one of the strongest returning casts of characters of any team in the region. St. Joe’s will be led by second-team preseason All-America outfielder Todd Keneborus (.464, 15 2B, 13 3B, 65 RBI) and 2010 GNAC Pitcher of the Year Sam Murray (7-2, 2.45, 35 SO, 7 BB). Add in a healthy Ian Lee (.475, 75 H, 17 2B, 53 RBI in 2009) and utility man Chris Campbell (.405, 64 H, 54 R) and the Monks are easily the team to beat.  They did lose All-New England utility man Pat Moran but the Monks staff returns a bevy of arms including Mason Roberge (4-1, 2 saves, 3.07, 35 SO 7 BB) and Chad Rafferty (5-0, 5.98, 40 SO, 17 BB). That should add up to the 29 wins that Sanborn needs to reach the 500-win mark.

Suffolk, St. Joe’s biggest challenge over the past years, lost quite a bit with the graduation of Marc Doyle (5-1, 0.95) and Bobby Barrett (.434, 35 RBI) but do return second leading hitter Jhonneris Mendez (.394, 4 HR, 29 RBI). The pitching staff will be led by seniors Andrew Babb (2-5, 5.24) and Alex Torres (4-3, 5.06, 43 SO, 8 BB). Torres nearly tossed a perfect game last spring as he retired the first 19 batters he faced against Johnson & Wales before finishing the game allowing just one hit and one walk.  

The rest of the conference is relatively unknown. Emerson (15-20) returns their top two hitters in second team All-Conference outfielder Peter Maltzan (.376, 6 2B, 37 RBI) and junior catcher Geoff Lopes (.434, 10 2B, 2 HR, 29 RBI, 30 R). A 7-7 finish will be hard to match though, as their top three leaders in wins all are gone this year.

Johnson and Wales (15-28) entered the 2010 conference tournament as the No. 3 seed before falling to Suffolk in the loser’s bracket final. In order to repeat their 8-6 season, the Wildcats will have to replace first team All-New England third baseman Jonathan Melendez (.420, 17 2B, 12 HR, 44 RBI). Melendez rewrote the JWU record book but the Wildcats due return three proven hitters in first team All-GNAC Nick Alosco (.321, 15 2B, 6 3B, 7 HR, 42 RBI) and third team All-GNAC’s Zach Boyes (.346) and Teddy Katz (.340, 6 HR, 29 RBI). The biggest challenge for the Wildcats will be lowering a staff ERA of 6.10 as senior Jason Tsangrides (1-6, 6.51, 54 SO) returns with the most experience.

If you are looking for a dark horse, you might find it in the Lasell Lasers (6-26). Greg Harjula will take the reins as head coach as the Lasers enter their third season with a lot to build on. A 5th place finish last year ended in a heartbreaking 11-10 loss to Emerson in the GNAC first round but the return of All-GNAC performers Josh Sullivan and Conor Cavanagh will provide a formidable base. Sullivan (3-3, 4.17, 42 SO, 10 BB) was All-GNAC as a pitcher but also led the Lasers in hitting at .362 and Cavanagh (.305, 6 2B, 19 RBI) returns in the outfield. 

Keene State's Bobby Doyon needs 23 doubles to tie the D-III career record for doubles. Keene State sports information

Little East Conference (LEC): Some say the LEC is one of the toughest conferences in the country. It proved true again last year as Mass-Boston (32-17) became the seventh team to win a conference championship and the first time a non-big three (ESCU, USM, KSC) had won it since Rhode Island in 2005. Only Plymouth St. has yet to win a conference title. As 2011 approaches, it looks like Mass-Boston and Keene St. (27-17-1) are the favorites to represent the Little East in Harwich.

Fresh off the best season in program history, the Beacons will look to top it with a strong core of returning players. First among them is Mr. Beacon himself Ryan Walsh. Walsh (.403, 81 H, 21 2B, 8 HR, 59 RBI, 72 R, 31 SB), was named a third team All-America by the ABCA and D3baseball.com last spring and was voted a second team preseason All-America this year by D3baseball.com. Along with Walsh, the Beacons return eight of nine starting position players including LEC tournament MOP Mark McCormack (.355, 18 2B, 52 RBI, 57 R, 24 SB) and New England tournament MVP Tim Fontaine (.328, 17 2B, 11 HR, 57 RBI). Tom Cole (3-2, 6.69) and Dan Heefner (4-1, 5.76) will headline a young starting staff that will need to replace a big heart in Mike Adriano.

Three straight regional appearances have the Keene State Owls looking for their first ticket to Appleton and if they fall short it certainly won’t be the fault of the offense. Second team preseason All-America and D3baseball.com second team All-Decade selection Bobby Doyon (.399, 18 2B, 10 HR, 51 RBI, 55 R, 23 SB) returns to lead an offense that hit .319 as a team last year. Joining him will be Tyler Diprato (.380, 12 2B) and Kyle Morrill (.313, 15 2B, 7 HR). The pitching staff will be centered on two seniors, Corey Vogt (1-1, 5 saves, 1.05, 32 SO) and Dan Nelson (7-0, 4.38) but Keene will need other arms to step up if they want to make a deep postseason run.

Perennial power Eastern Connecticut State (31-15) will again be strong but with a much different look. The Warriors lost three of their four infielders, including record-setting third baseman Melvin Castillo and two of their top starting pitchers but do return preseason honorable mention All-America utility man Jim Schult.  As the starting right fielder, Schult led the Warriors in hitting at .377 with 19 doubles and 45 RBI and as a pitcher had the lowest ERA on the starting staff at 3.52 and finished the year 5-1. Senior first baseman Andrew Dewing (.354, 19 2B, 6 HR, 57 RBI) and senior utility player Tyler Turgeon (.333, 11 2B, 6 HR) should provide ECSU with some offensive pop but the big question will be if the Warriors can improve on an uncharacteristic 5.01 team ERA. Chris Wojick’s (3-3, 5.75) return will be crucial but Eastern will need to replace Wes Dutton’s team-leading 22 relief appearances.

While not as dominant as they have been historically, Ed Flaherty’s Southern Maine Huskies (22-21-1) should again battle for an LEC title. The Huskies will be led by D3baseball.com preseason honorable mention All-America shortstop Anthony Pisani (.408, 13 2B, 34 RBI) and All-Region first baseman Mike Eaton (.409, 14 2B, 6 HR, 46 RBI). Pitching-wise, USM will have to rely on Dustin Stanton (2-1, 3.60), Ben Ives (4-3, 4.34) and Nick Hahn (5-3, 6.61).
While the top four teams may not change, the remaining four will certainly be up for the challenge. Mass-Dartmouth returns 2010 D3baseball.com honorable mention catcher Zak Talis (.443, 13 2B, 5 HR, 59 RBI) to a team that was over .500 (20-19) last season. Western Connecticut State returns seven of nine starting position players and possibly the best pitcher in the conference, Billy Armstrong (4-3, 3.39, 75 K). Rhode Island College returns Gary Levesque (.377 as a hitter, 3-3, 3.46 as a pitcher) to a team that tied the Beacons for third place in the regular season.

Corey McDonald helped Worcester capture its fourth MASCAC Tournament and reach the Division III baseball tournament in 2010. Worcester State athletics photo

Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC): Something happened in 2010 that doesn’t happen very often, as two teams for the MASCAC went to the NCAA tournament. Tournament champion Worcester State (31-11-1) received the conference’s automatic bid and Westfield State (30-11) was selected as an at-large team to the tournament field. With three teams that collected ten wins or more and 17 of 24 All-MASCAC selections returning, it will be another good battle for Bay State supremacy in 2011.

Like the GNAC, the MASCAC has been dominated by Worcester State and Westfield State the last several years and that appears to be the case again this spring.  The Lancers look to be the team beat as they return three first team All-MASCAC performers, including their top two hitters and five players that hit six or more home runs last spring. Leading the way will be seniors Corey McDonald (.410, 8 HR, 42 RBI), Nick Fluegge (.400, 8 HR, 39 RBI) and Johno Hinkell (.294, 7 HR, 36 RBI). They also return three of their top five starters, totaling a combined 15 wins. The big loss will be at the back end as the Lancers will have to replace closer Kevin Hayes (2-1, 7 saves, 1.99). Worcester could also find themselves playing home games more close to home as renovations to Rockwood Field could be completed in time for this spring. The Lancers have played home games at various fields throughout Worcester because they do not have a field of their own.

Hot on their tails will again be Westfield State but the Bears from Bridgewater could also make some noise this spring. The Owls lost four of their top five hitters but do return a pitching staff with a combined record of 18-6. Aaron Messier (6-2, 4.18) and Tymon Muska (5-0, 4.55) are the top returners and Franklin Pierce transfer Nick Noblit has the potential to step in and headline the staff. Westfield will still have some offensive pop with Matt Kelly (.377) and Jeff Ackerman (36 RBI) but will need their youth to adapt quickly.

Bridgewater State (18-20) made two straight World Series appearances in 1996-97 and qualified for the NCAA tournament in eight of nine years from 96-04 but hasn’t been back since; 2011 could break that streak. The Bears return MASCAC Pitcher of the Year Jeff Puopolo and two other All-MASCAC selections to a team that was a walk-off double away from an appearance in the conference championship a year ago. Along with Puopolo (5-3, 3.71, 64 SO), the Bears return their top four pitchers in terms of innings, including win leader Jim Balboni (7-1, 3.32). Ian Williams (.331, 32 RBI) and Matt Greenberg (.319, 32 RBI) return with the most experience but Tyler Dennis (.363, 20 RBI) finished his freshman campaign in style going 9-16 in the MASCAC tournament.

Framingham State (24-18) will also be looking to build on a successful 2010 that saw them finish second with an 11-3 regular season record. The Rams return their top seven hitters and their top three pitchers. Will Crofton (.345) led the team in hitting as a freshman and Steve Tramontozzi (.325, 16 2B, 5 HR, 51 RBI) was a first team All-MASCAC selection for a team that saw seven regulars collect 40 or more hits apiece. Matt Magazine (5-0, 1.87), Thomas Lindberg (5-2, 3.72) and Charlie Spear (3-4, 4.20) all threw over 40 innings last year and will give the Rams a strong pitching staff in 2011.

Last season Darrik Marstaller was named the first conference Rookie of the Year in Daniel Webster history. Daniel Webster sports information

New England Collegiate Conference (NECC): Winning a conference championship never offered much for teams in the NECC, but in 2011 that will all change. Thanks to the addition of Lesley, the NECC champion will now earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament in May. 

In 2010 Daniel Webster (21-17) and Mitchell (17-13) shared the championship due to bad weather that forced the cancellation of the tournaments seventh game. And with a strong core of returning players, the Eagles should be the conferences first representative in the NCAA tournament. The Eagles return their top two hitters in NECC Rookie of the Year and All-Region outfielder Darrik Marstaller (.377, 12 2B, 32 RBI, 31 SB) and Elliot Kilgore (.365, 24 RBI). Daniel Webster also returns all three pitchers that had winning records in 2010, Rich Lizotte (4-1, 2.97), Kory Kiro (5-3, 4.12) and Noah Shaw (3-1, 4.24).

Led by first year head coach Scott Kingston, Mitchell will look to improve on a 17-13 campaign in 2010 but they will have to do so without D3baseball.com honorable mention All-America pitcher Jeremy Chapman. The lefty had an outstanding senior season, earning NECC Pitcher of the Year honors. The Mariners do return NECC Player of the Year Jeff Perillo (.447, 14 2B, 4 HR, 29 RBI) and pitcher Garrett Cornwell (4-3, 5.03).

As for Lesley, they will enter their first season under the tutelage of former Daniel Webster assistant Mike Rocco. As a coach, Rocco has had the opportunity to work in the New England Collegiate Baseball League as an assistant coach with the Keene Swamp Bats. As a player, Rocco enjoyed a stellar career at Bryant University. A four-year starter at first base, Rocco left as the program leader in career games played and put outs and third in hits (221). He currently holds NCAA Division II records for career and single-season put outs.

Bates' Noah Lynd becoming the first Bobcat ever to reach double digits in home runs with a conference-best 15 round-trippers on the year. Bates sports information

New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC): The Tufts Jumbos (34-7) made it three consecutive years that a NESCAC team played in the New England regional championship game but unfortunately for the Jumbos, there ending was not as sweet as it was for Trinity (Conn.) (19-11) in 2008 and 2009. Ranked first in New England for a majority of 2010, the Jumbos will look to overcome that hurdle in Harwich this year.

They will have a strong core of returners to do it too, led by D3baseball.com preseason first team All-America closer Chris DeGoti (1-2, 12 saves, 1.17). Including DeGoti, Tufts returns six of their top seven pitchers. Ed Bernstein (1.55, 42 SO) was 4-0 out of the bullpen and Kevin Gilchrist (6-1, 3.48) was magnificent down the stretch last year. They also return All-New England third baseman Sam Sager (.373, 18 2B, 38 RBI) and spark plug David LeResche (.452 OBP, 51 R, 19 SB). Head coach John Casey should be licking his lips to get 2011 started.

The NESCAC East Division will be a challenge as a whole as three teams won over 20 games last year and a fourth, Trinity (Conn.), won 19. Both Bates (25-11) and Bowdoin (25-15) had historic seasons last year and will have ample returnees to make it happen again. Bates will do it with a new head coach as Mike Leonard takes over at the helm after Edwin Thompson resigned to take an assistant coaching position at Duke. Leonard was an All-Big East catcher during his playing days at Connecticut and made it all the way to the Boston Red Sox Double-A affiliate in Portland. He will take over a team that returns eight starters including All-NESCAC performers Noah Lynd (.398, 13 2B, 15 HR, 44 RBI), Chris Burke (.385, 35 RBI, 38 R) and Jacob Simon (.358, 8 HR, 36 RBI). They also return eight-game winner Ryan Heide (4.09, 48 SO).

Bowdoin also returns a strong team from last year, led by New England’s Rookie of the Year utility man Oliver Van Zant. As a pitcher, Van Zant went 5-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 51 SO and hit .245 for the Polar Bears. Bowdoin’s top two hitters also return in Brett Gorman (.411, 16 2B, 41 RBI) and Brendan Garner (.370, 15 2B, 43 R, 27 SB).

Trinity (Conn.) will rely on the experience their youth received last year and the strong cast of pitchers that return. Andrew Janiga (3-1, 4.98) and James Ramsey (3-1, 6.75) will have to be good and Stephen Rogers (.435, 24 RBI) will have to duplicate his freshman campaign in order for Bill Decker to get the 18 wins he needs to reach 500 for his career.

The West Division will be another close race with Williams (23-12-1), Wesleyan (Conn.) (22-14) and Amherst (21-11) battling for the two playoff spots. The Ephs return DH James Allison (.416, 7 2B, 5 3B, 3 HR) to a lineup that hit .358 and their two weekend starters, Harry Marino (3-2, 4.74) and Eddie Nadel (3-2, 5.08).

Wesleyan brings back their top two hitters Julian Sonnenfeld (.418, 25 2B, 8 HR, 49 RBI, 53 R) and Alex Meadow (.400) and their top two pitchers Brett Yarusi (7-3, 3.81) and Mike Barsotti (5-4, 5.43, 76 SO).

After a nation-wide search, Amherst chose to keep interim head coach Brian Hamm on as its coach for the near future after Hamm lead the Lord Jeffs to a 21-11 record. The Lord Jeffs bring back two players that hit over .400 in Bob Cook (.456, 26 RBI) and Thomas Wheeler (.402, 10 2B, 29 RBI) and two top-line starters in Ryan Healy (6-3, 5.59) and Hayden Metz (5-1, 4.76).

Hamilton (10-23) will look to improve on a 1-11 conference record as they return eight position players and four of their top five hitters. Wes Mayberry (.353, 10 2B, 22 RBI) will have to lead an offense that scored just 206 runs last year.

Wheaton (Mass.) junior pitcher Nolan Corr was named New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) Co-Pitcher of the Year for 2010. Wheaton sports information

New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC): A Wheaton (Mass.) (34-10) 23-4 win over Coast Guard was the topping on another great NEWMAC season for the Lyons. Unfortunately, Wheaton couldn’t translate that into a trip to Appleton. Not much has changed this year in Norton, MA and the Lyons look like the team to beat again.
The Lyons return five players that hit over .350 including their top three hitters Sean Ryan (.396, 10 2B, 4 HR, 36 RBI, 49 R), Sean Munley (.383, 15 2B, 49 RBI) and Dan Haugh (.380, 17 2B, 48 RBI). Pitching may be a concern however, as the Lyons lost their closer and a six-game winner. They do bring back New England’s Pitcher of the Year and D3baseball.com honorable mention All-America Nolan Corr (8-2, 1.82) and two five-game winners Corey Laliberte (5-1, 4.28) and Justin Santiago (5-0, 4.42) to a team that finished sixth in the country in ERA last spring.

Right there with the Lyons will be the Babson Beavers (20-14-1). Babson brings back a veteran team that will be led by a healthy Andrew Aizenstadt on the mound. The right hander threw just one inning last spring but was 8-1 with a 2.58 ERA in 2009 including a gutty regional performance against Eastern Connecticut State. Also returning are seniors and the top-two hitters for the Beavers Dave Ahern (.343, 11 2B, 26 RBI) and Billy Besinger (.336, 11 2B, 31 RBI). Chris Kucher (.301, 6 HR, 25 RBI) returns and will look to improve on an impressive freshman campaign.

With WPI (23-11) decimated by graduation the race for the third and fourth playoff spots will be open for the taking. Tops among the contenders will be Coast Guard. A magical run through the NEWMAC tournament ended against Wheaton last year and the Bears return all but one starter. Back is All-NEWMAC infielder Tyler Babkiewich (.363, 10 2B, 27 R) and All-New England reliever Tyler Vieira (3-1, 1.78, 2 saves, 42 SO). The return of Derek Petty (2-3, 3.95) and Nate Toll (3-3, 6.20) give the Bears a formidable rotation for the new three-game series format in the NEWMAC this year.

MIT (17-16) will also be in the running as the Engineers return their three top pitchers, Cameron Brown (2 saves, 2.14), Henry Zhu (4-2, 4 saves, 2.43) and Max Ockner (3-2, 2.76). With pitching under control, MIT will have to find a way to replace the loss of Stewart Park (.322, 21 RBI, 25 R, 24 SB). A.J. Hansborough (.357) and Ricardo Perez (.305) are the only returnees that hit over .300 last year.

Clark (16-15) returns infielder Mitchell DeLorenzo (.380, 13 2B, 31 RBI) but will have to replace the loss of their top two pitchers. Springfield will rely on the return of Karl Quist (.333, 7 2B, 25 RBI) to improve on a 12-22 season.

Ryan Zielinski is just the second freshman in Castleton history to earn a spot on the ECAC All-New England team. Castleton State sports information

North Atlantic Conference (NAC)/ North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC): Castleton State (34-16) represented the NAC very well in 2010, completing their best season with a 2-2 mark in the New York regional tournament. The Spartans won the NEAC East Division with a walk-off win over Husson (23-21) and then claimed the first NEAC East/West crossover with 2-1 series win over SUNYIT (19-21).

The Spartans should be the team to beat again in 2011 with the return of conference Rookie of the Year Ryan Zielinski (.363, 12 2B, 6 HR, 50 RBI, 54 R) and David Brandt (.429, 39 R, 29 SB). They lost ten-game winner Ken Cook but do return eight-game winner Tyler Erickson (8-4, 3.09).

Husson will provide the Spartans with a formidable challenge thanks to the return of leading hitter and conference Player of the Year Ethan Guerette (.378, 12 2B, 40 R, 24 SB) and top pitcher Ryan Aresenault (7-3, 3.31, 8 CG).

Thomas (14-23) and Lyndon State (11-25) both made strides in 2010 but it doesn’t appear they will have the arms or fire power to compete with Castleton State and Husson.