2012 New England Preview

By Tristan Hobbes for D3baseball.com

Wheaton ace, Nolan Corr has Lyons' fans thinking of a trip to Appleton in May. Wheaton (Mass.) athletics photo

It is not often that a team picked to win at the beginning of the season actually does. Western New England did it in 2011. Led by a dominant pitching staff and clutch hitting, the Golden Bears won their first regional title and advanced to their first Division III National Championship tournament. The model that Western New England used last year could become the gold standard in New England with the new BBCOR bat restrictions. The team that has the best chance of emulating the Golden Bears in 2012 is the Wheaton Lyons. Can they do it?

New Faces

Travis Beausoleil, Mitchell: Beausoleil comes to Mitchell after serving as a member of the support staff for the University of Connecticut baseball program. He played two seasons for UConn Avery Point before finishing at North Carolina Wesleyan. Beausoleil was a two-time All-New England shortstop for the Pointers.

B.J. Hampton, Eastern Nazarene: Hampton served as the Lions’ pitching coach and recruiting coordinator in 2011 before stepping into the head coaching position. Prior to Eastern Nazarene, Hampton served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Piedmont College. At Piedmont, Hampton appeared in a school-record 72 games and helped the Lions earn their first NCAA Division III-postseason berth in 2008.

Robert McLaughlin, Becker: McLaughlin comes to Becker after spending the last three seasons as an assistant coach at WPI. He takes over a team that lost 15 of its pitching wins a year ago to graduation.

Anthony Perry, Rivier: A former professional player, Perry takers over in Nashua in 2012. After graduating from Fisher College in 2008, Perry played two seasons for the Maryland Blue Crabs of the independent Atlantic League. At Fisher, he hit .355 in 171 career games.V

Ed Poland Jr., Lyndon St.: Poland takes over the head coaching job at Lyndon St. after serving as an associate head coach at St. Michael’s College. He takes over a young team that returns all but two players from a year ago.

Bob Prince, Mass-Dartmouth: Prince takes over head coach of the Corsairs after serving nine seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater Southern Maine. A 1992 graduate of USM, Prince was a three-time ABCA All-American outfielder and led the Huskies to three appearances in the College World Series and their first National Championship in 1991.

New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC): Wheaton won 30 games for the seventh consecutive season in 2011 and returns a majority of that team this spring. The Lyons were one of the best teams in the region in both batting average and ERA last year and will welcome back D3baseball.com Second Team Preseason All-American third baseman Dan Haugh. Joining Haugh will be one of the region’s top defensive shorststops in Eric Jensen and ABCA Gold Glover Hal Landers. Wheaton also brings back all five starters from a year ago, including seven-game winners Frank Holbrook and Nolan Corr. Closer Ryan Grant returns after saving 10 games in his rookie season.

Aric Dama and the rest of the MIT pitching rotation returns in 2012. MIT athletics photo

Although the Lyons claimed their 11^th NEWMAC title last spring, it was the emergence of MIT that grabbed most of the headlines. The Engineers made the NCAA tournament for the first time in 37 years relying heavily on their pitching and defense and will do so again this year. They bring back NEWMAC Pitcher of the Year Aric Dama and the rest of their weekend staff, including relief specialist Henry Zhu.

Babson will make the NEWMAC a three-team race but will have to make up for the loss of Dave Ahern and Andrew Aizenstadt. Ahern led the Beavers in hitting a year ago, but the next six hitters return to Babson Park in 2012. Also back after a sensational freshman season is NEWMAC Rookie of the Year Michael Bortolotti.

After the top three, the rest of the conference is really up for grabs. Coast Guard appears to have the upper hand so far with the return of its top three starters and its all-conference closer. Derek Petty, Riley Beecher and Nate Toll combined to win 12 of Coast Guard’s 21 games last year and Tyler Vieira picked up eight saves.

WPI, Springfield and Clark round out the NEWMAC and are looking for bounce back years. In Worcester, the Engineers are hoping the return of all-conference selection Daniel Thomas and Sean Minor spells a return trip back to the NCAA tournament. Clark, on the other hand, will have to replace its top three pitchers in order to compete with its inner-city rival. Springfield will depend on its youth this year and hope that Travis Lane and Alex Williams can improve on strong rookie campaigns.

Little East Conference (LEC): Rhode Island College got hot at the right time last season, winning its second LEC championship and its first NCAA tournament game in 31 years. The Anchormen will try and make it two in a row as they bring back one of the most experienced teams in the conference. RIC’s top three pitchers are back and Third Team All-New England and First Team All-LEC shortstop Kyle Allaire is back for his final season in Providence. Brothers Dan and Brent Hopkins will be the anchors to RIC’s lineup and provide much needed pop.

Keene State's Eric Perrault spent the summer pitching the Nashua Silver Knights to the championship in the inaugural season of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. Keene State athletics photo

Repeating isn’t easy in the LEC and they are plenty of teams looking to knock off RIC. Keene St. could give them their biggest challenge with the returns a veteran pitching staff led by seven-game winner Jeff Pelkey. Erik Bergstrom and Greg Bates will lead an offense that will sorely miss the contributions of Bobby Doyon and Tyler DiPrato.

Eastern Connecticut will rely heavily on youth this spring as it projects to have just one senior in the starting lineup, Second Team All-LEC catcher Steve Cammuso. The Warriors also bring back one of the top underclassmen in the league, second team shortstop Danny O’Connell. Their pitching staff will be a bit depleted with the loss of all-everything Jim Schult and Chris Wojick, but still features Jim Dimon and closer Evan Chamberlain.

From top to bottom, every conference game is a battle in the LEC. That point hits home with comparable the conference is. Mass-Boston is a great example of that. After winning LEC and New England titles in 2010, the Beacons took a step back in 2011. This year, they’ll have to do it without Ryan Walsh and James Dalton. They’ll get a big boost in the return of All-New England catcher Tim Fontaine who missed the entire 2011 season with an injury. The Beacons will look to him to lead a pitching staff that includes Dan Heefner and Tom Cole.

Throw Southern Maine into the group of teams that could make a move at a title this year. They nearly missed the postseason last spring but the emergence of Forrest Chadwick as the LEC’s top freshman will help them transition into this season. Nick Grady and Tucker White also are back on offense and the Huskies have four of their top pitchers back.

Western Connecticut, Mass-Dartmouth and Plymouth St. round out the final three teams in the conference but don’t sleep on them. The Corsairs begin a new era under new head coach Bob Prince, a Southern Maine alum that won a National Championship with the Huskies in 1991. He inherits a team that returns one of the top relievers in the conference in Pat Lavey.

Western Connecticut put up all sorts of offensive numbers last spring and the Colonials hope the return of Connor Bierfeldt and Mike Yates will push them into the playoffs this season. Plymouth St. returns its top four hitters from a year ago and will look to build off a strong showing that included victories over Keene St., Southern Maine and Mass-Dartmouth.

Mike Rubino set a school record with 82 hits in 2011 for Western New England. Western New England athletics photo

The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC): Western New England thoroughly dominated the rest of the conference last year but still needed to win four games in two days to capture the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Once in Harwich, the Golden Bears rode their pitching staff to a sweep and a bid in the Division III National Championships. Their top three pitchers, a combined 27 wins on the mound, are gone but the cupboard is not bear for head coach Matt LaBranche. Western New England’s entire infield returns, including D3baseball.com Preseason Honorable Mention All-American Mike Rubino, who set the school record with 82 hits last year. Mike Lawlor, a D3baseball.com Second Team Preseason All-American, returns as the region’s top closer.

If anyone is going to knock off the Golden Bears, it might be Endicott. The Gulls needed to win just one game last year to make the NCAA tournament but were thwarted by Western New England. This year, seven position players and the entire pitching rotation return to a team that won a program-record 32 games. Mike Nich, Brendan Pittsley, Tyler Hitchcock and Benjamin Petrides all won five games last year and give the Gulls a chance to win every night out.

Roger Williams surprised some people last year with a strong finish but won’t have that opportunity this year with the return of four position players and its top four pitchers. Trevor Manzi hit four home runs and Josh Orosz turned into one of the aces of the league with a 6-1 record. Tyler Pogmore emerged as a top reliever in his first year with RWU, posting a 4-1 record with six saves and 0.36 ERA.

The rest of the conference is a tossup, especially with the loss of Anna Maria to the GNAC. Wentworth, Curry and Salve Regina will all battle for homefield advantage in the playoffs. The Leopards return three of their top pitchers in Alex Wong, Adam Farrar and Nick Colanto but will be a bit thin on the offensive side. Curry welcomes back four of its top arms, its top two hitters, including Matt Rodriguez who hit four home runs and drove in 25 runs in just 112 at-bats. Salve Regina went 14-8 last season but loses its top six hitters and its top four pitchers.

New England College and Colby-Sawyer also left for the NAC and that opens up an opportunity for Nichols, Eastern Nazarene and Gordon to make the playoffs. Nichols returns its ace Tyler Shute, while Eastern Nazarene brings back its top two-way man in Steve Doyle. Gordon brings its top five hitters back from a year ago and Robert Hinckley returns as the Fighting Scots’ top pitcher.

Kevin Heller belted a league-record 11 home runs en route to ACBL Most Valuable Player honors this summer Amherst athletics photo

New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC): Tufts has been the cream of the crop in the NESCAC in each of the past two seasons thanks to a dominant pitching staff. The Jumbos led the region in team ERA last year but lost three of those pitchers to graduation. David Ryan is back after winning eight games last season, but the Jumbos could be a bit thin offensively as they lost three of their top hitters. Sam Sager returns for his senior season at third base.

The possible suitors for the NESCAC’s automatic bid in 2012 include nearly every team in the conference. Amherst will look to the duo of NESCAC Player of the Year Mike Samela and Kevin Heller to power the Lord Jeffs to the NCAA tournament. Thomas Wheeler is also back after hitting six home runs a year ago.

A dominant force in the league two years ago, Trinity looks to regain that in 2012. Back are five of the Bantams top hitters and pitchers, including Third Team All-New England selection Kevin Mortimer. The pitching staff will be four deep with the hope that James Ramsey returns to freshman year form. Ben Goldberg will be waiting to close games out in the ninth.

Williams, Bowdoin, Wesleyan and Middlebury all enjoyed successful years in 2011 and all brings something unique back in 2012. The Ephs will feature a strong offense that is led by Stephen Maier, Cameron Susk and Marco Hernandez. They also bring back 20 of their 24 wins on the mound. Bowdoin also returns a formidable staff that includes NESCAC Rookie of the Year Christian Martin and utility man John Lefeber. Ian Edwards could be the NESCAC’s top closer. Wesleyan loses the powerful bat of Julian Sonnenfeld but returns its top three pitchers in Jimmy Hill, Brett Yarusi and Mike Barsotti. That experience could get the Cardinals to the postseason. The Panthers bring back Second Team All-New England catcher Zach Roeder and four of its top five pitchers.

Bates, Colby and Hamilton will all face an uphill battle in 2012. The Bobcats won 20 games for the second-straight year but lost a great deal of their offense to graduation. Colby will need its returners to put up the same numbers as last season, including Nikolas Atsalis. Hamilton hopes the return of its top hitter and pitcher from a year ago will equal more victories this season.

Corey Batista posted a record of 7-3 with nine complete games and five shutouts in his first season with the Bears. Bridgewater State athletics photo

Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC): Bridgewater St. was finally able to break through the wall that Westfield St. and Worcester St. had built atop the conference. The Bears earned the automatic bid and advanced to the New England Regional championship game in its first NCAA appearance since 2004. Bridgewater will try and make it two straight with the return of six plus-.300 hitters and 20-of-26 victories. Leading the charge will be power pitcher Corey Batista and slugger Joshua Ferreira.

Westfield St. has won three of the last four regular-season crowns, but was upended last year in the postseason. The return of the top three pitchers has the Owls eyes set on a trip to the NCAA tournament. Second Team All-New England selection Roman Mondalto won seven games, three via shutout, and Bret Siflinger and Aaron Messier will join him on the mound. Andrew Medeiros returns after driving in 30 runs a year ago.

Worcester St. has to fill the void Corey McDonald leaves in order to return to the postseason. Chris Creen is the top returning hitter and Shaun Slattery earned Second Team All-New England honors after picking up nine saves.

Salem St., Framingham St. and Fitchburg St. will all battle for the final playoff spot. The Vikings return their top hitters, Chris Cocci and Kevin Salines, and their top two pitchers, Cory Collins and Matt Kerr. Andrew Guido went 3-0 with three saves as the Salem’s top relievers. William Crofton and Christopher Blydell return for Framingham on offense, while five-game winner Matthew DiCato returns on the hill. Fitchburg led the MASCAC in hitting last year but it could be pitching that leads them this season. Alex Teal and Tynan Flegg each won four games and Michal Mercier won three for the Falcons a year ago.

Mass.-Maritime and MCLA were on the bottom of the standings last year and will have a tough battle ahead of them in 2012. Head coach Bob Corradi returns for his 40^th season at Mass.-Maritime and he welcomes back Tyler Genereux as his top pitcher and Greg Wiggin as his top hitter. MCLA lost nearly its entire starting lineup to graduation but does return Zach Theulen offensively and four-game winner Daniel Gaines on the mound.

Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC): St. Joseph’s has owned the GNAC in recent memory but will have to battle some key losses to keep that hold on the top spot. Head coach Will Sanborn needs just two wins to break the St. Joseph’s College record for coaching victories and should get it in short order with the kind of pitching he returns. Six-game winner Chad Rafferty is back, as is Joe Gruntkosky and Sam Murray. Mike Pratt clubbed 23 doubles last season and will have to lead the Monks offense this season after the graduation of Chris Campbell and Todd Keneborus.

If Suffolk’s young players can continue to grow, the Rams could challenge the Monks for the conference’s NCAA bid. The Rams featured two of the region’s top freshmen a year ago in Second Team All-New England selections Jake Cintolo and Devan Jones. Cintolo had 16 doubles, while Jones drove in 45 and scored 46. Pitching could be a problem however, as Suffolk lost ace Alex Torres to graduation.

Jeff Scafidi was part of a a school record 26 games in 2011 for Anna Maria. Anna Maria athletics photo

New to the GNAC, 2011 ECAC Co-Champion Anna Maria could make a run at the conference title in 2012. The AMCATS won a program-record 26 games last year and bring back one of the top hitters in the region, Jeff Scafidi. Dean Diamantopolous returns as the AMCATS top arm.

One of the great stories in New England last year was Lasell. The Lasers won 21 games last year after never having won over 10 in program history. They’ll look to duplicate that feat with the return of Joshua Sullivan, Eric Howard and Bobby Stachura.

That leaves Johnson & Wales, Albertus Magnus, Rivier, Emerson and Norwich to battle it out for the final three playoff spots. Marc Sommerhalter returns as the staff ace for JWU after going 6-0 with two saves last sesason. Also back are All-GNAC selection Zach Boyes and Pete Rosa. Albertus Magnus returns one of its top hitters in Robert Gambardella to a team that won its final five games just to make the playoffs. Geoffrey Lopes and Peter Maltzan will lead Emerson at the plate, while Ben Quick returns after winning five of the Lions’ 12 games a year ago. Anthony Perry takes over at Rivier in 2012 and will try and improve upon a 3-11 conference record. Norwich returns its best player in Dustin Shimkus.

North Atlantic Conference (NAC): Husson was crowned champion again last year but the graduation of six of its best players could leave the cupboard a bit bare. Shawn Smith and Kyle Vanidestine bring experience to the offense, while Nate Adams returns in search of the program record for career victories.

Castleton St. returns Zak Mayo and 2010 NEAC East Division Rookie of the Year Ryan Zielinski. Those two should give the offense some pop and Tyler Erickson returns as the staff ace after striking out 74 batters in 64 innings last spring.

One of the nice surprises in 2011 was Thomas, and the Terriers have a chance to do it again this year, as just one player was lost to graduation. Ben Goodall and Rob Nutter are the Terriers’ top two hitters and Jake Chamblee and Eric Sucy return after winning four games apiece last season.

Maine-Farmington and Lyndon St. both look to improve in 2012 with the return of key players. Maine-Farmington returns its top two pitchers and top two hitters, while Lyndon St. returns all but two players from a year ago. They Hornets also welcome a new head coach aboard, as Ed Poland Jr. takes over after serving as an associate head coach at St. Michael’s College.

Two teams from TCCC, New England College and Colby-Sawyer, could make an immediate impact in the NAC. Colby-Sawyer qualified for TCCC postseason play and didn’t lose many players from that team. Sean Gavin and Jon Wylie will lead the offense, while Ryan Gillan and PJ Singster will be the top two pitchers. NEC returns all-conference outfielder Lucas Burgess and leading hitter Pierce Byrd to a team that missed out on the conference tournament by one game.

New England Collegiate Conference (NECC): Mitchell earned the NECC’s first automatic bid to the NCAA tournament last year but will have to replace a lot this season to repeat. D3baseball.com All-American John Apostolo leaves a big hole for the Mariners at the plate and on the mound. First-year head coach Travis Beausoleil does inherit Anthony Santiago and Felix Colarte on offense and Jon Blair on the mound.

One of the great stories in the entire country last season was the Newbury Nighthawks. Newbury shattered the program record for wins a season ago and return all but one player this season. Patrick Curry and Michael Dean are the sparkplugs on offense, while Shawn Marcelle and Christopher Ninteau return on the mound. Marcelle went 5-1, struck out 46 and only walked nine in 41.2 innings out of the bullpen.

Daniel Webster will welcome back one of the top first-year players in Korey LeLievre, a Third Team All-New England selection last spring. Kory Kiro returns as the staff ace after winning six games a year ago.

Southern Vermont, Becker, Elms and Lesley round out the conference and will battle for the final playoff spot. The Mountaineers needed just win over Mitchell last season to win the NECC title but could not get it. This year, one of the league’s best players, Pat Warrington, will try and get them over the hump. Connor Murray will be SVC’s top pitcher. Becker finished second with a 13-5 league record but 17 of its wins from a year ago are not back this year. Todd Tompkins is the team’s top returning player. Elms welcomes back top hitter Stephen Fisher and starting pitcher Andrew Burger. In its first season, Lesley experienced major growing pains, going 0-28. Aqib Shaw, the Lynx’s top hitter, is back to help Lesley earn its first victory.