Baseball Picked to Win MASCAC; To Open Season Feb. 29

Westfield State University has been picked to defend their Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball title, according to the 2020 preseason conference coaches' poll.

The Owls totaled 44 points and received four of the eight first-place votes.  Fitchburg State was second with 34 points and one first-place ballot, and Framingham was third with 32 points.  Fourth-pick Worcester nabbed two first place votes, while seventh-pick Mass Maritime picked up a first-place vote as well.

The Owls look to defend their crown as MASCAC regular-season champions for the fourth year in a row. The back-to-back conference tournament champ Owls will have a different look after graduating nine seniors, however, a strong core returns from their 28-win campaign a season ago. The team will feature 13 new additions that will provide competition and depth to the roster. The Owls are looking to continue their success as the program has received votes in the 2020 Collegiate Baseball pre-season DIII baseball polls.

OUTFIELD

The Owls will have a young outfield this year, which is projected to be led by 2019 MASCAC all-conference player, Nick Martin. Martin ended 2019 hitting .331 at the plate with six doubles, two triples, a homerun, 20 RBI and 17 stolen bases. Sophomores Ethan Day and Jacob Butler look to receive more significant time after having success in limited appearances last season for the Owls. Freshman Jordan Garner will compete for playing time in the outfield, DH and at first base. Veteran returnee Steve Saucier provides experience and strong defensive abilities to the group after playing in 21 games in 2019. Kyle Andreoli will add additional depth to the outfield.

AROUND THE HORN

Senior captain Casey Boudreau is returning to the infield and looking to follow up his all-conference honors with another stellar season leading the Owls at second base. Boudreau finished 2019 hitting .345 with eight doubles, one triple, and 21 RBI. He played a clutch role in the Owls' 4-2 NCAA win over Ithaca, scoring the first run of the contest and knocking in the second only one at-bat later. Senior captain Brett Dooley, a former all-conference pick, will resume his duties at the hot corner for the third straight season. He rapped six doubles and drove in 21 runs last season. Sophomore Damien Maniscalco looks to lock up the shortstop position with stellar defensive play. Junior Sean Moorhouse will compete for playing time at first base with senior captain Jake Gibb mixing in when not behind the plate, and Garner will also be in the mix at first base. Adding depth in the infield are freshman Kyle Darby and Jake Sell, who both show potential in their debut season and veterans Jimmy Valenti and Zack Graveline will provide versatility and speed while looking to contribute significantly for the Owls this year. Jacob Palmer and Spencer Cloutier will add depth to this talented group.

CATCHING

The Owls return three catchers from the previous season including primary starter Jake Gibb, who is expected to mix in at first as well. Gibb has developed a strong relationship with the Owls pitching staff and provides a lot of power in his bat with a pair of home runs and 25 RBI last season. Junior Bryant Dana provides the Owls with a strong defensive presence at catcher and brings experience after competing in 21 contests in 2019. Nick Martin remains an option behind the plate, but is likely to receive most of his playing time in the outfield.   

ROTATION

The Owls' starting rotation will be led by junior Shane Bogli who returns after a successful 2019 campaign. Last season Bogli pitched to a 2.83 ERA, with eight wins in 11 starts. In 66.2 innings Bogli stuck out 45 batters and only allowed nine walks. The rest of the rotation remains wide open after losing many seniors to graduation. Juniors Patrick Jordan and Vincenzo Camera look to bring consistency to the rotation after both started in five contests for the Owls last season.  Returning from injury is hard-throwing junior Nate Langmeier who will be competing for a spot in the rotation. Junior Trevor Edwards could start or relieve, and freshmen Matt Laverdure and Ryan Robidoux are also candidates to round out the rotation.

BULLPEN

After appearing in 17 games out of the pen during his sophomore campaign, Trevor Edwards will be a candidate to lead the bullpen again. Edwards is looking to be a high caliber arm with a chance of finding himself in the starting rotation. Lefty Ryan Murphy (11 app., 3.15 ERA), Troy Saulnier, Frankie Novio (16k in 12 innings) and sidewinder Michael Vitolo (3.60 ERA)  will be returning and hoping to build off their previous experience in the Owls' pen. Freshman Sean and Billy Casey (no relation), Chris Schoen, Aidan Gilman, Patrick Wilbur and Luke Mathewson that will provide more depth and options to the bullpen.

SCHEDULE

The Owls open the 2020 season on the last weekend of February with three games in Troy, N.Y. - two games against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a single game against Rochester, an NCAA Tournament a year ago - before heading down to Florida for the spring break. The Owls will play eight games in Florida as part of the RussMatt Tournament at Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale, Pat Thomas Stadium in Leesburg, and Chain O'Lakes Park in Winter Haven.  Westfield will face #2-ranked Webster (Mo.) among a solid Florida slate.  Upon returning, the Owls will begin the rest of their northern schedule on March 18 at home against the United States Coast Guard Academy to take on the Bears. Conference play begins at home on March 27 against Framingham State. The 2020 schedule will feature five games against teams who competed in the NCAA tournament in 2019.