Baseball Named 2022 MASCAC Preseason Title Favorites

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State baseball has been chosen by coaches around the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference as the favorite to win the 2022 MASCAC baseball title. 

The Owls have won two out of the last three titles, with their most recent victory in 2019 over Fitchburg State. Westfield finished last season with a record of 18-8, including a dominant 14-2 record at home. They finished third in the MASCAC, going 6-4 in conference play. 

Westfield State received six first-place votes for a total of 47 points. Last year's tournament champions, Salem State, placed second with 38 points, and previous regular season champion Fitchburg State was a close third with 37 points. 

Among returners for Westfield State, All-Conference player Casey Boudreau (Shrewsbury, Mass.) will be back for the Owls. Boudreau finished the season with a .416 batting average, .526 on base percentage, .588 slugging percentage, with 32 hits and 20 runs, both figures good for top five in the MASCAC. 

Zack Graveline (Prospect, Conn.) will also return for the Owls. Graveline was the team leader in stolen bases last season with 10 and added 20 runs of his own.

Ethan Day (Meridan, Conn.) launched three home runs in 2021, which was the third highest mark in the conference. Day's 20 RBIs were good enough for second in the conference. 

The Owls have two talented pitchers coming back to the mound with Shane Bogli (Vernon, Conn.) and Nate Langmeier (East Granby, Conn.). Bogli topped the conference with 45 strikeouts, and his four wins ranked third among pitchers. Langmeier's six wins placed him first in the MASCAC, while recording a 3.52 earned run average and 29 strikeouts in 30.2 innings pitched.

Westfield State's season begins with a double header against Springfield on Sunday, March 6th with games at 12:00 and 3:00 PM. 

For complete preseason conference rankings, visit MASCAC.com