2023 Westfield State Baseball News

Season
Nathan Bashaw
Bashaw Stepping Down as Owls Baseball Coach

Westfield State baseball coach Nathan Bashaw will be stepping down after nine seasons at the helm of the Owls program, effective January 12, 2024 to pursue private business interests outside of coaching.

Baseball Prospect Clinic
Baseball Prospect Clinic

The Westfield State University baseball program is hosting a baseball prospect clinic for high school-aged players on Sunday, Oct 15, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. on Bud and Jim Hagan Field.

2023 Westfield State University Owls Baseball Team
Baseball Named to ABCA Team Academic Excellence List

The Westfield State University baseball team earned recognition as part of the 2022-23 ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award list.

Westfield State's Joe Espinola (fourth from left) was part of the Westfield Starfires contingent for the FCBL All-Star game.  (Screengrab from StarfiresBB instagram)
Owls' Espinola Makes All-Star Appearance, Thriving in Futures League

“The spring really helped with my confidence,” he said.  “Being a closer you are almost always working in stressful moments in tight games or with men on base, and I think I carried that experience into the start of the season here"

Joe Espinola (file photo)
Espinola Set to Participate in 2023 FCBL All-Star Game Tonight in Burlington, VT

Westfield State senior reliever Joe Espinola was selected to play in the 2023 Future’s Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game tonight in Burlington, Vermont

MASCAC logo
137 Owls Student-Athletes Named to MASCAC Winter/Spring All-Academic Team

Westfield State athletics placed a total of 137 student-athletes as part of the 2023 MASCAC Winter/Spring All-Academic Team that was released by Commissioner Angela Baumann.

WSU grad Brandon Smith '23 (at far right) is part of a plate conference with other umpires and coaches before a Northwoods League game in late June. (Photo courtesy Waukesha Woodchucks)
Owls Golf Alumnus Brandon Smith '23 Pursuing Baseball Umpire Career

While Major League Baseball pauses for the all-star break, Westfield State graduate Brandon Smith ’23 is still hard at work, as he embarks on an umpiring career, working his first season in the Northwoods League this summer.

Student-Athlete Registration graphic
2023-24 Student-Athlete Registration Is Open! Complete Your Checklist Today!

Attention all Westfield State student-athletes!   Athlete registration is now open for 2023-24 fall, winter and spring sport athletes. REGISTER TODAY !

Matt Motyka '22 pitching at Westfield State, and in his professional job as Athletics Turfs Supervisor at Arizona State.
Recent Grad Matt Motyka '22 Continues Athletics Career in Pac-12

When Matt Motyka’s college baseball career with the Westfield State University ended, he went from the pitcher’s mound, onto a cross-country flight

Composite image of Billy Casey, Cassidy Connolly, Shane Clark, Mia McDonald, Christina Ciampa
Five Owls Named to MASCAC Spring Sportsmanship Team

35 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) student-athletes have been honored for their outstanding sportsmanship as members of the 2023 Spring Sportsmanship Teams.

Nick Marshall and Dan Burnett Named to Division III All-Region - Region 2 Team.
Marshall, Burnett Named to ABCA/Rawlings Division III All-Region Team

Westfield State sophomore Nick Marshall and junior Dan Burnett each earned spots on the 2023 ABCA/Rawlings Division III All-Region – Region Two team as voted on by the members of the American Baseball Coaches Association.

The Smith Cup sits on the wall of Stanley Park with Westfield State's Woodward Center Athletic Center in the background.
Westfield State Claims Smith Cup As MASCAC’s Best Athletic Program For Third Straight Year!

For the third straight year, Westfield State University secured the Howard C. Smith Sup as the best overall athletics program in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference for the 2022-23 academic year.

Five Owls to Play in Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England
Five Owls to Play in Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England

Westfield State baseball players Dan Burnett, Ryan Donahue, Ryan Lapierre, Joe Espinola, and Joe Fischer all earned spots on teams within the Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England to begin the summer season.

Four Baseball Players Named to MASCAC All-Conference Teams
Four Baseball Players Named to MASCAC All-Conference Teams

Westfield State baseball players Nick Marshall, Dan Burnett, Ryan Lapierre, and Ethan Day all received conference recognition as they were named to the MASCAC All-Conference first and second teams for the 2023 season.

Baseball Eliminated by Fitchburg in MASCAC Tournament
Baseball Eliminated by Fitchburg in MASCAC Tournament

Westfield State sophomore Justin Neidel (Attleboro, Mass.) clubbed four hits including three triples, but the third-seeded Owls fell to sixth-seeded Fitchburg State 14-8 in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference elimination game on Thursday.

Baseball Faces Fitchburg in Opening Round of MASCAC Tournament
Baseball Faces Fitchburg in Opening Round of MASCAC Tournament

The #3 Westfield State baseball team will begin postseason play on Thursday, May 11 at 11:00 A.M. against #6 Fitchburg State in an elimination game from Bridgewater, Mass.