Central Mass College Baseball Preview

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Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Joe Parello, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

While it is not quite spring, baseball season is closer than you think, and several Central Mass college teams are hoping to bounce back. Holy Cross is looking for one of their talented pitchers to step up and be consistent so they can return to the postseason. Assumption is also looking for pitching help, but the Greyhounds will be hard pressed to find reliable starters. Clark is coming off a disappointing season and, with the loss of several key players, 2012 could again by trying for the Cougars. Finally, Nichols finished just a game out of their conference tournament last year, despite getting next to nothing out of their entire pitching staff.

Holy Cross College needs consistency from pitchers

Holy Cross is coming off a losing season, but has the talent to make some noise in the Patriot League in 2012. The Crusaders return perhaps the Patriot League’s best infield, with pre-season All-Conference selections shortstop Alex Maldonado (Brooklyn, NY) and catcher/third baseman Stephen Wadsworth (Wayland, MA) leading the way. After a stellar performance in the Cape Cod Baseball League, senior pitcher Nate Koneski (North Dighton, MA) looks to be the ace of a staff that also returns junior starter John Colella (Herndon, VA). Though his pitchers look good on paper, coach Greg DiCenzo says he needs more consistency from this talented bunch.

“Our positional players were a little beat up (last season), but our pitchers were healthy, and they didn’t do what they needed to do,” DiCenzo said. “We need to get back to being more consistent on the mound, and our staff needs to be strong from top to bottom.”

The Crusaders are hoping to earn a trip to the Patriot League Tournament after missing out on postseason play a year ago. If they are to get there, it will be just the way DiCenzo said. The Crusaders’ pitching staff allowed opposing hitters to bat nearly .300, and had a cumulative ERA of 6.40. Those are numbers that will need to be improved upon if Holy Cross is to return to the postseason.

2011 Overview: 24-23-1, 9-11 Patriot League
Returning Batting Leaders:
Stephen Wadsworth, Jr. C/1B, Wayland, MA: .310 BA
Josh Olson, Sr. OF, Woodbury, MN: .306 BA
Returning Pitching Leaders:
John Colella, Jr. RHP, Herndon, VA: 3.00 ERA
Andrew Boyce, Jr. RHP, Avon, CT: 3.41 ERA

Assumption College needs to find starting pitching

Assumption is another team hoping to get back to postseason play. The Greyhounds do return All-Northeast 10 catcher Tim Quinn (Paxton, MA), and the senior can get it done in the field and at the plate. Quinn batted .327 a year ago, and led the team with 28 RBI, while also boasting a .993 fielding percentage. Unfortunately, the Greyhounds do not return any other regular starters with anywhere near Quinn’s production, but coach George Reidy thinks third baseman Travis Smith is poised to break out.

“To be successful on the field, we will need to improve on being consistent in all phases of the game,” Reidy said. “Timely hitting, quality pitching and strong defense will be our focus.”

The Greyhounds may be pressed to find reliable pitching, however. Assumption used 14 different pitchers last season, but nine of them had ERA’s over 4.00. Outside of sophomore Cody Rocha (Fall River, MA), the team’s closer, there are not too many reliable arms in the Greyhound rotation. If Assumption is to take the next step and make the Northeast 10 Conference Tournament, it will be because a young pitcher, like local product Ysander Figueroa (Worcester, MA), plays well in an expanded role.

2011 Overview: 19-29, 10-16 Northeast 10
Returning Batting Leaders:
Tim Quinn, Sr. C, Paxton, MA: .327 BA
Ysander Figueroa, So. P/OF, Worcester, MA: .300 BA
Returning Pitching Leaders:
Cody Rocha, So. LHP, Fall River, MA: 2.37 ERA
Matt Metcalf, Jr. RHP, Warwick, RI: 3.04 ERA

Clark University looking to rebound

Clark University’s baseball team is coming off a disappointing season that saw them finish just under .500, but also tied for last in NEWMAC. The Cougars were among the conference’s worst teams when it came to batting average, earned run average and fielding percentage. On top of that, the Cougars must replace their best hitter and leader in strikeouts from a year ago.

If there is any hope for a better 2012, it lies with senior Nicholas Kellogg. The veteran first baseman is Clark’s best returning batter, and is coming off a year in which he only committed three errors the entire season. The pitching staff will hope that younger players can develop into starters after the team lost both Phillip Bertocci and Derek Dubois to graduation. One player to watch is junior Andrew LeBlanc (Famington, CT), who impressed in his eight starts last season.

2011 Overview: 16-17, 5-13 NEWMAC
Returning Batting Leaders:
Nicholas Kellogg, Sr. 1B, Florence, MA: .313 BA
Shawn Lamothe, Sr. IF, Bellingham, MA: .302 BA
Returning Pitching Leaders:
Andrew LeBlanc, Jr. RHP, Farmington, CT: 2.60 ERA
Michael Lamothe, Sr. RHP, Bellingham, MA: 5.40 ERA

Nichols College look for first postseason berth in 2 years

2011 was a frustrating year for Nichols, but the Bison still had a shot to qualify for the Commonwealth Coast Tournament on the final day of the season. Nichols needed to sweep a season ending double-header against Curry College. Nichols held off a late Curry run to win the first game 8-7, but could not slow down the Curry bats in the night cap, falling 12-5. The loss dropped the Bison to 7-15 in the conference, and pushed them down to ninth in the final standings, one spot out of the postseason.
 The loss made it back-to-back years the Bison have missed the postseason, and getting back should be the obvious goal. The one glaring weakness for Nichols is pitching, where the Bison sported a conference worst 6.14 team ERA. That will need to improve for Nichols to return to the conference tournament.
 

2011 Overview: 12-22, 7-15 Commonwealth Coast Conference

Returning Batting Leaders:
Jared Stuczynski, Sr. OF, Whitinsville, MA: .276 BA
Returning Pitching Leaders:
Nicholas Fowler, Sr. RHP, Salem, MA: 6.04 ERA
James Curto, Jr. RHP, Braintree, MA: 6.92 ERA
 

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