By Matt Williams, Salem News

LYNN, Mass. — The North Shore Navigators are in the midst of one of their best weeks in years, and you could make the case that it all started with a grueling at-bat by Richie Fecteau when they hosted the Futures Collegiate Baseball League all-star game last week.

Fecteau's two-out RBI single that night lifted the hometown East all-stars to a walk-off victory. The Navs haven't walked off the field with a loss since, winning their last six games while solidifying their position in the race for the East Division crown.

A rising senior from Newbury, Fecteau has already put up numbers that rate him among the all-time greats at Salem State. He's been one of the most productive Division 3 college hitters in the regional, as evidenced by multiple All-New England nods.

The second baseman played a bit in the Cape Cod League last summer, and has taken full advantage of the full-season opportunity with the hometown Navigators in 2015. The Futures League is a competitive New England summer baseball league featuring collegiate player, almost all of them all-stars. The level of play helps the players improve and helps pro scouts evaluate potential draftees or free agents against strong competition.

"Some of the guys in this league can really bring it," Fecteau said of playing summer ball against college players ranging from Divisions 1-3. "It definitely helps you hone your skills, and gives you different things you can work on."

One such example was in the bottom of the ninth of last Tuesday's all-star game. Fecteau was voted a starter for the East team, and came up with the game tied and a runner on third after Brian Campbell had a one-out single, stole second and moved over on a sacrifice fly.

Fecteau found himself down 0-2 in the count but battled back. He fouled off the next pitch and wound up take three balls with two more fouls to work the count full. On the ninth pitch of the at-bat, he got one he liked and slapped it into rightfield to bring his all-star teammates streaming out of the dugout in celebration.

"I didn't think too much at 0-2. I was looking for fastballs, but the last pitch ended up being a curve," Fecteau said. "I got it in a place where I could get a good piece of it."

That discipline is an example of the way Fecteau approaches his at-bats. He hit .363 this past spring for Salem State, helping the Vikings win the MASCAC title and advance in the NCAA New England regional. 

This summer, he's batting .311 for the Navs and has raised his average 25 points during the team's current win streak. Fecteau checks in at 185 pounds but the quickness of his hands and his batter's eye give him plenty of power.

His five homers this summer are already a North Shore franchise record and rank fifth in the entire FCBL. In addition, Fecteau has 20 RBI with six doubles and a team-high .872 OPS and .485 slugging percentage.

"It comes from the hips," Fecteau said of his power source. "When you're locked in and you're making good contact, that's where the power is going to come from."

The all-star festivities were a major success for the Navs. Fecteau was named the game's Most Valuable Player after the walkoff hit, while Masconomet grad Speros Varinos was the game's Most Outstanding Pitcher after hurling a scoreless frame. Giovanni Dingcong also won the pre-game home run derby. Besides the success on the field, the entire day was an outstanding example of how great baseball in the Futures League at Fraser Field can be.

"This was a great night," Fecteau said of the all-star game, "And it was a great night for the Navigators."

North Shore is beginning its playoff push with 13 games left in the regular season. Nine of those will be at home at Fraser Field, with the next home game being Wednesday morning against Wachusett. The Navs then host Brockton in a game that could determine the East leader on Thursday (7 p.m.).