Westfield, Mass.— Reigning Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season and tournament champion Westfield State has been picked by the coaches from around the league to win their fourth straight MASCAC baseball title. 

 

Westfield State earned four first place votes for 44 points in this year's poll. They finished last season 14-7 in league action to earn the regular season crown. Returning for the Owls is utility player Casey Boudreau who nabbed a spot on the All-Conference team after batting .345 with 41 hits, including eight doubles, a triple, 26 runs scored, 21 RBI, 10 walks and five stolen bases.  

 

Up next in second is Fitchburg State who grabbed a first place vote for 34 points. The Falcons were 13-8 in MASCAC competition. Outfielder Nicholas Cordeau finished 2019 hitting .381 with a .639 slugging percentage with eight doubles, four triples, eight home runs, 46 runs scored, 41 RBI, 21 walks and 19 stolen bases to earn a spot on the MASCAC All-Conference team. 

 

Coming in third is Framingham State with 32 points. The Rams were 12-9 at the conclusion of the league campaign in 2019. Bobby Higgins returns to the infield after registering a .270 batting average with 38 total hits, including eight double, a triple and two home runs along with 22 RBI, 17 walks and four stolen bases. 

 

Sitting in fourth with two first place votes is Worcester State with 31 points. The Lancers went 11-10 last season during the conference slate. Jake Breton finished with a .364 batting average, .457 on-base percentage, .483 slugging percentage along with 43 hits, including nine doubles, a triple and home run. He also had 22 runs scored and 18 RBI last season to take home All-Conference accolades. 

 

Salem State lands in fifth with 29 points. The Vikings were also 11-10 last season. Returning for the squad is All-Conference first baseman Traverse Briana who led the conference and Division III in batting average, hitting at .528 clip while collecting 10 doubles, four home runs, 22 RBI, 31 runs scored, 15 walks and 12 stolen bases. He also finished with a .731 slugging percentage and .578 on-base percentage. 

 

The sixth place slot goes to Bridgewater State with 26 points. The Bears ended their MASCAC season with an 11-10 mark in 2019. Lewis Robinson is back after batting .323 with eight doubles, a triple, two home runs, 26 runs scored and 27 RBI.

 

Closing out the 2020 preseason poll are Massachusetts Maritime and MCLA in seventh and eighth with 21 and seven points, respectively. The Buccaneers earned the final first place vote in this year's poll and had eight league wins in conference last year. John Teehan is back on the mound for the Bucs after registering a 4.27 ERA over 52.2 innings with 60 strikeouts, three wins, four complete games and a shutout while his opponents batted .216 against him. For the Trailblazers who had four wins last season in MASCAC play, Christian Seariac is back in the outfield. He collected a .302 batting average with 39 hits, including three doubles, two triples and a home run along with 14 runs scored and 19 RBI.   

 

Salem State begins their season on Saturday, February 22 with non-conference play while the other MASCAC schools get underway with their schedule over the next few weeks.