Western New England has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2012 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Baseball Championship, it was announced today by Commissioner Gregg M. Kaye.
Voting for the preseason poll was conducted among the league’s head baseball coaches.
Four-time defending CCC champion Western New England (42-11 overall, 20-2 CCC) received seven of a possible nine first place votes in the 2012 CCC preseason poll. The runner up from last year, Endicott College was selected to finish second, while acquiring the two remaining first place votes. Roger Williams University was picked to finish third, while Wentworth Institute of Technology and Salve Regina University were slated to finish fourth and fifth, respectively.
The New England Regional Champion Golden Bears are coming off of one of the best seasons in school history after advancing to the 2011 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship in Appleton, Wisc. Leading the way in the upcoming season will be senior pitcher Mike Lawlor and junior third baseman Mike Rubino, who both were named to the D3baseball.com Preseason All-America Team. Lawlor finished the season with 10 saves (fifth nationally), a 1.58 ERA, and a 3-1 record. Rubino led the team with a .412 batting average (BA), a school record 82 hits, and a team best 16-game hitting streak. The Golden Bears also return junior shortstop Kyle McKelvey (.359 BA), sophomore second baseman Tim Clark (.345 BA), junior outfielder Matt Anthonis (.339 BA, 6 triples), and senior first baseman Mike Taylor (.308 BA, 44 RBI). On the mound, junior Kevin Jefferis (4-3, 5.54 ERA) and senior Mark DiTomasso (4-1, 3.55 ERA) return as part of the starting rotation.
Endicott (32-15, 15-7) returns a solid group of veteran bats and arms, including seven position players and its entire starting rotation from last season. In addition, the team welcomes a handful of transfers who look to play a key role in the upcoming season. Colin Sitarz looks to post another spectacular year after being named to the All-CCC First Team. In 2011, Sitarz batted .356, knocked in 39 runs, smacked three home runs, and collected a .546 slugging percentage. Alongside Sitarz in the top of the lineup, the Gulls return senior shortstop Danny Mello and junior second baseman Eric Lemke, who both played in all 47 games last season and were named to the All-CCC Second Team. Mello wowed opponents with his speed by stealing 29 bases and scoring 49 runs from the leadoff spot, while Lemke is a very consistent two or three hole hitter, who knocked in 34 runs last season and batted .307. On the mound, the Gulls will be led by senior Mike Nich (7-4 record, 3.29 ERA) and CCC Pitcher of the Year and CCC All-Conference First Team selection Benjamin Petrides (5-0, 2.01 ERA).
Roger Williams (22-21, 15-7) looks to be a tough contender this season, as the team returns its strong pitching staff to go along with its great bats. The Hawks’ key offensive contributors returning this year are sophomore outfielder Mike Pascarella (.308 BA, 52 hits, 31 runs), junior shortstop John Oppenhimer (.294 BA, 25 RBI, 30 runs), and senior first baseman Trevor Manzi (.328 BA, 4 home runs, 12 doubles). Returning on the mound for the Hawks include sophomores Tyler Pogmore (0.36 ERA, 6 saves, 32 strikeouts in 25 innings pitched) and Ryan Boyle (2-2, 2.17 ERA, 45 innings pitched), and junior Josh Orosz (6-1, 3.48 ERA, 2 complete games). Manzi, Orosz, and Oppenhimer were all named to the 2012 All-Conference team.
Wentworth comes off of a strong 2011 performance (24-16, 14-8). Returning this year for the Leopards are experienced upperclassmen that look to guide the team to a CCC championship. Junior catcher Ryan Delgado returns after leading the team with a .396 batting average to go along with a .467 on-base percentage. Wentworth will also turn to senior shortstop Connor Flisnik (.306 BA) and senior outfielder Justin Bolla (5 doubles, 10 RBI) for offensive power this season. On the mound, junior starting pitcher Alex Wong (3-2, 3.25 ERA) and senior pitcher Kyle Cruz (1-1, 3.32 ERA, 21.2 innings pitched) plan to shut down their opponents this year.
After a .500 season in 2011 (21-21, 14-8), Salve Regina looks to improve its winning percentage in 2012. The Seahawks will be led offensively by senior infielder Matt Capone, who was named to the All-Conference team last season. Capone earned a .357 batting average last season, to go along with a .426 on base percentage. Sophomore outfielder Tyler Colby looks to fill in and play a major role for the team this year. In 35 at bats last season, Colby collected 10 hits, including three doubles and one coming by way of the long ball. Junior infielder and pitcher Nicholas Politelli is also expected to be a big contributor for the team this year, after seeing limited playing time last season. Politelli scored 13 runs, and had 21 hits in just 63 at bats last season, while also pitching 18 innings.
Curry College (17-24, 9-13) has a tremendous amount of talent and experience returning for the 2012 campaign. Leading the team this season will be junior outfielder/first baseman, Sam Barron. Barron led the team with a .392 batting average in 29 games played, and earned a spot on the 2011 All-CCC Second Team for his efforts. Sophomore outfielder Kyle Connors was an All-CCC Honorable Mention selection last season after batting .259 with 16 RBI. Also returning to the diamond is Carlos Cornejo, a four-year starter at the shortstop position, the speedy junior outfielder Shayne McDonald (.272 BA, 14-of-14 in stolen base attempts), and senior first baseman Matt Drew (.362 BA, 10 doubles, 24 RBI). On the mound, sophomore Matt O’Neill returns after leading the team in ERA (3.71), innings pitched (43.2), and in strikeouts (33).
Gordon College (8-28, 5-17) looks to contend for a spot in the conference tournament this spring after coming off a rebuilding campaign in 2011. The Fighting Scots return junior relief pitcher Ben Davidson and junior starting pitcher John Kanas, who plan to be big contributors to the team’s pitching staff. Davidson led the team in ERA last season (2.75), while Kanas pitched in 45.1 innings last season (36 strikeouts, 4.17 ERA). Gordon also returns its senior first baseman Eric Wolak, who led the team in batting average (.302), home runs (8) and RBI (28). Junior Brian Harrington also returns to the Scots infield, after leading the team in hits last year (37), stolen bases (11), and was second in the team with a batting average of .296.
A Nichols College (12-22, 7-15) core of four key returning players plan to turn things around this season. The Bison will turn to junior catcher Cody Jankins, sophomore infielder Shayne McNally, sophomore pitcher Tyler Shute, and junior infielder John Micciche, for leadership and production after being vital contributors on the field last season. Jankins showed off his defensive skills last year by throwing out five of seven opposing base runners in 2011, while McNally had a .286 average with five extra base hits. Shute showed a great deal of strength and poise on the mound last season, collecting a 3.25 ERA in 44.1 innings pitched, and Micchice has shown consistency by hitting .311 over his past two seasons.
The Eastern Nazarene College squad (8-26, 5-17) looks to earn a seed in this year’s CCC Championship, after coming up short last season. Returning seniors Steve Doyle (right-hand pitcher/infielder), Danny Rodriguez (first base), George Williams (catcher), and Jeremy Cook (right-hand pitcher) will lead the team. Doyle recorded a 3-2 record in eight starts, collected 34 strikeouts in 38 innings, and also contributed offensively with a .276 batting average over 25 games. Rodriguez hit .279 with 3 home runs and Williams hit .286 with a home run in a season shortened due to injury. Cook will see a good amount of action again this season out of the bullpen, after posting a 2.36 ERA with 1.36 strikeouts per inning last year.
2012 CCC PRESEASON BASEBALL POLL
Teams received nine points for every first place vote received, eight points for second place votes, seven points for third place votes, down to one points for a last place vote. First place votes are shown in parenthesis.
TEAM POINTS(first place votes)
Western New England 78 (7)
Endicott 74 (2)
Roger Williams 61
Wentworth 47
Salve Regina 43
Curry 41
Gordon 23
Nichols 22
Eastern Nazarene 16