The Unofficial 2011 NEWMAC preview:
Babson is likely the preseason favorite with a number of talented players back and word on the street is that Aizenstodt was healthy and in the low 90's at the end of fall workouts.
Wheaton returns the best position player in the league in Danny Haugh, and a top pitcher in Nolan Corr. Although they lost a lot from last year's team, they always do a great job recruiting and tend to reload instead of rebuild.
WPI lost a huge senior class and will be impacted by no longer having a home field as their new athletics center is being built on the site of their old field. It will be interesting to see how they fare offensively with the loss of some great senior hitters and the new bats.
MIT could be a beneficiary of the new bat regulations. The Engineers finished second in the conference in pitching in 2010 and return their entire pitching staff along with senior catcher Danny Hyatt. The Engineers will have to replace Stewart Park, who created a lot of offense for them.
Coast Guard made a deep run in the NEWMAC tournament last year. Pitcher Tyler Viera and shortstop Tyler Babkiewicz both had award winning freshman campaigns in New London.
Clark had a tough lineup last year and figures to be strong offensively again, but will have to replace LHP Jon Merritt, who was their ace last year.
Springfield will have a veteran team, with nine seniors on this year's squad. The 2010 Pride were very athletic, and this year's squad will need to rely on some young arms to help get them to the NEWMAC tournament.
There are two major changes in the NEWMAC this year. First, the conference has shifted to a 3 game series format, with each team playing 18 conference games. Also, only the top 4 team will qualify for the conference tournament. It should be a great year!
Babson is likely the preseason favorite with a number of talented players back and word on the street is that Aizenstodt was healthy and in the low 90's at the end of fall workouts.
Wheaton returns the best position player in the league in Danny Haugh, and a top pitcher in Nolan Corr. Although they lost a lot from last year's team, they always do a great job recruiting and tend to reload instead of rebuild.
WPI lost a huge senior class and will be impacted by no longer having a home field as their new athletics center is being built on the site of their old field. It will be interesting to see how they fare offensively with the loss of some great senior hitters and the new bats.
MIT could be a beneficiary of the new bat regulations. The Engineers finished second in the conference in pitching in 2010 and return their entire pitching staff along with senior catcher Danny Hyatt. The Engineers will have to replace Stewart Park, who created a lot of offense for them.
Coast Guard made a deep run in the NEWMAC tournament last year. Pitcher Tyler Viera and shortstop Tyler Babkiewicz both had award winning freshman campaigns in New London.
Clark had a tough lineup last year and figures to be strong offensively again, but will have to replace LHP Jon Merritt, who was their ace last year.
Springfield will have a veteran team, with nine seniors on this year's squad. The 2010 Pride were very athletic, and this year's squad will need to rely on some young arms to help get them to the NEWMAC tournament.
There are two major changes in the NEWMAC this year. First, the conference has shifted to a 3 game series format, with each team playing 18 conference games. Also, only the top 4 team will qualify for the conference tournament. It should be a great year!