BB: NESCAC: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[JustAFan]

Red hot Bowdoin came back from 2 days off and swept Suffolk yesterday 8-2 and 6-2 to run its record to 7-1. The Polar Bears threw their #1 and 2 (Martin and Van Zant) against Suffolk rather than holding them back a day to face Amherst and each picked up their second wins of the season.

Amherst rebounded from its season opening 4-2 loss yesterday against UMass Dartmouth to sweep its big early season series against Bowdoin today, 7-3 and 7-1.  Junior Bob Cook pitched a complete game 6 hitter in game 1 for the Lord Jeffs.  Freshman John Cook pitched a 4 hitter over 6 2/3 innings in his first collegiate start in the second game, striking out 8 after the Lord Jeffs staked him to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Senior Kevin Heller went 5-7 in the doubleheader for Amherst.

In the loaded NESCAC East, Bates ran its recored to 9-4 with splits at Haverford (9-7 and 2-16) and Swarthmore (0-13  and 7-2) while Trinity began its week down south with a spit vs. Endicott yesterday (5-2 and 2-7) followed by sweep of Worcester State today (4-0 and 6-0) to even its record at 3-3.

Tufts opened Friday at 12-4 Lynchburg and handed the hosts their 5th loss of the season 9-4 on the strength of David Ryan's 7 innings of 5 hit, 1 run and 8K ball. The Jumbos ran their record to 2-0 today, breaking host Washington and Lee's 5 game win streak with an 18-4 win. 

Wesleyan resumed week 2 of its trip to Arizona with an 8-3 loss to Marian (Wisc.) that dropped the Cardinal's record to 3-4.

Hamilton wrapped up its week down south with 8-1 and 11-4 doubleheader losses to Washington & Jefferson that dropped the Continental's record to 2-8, with the wins coming against Lesley College and MCLA.

Finally, Colby got its season underway with a split yesterday vs. Gettysburg (8-19 and 2-0). Junior Brady Hesslein pitched the Mules to the win in the nightcap. Colby got another split today, losing its first game against Lawrence 8-7 and then bouncing back to beat New Paltz State 12-9.

[Trincoll14]

The playoffs are set for next weekend at Trinity. On Friday May 11th at 3PM at Trinity it will be The Bantams taking on Williams and at Wesleyan it will be Bowdoin v Amherst.

[Trincoll14]

Two great games this afternoon to kick off the NESCAC tourney, at Trinity the Bants down 5-3 heading to the bottom of the 8th score one but leave the bases loaded and trail 5-4 heading to the 9th. Williams returns the favor and leaves the bases loaded in the top of 9th. The Bants score two in the their final at bat, one on a Mike Rueger RBI double and the winning run on sac fly by Jim Ramsey. Down at Wesleyan, Bowdoin scores in the top of the 9th to send their game with Amherst to extras and wins it in the 11th. Van Zants all the way for the Polar Bears, Oliver going the first 8 innings and brother Henry going the last three for the victory. Aaron Rosen with an RBI single to knock in the game winner for Bowdoin. Saturday morning at 10:30 at Trinity, it's a NESCAC East showdown with Trinity and Bowdoin and at Wesleyan, it's a west battle between Williams and Amherst fighting to stay alive. Looking forward to another great day of baseball.

[ECSUalum]

Congrats to Coach Decker and the Bantams on winning the NESCAC!!  Good Luck in the NCAA's

[Trincoll14]

All conference announced:

2012 NESCAC Baseball All-Conference Team
     
FIRST TEAM                 Institution    Yr         Hometown
DH            Matt Collins    Tufts     Sr.    Hopkinton, Mass.
P/1B     Bob Cook            Amherst    Jr.    Winnetka, Ill.
1B/OF    Joe Giaimo      Wesleyan    Gr.    Gillette, N.J.
OF/DH    Kevin Heller    Amherst    Sr.    Brooklyn, N.Y.
3B            Mike Mastrocola    Colby    Sr.    Southbury, Conn.
1B/C      Kevin Mortimer    Trinity    Sr.    Spencer, Mass.
SS/3B    Stephen Rogers    Trinity    Jr.    Watertown, Mass.
OF            Michael Rueger    Trinity    Jr.    Teaneck, N.J.
SS            Sam Sager     Tufts    Sr.    Cranston, R.I.
C/OF            Mike Samela    Amherst    Sr.    Westport, Conn.
2B            Griff Tewksbury    Bates    So.    Concord, N.H.
P            Oliver Van Zant    Bowdoin    Jr.    Westport, Conn.
                    
     Second Team         Institution    Yr.     Hometown
1B            Robb Arndt            Colby    Sr.    Yarmouth, Maine
OF            Jason Buco      Colby    Fr.    Methuen, Mass.
OF            David Casanova    Trinity    Sr.    Bristol, Conn.
OF            Donnie Cimino    Wesleyan    Fr.    Westwood, N.J.
3B            Wade Hauser    Tufts    Fr.    Palo Alto, Calif.
1B/OF    Gabe Klein           Hamilton    Jr.    Mamaroneck, N.Y.
P            Harry Marino    Williams    Sr.    Westfield, N.J.
P            Christian Martin    Bowdoin    So.    Lake Forest, Ill.
3B            Adam Moossmann Trinity    Fr.    East Northport, N.Y.
3B            Tom Rafferty    Middlebury    Jr.    Chicago, Ill.
C            Zachary Roeder    Middlebury    Sr.    Keene, N.H.
P            Tim Welch      Bowdoin    Sr.    Portsmouth, N.H.
                    
     Player of the Year              
P/1B    Bob Cook     Amherst        Jr.     Hopkinton, Mass.
                    
     Pitcher of the Year              
P    Oliver Van Zant  Bowdoin   Jr.    Westport, Conn.
                    
     Defensive Player of the Year         
C/OF    Mike Samela      Amherst  Sr.     Westport, Conn.
                    
     Rookie of the Year              
P    Sean Meekins   Trinity        Fr.     Rockville Center, N.Y.
                    
     Coach of the Year    
Mike Connolly           Bowdoin          

[amh63]

Kevin Heller of Amherst was the only Div 3 player drafted in this year's MLB draft by the Red Socks.  Info on his selection is posted on the Amherst Website today.  Heller, a recent graduate had been a life-long fan of the Yankees.....past tense!.  It might be an coincidence that the GM of the Red Socks is an Amherst grad. and that the caller to Kevin of his selection, is also an alum. of both Amherst and Kevin's high school.

[Pat Coleman]

Kevin Heller of Amherst was the only Div 3 player drafted in this year's MLB draft by the Red Socks.  Info on his selection is posted on the Amherst Website today.  Heller, a recent graduate had been a life-long fan of the Yankees.....past tense!.  It might be an coincidence that the GM of the Red Socks is an Amherst grad. and that the caller to Kevin of his selection, is also an alum. of both Amherst and Kevin's high school.

Actually, 12 Division III players were drafted:

http://www.d3baseball.com/notables/2012/06/draft-day2

[amh63]

Pay C......you are so right.  I stand corrected.  I did not read the article carefully.  The Amherst story stated that K. Heller was the only D3 player drafted from the New England region.

[mwilk413]

Keep an eye out for some of DIIIs best talent this year coming from the NESCAC

1. Fred Shepard (Amherst) LHP - 89-92 in outing I saw this summer with very impressive slider. Strong season in the cape. Lone dIII player to be allowed to stay through the summer. started championship game and did it in impressive fashion, sitting allowing only 2 hits through 5 innings and 1 earned run.
2. Kevin Gilchrist (Tufts) LHP - Another LHP from the North East, building off of a strong previous season look for him to emerge once again. Velocity last year ranged from 82-85
3. Oliver Van Zant (Bowdoin) RHP - Not really sure what his role was last season, not pitching as much as one would expect, swung the bat this summer in the NECBL. Keep  your eyes open.
4. Bob Cook (Amherst) RHP/1B - Played the summer in NECBL, went 0-4 with high era but showed some strong points. Defending NESCAC player of the year, RHP peak velocity in game I saw this summer was 84 but showed poise on the mound. Look for him to be a presence in the Amherst lineup as well.

[BBFan62]

Keep an eye out for some of DIIIs best talent this year coming from the NESCAC

1. Fred Shepard (Amherst) LHP - 89-92 in outing I saw this summer with very impressive slider. Strong season in the cape. Lone dIII player to be allowed to stay through the summer. started championship game and did it in impressive fashion, sitting allowing only 2 hits through 5 innings and 1 earned run.
2. Kevin Gilchrist (Tufts) LHP - Another LHP from the North East, building off of a strong previous season look for him to emerge once again. Velocity last year ranged from 82-85
3. Oliver Van Zant (Bowdoin) RHP - Not really sure what his role was last season, not pitching as much as one would expect, swung the bat this summer in the NECBL. Keep  your eyes open.
4. Bob Cook (Amherst) RHP/1B - Played the summer in NECBL, went 0-4 with high era but showed some strong points. Defending NESCAC player of the year, RHP peak velocity in game I saw this summer was 84 but showed poise on the mound. Look for him to be a presence in the Amherst lineup as well.

mwilk413,
Glad to hear Cook is doing well. I'm surprised you saw him at only 84, as he threw that hard in high school. My son (now at UR in New York)  played against Cook in high school and they went head to head on the mound. Cooks team won the 4A state championship their senior year. One of his school teammates is on Trinity (TX) and two others play at Denison. Cook is a nice guy and played hard.

[mwilk413]

Cook was a two way player this summer, I saw he had a few ABs. Velocity is a tricky thing and without proper arm maintenance it can be tough to maintain it throughout an entire 50 game season.

[Trincoll14]

Congratulations to Coach Decker and thanks for 22 great years!!

http://athletics.trincoll.edu/sports/bsb/2012-13/releases/Baseball_21213

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Great news for Coach Decker and Harvard. They should be a good match. Any Idea who is in line to replace him at Trinity?

[ECSUalum]

Congrats to Coach Decker on his new D-I coaching job at Harvard.  Looks like they are in need of a good baseball coach based on their 12-30 2012 W/L record.
Coach Decker will turn things around!!  Best of luck to him!!

[amh63]

For the record......Amherst wins it first title since 2005 in a 7-0 shutout of the Cardinals in Middletown, CT. today.  Gets automatic bid to the NCAA!