BB: LEC: Little East Conference

[KSCfan]

Keene Schedule

http://keeneowls.com/sports/bsb/2013-14/schedule

I think everyone is practicing now, and thank god.  Baseball is Back!

[wildthngvaughn]

It's nice to see that Eastern isn't playing a cupcake southern schedule this season like last year.  When they win 30 games, they'll actually get into the NCAA's this season.  It makes a huge difference when you replace those 23 win teams on your schedule with 30 win teams.

Teams added to early part of schedule
RPI- 30 wins
Farmingdale St.- 29 wins
Farmingdale St.- 29 wins
Rowan- 32 wins
Endicott- 35 wins
Ramapo- 30 wins
William Patterson- 27 wins

[jdex]

Hockeyfan77, what's the story on SS Sam Dexter' injury? Was looking forward to seeing him play in Florida during USM's southern March swing, especially against dad and former head USM baseball coach Tom D.'s game against alma mater Cortland.

[hockeyfan77]

Hockeyfan77, what's the story on SS Sam Dexter' injury? Was looking forward to seeing him play in Florida during USM's southern March swing, especially against dad and former head USM baseball coach Tom D.'s game against alma mater Cortland.

He had off-season surgery (not on arm or shoulder) and is going to miss probably all of March...Should be back at 100% though when he does come back...I believe he played through the injury late in the regional and WS....

[ECSUalum]

From: The Little East Conference

2014 Little East Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank Institution 1st Place Total Points

1 University of Southern Maine 8 64
2 Eastern Connecticut State University   53
3 University of Massachusetts Boston   43
4 University of Massachusetts Dartmouth    39
5 Keene State College   38
6 Rhode Island College   21
7 Plymouth State University   18
8 Western Connecticut State University   12

"Under the direction of Head Coach Ed Flaherty, the Huskies established a new program record for most single-season victories (46) in 2013. Last season, Southern Maine (46-10) reached the Division III National Championship Game for the first time since winning the program's second national title in 1997. Flaherty led his charges to three consecutive victories—capped by a dramatic 13-inning win over Ithaca College—to set up the winner-take-all title contest against Linfield (Ore.). The Huskies advanced to the national championship round after capturing the New England Regional Championship in Harwich, Mass. Southern Maine defeated Endicott College, 9-0, to win the program's seventh regional title and first since 2001"

[7express]

Western gets the season started with 3 games @ Marymount, Virginia this weekend playing 2 games on Friday and one on Saturday.  Not really expecting a whole lot from this team this year as I believe we were picked 8th in the preseason poll and the offense took a hit with Conor Bierfeldt playing in the Baltimore Orioles system.  If they can sneak into the LEC tournament as the 6th seed again this year, that'll be a good year for me.

[hockeyfan77]

Awesome Weather!

http://southernmainehuskies.com/sports/bsb/2013-14/releases/20140226klniwa

[7express]

Western went 2-1 down @ Marymount (VA) this weekend.

Western Connecticut (1-0)  2 0 0 0 5 1 4 2 0 14 17 4
Marymount (Va.) (3-7)  0 0 0 0 0 5 8 0 0 13 10 4
Tyler Eastwood got the start.  4 runs, 5 hits, 5 strikeouts in 5 innings, not bad.  Jeff John & Sam Dominguez 1-2 at the top of the lineup went 8-12 with 3 rbi's and 5 runs scored.

Game 2:
Western Connecticut (1-1)  2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 1
Marymount (Va.) (4-7)  2 0 3 0 0 0 X 5 6 0
Todd Lyons got hit with the loss.  6 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), 7 strikeouts in 6 innings, but did give up 2 homers.  Alex Iglesias had 2 of Western's 3 hits and both of their RBI's as he finished 2-2 with the 2 RBI's

Game 3:
Western Connecticut (2-1)  4 0 0 3 6 2 0 15 14 5
Marymount (Va.) (4-8)  4 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 9 5
Edgard Santiago with the start.  5 hits, 4 runs (but none were earned) and 7 strikeouts in 6 innings.  Jeff John was 3-5 with 3 runs scored and 1 RBI while Nick Vorvis was 3-3 with 3 runs scored 2 RBI's and 2 walks.

All in all, not bad.  Marymount doesn't look too good, but they had already played 9 games before we came into town.  Defense is still a work in progress.  10 errors in 22.5 innings that series isn't going to get it done in the long run, but it's still a long season.  Western is next in action Saturday, March 8 when they travel to William Paterson in NJ to take on the Pioneers for a 12 PM start.

[ECSUalum]

ECSU Baseball Pre-View from ECSU Baseball web site:

http://gowarriorathletics.com/sports/bsb/2013-14/releases/baseball-preview

[kscer]

It will be interesting to see how ESCU evolves this year with a new coaching staff and system.

[ECSUalum]

ECSU drops season opener to Kean 4-1.  Cant remember last time ECSU beat Kean in Union NJ season opener.

[ECSUalum]

From gowarriorathletics.com:

LaBranche Secures First Win at Eastern, 11-2
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Junior centerfielder Joe Perez (North Branford) drove in four runs and senior righty Greg Porter (Mystic) pitched a three-hit shutout over the first five innings as the Eastern Connecticut State University baseball team won its first game under new head coach Matt LaBranche, 11-2, Saturday afternoon against Farmingdale State College

Eastern Conn. St. (1-1)  0 4 1 0 2 0 3 1 0 11 14 1
Farmingdale State(2-1)  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 11 3 
Win: Greg Porter (1-0) - Eastern Conn. St.
Loss: Martinez, Kevin (0-1) - Farmingdale State
2B:    Brendan Lynch; Nik Ververis 
3B:    Joe Perez; Corey Keane 
HR:  none 

[hockeyfan77]

USM beats Old Westbury 8-2 and WNEC  14-1 to open the season at 2-0: Next up for USM: Fri    14    vs. Cortland St. 4:00 PM

[7express]

Western's game scheduled for Saturday then Monday @ Sir William Patterson has been cancelled with a makeup TBA if they even do reschedule it which I doubt they will.
The Colonials take their 2-1 record down to the annual Florida spring break trip where they'll take on Mr. Richard Stockton for a double header.  First game at 9:30 AM, second game at 12:30 PM.

[Boggsy789]

PSU starts 3-1, Sr. SS Brandon Cox is off to a hot start 6/12 , 4BB, with a triple, double, and 4 RBI.