Perfect Game: 2024 MAAC Baseball Preview
Jan 27, 2024 12:33:43 GMT -5
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Post by dannynoonan on Jan 27, 2024 12:33:43 GMT -5
Very good MAAC Baseball preview from Perfect Game: www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=22643
The Fairfield write-up:
<<Fairfield: Once again, the Stags are one of the favorites to hoist the MAAC championship trophy in Pomona at the end of May, something they have come up just short of doing in three of the past four seasons. The 6-foot 200-pound Colin McVeigh gets the nod for Preseason Pitcher of the Year coming off a year deserving of All-MAAC 1st Team honors. The right-hander recorded 76 punchouts through 75.2 innings and finished the year with an 8-1 record. McVeigh’s 3.93 ERA was the third-best in the conference last season. Left-handers Bowen Baker and Blake Helmstetter are also expected to eat up early innings for the Stags. The team is looking to move Baker into a starting role this year as he looks to follow up a productive 2023 where he struck out 52 batters through 40.0 innings of work. Freshman Ben Alekson is a huge pickup for the Stags’ ‘pen and could pick up some innings early in the year. The 6-foot-2 right-hander was the no. 1 ranked player in Vermont for the class of 2023 and has been up to 93 mph. The offense will be led by the potent duo of senior Matt Bergevin and grad student Zach Selinger, a power-hitting transfer from Fordham. Bergevin posted a .363/.467/.588 slash-line with nine home runs and 44 RBI last season and will look to continue that success in the cleanup spot this spring. Selinger will also find himself at the top of the Stags’ lineup after putting together a dominant year in the Bronx, posting career-highs in almost every offensive category. Matt Bucciero brings another powerful bat to the offense, coming off an impressive freshman campaign where he earned MAAC All-Rookie Team honors. The sophomore will guard the right field wall while the speedy TJ Schmalzle will defend the opposite corner. The lefty stick Ryan Strollo will get things started for this Stags’ batting order and also patrol centerfield. Coach Currier and his staff could very well lead this well-rounded roster to the program’s second MAAC title.>>
The Fairfield write-up:
<<Fairfield: Once again, the Stags are one of the favorites to hoist the MAAC championship trophy in Pomona at the end of May, something they have come up just short of doing in three of the past four seasons. The 6-foot 200-pound Colin McVeigh gets the nod for Preseason Pitcher of the Year coming off a year deserving of All-MAAC 1st Team honors. The right-hander recorded 76 punchouts through 75.2 innings and finished the year with an 8-1 record. McVeigh’s 3.93 ERA was the third-best in the conference last season. Left-handers Bowen Baker and Blake Helmstetter are also expected to eat up early innings for the Stags. The team is looking to move Baker into a starting role this year as he looks to follow up a productive 2023 where he struck out 52 batters through 40.0 innings of work. Freshman Ben Alekson is a huge pickup for the Stags’ ‘pen and could pick up some innings early in the year. The 6-foot-2 right-hander was the no. 1 ranked player in Vermont for the class of 2023 and has been up to 93 mph. The offense will be led by the potent duo of senior Matt Bergevin and grad student Zach Selinger, a power-hitting transfer from Fordham. Bergevin posted a .363/.467/.588 slash-line with nine home runs and 44 RBI last season and will look to continue that success in the cleanup spot this spring. Selinger will also find himself at the top of the Stags’ lineup after putting together a dominant year in the Bronx, posting career-highs in almost every offensive category. Matt Bucciero brings another powerful bat to the offense, coming off an impressive freshman campaign where he earned MAAC All-Rookie Team honors. The sophomore will guard the right field wall while the speedy TJ Schmalzle will defend the opposite corner. The lefty stick Ryan Strollo will get things started for this Stags’ batting order and also patrol centerfield. Coach Currier and his staff could very well lead this well-rounded roster to the program’s second MAAC title.>>