BASEBALL READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN 2007

CHICOPEE, MA, March 15, 2007 - Brains and guts.

A simple philosophy, but one Elms College baseball head coach Don LaValley feels will be key for his players to adhere to in hopes of improving upon last year's 6-28 record.

"Our goal is to get each player to believe in this team philosophy," Coach LaValley explained. "We want them to play the game smart and know how to self correct on the field, but also to be tough and look ahead to the next pitch or play."

The third-year program returns 11 field players and a pair of starting pitchers. The addition of 12 freshmen has bolstered the Blazers' roster to a record 27 players and that has Coach LaValley optimistic the program continues to move in the right direction.

"We are still young, but definitely improved overall," he noted. "We have players competing for starting roles at every position and competition breeds success."

PITCHERS

For the past two years, the Blazers have lacked both experience and depth on the mound. The return of two starters - senior Jay Wheeler (Chicopee, MA) and junior Ted Roback (Manchester, CT) - and the addition of seven freshmen should provide the Blazers with much-needed depth, versatility and talent.

Wheeler and Roback combined for three wins a year ago, but were plagued by a combined 22 unearned runs in their 20 outings.

"Unearned runs and errors really hurt us in close games last season," Coach LaValley said of his team, which fielded just .911 and committed 103 errors in 2006.

Freshmen Sean Bergeron (Chicopee, MA), James Kosiorek (Springfield, MA) and Pat Moreau (South Hadley, MA) are all lefties.

"What is good about having left-handed pitchers is that by inserting them into the game, you take away the opposing team's running game," Coach LaValley said. "Base runners are less apt to steal against a lefty simply because of the view the pitcher has over at first."

Bergeron, who stands 6-5 and was clocked at 92mph last fall, provides arguably the most intimidating presence of the group.

"Sean already throws hard, but we made some changes to his mechanics in the fall," Coach LaValley said.

Freshman right-handers Mike Bieber (Calverton, NY), Dan Ingraham (Granby, MA), Mike Menard (Westfield, MA) and Matt Josefs (Newington, CT) will all vie for time on the mound.

The return of junior Jim Drummond (Springfield, MA), who played for the Blazers in the program's inaugural season in 2005, adds even further depth and a lethal bat to the lineup both on the mound and in the outfield.

Drummond, who played at Division II Salem International University last season, led Elms College in batting average (.368), hits (25), doubles (6) and RBI (16) in 2005.

Junior Mike Lubold (Taunton, MA) returns for his third year with the program after making nine appearances last season.

INFIELDERS

There is no shortage of experience around the horn as the Blazers return all five starting infielders.

Senior shortstop J.T. Mooney (Burlington, MA), junior first baseman Scott Netkovick (South Hadley, MA), junior third baseman Nate Hawes (New Hope, MN) and junior catcher Joe Sawa (Chicopee, MA) all return for their third season with the program.

With the move of Mooney from second to shortstop, as well as the addition of freshman third baseman Brian Marrero (Kendall Park, NJ), Hawes and Sawa will share duties behind the plate.

Sawa was near flawless defensively a year ago, as he committed just four errors, threw out eight runners and registered a .965 fielding percentage. 

Sawa, who will also see time at designated hitter, batted .282 with three home runs, a pair of triples and 18 RBI last season.

Hawes also brings power to the plate, as he hit .262 with three home runs, 16 RBI and a team-leading eight doubles in 34 starts a year ago. He has been clocked at 88mph and will be called upon by Coach LaValley to close games out.

Sophomore Joe Prattico (Holyoke, MA) will vie with Ingraham and freshman Eric Stawarz (Chicopee, MA) for playing time at second base.

Freshman Justin Jacobs (Springhill, FL) and sophomore Fran Arment (Lee, MA) will add depth for the Blazers at shortstop behind Mooney.

"Justin is a very good hitter and a great recruit for our program," Coach LaValley said of Jacobs.

OUTFIELDERS

Junior center fielder Joe Ferry (Palmer, MA) and sophomore left fielder Nick Mackowiak (Dudley, MA) both return to their starting spots in the outfield, while Drummond and sophomore Joe Esile (Milford, CT) will likely split duties in right field.

Ferry, a left-hander who also made 11 relief appearances on the mound and posted a team-best 3.00 earned run average last season, also recorded a team-leading 10 stolen bases and hit .269.

Mackowiak, meanwhile, committed just two errors in left field, batted a solid .260 and contributed four doubles and 11 RBI.

Esile, who hit .297 a year ago, adds versatility to the Blazers' lineup, as he will make the move from third base to right field this season.

Junior Joe Bergeron (Granville, MA), freshman Mike Scott (Clinton, CT) and sophomore Billy Dupre (Chicopee, MA) will also vie for time in the outfield.

SCHEDULE

The Blazers will play arguably the program's most aggressive early-season schedule that includes 11 games in six days at the Port Charlotte (FL) Invitational, as well as the team's first-ever game against Division II Eckerd.

While at Port Charlotte, the Blazers play their season-opener against North Central, before playing doubleheaders against Worcester State, St. Norbert, Hamilton, Bates and Bethel.

The Blazers return north for a non-conference game at Westfield State on March 28 before a five-game homestand in three days that includes a single content against Nichols (March 30) and doubleheaders against MIT (March 31) and MCLA (April 1).

Following non-conference games at Clark (April 3) and Springfield (April 6), Elms College opens up North Atlantic Conference (NAC) play with a doubleheader at Castleton on April 7.

From there, the Blazers play 15 games over the next 22 days, including doubleheaders against its other five conference opponents.

WRAP-UP

The roster has steadily grown from 16 players in 2005, to 20 in 2006 and 27 this season. The added numbers has also yielded depth - a crucial component for any northern baseball program that plays its entire schedule in six weeks.

For the first time in its brief three-year existence, Elms College has something equally important - experience.

"Our players won't be scared to play and compete anymore," Coach LaValley said. "Other teams out there are taking notice of what we're doing here and they are going to come at us with their top pitchers now."

"That has not really happened in the last two years so I think that is a compliment to how hard our players have worked and where this program has come in such a short time."