Northeast-10 Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll
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Kiely will be relied upon on the offenseive side to help pace the Stonehill offense (Photo Courtesy: Stonehill College Athletics). |
EASTON, Mass. (January 31, 2022)-The Stonehill College baseball team has been picked to finish fifth in the Northeast Division this season in the preseason coaches' poll, as voted on by the Northeast-10 Conference's 14 coaches, as announced by the conference office Monday.
Stonehill wrapped up the season 17-15 overall and 12-12 in Conference play making its 17th NE10 Tournament appearance in program history and first since 2015.
Southern New Hampshire University led the Northeast Division receiving 90 points with 12 first-place votes, while Franklin Pierce University placed second with 80 points and two first-place votes. Bentley University rounded out the top three with 60 points, as Assumption University totaled 56 points for fourth, Stonehill earned 46 points in fifth place, Saint Anslem College and Saint Michael's College rounded out the division with 34 points (sixth place) and 19 points (seventh place) respectively.
Sixteen return from last year, including five seniors, as Head Coach Pat Boen'89, in his 24th season added 15 Skyhawks. On the mound, Stonehill will feature a plethora of arms including senior, Luke Marshall. Last year, he was named to NE10 All-Conference Third Team. Marshall earned his first all-conference award from the conference, was named NE10 Pitcher of the Week twice last season. Marshall tossed 43.1 innings this season went 2-2 over seven starts and eight appearances. He allowed 21 earned runs and 17 walks, striking out 46 averaging 9.55 strikeouts per nine innings. In an 11-6 victory over Saint Anselm College, where Marshall threw 8.0 innings and struck out a career-best 10 batters.
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Marshall will be one of the team's top arms this year after striking out a team-high 46 batters (Photo Courtesy: Stonehill College Athletics). |
Among the Conference, Marshall was fourth in innings pitched (43.1), 8th in strikeouts (46), 13th in hits (38), 17th in strikeouts per nine innings (9.55), 18th in earned runs (21), 19th in ERA (4.36), and 21st in walks (17).
The Skyhawks also bring back junior outfielder and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Preseason All-East Region Second Teamer, Conor Kiely. Last year, he was named to the ABCA/Rawlings All-East Region Team and NE10 All-Conference First Team. Kiely had a strong year on the offensive side where he led the team last year with a .400 batting average in the leadoff spot. He also led the team in RBIs, hits, runs scored, at-bats, on-base, and slugging percentage. He tallied six doubles and two triples and drove in 23 runs. With his .496 on-base percentage and not being caught once, Kiely stole 18 bases, sitting second on the team. In the outfield, the junior totaled 34 putouts for the Skyhawks allowing just two errors.
Throughout the conference, Kiely was fourth in hits (46), fifth in stolen bases (18), sixth in batting average (.400) and on-base percentage (.496), 13th in runs scored (30), and 25th in RBI (23).
Finally, Stonehill will also be relying on senior shortstop, Noah Lucier who also was one of the top sources of offense for the Skyhawks. Lucier posted a batting average of .336 which was second on the team behind Kiely as they both were two of five hitters to bat over .300 last year. He also was second on the team with an on-base percentage of .408 which was second on the team and also tallied five doubles and two triples. Lucier finished third on the team in RBI's as he drove in a career-high 16 runners. As a fielder, was just as strong recording 39 punchouts with a fielding percentage of .969.
In the conference, Lucier was ranked in the top 20 (20th) for batting average, and tied for sixth in triples.
Stonehill starts their season next month (February 24) when the squad travels down to Myrtle Beach, S.C. for The Ripken Experience when they take on Franklin Pierce University at 5:30 p.m. Their first home game is Saturday, March 19 when they host The College of Saint Rose at noon.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
Northeast Division
1. SNHU – 90 (12)
2. Franklin Pierce – 80 (2)
3. Bentley – 60
4. Assumption – 56
5. Stonehill – 46
6. Saint Anselm – 34
7. Saint Michael's - 19
Southwest Division
1. Adelphi – 85 (9)
2. Le Moyne – 83 (5)
3. New Haven – 64
4. Pace – 51
5. SCSU – 49
6. AIC – 27
7. Saint Rose - 26
()-first-place votes
