Skyhawks open their season February 20-23 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
White returns to the mound for the Skyhawks as he was second on the team with a 3.72 ERA |
Northeast-10 Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll Release
EASTON, Mass. (January 24, 2020) – 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 Friday.
Last season, the Skyhawks went 22-25 overall with a 13-14 NE10 record, just missing the opportunity to compete in the playoffs. This is the best record for the Skyhawks since 2016 when team went 24-20 overall and 12-13 in the NE10. Over the course of the past ten years, the team has played in NE10 playoffs five times, earning their spot at NCAA East Regional two times, as well.
For the third-straight season, Southern New Hampshire University led the way in the Northeast Division preseason poll with 91 points and 13 first-place points. Franklin Pierce University followed in second place with 73 points and one first-place vote and Bentley University took home third with 71 points. Assumption College (54 points) and Stonehill (46 points) rounded out the top five with fourth and fifth-place, respectively.
Entering his 23rd year as head of Stonehill's baseball program, three-time NE10 Coach of the Year Pat Boen is the all-time winningest coach in Stonehill baseball history. Throughout his 23 years coaching, Boen has championed the Skyhawks to 14 NE10 tournaments and three NCAA appearances. Boen boasts an impressive 571-443-4 (.563) overall record, and a 342-258-1 (.570) NE10 mark. Boen is currently third on the NE10 career coaching records, as he has led the Skyhawks to 20 seasons with 20-plus wins.
Stonehill adds 13 to the squad this year and will see eight seniors lead the way, including Michael White and Eddie Magi who threw the second and third most innings, respectively, behind Michael Young '19 who was named pitching coach at the beginning of the year. White tossed 65.1 innings for 3.72 ERA with a 6-2 record and one save, while Magi threw 41.0 innings with a 3.73 ERA and a 1-4 record with two saves.
Wilde was tabbed NE10 Rookie Hitter of the Year and was second on the team with a .313 batting average |
At the end of last year, the Skyhawks saw six names on NE10 All-Conference teams, as three of the six graduated. Sophomores Matt Donlan, Noah Lucier, and Aidan Wilde were all named to the All-Rookie Team, as Wilde was the Skyhawks' first major award as he was selected as the Rookie Hitter of the Year.
Wilde played in 46 of the 47 games last year and averaged .313 at the plate totaling eight doubles, three triples, three homeruns and 21 RBI. He also walked 26 times to lead the team. Donlan appeared in 38 games and averaged .234 at the plate as he threw out 23 runners from behind the plate, Lucier played in 29 games last year and averaged .281 at the plate.
Stonehill will open the 2020 season in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina at the Ripken Experience Northeast Challenge from Thursday, February 20 – Sunday, February 23. They come back for four days before traveling to Lake Worth, Florida for three games from Friday, February 28 – Sunday, March 1. The Skyhawks' spring break will be spent in Florida as they play in 10 games from Friday, March 6 – Saturday, March 14 before taking on Southern New Hampshire University for their first NE10 four-game series that starts on Friday, March 20 in Manchester, New Hampshire.
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. Southern New Hampshire University – 91 (13)
2. Franklin Pierce University – 73 (1)
3. Bentley University – 71
4. Assumption College – 54
5. Stonehill College – 46
6. Saint Anselm College – 31
7. Saint Michael's College – 19
Southwest Division -
1. Adelphi University – 79 (8)
2. Le Moyne College – 75 (3)
3. Pace University – 72 (3)
4. Southern Connecticut State University – 55
5. University of New Haven – 49
6. American International College – 31
7. College of Saint Rose – 24
() – first place votes