Skyhawks open the 2021 season at Bentley, its first game in a year and eight days
Duarte returns as one of three seniors as a fifth-year student-athlete |
Northeast-10 Conference Announces Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Stonehill Baseball Schedule Announcement
EASTON, Mass. (March 3, 2021) – 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 Wednesday.
In the Skyhawks' shortened 2020 season due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Stonehill went 8-5 and received a final National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association East Region ranking of 10 on March 9, 2020. The 2021 NCBWA Preseason Poll placed Stonehill eighth overall. Over the course of the past 11 years, the team has played in NE10 playoffs five times, earning their spot at NCAA East Regional two times.
For the fourth-straight season, Southern New Hampshire University led the way in the Northeast Division preseason poll with 90 points and 12 first-place votes. Franklin Pierce University followed in second place with 79 points and two first-place votes. Bentley University (57 points) edged Assumption University (56 points) by one point placing third and fourth, respectively, while Stonehill rounded out the top five with 50 points.
White returns on the mound for the Skyhawks, also as a fifth-year student-athlete |
Entering his 24th 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 24 years coaching, Boen has championed the Skyhawks to 14 NE10 tournaments and three NCAA appearances. Boen boasts an impressive 579-448-4 (.564) overall record, and a 342-258-1 (.570) NE10 mark. Boen is currently third on the NE10 career coaching records with 579 wins, as he has led the Skyhawks to 20 seasons with 20-plus wins.
Stonehill adds eight to the squad this year and will see three seniors lead the way, including Michael White, Rob Duarte, and John Orzechowski who are returning for their fifth year after missing out on a full 2020 season.
Stonehill will open the 2021 season with a non-conference four-game series against Bentley University on March 20-21. The Skyhawks then host Southern New Hampshire University from March 27-28 for their Conference opener on Lou Gorman Field. All scheduled games are subject to change based on COVID-19 health and safety protocol.
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.
2021 NE10 Baseball Coaches' Poll
Northeast Division
1. Southern New Hampshire – 90 (12)
2. Franklin Pierce – 79 (2)
3. Bentley – 57
4. Assumption – 56
5. Stonehill – 50
6. Saint Anselm – 34
7. Saint Michael's – 19
Southwest Division
1. Adelphi – 86 (8)
2. Le Moyne – 74 (3)
3. Pace – 59 (2)
3. Southern Connecticut – 59 (1)
5. New Haven – 56
6. American International – 29
7. Saint Rose – 22
() - first-place votes
