Category: Trinity

It Doesn’t End in May: 2018 Summer Ball Top Performers

While many NESCAC students are working for their uncle at Google or Goldman Sachs, most of the conference’s best baseball players are competing in the top collegiate summer leagues out there. Though it may be Division III, NESCAC baseball players see success nearly every year in some of the top summer ball leagues in the country, playing with and against guys from Vanderbilt, North Carolina, Virginia, etc. night in and night out. Every team in the NESCAC had a few guys whose summer performances last year were worth noting, so we did just that. Take a look at who had the most noteworthy summers from each team across the league:

Amherst

Andrew Ferrero ’19
Martha’s Vineyard Sharks – Futures League
4-2, 4.15 ERA, 43.1 IP, 50 H, 36 K, 10 BB

Like many others around the NESCAC, Ferrero took his talents to the Futures League last summer where he played for the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks. The Futures League is made up of mostly younger guys from Division I schools, but there are a handful of Division II and III guys on every team. With as much talent as there is, pitching in the Futures League should actually be a tougher test than the regular college season against all D3 opponents. Ferrero had himself a good summer, amassing a 4.15 ERA with 36 strikeouts and just 10 walks on the year. His numbers weren’t eye-popping, but this type of consistency against very strong opponents should bode well for Ferrero as he returns to NESCAC play.

Bates

Nolan Collins ’20
Brockton Rox – Futures League
5-0, 2.47 ERA, 47.1 IP, 43 H, 39 K, 17 BB

Collins joined forces with college teammates Brendan Smith ’19, and Jack Arend ’20, as well as current Middlebury Panther, George Goldstein ’21, over the summer as a member of the Brockton Rox, also in the Futures League. It appears that Collins picked up in the summer right where he left off from his breakout sophomore season at Bates. He finished the summer season with excellent numbers and his 2.47 ERA was the 3rdlowest among all starters across the league. Perhaps an interesting aspect of Collins’ success is the fact that he was able to throw to the same catcher both in college and during summer ball. Having consistency behind home plate is key, and the duo of Arend and Collins has been able to take the Bobcats (and the Rox) to new heights with their success.

Bowdoin

Jack Wilhoite ’19
North Shore Storm – North Shore Baseball League
.360 BA (18-50), 9 2B, 2 HR, .448 OBP, .700 SLG

I’ll be honest – I had to look a little bit further for this one. Luckily, the numbers absolutely made it worth it. I don’t know much about the North Shore Baseball League other than that it’s a men’s league, but Wilhoite (along with a few of his teammates from Bowdoin) tore it up. When you have 18 hits and more than half of them are for extra bases, you’re doing something right. In fact, Wilhoite actually had himself a pretty good summer on the mound as well. The senior struck out 20 batters in just 13 innings, allowing 6 earned runs on 8 hits along the way. Bowdoin has really struggled so far this year but Wilhoite proves that they have talent; they just have some things they need to figure out. I’d look for them to get in the win column pretty soon.

Colby

Emery Dinsmore ’20
Norsemen – GNCBL

This one might be even more of a stretch, but for some reason the Greater Northeast Collegiate Baseball League doesn’t allow you to view player stats without having a paid account with GameChanger. So naturally I will have to settle for the fact that Dinsmore threw a shutout in game one of the league championship series and has been off to a great start for the Mules this season. In his first start of the collegiate season Dinsmore tossed 6 innings of one-run baseball, allowing 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7. The southpaw appears to be the ace in Waterville, so hopefully he can bring Colby out of the basement this year.

Hamilton

Gavin Schaefer-Hood ’21
Sherrill Silversmiths – NYCBL
1-1, 3.91 ERA, 20.2 IP, 21 H, 15 K, 10 BB

Schaefer-Hood put together a solid summer in the always-competitive New York Collegiate Baseball League. His number, albeit good, are actually not even indicative of what he was able to do all summer. Schaefer-Hood allowed 9 earned runs on the year, but 7 of them were in one game. If you take out that one bad performance, he finished the summer with a 1.08 ERA, allowing just 12 hits and 7 walks over 16.2 innings. He even had one start where he threw a complete-game, four-hit shutout, striking out 7 and not walking any. These are definitely Friday-starter numbers and that is exactly the type of performance he’ll look to continue as the Continentals move forward in NESCAC West play.

Middlebury

Colby Morris ’19
Green Bay Bullfrogs – Northwoods League/Chatham Anglers – Cape Cod League
1-2, 2.57 ERA, 28 IP, 27 H, 21 K, 9 BB

The NESCAC Pitcher of the Year from 2018 continued to make a name for himself in the very impressive Northwoods League. Similar to Schaefer-Hood, 5 of Morris’ 8 earned runs on the summer came in one outing, so it’s safe to say that the dude shoved. In his last (and best) outing with the Bullfrogs, Morris didn’t allow a run while surrendering just 4 hits and striking out 8. His success earned him a brief stint with the Chatham Anglers of the famed Cape Cod Baseball League – a very rare feat for a Division III player. This guy is legit and the only hardware he has left to bring home is a NESCAC championship trophy.

Trinity

Matt Koperniak ’20
North Adams SteepleCats – NECBL
.318 BA (41-129), 10 2B, 1 HR, 24 RBI

Koperniak absolutely shredded some really good pitching in the NECBL all summer. He finished among the league leaders in batting average, while roping 10 doubles and hitting a bomb. When mid-July rolled around and guys started to slump, Koperniak did just the opposite. The Massachusetts native went on a 15-game hitting streak in the middle of the year that included 7 multi-hit games, 8 of his 10 doubles, and hit lone home run. Not only is Koperniak one of the best hitters in the NESCAC, but he also has the ability to get really, really hot. The Bantams are off to a terrific start in 2019 and this guy has been right in the middle of it – an intimidating presence atop the lineup.

Tufts

RJ Hall ’19
Sanford Mainers – NECBL
3-0, 2.13 ERA, 33.2 IP, 29 H, 25 K, 7 BB

Not that I expected anything else from Tufts, but Hall was very impressive this past summer. His 2.13 ERA represented the 2nd lowest in the league, and he allowed the fewest walks among starters all season. He put on a number of impressive performances, with perhaps the best one taking place at the end of June when he fanned 7 while allowing just 2 hits and a walk over 5 innings of shutout baseball. Hall has had a very impressive career as a Jumbo, serving as a key member of the staff from the day he set foot on campus. It seems that over the past four years the only certainties have been death, taxes, and RJ Hall.

Wesleyan

Kelvin Sosa ’21
Bristol Blues – Futures League
2-3, 5.58 ERA, 29 IP, 31 H, 32 K, 22 BB

Sosa didn’t have quite as strong of a summer as he would’ve liked, but competed and did a decent job considering he was the youngest D3 player in the league. As his strikeout numbers last year would indicate, Sosa has knockout stuff – his only real struggle has been with command. Yeah, allowing 31 hits in 29 innings isn’t great, but it’s a lot easier to hit when Sosa is only throwing one pitch for a strike that day. This seems to be a recurring theme for the Cardinal staff as a whole, so perhaps it’s time for Coach Woodworth to incorporate some more accuracy drills into the practice plan. If they are able to do this successfully then Wesleyan will go a very long way because Sosa knows how to pitch and the rest of the league should definitely be on notice.

Williams

Kellen Hatheway ’19
Martha’s Vineyard Sharks – Futures League
.311 BA (32-103), 6 2B, 6 HR, 28 RBI

Hatheway responded quickly after a lackluster junior season by breaking out over the summer. He teamed up with Ferrero from Amherst for the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks in the Futures League and went on a tear all summer long. Hatheway finished tied for 2ndin the league in home runs, 7thin RBIs, and 7thin batting average while playing against almost entirely Division I opponents. He has the Ephs off to an incredibly hot start in his senior campaign and he’ll look to bring his summer form back into NESCAC play so that Williams can be in playoff contention for the first time in a while.

One in the Books: Stock Report 4/1

Well NESCAC baseball fans, the conference season is upon us. That means it is unlikely to see a 22-3 game with six homers that go over four hundred feet. The warmth of Florida and Arizona aren’t felt anymore. The only thing that these players feel is the biting cold of New England’s early spring. The conference season kicked off with a bang. Defending league champs Amherst lost two out of three games to Little Three rival Wesleyan. Trin looks confident after taking a three game set against Bowdoin. A lot has transpired this past weekend. Let’s take a closer look at what/who I believe is up or down.

Stock up

Trinity pitching

Andrew DeRoche seems to have taken over as the Friday starter for the Bantams

Like in any sports conference, there is a traditional hierarchy. That being said, the NESCAC is one of the most competitive conferences in all of college athletics. Sweeps occur, but they are rare, in my opinion, due to the general parity in the league. Bowdoin hasn’t been strong in years. They have been a middle to lower tiered team in the East division. They have traditionally had trouble swinging the bad even with some solid pitching. This past weekend proved no different. Picking up three wins for Trin is huge. Even if the wins are against Bowdoin, a win is a win. In a league with not very many conference games, each one could be the difference between a playoff appearance or simply only studying for finals. Trinity was lead by their stellar pitching this past weekend. Andrew DeRoche ’20 went 7.1 innings allowing no earned while giving up three hits. Will Simeone ’22 went game two with an almost identical stat line. All hands were on deck for game three with Max Barsamian ’21 going four solid innings with Eric Mohl ’19 going another four innings unearned to pick up the win. Obviously Trin’s largest adversary in the East is Tufts. Tufts had a slow start last year, but ended up going all the way to the end with Amherst. After graduating a few big bats; however, I think it may be time for Trinity to take the reigns of dominance in the East.

Dominance of the West Division

Williams is 12-1 right now without having played a league game. They swept Colby this past weekend with big hitting numbers. Amherst dropped two against Wesleyan, playing sloppy defense for most of the weekend. The result would have easily been flipped if Amherst took care of the baseball. I am certain that a program like Amherst will clean up the defense, and be a force in the division like so many years prior. Middlebury looked strong too and has two perennial POY and Cy Young candidates like Han and Morris, making it no wonder why they’re off to a strong start. Coach Leonard has made the program strong again and it is clear that last year was an anomaly for the Panthers. They lost some close games due to a lack of clutch hitting and some bad breaks. Hamilton had a tough weekend against Midd but the Conts still play a style of baseball where they can absolutely rake and just need to find a way to close out games against strong teams. They have the talent, there’s no question about that, but what remains to be seen is if they can convert that talent to consistent winning. Wesleyan had a dismal spring trip. Hitting, like always, was strong, though their pitching was inconsistent at best. They certainly turned it around this weekend winning two against a strong foe in Amherst. The emergence after a season off for Andrew Keith ’19 is huge. He and freshman Adam Geibel ’22 are strong additions to the team. I can honestly see all these teams make a strong push for the division title. All West division games will be fun to watch.

Stock down

Maine Baseball

Brandon Lopez has been one of the only bright spots for Bowdoin so far

It has been a tough start for every Maine NESCAC team. Bowdoin has yet to win a game; Colby couldn’t contain Williams; Bates lost two out of three to Tufts. After making the playoffs a year ago, I thought Bates was on the rise. The Bobcat pitching has always been its bread and butter. Like everyone knows, you have to score runs to win ball games. Bates has always had trouble putting the ball in play. With Tufts and Trinity playing as well as they are, it is hard to envision Bates making the playoffs*. Bowdoin has yet to win a game. I repeat: Bowdoin has yet to win a game. Not only are they are shooting 0% in conference games, they haven’t beat a non-conference opponent either. A major reason why that’s the case is playing in California for spring training. The teams in California are much better than in Arizona or Florida. I understand wanting to play the top talent, but if you’re unable to pick up even one win, why go? Don’t you want to gain confidence? The addition of Coach Jesse Woods has certainly helped in the early-going, but it’s hard to envision them sustaining this come conference play. The Mules haven’t faced a team from the East division yet, but the games against Williams don’t show much hope. Colby has some talent and maybe even be able to steal a win or two, but the strength of Tufts and Trin makes it unlikely for a Maine team to make the playoffs.

*Editor’s note: Bates has had a mysterious way of performing just well enough to sneak into the playoffs over the last few years despite being one of the worst statistical teams. Tufts and Trinity look like the clear 1 and 2 in the east, but we’ve learned by now that you can never really count out the Bobcats.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

I have always liked this quote. It makes sense to me that the dominant teams will stay dominant no matter the changing circumstances. The Patriots, under Belichick, have been able to adapt and beat teams in a variety of ways. The San Antonio Spurs have been able to remain a dominant team even if they don’t have many ‘superstars’. Tufts lost a huge portion of their lineup, but here they are just as good as ever. Bates and Trinity are right there in the mix just like always. That’s the East, though. In the West, I think it’s a toss up. I think Midd will make the playoffs, but after that, it’s a crapshoot. Will Williams be dominant for the first time in a while? They have the pieces, and have played well so far. Will Wesleyan’s pitching come around? It showed up for the most part against Amherst. Will the departure of Brian Hamm from Amherst kill the intimidation the team radiated? We’ll see. It will be an exciting spring season without a doubt.

Opening Weekend Preview: Who’s Coming to Play?

League play has arrived! After a long offseason and a few weeks of non-conference play, NESCAC foes will step on to the same diamond for the first time this season. The first weekend always carries a lot of question marks, because we don’t really know what to expect from every team. Some teams play tougher out of conference schedules than others, but for the first time this weekend we will begin to have a better idea of who is for real and who isn’t.

Williams @ Colby in Kissimmee, Florida

One of the early stories of the season has been the emergence of this Williams team, a team that came into the season with more questions than answers. The Ephs enter this series 9-1, already as many wins as they had last year. They have done it on the backs of their infield, namely sophomores Erik Mini (.390, 15 RBI) and Eric Pappas (.514, 8 RBI), and the white hot IF Doug Schaffer ’19, hitting .561 through 10 game and amassing a preposterous 27 RBI, 8 more than anyone else in the league. But the Ephs have also shown a flair for the dramatic, which could be covering up a few cracks. They’ve won 3 games in their final at-bats, most notably an upset win over then #9 Johns Hopkins and a 5-run bottom of the 8th to beat St. Olaf 10-8. The pitching is yet to come around (4.50 ERA) and it’s always hard to judge how other teams are treating non-conference games. We’ll learn a lot about them this weekend. The same goes for the Colby Mules, who are only 6-1, thanks to Mother Nature. The Mules have shown they can win in a variety of ways, putting up 10+ runs in half of the wins, and holding their opponents to 4 or less runs in 4 of their games. They’re hitting .410 as a team, paced by 3B Will Wessman ‘20’s .400/.448/.800 line to go along with 2 HRs and 11 RBI. But Colby has started 7 different pitchers in their 7 games, so we don’t have a lot to go off of in terms of knowing what they’ll bring to the bump. I’m going to give the edge to Williams in this one—momentum in baseball can be a scary thing and they’re as hot as anyone right now. While this is technically a non-conference series (@NESCAC, this is a problem), it still should reveal some aspects of each team that will reveal who each is.

Prediction: Williams 2-1

Hamilton @ Middlebury in Orlando, Florida

A series worth being exciting about between two teams who are getting right to the nitty and gritty to begin the year. Middlebury comes in at 8-4, but with a scoring margin of +42, while Hamilton has eked out a 7-6 start with a lot of close games. It’s hard not to give the edge to the Panthers in this series, with all that we know about both teams. Hamilton would be smart not to match their ace Gavin Schaefer-Hood ’21 (22.0 IP, 3-0, 2.05 ERA) with reigning league Pitcher of the Year Colby Morris ’19 of Middlebury (21.0 IP, 2-0, 3.00 ERA) if they want the best chance to steal this series. If they save him a day that will ideally put them in a position to split the first two and take their chances in a rubber match Game 3. Middlebury has to feel really good about the contributions they’re getting up and down the roster coming into this weekend, with 5 different guys already having cleared the fence, and 7 different guys having made starts for the Panthers, half of them coming from 4 different freshmen. Reigning Rookie of the Year IF Matt Zaffino ’21 has yet to really get going for the Conts (.270/.415/.324) but I think Schaefer-Hood will be good enough to get them a win if he doesn’t face Morris.

Prediction: Middlebury 2-1

Bates @ Tufts

Justin Foley is one of the most reliable starters for the Bobcats

A matchup between the 2018 playoff representatives of the NESCAC East kicks off divisional play in Somerville. Tufts (9-2) was expected to be able to offset the loss of their superstar senior class, namely Falkson, O’Hara, and Nachmanoff, on the backs of arguably the best rotation in the league in Brent Greeley ’20, R.J. Hall ‘19, and Spencer Langdon ’20, but the Jumbos have come out mashing once again to start the season, plating 124 runs in just 11 games. Langdon has moved to the bullpen, but Hall and Greeley look every bit the best 1-2 combination in the league, combing to allow 2 ER in 28 innings. Bates (5-6) has yet to hit their stride at the plate (.359 slugging as a team, 63 runs), but they have two proven quality starters in Nolan Collins (18.0 IP, 2-0, 2.00 ERA) and Justin Foley (20.1 IP, 1-1, 3.54). But they’re running into a buzz saw to start their conference play. Tufts is hitting the cover off of the ball and their first two starters are as good as anyone in the entire league. We don’t know who their third starter is yet, presumably sophomore Manny Ray (11.0 IP, 1-0, 3.27 ERA), but his classmate Jamie Weiss has also made two starts and freshman Aidan Tucker leads the Jumbos in appearances (5) and innings pitched (15). But whoever it is is going to be able to rely on a lot more run support than anyone Bates throws out there. Collins is 5th in the league with a 9.50 K/9 and he’s going to need to use the punchout to get through this lineup. If he can do that they might be able to steal one, but I would bet against it.

Prediction: Tufts 3-0

Trinity @ Bowdoin in Waterville, Maine

While it’s true you can never take too much away from non-conference play, anytime you go winless in your first 11 games, it’s a red flag. That’s exactly what Bowdoin has done, starting their season 0-10-1. Needless to say, it’s been poor play all around the diamond for the Polar Bears. The offense has logged 33 runs in 11 games, good for 3 a game. They’re hitting .208 as a team. Brandon Lopez ’19 and Colby Lewis ’20 have actually looked like the duo they’re expected to be, combining to throw 20.1 IP with a 2.66 ERA. But the rest of the rotation has been so dismal that their team ERA currently sits at 9.56. And just to make matters worse, their .942 fielding percentage is 8th in the league. The silver lining in all of this however, is that Bowdoin played a tough, tough schedule over their spring break, heading out to Los Angeles to play a number of strong west coast teams, a trip that Williams made last season with similar results. But playing Trinity probably isn’t going to be how they turn it around. The Bantams come in as hot as the Polar Bears are cold, winners of 6 in a row and 9-2 overall. Trinity is second in the league with 101 runs in 11 games, getting production across the board—namely in 4 players with double digit RBI. It has been the usual suspects like Stamatis and Koperniak, but also in breakout performers like freshman Mike Guanci Jr., hitting .295 and driving in 12 in to start his first college season, as well as junior Mack Lauder, hitting .324 and also driving in 12. The Bantams have manufactured runs with their typically terrific baserunning, stealing 45 bases (leading the league) and only getting caught 4 times. Admittedly the pitching has not been stellar, getting touched up to the tune of a 6.03 ERA. Star reliever Erik Mohl ’19 has yet to find his groove (17.0 IP, 5.29) and no pitcher has made more than 2 starts yet so we’re waiting for answers this weekend in terms of a set rotation. But if there was any team to play to get some confidence in a struggling rotation, it would be Bowdoin and their offense.

Prediction: Trinity 3-0

Amherst @ Wesleyan Friday 3/29, Wesleyan @ Amherst Saturday 3/30 (Doubleheader)

If Amherst can find a way to keep the games close, senior closer Mike Dow should be able to shut the door with some of his on-field antics

The series of the weekend is a Little 3 matchup in Middletown that will surely have playoff ramifications. Wesleyan (5-8) has not had a great non-conference performance, and that is because their much-maligned starting rotation has yet to solve the problems that plagued them last year. Mike McCaffrey ‘19’s junior woes have followed him into his senior season, lasting just 8.2 innings across 3 starts, with a 6.23 ERA. Sosa (15.0 IP, 6.00 ERA) and Clare (12.1 IP, 4.38 ERA) have not been much better either. The offense has been rolling, hitting .336 as a team (2nd) and scoring 99 runs (3rd), it’s just the 9th ranked 7.07 ERA that needs improvement. IF Andrew Kauf ’20 has placed himself firmly in the early Player of the Year conversation, pacing Wesleyan with a .474 average, 27 hits, and 19 RBI. They just need some pitching. Amherst (6-4) has had an unremarkable start in either direction. They’re 5th in the league in both batting average (.317) and runs scored (86). Their pitching has been quite good, though, second in the league with a 3.82 ERA and a league leading 10.43 K/9. CF Joseph Palmo ’21 (.432, 1 HR, 11 RBI) and freshman IF Daniel Qin (.387, 1 HR, 8 RBI) have been the guys doing at the dish so far for the Mammoths, which should be exciting for a team that is yet to get its top returners going. On the mound it’s been RHP Wilson Taylor ’19 (10.1 IP, 1-0, 1.74 ERA) who has shone the brightest out of a rotation that could really use some more help from the guys behind it. Amherst has the second worst fielding percentage in the league at .932, but their mistakes have been incredibly costly, as just 33 of the 60 runs they’ve allowed have been earned. The pitching has been good, and you could argue that they’ve just been a little unlucky to start the season. When you take into consideration that 2 of their 4 losses are against ranked opponents, then you realize they’ve been a pretty good team, as opposed to a Wesleyan team that is still trying to find itself defensively.

Prediction: Amherst 2-1

Three-Headed Monster: NESCAC East Preview

NESCAC East Preview

Bates College Bobcats

Head Coach: Jon Martin, 3rd Season
2018 Record: 14-19, 7-5 NESCAC
Projected 2019 Record: 20-14, 7-5 NESCAC

Player to Watch: Jack Arend ‘20 (C) Newfields, NH

Arend was a consistent presence in the lineup and on the field for the Bobcats last season. His efforts throughout the season garnered him first team all NESCAC honors, a title he will look to reclaim this season. Arend is known for his good eye and plate discipline, leading the Bobcats in walks and OBP last year. He’s already off to a blistering start through 11 games this season, hitting .469 while reaching base at a .617 clip. It is clear that Arend will be a key leader for Bates this year and has the potential to take them back to the playoffs.

Pitcher to Watch: Nolan Collins ‘20, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Nolan Collins returns for his junior season and the California native projects to be one of the top starters in the conference this season. After a breakout sophomore campaign in which he kept his season ERA below 3, Collins will need to maintain a similar standard of excellence this season to make it out of the NESCAC East. After a large K/9 jump between 2017 and 2018, I would expect strikeout numbers for Collins to rise even further this year, ever increasing his effectiveness. As the surefire ace for this squad, the Bobcats will rely heavily on the right arm of Nolan Collins every Friday afternoon in some of their biggest games this year.

Everything Else:

Last season Bates was fortunate enough to earn a playoff berth but they failed to get further than that. Close losses saw the Bobcats fall short of their championship hopes, but it is a new year. Although they were a playoff team, Bates finished third to last in the conference in runs last season. Their offensive production will have to beefed up significantly this year in order to compete for a championship, but they have solid pieces to put it together. In fact, their .301 team batting average thus far indicates that they’ve already begun to right the ship.

Bowdoin College Polar Bears

Head Coach: Mike Connolly, 20th Season
2018 Record: 16-17, 7-5 NESCAC
2019 Projected Record: 8-26-1, 2-10 NESCAC

Player to Watch: Eric Mah ‘20 (IF) Newtonville, MA

After a sophomore season in which he maintained a batting average over .350, Eric Mah will return as a pillar of the Polar Bears’ lineup. Last season Mah lead the Bowdoin team in hits, at bats, doubles and on base percentage. Mah is a consistent presence in the lineup that Bowdoin so desperately needs. Offensive woes seem to have been somewhat of a trend for the Polar Bears over the past few seasons and they could use some more players like Mah to break the monotony.

Pitcher to Watch: Brandon Lopez ‘19, Amesbury, MA

Lopez has been a competitor year in and year out for Bowdoin and I would expect more of the same from his senior campaign. Last season Lopez posted a 4-1 record and a sub-4 ERA as one of their most reliable arms. With three seasons of NESCAC competition under his belt Lopez will be able to guide the rest of his staff as well as use his experience to his own advantage.

Everything Else:

Bowdoin has an extremely disappointing 2018 in which they missed playoffs due to a tiebreaker. They lose many quality pieces this season and it looks as if it may be harder for them to compete this year than it was last year. Their offense was not among the elite in the conference last season
and it projects to be more of the same this year. Bowdoin will have to battle and upset some better ball clubs in order to make the playoffs this year but you can never rule them out.

Colby College Mules

Head Coach: Jesse Woods, 1st Season
2018 Record: 7-25, 1-11 NESCAC
2019 Projected Record: 14-18, 4-8 NESCAC

Player to Watch: Andrew Russell ‘21 (IF) Massapequa, N.Y.

Russell started his freshman season hitting the ground running last season and I would expect him to carry that momentum into 2019. He lead the Mules in many statistical categories in his freshman season including at-bats (110), runs (18), base on balls (8), and defensive assists (65). Not to mention he was also second best in hits (33), putouts (43), triples (2), and tied for second in doubles (6). It’s clear to see that Russell is a jack of all trades for Colby and they need the help.

Pitcher to Watch: Emery Dinsmore ‘20, Waldo, ME

Back in 2017 Emery had a very promising freshman season in which he recorded 33 IP and maintained a 4.01 ERA. These numbers seemed promising but unfortunately did not translate into a successful 2018 campaign. Despite a drop in effectiveness this season, I predict that Emery will make a 180 and really dial in this year. His first start looked like a significant improvement – 6IP, 1ER, 2BB, 7K, so perhaps we can view last year as a fluke. If he can maintain control and the ability to put guys away, it could be a breakout year for Dinsmore.

Everything Else:

The biggest story for the Mules this season is their new head coach. Jesse Woods, formerly an assistant at Notre Dame, has taken the helm at Colby and they hope he will lead them into a new era of success. After a pretty dismal performance last season the Mules hope that some new life
in the program will lead to more success. There is certainly talent to be found on the Mules’ roster, the question is whether or not Woods will be able to get the most out of his new squad.

Trinity College Bantams

Head Coach: Bryan Adamski, 6th Season
2018 Record: 18-15, 7-5 NESCAC
2019 Projected Record: 22-13, 8-4 NESCAC

Player to Watch: Johnny Stamatis ‘19 (IF) Ridgefield, CT

Stamatis enters his final season of NESCAC competition after a solid junior year. Last season he led the Bantams in walks and putouts, 2nd on team in home runs, 3rd in RBIs, 4th in runs (tied) and doubles, and 5th in hits, stolen bases, and assists. Alongside his success with the bat Stamatis is also a stud on defense, recording all of 2 errors last year at first base. Becoming a senior means that Stamatis will need to take a bigger role as a leader on the team and one way to show that is through his consistency on field.

Pitcher of the Year: Andrew Deroche ‘20, North Reading, MA

Deroche is another important junior on the Bantam roster. He returns this year to reassume his role as a starter for Trinity. Last year he led the Bantams in appearances, was 2nd on team in saves and earned lowest opponent batting average. Additionally he 3rd on the team in wins, innings pitched, and strikeouts. It is clear that Deroche is a workhorse for Trinity and they will lean on him this year to lead them to the playoffs.

Everything Else:

Trinity is one of those teams that has the potential to make a serious playoff run despite the fact that they missed out on playoffs last season. It is well known that it is especially difficult to make the conference tournament in the NESCAC and the Trinity Bantams fell victim to this fact last season. This year they return with yet another strong team but whether they have enough to make it over the hump and play in the postseason will be a different question.

Tufts University Jumbos

Head Coach: John Casey, 36th Season
2018 Record: 20-17, 8-4 NESCAC
Projected 2019 Record: 26-7, 9-3 NESCAC

Player to Watch: Casey Santos-Ocampo ‘19 (OF) Naples, FL

Casey Santos-Ocampo returns for his last year attempting to take Tufts back to the promised land. Santos-Ocampo had a pretty good junior year for the Jumbos. He posted a .291 average and added 23 RBIs as well as 32 BBs. I’m expecting a breakout senior campaign from Santos-Ocampo because he has been through it all with this Tufts squad. The highs and lows that he has experienced over the last three years will serve him well as he can elevate the play of himself and his teammates around him.

Pitcher to Watch: RJ Hall ‘19, Marietta, GA

NESCAC fans alike will not be surprised to see RJ Hall on this list as he has been on many awards lists in the past, whether they be pre or postseason awards. As a junior he earned NESCAC All-Conference first team honors and was a two-time NESCAC Player of the Week. Along with this he was tied for NESCAC lead with five victories and his 54 strikeouts were third best in the conference. RJ Hall has terrorized NESCAC hitters for the past 3 years and this last one looks to be more of the same.

Everything Else:

Tufts is geared up for a monster year after missing out on the NCAA tournament. Their expectations will be to return the NESCAC crown to Medford where it rested for several seasons before they lost it last year. The upperclassmen talent on this team is extremely impressive and that is a key part to deep postseason runs. The bitterness of their championship loss surely won’t leave them soon so they will be hungry for Ws until they take that ship back.

Spring is Finally Here: NESCAC Baseball Preseason Awards Predictions

As we do before all NESCAC seasons get under way, we are predicting the 2019 Baseball awards winners. At NbN, we try to keep things light so we added in a few extra awards that aren’t on the traditional lists at the end of the year such as comeback player of the year and best power hitter. No, we aren’t always right, but these are supposed to be hot takes, so take ’em or leave ’em.

West Player of the Year: Alex Cappitelli ’20, OF (Wesleyan)

Many of you probably think I am picking a Wesleyan guy to win player of the year just because I go to Wesleyan. There is no question, however, that Cappitelli deserves this preseason award. Capp showed last year that he is one of the best hitters in the NESCAC. He seemed to always reach base last Spring. His approach is simple. His quick hands and short bat path made it nearly impossible to pitch effectively to him last season. He hit a preposterous .367 last season, leading Wesleyan in average and ranking second in runs batted in. The NESCAC is a solid pitching conference, and playing in a division with Williams, Amherst, and Middlebury forces each team to face a quality starter every conference game. As the lead off guy for a team that was a game shy of the conference championship last season, Capp was one of the most respected hitters in the NESCAC last year. He defense is solid, but not as outstanding as fellow Wes outfielder Andrew Keith. Capp’s bat sets him apart from the rest of the league. With a team as potent as the Cardinals, Capp will be relied upon again to have some clutch at bats. He is my clear choice for West player of the year.

East Player of the Year: Matt Koperniak ’20, OF (Trinity)

It is quite the coincidence that my pick for East Player of the Year comes from a school only thirty minutes away from my choice for West Player of the Year. It is also a coincidence that they are both junior outfielders. Koperniak can flat out rake. His 2018 campaign was stellar: second in the league in slugging, third in homers, second in average, and many more flashy statistics. The lefty hitter can attack good pitching in a multitude of ways. Similar to Cappitelli, Koperniak has a patient approach matched with great bat speed. He is a solid fastball hitter, but has shown in years past to react nicely to off speed junk. Voted NESCAC first team and All-New England Region third team, Koperniak has already proved that he is one of the best hitters in New England. I am curious to see how pitchers and coaches will attack him because I certainly wouldn’t want to let Trin’s best hitter beat me.

West Cy Young: Colby Morris ’19, RHP (Middlebury)

The senior Panther always seems to have his chin up and neck out (see roster photo) when he steps on the mound. I am not picking Morris because it will strengthen my relationship with the editor of this blog (the editor is in fact Morris). Morris has proven every single year that he is one of the best pitchers in the league. As a number one in the NESCAC, your hitters will be facing the opponent’s number one as well. Like I said earlier, starting pitching in the West is significantly stronger than in the East. Run support has been an issue in years past when Morris took the hill. His win-loss record is deceptive, but his IP, ERA, and any other significant pitching statistic shows why he is one of the best pitchers in the league. He had an incredible 1.68 ERA last year with 64.1 IP, 7.41 K/9, and a staggering four complete games. The win-loss record is highly deceptive at 5-4. Let us see if Morris can complete his unbelievable Midd career with a deep playoff run and strong season, or if the league has finally figured him out. I assume the former, but in a league so strong, you never know.

East Cy Young: Nolan Collins ’20, RHP (Bates)

Emerging as the ace for the Bobcat squad, Collins had a terrific sophomore campaign. He started the year off a bit slow, but once they got to conference play it seemed that he got better every single start. He earned a no-decision in his first conference start (a loss against Bowdoin), then proceeded to allow just 4 earned runs over his next 3 conference starts including a 3-hit shutout in a playoff-clinching win over Tufts. Collins tossed 7 outstanding innings in a wild conference tournament game against Amherst and carried that momentum into the summer when he was a member of the Brockton Rox in the Futures League. Against some very good competition over the summer, Collins finished with a 2.67 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched. Plus he’s already on a hot start this year – 1.50 ERA and 13 strikeouts (and 3 walks) over 12 innings in two starts. This guy is undoubtedly one of the top arms in the league and he’s our leading candidate out of the east.

Reliever of the Year: Ian Nish ’20, RHP (Hamilton)

Nish broke out onto the scene last season as the best stopper in the conference and there’s no reason to think that 2019 will be any different. The All-NESCAC and All-region closer should be the best weapon on the Hamilton staff and his funky delivery and aggressive attack on hitters should make everybody uncomfortable in the box. He tallied six saves on the season and should be challenged in that category by Amherst’s Mike Dow, but Nish had much more dominant and consistent performances than Dow. While he played first base his first two years as a Continental, he showed that he can power his fastball by hitters with the best of them, collecting one strikeout for each inning (20) that he threw last year and already has seven K’s in just 3.1 innings thus far.
B

DeMarini CF3 Slugger Award: Kellen Hatheway ’19, IF (Williams)

Hatheway has had a very interesting career arc, to say the least. He broke onto the scene in his freshman year, batting .331 with 42 hits and taking home NESCAC Rookie of the Year Honors. His sophomore year he only made 9 errors as the starting shortstop for the Ephs, winning the NESCAC’s Defensive Player of the Year Award; he also batted .362 with 42 more hits. His junior year was a bit of a down year for Hatheway and the team as a whole, and while his power numbers stayed the same (2 HR, 10 2B), his batting average took a dive to .228 by the end of the year. The interesting thing, however, is that Hatheway also played in the Futures League last summer as a member of the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks and he batted .311 while launching 6 home runs (the league leaders had 7) and clubbing 6 doubles. These numbers make me believe that his junior season was an anomaly and that Hatheway isn’t going anywhere. Consider him a dark horse candidate for the DeMarini CF3 Slugger Award.

Rookie of the Year: Christian Beal ’21, OF (Bates)

I have to say, this guy kind of came out of nowhere for the Bobcats. The Miami of Ohio transfer was a bit of a mystery when he set foot on campus in the fall, but he has really been producing so far out of the lead off spot this year. Beal is slashing .333/.415/.500 so far on the season and he’s already got a home run and three doubles in just 36 at bats. Bates certainly hasn’t been known for their offense in recent years, but perhaps Beal is the spark that this lineup needed. In fact, their numbers through 8 games this year already look like a significant improvement from years past. Guys often tend to struggle once they start facing other teams’ best pitchers come conference play, so we’ll have to keep an eye on Beal to see if he can maintain this impressive level of play.

Rick Ankiel Comeback Player of the Year Award: Johnny Lamont ’20, LHP (Williams)

While I wrote that Lamont is in the class of 2020, he is really just entering his redshirt sophomore campaign after missing the entirety of 2018 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. While there are other candidates for this award (Spencer Shores ’20 at Midd), Lamont was the most dominant before his injury and is the most removed from his surgery (summer 2017). Now, it’s been over a year and a half since he has seen live action, so there may be some rust to knock off for the hard-throwing lefty, but eventually he should settle in as the sure-fire Eph ace. He had a fantastic freshman season, landing him on the First-Team All-NESCAC squad with a 1.80 ERA in 40 innings with 38 K’s. He did have a dominant pitching performance that season against Wesleyan, striking out a whopping 15 hitters in a 9 inning CG performance, so if he is anything like his former self, he will be a force to be reckoned with in the NESCAC west this season.

Stock Report: Championship Weekend

Stock Up:

Can Gilmour bring it home on his own court for the Conts this weekend?

Hamilton’s Chances at a Title

Last week the Continentals were able to take care of business on their home court against the 7-seeded Colby Mules. While this may not seem that surprising, as the Continentals were heavy favorites, it was only a few weeks ago when the Mules stormed into Hamilton territory and stole a game right out from under their noses. The Mules were able to keep it close, but lightning did not strike twice for them. Hamilton played a clean, team game in which all 5 starters were able to amass double digit scoring. Kena Gilmour lead the way for the Continentals, putting up 19 points which includes a perfect 5/5 from downtown. Overall this team played as a cohesive unit, which should allow them to make an even bigger playoff push. Another advantage that Hamilton now possesses is that they now have home court advantage for the remainder of the playoffs. While other teams have to take the long ride to upstate New York, Hamilton can sit back and relax and wait for the competition to come to them.

Everybody loves an upset.

UMBC… I mean Tufts

After sneaking their way into the playoffs over Bowdoin, the Tufts Jumbos are here to stay. Obviously the story of the weekend was #1 Midd going down on their homecourt to a team they had no business losing to. The Panthers did not look like their usual selves all game, but this section isn’t about bashing Midd, it is about celebrating the underdog. Everyone loves an underdog, and Tufts usually doesn’t get to feel that love. See the reason is that Tufts is never the underdog is because they have more than twice as many students as the rest of the NESCACs. When you have that many enrollment spots, it can be much easier to compete. This year though, their basketball program is flipping that narrative on its head. It’s underdog Tufts taking on all the big bad schools like Hamilton, Amherst and Williams. With the #1 seed out of the way who says they can’t make a run?

Stock Down:

The State of Connecticut

After Wesleyan and Trinity exit the tourney in the first round with losses to Amherst and Williams, respectively, all 3 of the Connecticut NESCACs have been eliminated. The first Connecticut elimination was the earliest in all the NESCAC when Conn finished their season still searching for a conference win. It was a tough season all year long for the Camels but they have another year of rebuilding to look forwards to next year. Trinity proved themselves to be a playoff-quality team as the season progresses but they were still not able to finish the job against a very well organized Williams team. Joe Bell had a great performance for the Bantams off the bench, leading Trinity with 17 points, but the skill gap between the two teams was still too much to overcome. Connecticut’s best chance had to be Wesleyan. They had been ranked at multiple points throughout the season and really looked as if they could bang with the big dogs when push comes to shove. They dropped down to the 6-seed entering postseason play and were not able to top 3-seed Amherst. It was a disappointing year overall for the Connecticut NESCACs but now they can sit back, relax and join their buddies up in Maine as they watch Massachusetts and New York bang it out for a championship.

CACs in the NCAAs

The chances for five NCAA berths are gone, but will the NESCAC get four?

At one point or another this season it seemed as if it were possible to have up to 5 NESCACs make the tournament. As the playoff picture winds down, that number is getting smaller and smaller. First with the givens: from day 1 of the season it was pretty clear that Hamilton and Williams will be in the tournament no matter what. They were slated very high in the top-25 to start the season and while they are not as highly ranked as they have been at the moment, even without a championship I would be in disbelief if these two are not at-large selections. Amherst lies just behind Williams and Hamilton in stature. They were first able to break the top-25 mark in just week 2 of the season. Since that they have bounced in and out of the top-25 but find themselves all the way up at #11, right behind Hamilton, in the latest poll. It wasn’t as obvious throughout the season that this squad would be able to hang with the the Continentals and Ephs but they have more than proven themselves at this point as a lock for NCAAs. Next we come to Midd who is very much “on the bubble” of making the tournament. They had everything going for them. They jumped into the top-25 right at the end of the season after taking the CAC by storm, earning them a 1-seed in the NESCAC tourney. If Midd had made it even to the semis and lost to a ranked team, I believe that they would’ve had great chances to crack into the NCAA tourney. Unfortunately this is not what happened. Midd blew it to the 8-seed on their home court for what must have been quite the embarrassing upset. I do, however, still believe that the odds favor the Panthers to sneak in to the tournament as the twitter account “D3bubble,” researching D3 bracketology, named the Panthers as a “definite lock” entering the NESCAC tournament.

One and Done?: NESCAC Championship Quarterfinal Previews

NESCAC Championship Quarterfinal Previews

The best time of the year is here – playoff season, baby. Saturday is going to be an awesome day filled with awesome games that should be as exciting as ever. In fact, the lower seed beat the higher seed when the teams met in the regular season in three of the four first round matchups (with Williams vs. Trinity being the exception). Each of these teams will battle for the coveted automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament that is awarded to the winner of the NESCAC Championship, and it’s shaping up to be a very exciting tournament as always. The results of this tournament will have an impact on the NCAA Tournament field because the NESCAC could have anywhere from four to six teams in this year’s NCAA’s. If Colby and Wesleyan are able to steal a win or two (or even win the whole thing) then we could see some extra teams sneaking in. There’s still a lot left to play, so check out our previews for each of the quarterfinal matchups:

1. #25 Middlebury vs. 8. Tufts

Tyler Aronson and the Jumbos will have to make a little tournament magic happen if they want to pull off the upset

We start off with a very interesting matchup between Tufts and Middlebury. In their regular season matchup the Panthers traveled to Medford and were dropped on a game winning shot by Brennan Morris ’21, keeping the Jumbos in the playoff race. That game also took place a very long time ago – over a month, in fact. Middlebury is a very different team now than they were then, and the Jumbos are very, very young. The trio of Matt Folger ’20, Jack Farrell ’21, and Max Bosco ’21 are averaging a combined 46 points per game and they have been absolutely on fire for the Panthers when they’ve needed it. The Jumbos are very guard-heavy and have proved that they’re capable of getting hot, so this could be an intriguing matchup between two particularly young backcourts. It’ll also be very interesting to see what we get out of the battle down low because each of these teams boast outstanding big men. Tufts features a 6’8”, 230lb giant in Luke Rogers ’21 who hauls in rebounds at a high rate and scores better than just about any other big in the league. On the other side, Eric McCord ’19 isn’t a huge contributor scoring-wise, but he averages a league-best 9.9 rebounds per game and does an excellent job locking down opposing centers. Both of these guys had big games in their first meeting, so if one if them can do a better job defending the other this time around then their team will have a huge advantage. Middlebury has (a little) more experience and I truly do think they’re the better team in this one, so I’m going with them to move on to the semifinals next weekend.

Prediction: Middlebury 86, Tufts 77

2. #10 Hamilton vs. 7. Colby

I feel like I find myself saying this a lot but I think this could be the year for Hamilton. They’ve had an outstanding season and have looking simply dominant much of the way. Their success has earned them a home game in the first round and a rematch with one of the only three teams that beat them this season. When they met in late January the Mules were able to travel to New York and take down the Continentals on the back of Sam Jefferson ’20 who scored 29 points on 9-14 shooting including 6-10 from three-point range. Colby is a team who, similar to Tufts, is very young and has a very promising future ahead of them. The problem is that I’m not sure if they’re quite ready to compete with the experience that a team like Hamilton brings to the table. Hamilton’s top six leaders in minutes played this season are all juniors and seniors, and they’ve been terrific. Led by NESCAC Player of the Year favorite Kena Gilmour ’20, the Continentals have shot their way to first in the league in points per game second in field goal percentage during their outstanding 2018-2019 season. The Mules aren’t far behind (3rd in PPG, 5th in FG%), and they’ve had some of the hottest shooting streaks we’ve seen in the NESCAC this year. I like that Colby is young and they play like they have nothing to lose because they don’t and I think they’re going to be great in the near future. This is going to be a close game, but I think that Hamilton’s depth and experience will end up being too much for the youthful Mules.

Prediction: Hamilton 90, Colby 87

3. #11 Amherst vs. 6. Wesleyan

Austin Hutcherson hopes to lead a tournament run in just his second season 

I think that out of all the first round matchups, this is my favorite. The Little Three rivals split their regular season meetings, but the Cardinals won the official conference meeting. Wesleyan is not a particularly deep team but they’ve got a few stars that have taken them a very long way. I’d honestly be shocked if Austin Hutcherson ’21 didn’t take home a Player of the Year trophy in one of the next two years, because he has been absolutely outstanding. The league leader in points per game (20.4) has had some incredible performances this season, most recently coming in the form of a season-high 37 points on 81.3% shooting while adding 9 rebounds as well. This guy is a total stud who can light anyone up on any given night, but in the first two meetings between these two teams Hutcherson hasn’t looked quite as impressive. He totaled 25 points and 7 rebounds in those two games combined, well under his regular numbers. He’s going to play the biggest role on the Wesleyan side because if he comes to play then they’ll be very hard to stop. Amherst on the other hand plays a deeper rotation of guys and they share the scoring a bit more evenly. There’s no doubt that Grant Robinson ’21 is their go-to guy, but they have a number of players that can step up when they need to. They’re no. 11 in the country for a reason and there’s never a year when they should be taken lightly. However, star power goes a very long way in this league and Wesleyan wins the battle there. I’m going with the upset in this one.

Prediction: Wesleyan 66, Amherst 62

4. #18 Williams vs. 5. Trinity

It doesn’t bring me any joy to say this, but I’m not very excited for this one. Williams dominated Trinity in their regular season meeting and I don’t see this one being any different. The Ephs boast three of the most prolific scorers in the league in James Heskett ’19, Bobby Casey ’19, and Kyle Scadlock ’19, and these guys have now had so much experience playing in the NESCAC and NCAA Tournament over the past three seasons. The fact that Williams ended up the number four spot is very sneaky, because I still think they might be the favorites to win the whole thing. Bobby Casey ’19 is very much a candidate to win Player of the Year with his 18.5PPG (3rd in the NESCAC), 4.6AST/G (1st in the NESCAC), and 5.3REB/G. We’ve said it time and time again, but this team has a lethal combination of size and shooting ability that is nearly impossible to stop. I’m a bit surprised that Trinity ended up at 6-4 and in the fifth spot, but I certainly owe them one. They had a much better season than I predicted and Donald Jorden, Jr. ’21 has emerged as one of the top forwards in the league. Jorden is actually 4th in the league in offensive rebounds per game, so the Ephs will have to be careful not to get lazy on the defensive glass. The Bantams have had an unpredictable season so there’s no question that they could come out and prove me wrong, but I just think that Williams is too good to lose this early. Their talent and experience is really unmatched and I see them making a very deep run. Somehow I think the 4-5 matchup is the worst out of all the first round games – I don’t think this game will be very close.

Prediction: Williams 83, Trinity 61

Final Regular Season Power Rankings

March is Overrated, “February Frenzy” is Upon Us – Power Rankings 2/13

Chaos doesn’t even begin to describe this week’s edition of the Power Rankings. Heck, we didn’t even know that Midd was the #1 seed until last night! In these past two weeks, we’ve witnessed the unexpected: Williams tumbling out of the top three? Yup. Trinity catching fire late while Wesleyan sinks like a stone? Sure. Amherst blitzing past everyone in their path? Check. These two weeks have proven that any of the top eight teams in the postseason tournament have the ability to get hot and win the entire thing, which makes for an extremely entertaining set of games. It’s also an indicator that the teams we consider to be a part of the upper echelon of NESCAC basketball are nowhere near safe, even in their opening games. Without further ado, here’s my interpretation of the madness.

(5) 1. #11 Amherst (20-3, 7-2)

At this very moment, no team is hotter than the Mammoths. Winning six straight conference games until last night was no easy task, especially considering the volatile nature of the NESCAC this season. Their two most impressive wins of the season came last weekend; on Friday, the Mammoths traveled to Williamstown and secured a season-sweep of rival Williams, and if that wasn’t enough, they followed up that performance with a road win against Middlebury. Grant Robinson ‘21 (19.0 PPG last two games) and Fru Che ‘21 (15.0 PPG last two games) paced the Amherst attack, and bench players Garrett Day ‘21 and C.J. Bachmann ‘19 reach double figures in both contests. What’s more impressive is Amherst is a team that usually grinds down teams with its defense, but against the Panthers they proved they can outscore teams by dropping 97 points.  Even with their loss to Hamilton last night, I’d still consider Amherst as the front-runner for the NESCAC Championship.

(3) 2. #25 Middlebury (18-6, 7-3)

If the Panthers had defeated the Mammoths on Saturday, they would have clinched regular season crown; instead, they had to wait for Hamilton to knock off Amherst. A weekend split between Hamilton and Amherst is nothing to be ashamed of, however, and the Panthers’ win against the Continentals was massive in the sense that the result ensured they would earn a top two seed for the postseason tournament. Jack Farrell’s ‘21 18 points paced Middlebury against the Continentals, but it was sharpshooter Max Bosco ‘21 who sunk a three-pointer with 2.4 seconds left to give the Panthers their seventh conference win. The Panther defense that had been brilliant in recent games was non-existent in their matchup with Amherst, as Middlebury allowed a season-high 97 points, including 56 in the second half. The Panthers will now turn their focus to their matchup against Tufts in the first round of the postseason tournament and will be expected to advance.

(4) 3. #10 Hamilton (20-6, 6-3)

The Continentals bounced back from their heartbreaking defeat against the Panthers with huge wins against Williams and against Hamilton. Those wins cemented their place as the two seed for the postseason tournament. Kena Gilmour ‘20 was sensational, registering 25 points, six rebounds and four assists, as three other players joined him with double figures in the scoring department. Hamilton also held the Ephs to just 7-23 from beyond the arc and forced 16 turnovers in the process. The Continentals have really picked up the quality of their play in recent games even with the one blemish against Middlebury, and they’ll be undoubtedly one of the favorites in the NESCAC tournament and possibly beyond.

(1) 4. #18 Williams (19-5, 6-4)

What on Earth is going on in Williamstown? No one would have predicted the former #2 team in the country to endure a three-game losing streak this late in the season and plummet to #18 in the national rankings. After defeating Colby, the Ephs and the rest of the NESCAC community were left stunned when Bowdoin’s Sam Grad ‘21 nailed a game-winning three in overtime. This past weekend, Williams lost to rival Amherst, and if that wasn’t bad enough, their second-leading scorer, James Heskett ‘19, tweaked his ankle and missed their regular season finale against Hamilton. Word on the street is he should be ready to go in their quarterfinal matchup, and he’ll be needed because Bobby Casey ‘19 cannot do it all by himself, despite averaging 21.0 PPG over their last three. The Ephs might want to focus their attention on the whole defensive thing: They’ve allowed opposing teams to shoot 52.2% in the past three games, including 44.7% from downtown.

(9) 5. Trinity (17-7, 6-4)

After getting absolutely pounded by Williams and Middlebury by a combined 71 points (ouch), Trinity was sitting at 2-4 in conference with just four games remaining. Their win against in-state rival Wesleyan completely re-energized this squad, and the Bantams rattled off three straight  conference wins against Conn, Tufts and Bates to soar up the standings into fifth place. Their most recent win against Tufts was the most impressive sans the upset against Wesleyan, as the Bantams dominated the Jumbos from start to finish en route to an emphatic 20 point victory. Four players reached double-digits, led by Donald Jorden Jr.’s ‘21 20 point, 10 rebound performance. Trinity now has plenty of momentum heading into their quarterfinal matchup, and the league’s fourth best defense will have to be ready to shut down a Williams team that hung 85 on them last time out.

(2) 6. Wesleyan (16-8, 6-4)

Even with the loss to Tufts, Wesleyan looked like it was in position to snag a top three seed. They had a very favorable remaining schedule and already boasted wins against Middlebury, Hamilton and Amherst. Then came the loss to Trinity, but hey, the Cardinals only shot 19% from deep and when you have an in-state rivalry game, anything can happen. Next up was a non-conference loss to Amherst; not a huge deal considering Amherst is a great squad and it was only a one point loss, but concerning because Austin Hutcherson ‘21 struggled to score for the third consecutive game. Stopping the bleeding after the Amherst loss was essential in order for the Cardinals to hold on to a top three seed; well, the Cardinals responded by going down 26 points – at halftime – to Colby, and despite a frantic comeback, the deficit was too large to overcome. Hutcherson had a horrific first half (5 points, 2-11 from the field) before finding his stroke in the final twenty minutes, and only one player (Sam Peek ‘22) contributed off the Cardinals’ bench. Hutcherson (37 points) and Wesleyan bounced back the following day by annihilating Bowdoin, but the damage from their recent defeats was done and Wesleyan fell in the standings to simply a middle-tier team. Don’t get me wrong: Wesleyan certainly has the capability to make a deep run in the postseason, but the shine from their blazing start has worn off and those three losses severely hampered their quest  an NCAA at-large selection. Winning the tournament might be the only way we see Hutcherson, Jordan Bonner ‘19, and company make it to the Big Dance.

(6) 7. Colby (17-7, 5-5)

If I’m being completely honest, I have no idea what to think of this team. Colby has some of the strongest wins in league play (@ Amherst, @ Hamilton, and this past Friday, @ Wesleyan). Against the Cardinals, Matt Hanna ‘21 (19 points) led the offensive assault as the Mules drained 18 three’s, and freshman sensation Noah Tyson ‘22 recorded a double-double (17 points, 10 rebounds) while knocking down four triples of his own. Their performance against Conn on Saturday, however, was much less exciting, as the Mules were unable to finish off the only winless NESCAC squad until the very waning minutes. Sam Jefferson ‘20 (20 points, carried an offense that hit only 39.7% of their shots, 21.1% from deep, and a head-scratching 58.3% from the charity stripe. As strong as some of their wins are, the Mules do own losses against both Bates and Bowdoin, so maybe it’s just an instance of Colby playing to the level of their competition? If so, it’s good news that this team will open up the NESCAC tournament against the #2 seed, Hamilton.

(7) 8. Tufts (11-13, 4-6)

On February 1st, The Jumbos sat one game ahead of Bowdoin for the eighth seed in the NESCAC standings with three games to play. One win in those three games would have ensured their participation in postseason ball. Well, the Jumbos proceeded to get whacked by Amherst, lose a close one to Hamilton, and get annihilated yet again, this time by Trinity. Luckily, the Jumbos own the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Polar Bears, so despite their three-game losing streak, Tufts lives to see another day. In their most recent loss to Trinity, Eric Savage ‘20 led the Jumbos with 20 points and big man Luke Rogers ‘21 (14 points, 11 rebounds) added yet another double-double to the stat sheet, but the defense (or lack thereof) is a real cause of concern for Coach Sheldon and his team. Tufts is dead last in defensive PPG, FG% and 3PFG%. The boys in brown and blue have a lot of work to do this week in order to prepare for their first round matchup.

(10) 9. Bowdoin (15-9, 4-6)

The win against Conn gave the Polar Bears a real shot at snagging the seventh seed from Colby (due to their head-to-head victory over the Mules back in January), as long as they could beat a Wesleyan team in full nosedive mode. The Polar Bears trailed by nine at half, and were eventually run out of the gym as they saw their postseason hopes fade away in what was surely one of their worst performances of the season. They shot just 36.2%, and David Reynolds ‘20 and Jack Simonds ‘19 combined to shoot just 9-26 from the field. The defense was porous to say the least, allowing Austin Hutcherson to explode for 37 points as he and the Cardinals hit at a 54.5% clip on the day. What’s more, the Polar Bears committed 19 fouls, leading to 26 free throw attempts for Wesleyan. All in all, the poor performance will certainly leave a bitter taste for Polar Bear fans, who will have to wait until next season to see if their squad can make the postseason dance.

(8) 10. Bates (7-17, 3-7)

I really thought the Bobcats were going to make a late push for a playoff spot, but they ran out of gas and dropped their last three league games. Defending the long ball has been a weak spot for Bates all season, and it was evident in their losses against Hamilton and Trinity. Despite forcing 21 turnovers against the Continentals, the Bobcats allowed them to sink 16 triples, and the Bantams drained 13 of their own in what proved to be the difference in a tightly-contested contest. Center Nick Lynch ‘19 capped off his career with a 20-point performance against Trinity before fouling out with 1:12 left, and Jeff Spellman ‘20 came alive with 14 points in the second half, helping erase an 11 point deficit with under five minutes and claw within one point. With the season over for the ‘Cats, there’s plenty to look forward to as Spellman, Kody Greenhalgh ‘20, Tom Coyne ‘20 and Nick Gilpin ‘20 will all return for the 2019-2020 season; the biggest concern will be filling the role of Lynch (13.4 PPG, 7.3 REB/G).

(11) 11. Conn (7-17, 0-10)

The Camels had nothing to play for this weekend, but credit this team for fighting hard until the very last whistle of their 2018-2019 season. They could have easily folded against Bowdoin and Colby knowing that they were effectively eliminated from postseason ball, but they made the Maine schools earn their wins. Unfortunately, we’re not here to hand out participation trophies, and Conn’s valiant performances does not mask the fact that the Camels have not won a NESCAC game since February 10th, 2017 (a streak that has extended to 21 consecutive games). It does not help that Conn will graduate David Laboissiere ‘19, a prolific scorer who ended a fantastic career with combined 34 points over the two contests. On the bright side, the Camels only graduate three seniors, and forward Dan Draffan ‘21 (21.0 PPG last two games) and company will hope to erase the Camels’ woes on the hardwood next season.

Confusion at the Top: Final Regular Season Stock Report

Stock Up

Amherst Bus Trips

Fru Che and the Mammoths are making moves.

It was quite the weekend for the Mammoths as they knocked off two of the top NESCAC teams, both victories on the road (84-79 W @ Williams; 97-93 W @ Midd). Despite uncertainty regarding their depth entering the season, they have proved to be the most consistent team in the conference in 2019 and control their own destiny to lock up the #1 seed in the NESCAC tournament. Grant Robinson and Fru Che combined for 68 points over their last two games and are constantly on the floor, playing nearly every minute, never giving their opponents a break from their attack. If they beat Hamilton this weekend, again on the road, they will be the favorites entering the postseason and will be a top national seed in the NCAA tournament. Their drive back to campus after their win at Midd must’ve been a fun one. 

Middlebury Guards

Despite a key loss to Amherst last Saturday that could’ve locked up the #1 seed for the Panthers, they still had a solid weekend with their last minute comeback win against Hamilton. This young Midd team knocked off the experienced and deep Continental team (with a pretty weak home crowd) much to my surprise. Jack Farrell and Max Bosco, both starting as sophomores, are legit DIII players and will give any team in the country a run for their money. Max Bosco made a deep, contested three in the final seconds of the game to give Midd the lead and had an impressive, quick release on the shot. Jack Farrell out dribbles opponents and is too quick to defend and is starting to find his shooting groove. They also have fellow sophomore Griffin Kornaker as the sixth man coming off of the bench to give them a hand. This stock up is about the guards, but they aren’t even the best players on the floor for the Panthers. Watch out for this team in the tournament.

Max Bosco made a good move by choosing a college in the North Pole because he has ice in his veins.

Stock Down

Eph Dominance

The reign of terror of Williams is over. I don’t even care if they win the NESCAC and NCAA tournament, an 0-2 weekend for a team with this talent is inexcusable. They really struggled against Hamilton without James Heskett who was out due to an ankle sprain but even lost two in a row to Bowdoin and Amherst with him on the floor. Williams’ losing streak is now at three games and this cold streak couldn’t be coming at a worse time. Bobby Casey is just 13-52 from deep in his last five games, good for just 25% of his massive amount of shots. The Ephs went with an unusual and big starting lineup against Hamilton on senior day, with Marcos Soto, Jake Porath, and Michael Kempton all on the floor to begin the game. It definitely hurt them to not have Henry Feinberg and Matt Karpowicz on the floor for more minutes and Kyle Scadlock was basically a non-factor in the offense. It will be fascinating to see how these preseason favorites fare in the NESCAC tournament as they might have an early exit if they play like they have the last two weeks.

Kyle Scadlock is a hugely underutilized weapon in the Ephs’ offense.

Cardinal Depth

Wesleyan is now tied for the best team in Connecticut with Trinity as both are now a surprising 6-4 in NESCAC play. Trinity has been playing much better than expected and better than they were at the beginning of the season, while Wesleyan has struggled, especially last weekend against Colby. This upset win for the Mules revealed a weakness in depth off the bench as just six players managed to score points in the contest. While Austin Hutcherson and Antone Walker had monster games, combining for 47 points, the bench shot just 4-9 as a group. They simply didn’t put up enough shots to give themselves a chance to win against a deep-ball shooting Mule team. The Mules put up 15 more threes than Wesleyan and had a 27 point advantage on such shots. Colby is likely the only team to gain such an advantage on perimeter shooting, but if Williams’ Bobby Casey gets hot, the Ephs could also take over a game in a similar way. For the Cardinals to beat a team like Colby on a hot shooting night, they will need to better distribute their scoring. 

Bowdoin/Conn/Bates

The bottom three are set for the 2019 season. It’s too bad that Bowdoin finds themselves on the outside looking in as they really could’ve given teams a challenge in the playoffs, but a crucial loss to Tufts doomed them despite a win over Williams. We will see these teams again in 2020…

Trend or Fluke? 2/8 Weekend Preview

Weekend Preview

#19 Amherst (18-3, 5-2) @ #10 Williams (19-3, 6-2)

Amherst and Williams will battle it out in Williamstown this weekend as 2 of the top teams in the country will collide to see who can sit atop the NESCAC. Amherst enters this contests after having won 4 straight NESCAC contests. While Wesleyan was certainly able to give the Mammoths a run for their money last weekend, their other 3 victories were quite convincing. Amherst does a great job of spreading the ball around. Unlike many teams, they don’t have a few dominant guys and a few role players to fill holes but rather they have a complete roster where they are comfortable having any combination of players on the floor. They will need this unpredictability this weekend because the Williams squad they are facing is not too shabby themselves. The big story last weekend was that Williams took only their 3rd loss of the season in an overtime battle with Bowdoin. Looking at the stats I think this game is somewhat of a fluke. Bowdoin shot like Brook Lopez from three, hammering Williams left and right. I think that Williams will be able to bounce back from this loss and finish out the season strong.

Score Prediction: #10 Williams 74 – #19 Amherst 68

Bowdoin (14-8, 3-5) @ Connecticut College (7-15, 0-8)

Bowdoin enters this weekend on their high horse after their overtime win against Williams helped boot them out of a top-10 seed nationally. As I have previously mentioned, the Polar Bears were on fire from 3, shooting 15-28 (53.6%) against Williams. Jack Simonds was the star of the game, dropping 32 points on 6-10 from 3. David Reynolds was nothing if not efficient, scoring 16 on 6/10 from the field and 4/7 from 3. If Bowdoin could repeat this performance every game they would be a dominant force, but that just isn’t realistic. That being said, they certainly aren’t playing a Williams-caliber team in this one so I would expect those players to thrive once again. There’s no two ways about it, Conn’s season has gotten rougher and rougher as it has progressed. There are really no quality wins to write home about and their trajectory does not seem as if there are any coming soon. Senior David Labossiere has had another solid season, averaging over 18 PPG, but does not have enough support to take down the other NESCAC teams. I would say that Conn is tanking for a draft pick, but that’s just not how it works.

Score Prediction: Bowdoin 83 – Conn 69

Colby (15-7, 3-5) @ Wesleyan (15-7, 5-3)

The Mules might just shoot their way deep into the NESCAC playoffs.

Both of these teams have been down on their luck in their last few NESCAC matchups. After an unexpected weekend in which the Mules managed to take down two nationally ranked teams on the road, they have since lost their last two games. To be fair to the Mules, they have had to face the top two teams in the conference, and were heavy underdogs in their last four games. Considering that fact, it really isn’t too bad at all that they are 2-2 in their last 4. Wesleyan, on the other hand, had their run of success much earlier in the season when they took down Midd, Hamilton and Amherst. Since then the Cardinals are 2-3 in their last 5 NESCAC contests, including 3 straight losses. This has all the makings of a very weird, back-and-forth game. While on paper Wesleyan seems to have the better record (in conference), I think this game is closer than it appears.

Score Prediction: Wesleyan 88 – Colby 85

Bates (7-15, 3-6) @ Trinity (15-7, 4-4)

The Bantams will have home court advantage in this matchup as they host a Bates team that has been up and down all season. At the beginning of the year it appeared as if we had underestimated the Bobcats when they were able to win one of their first two NESCAC contests despite a poor preseason. Since that time it seems as they have come back down to their expectations, but still were able to grab conference wins against Conn and Tufts. This will be Bates’ last conference game of the year so I would expect them to put it all on the line for a shot at getting an 8-seed in the conference tourney. Trinity had themselves a great two games last weekend which launched them up in ‘CAC standings to a nice, safe 6th seed in the conference. You hate to say it but a win against Conn at this point is just a given, but their win against Wesleyan may have raised some eyes. That win suggests to me that Trinity are not a team to be taken lightly, especially in a playoff scenario. Another conference win here will really help the Bantams solidify their playoff spot, and they have all the opportunity to get it.

Score Prediction: Trinity 74 – Bates 65

#8 Hamilton (19-2, 5-2) @ #10 Williams (19-3, 6-2)

The battle of the big dogs will go down this Saturday as the two highest-ranked teams in the conference will go head-to-head for the first time this season. Williams is lucky enough to have gotten the home court advantage for this year as they will host the Continentals. Both of these teams appear to be the obvious best 2 teams in the conference (no disrespect to Midd, you guys are dangerous too). Kena Gilmour has been an absolute animal for Hamilton this year, averaging nearly 20 PPG as well as almost 6 REB/G. On the other side of the ball Williams has the always dangerous Bobby Casey who is putting up an impressive 18/5/4.6 line so fat this season. There is not too much to separate these two on paper, which should make it a fun match to watch. Two high-quality, evenly matched teams atop the NESCAC is great for the brand and should be great entertainment value overall. When it comes to both NESCAC rankings and national rankings, this is an important game. I will certainly be watching and you all should too.

Score Prediction: #8 Hamilton 86 – #10 Williams 82

Bowdoin (14-8, 3-5) @ Wesleyan (15-7, 5-3)

After a warm-up game against Conn, the Polar Bears will head into Cardinal territory for their final NESCAC contest of the year. Bowdoin will likely be riding a high after taking down Conn and will have their eyes on taking down Wesleyan in order to secure a playoff spot. While Wesleyan is certainly the favorite in this contest, Bowdoin’s take down of Williams leaves them confident that they can take down anybody, and Wesleyan is no exception. While Bowdoin may be in form, it is also a fact that Wesleyan is a stronger team overall. They have more quality wins in conference and obviously have a better record. While the cards are stacked in the Card’s favor (I’m sorry), you can’t count Bowdoin out. It’s upset season and this game has upset alert written all over it.

Score Prediction: Bowdoin 78 – Wesleyan 76

#19 Amherst (18-3, 5-2) @ Middlebury (17-5, 6-2)

For the moment, Midd sits atop the conference and has their eye on that #1 seed heading into playoffs. The only problem for the Panthers is the strength of schedule they will have to face finishing out the season. Directly after Friday’s Game of the Week versus #8 Hamilton, Midd will get right back into it on Saturday as they host another top-25 team in Amherst. If there is any way to solidify yourself as top dog at the end of the season it is to beat two ranked teams to end out the year. While this is what all Panther fans are imagining, it is much easier said than done. Middlebury has lost games against the likes of Tufts but then comes right back around to easily take down a former top-10 seed in Williams. This tells us to things about Midd: they are dangerous and can beat anyone, they are human and anyone can beat them. They are not supposed to be at the top of the NESCAC ahead of 3 ranked teams, but they are. There’s a certain grind about them that I like and you can see it on the court until the final buzzer. Amherst’s tough week gets tougher after having to face #10 Williams they have to bus up to Vermont and take on a red-hot Midd. While they off-the-court factors may not be in their favor, Amherst has proven they have everything they need to take care of business on the court. I think that Amherst will need to ride whatever energy they have after facing Williams into this game. If it is a loss, play angry. If it is a win play with confidence. This game is also make or break for their bright, shiny national ranking. A loss here will likely kick them out of the top 25 and boost Midd right into it. I know that is something Mammoth fans would not be happy to see.

Jack Farrell and the Panthers are starting to get it going in the stretch run of the NESCAC season.

Score Prediction: Middlebury 83 – #19 Amherst 77

Colby (15-7, 3-5) @ Connecticut College (7-15, 0-8)

While this game may seem fairly insignificant at face value, in reality it could have a huge impact on how the bottom of the playoff seeds shake out. Colby needs to take this gimme win and run with it for their playoff sakes. As was mentioned in a previous NBN article, one more win should launch the Mules into playoff position, and this is their surefire way to secure that win. Additionally, if the Mules are able to capture another win before this point it will help their seeding out tremendously and possibly avoid a first round matchup with the likes of Williams or Hamilton. The key for the Mules all season has been Sam Jefferson. When he is hot there is nobody that Colby can’t beat. He lead the charge that week when they took down Amherst and Hamilton and he is going to need to lead their final playoff push. For Conn this is a final opportunity to not go completely defeated in conference. It has been another rough season for the Camels and I’m sure they won’t be all too upset to see it draw to a close.

Score Prediction: Colby 83 – Conn 71