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.