Baseball Tabbed to Finish Fifth in MASCAC Preseason Poll

Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University baseball team has been tabbed to finish fifth in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) 2012 baseball preseason poll in voting conducted by the conference's coaches and announced by the conference office this morning.

The Rams, who finished the 2011 season 17-19 overall and 7-7 in the MASCAC, return 11 veterans including sophomore starting pitcher Matt DiCato (Winthrop, Mass.) who went 5-2 a season ago with an ERA of 2.50.  Returning in the field for the Rams is the tandem of Chris Blydell (Lynn, Mass.) and Will Crofton (Hopkinton, Mass.).  Crofton led the Rams at the plate in 2011 hitting .350 with 16 RBI, while Blydell hit .347 with a team-best 51 hits, 12 doubles and four homeruns.

Bridgewater State, the defending league tournament champion, claimed five first place votes to amass 61 points in taking the top spot in the poll, as the Bears outdistanced defending conference regular season champion Westfield State University's total of 59 points that included the other three first place votes.  Worcester State University is next in third place with 44 points, while Salem State University follows in fourth place with 35 points.  Framingham State and Massachusetts Maritime Academy are next in fifth and sixth respectively, with 31 and 24 points, while Fitchburg State University and MCLA round out the poll in seventh and eighth place with 23 and 11 points respectively.

The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, the nation's oldest Division III men's and women's playing conference, has a rich and storied tradition of competitive success while celebrating excellence in the classroom.  MASCAC member schools include Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, MCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University.  Two other institutions, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Plymouth State University, are affiliate members of the conference in the sport of men's ice hockey.