Pilgrims Looking to Build Off 2007
New England College baseball finished 2007 with an overall record of 8-24 and a Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) record of 5-15, just shy of the playoffs. NEC’s season was highlighted by a 4-3 win over defending regular season TCCC Champions Salve Regina back in March.
Fifth year head coach Dave DeCew will have huge shoes to fill losing seven players to graduation last spring. Returning for the Pilgrims will be TCCC All-Honorable Mention shortstop Scott Miller. Sophomore Scott Miller (Hillsborough, N.H.) played in 26 games for the Pilgrims hitting .259 on the season including 12 runs scored and six runs batted in. Miller anchored the Pilgrim defense finishing the season with a .944 fielding percentage at shortstop. Joining Miller will be middle infielders Jimmy Hoyt and Mike Caravella. Sophomore Jimmy Hoyt (Rochester, N.H.) played in 26 games last season batting .281 with 11 runs scored and five runs batted in. Sophomore Mike Caravella (Milford, N.H.) will see time at second base this season, finishing 2007 hitting .231 with two doubles. Returning at first base for the Pilgrims will be junior captain Dan Pratt. Pratt (Concord, N.H.) played in 31 of the Pilgrims’ 32 games last season and finished batting .250 with eight runs scored and eight runs batted in.
Anchoring the outfield for the Pilgrims will be junior centerfielder Joe Clark. Clark (Newcastle, Maine) hit an impressive .321 on the season and finished the season ranked third in the TCCC in stolen bases with 19. Joining Clark in the outfield will be juniors Kevin Bray (Willow Grove, Pa.,) Matt Leger (Concord, N.H.) and Jordan Morgan (E. Weymouth, Mass.)
On the mound the Pilgrims will return senior captain Phillip Achee. Achee (Clinton, Conn.) pitched in six games last season finishing with a record of 1-2. In addition to Achee, junior Joe Rini (New London, Conn.) will see time on the mound.
The Pilgrims will look to a talented group of incoming first-year players to make an immediate impact. Newcomers Trevor Greene (Sandwich, N.H.,) Adam Climo (Southport, Maine,) Blake Boyer (Taunton, Mass.) and Ryan Blaine (Concord, N.H.) may all see time on the mound for NEC this spring. In addition first-year players Jimmy Lauzon (Manchester, N.H.,) P.J. Crowley (Pawcatuck, Conn.) and Chris Gagne (Rochester, N.H.) will all see time in the infield.
NEC will open their 2008 campaign in sunny Cocoa Beach, Fl. throughout the week of March 9-14. The Pilgrims will play their home-opener on Tuesday, March 25 when they host in-state opponent Daniel Webster College at 3:00 p.m.
