Buzzards Bay, MA --- Senior Corey McDonald (Hudson, MA) has been selected as this year's MASCAC Baseball Player of the Year in vote by the leagues eight head coaches. McDonald and senior Nick Fluegge (Ware, MA) also received a nod to the first-team while sophomore teammates Shaun Slattery (Gardner, MA) and Chris Creen (Worcester, MA/St. John's) were honored on the second-team.
McDonald, a first-team third-baseman, had a spectacular year for Worcester State where he split time between shortstop (20 games) and third base (10 games) in 34 games for the Lancers. McDonald batted .483 with five homers, 24 RBIs with 37 runs scored.
McDonald led the MASCAC in batting, hits (56), total bases (85), and on base percentage (.547) while he was second in runs and slugging (.733) and tied for third in homers. As of this last week McDonald is fourth in the NCAA Division III in batting, 12th in on-base percentage and 23rd in slugging. McDonald batted .511 in MASCAC-only games with two homers and 11 RBIs in 14 games.
Fluegge, earns his second-straight honor on the all conference team as a first-baseman. The three-year starter is hitting at a .374 clip with eight homers, 34 RBIs to go along with a slugging percentage of .747 and an on-base percentage of .484. Fluegge has also been flawless in the field as he has no errors in 253 possible fielding opportuntities (239 putouts - 14 assists).
Fluegge leads the conference in homers, RBIs and slugging while his on-base percentage is second. Nationally, Fluegge is 16th in slugging, 25th in homers per game (0.25) and 29th in total home runs. In MASCAC only games, Fluegge batted .385 with five homers and 12 RBIs in 14 games.
For the second time in two years, Creen has earned a second-team nod. Creen is currently hitting for a .336 clip with 13 doubles, two triples, 18 RBI and 18 runs scored. Creen is second on the team in hits while he is tied for the conference lead with Fluegge for doubles. Creen is also third in the MASCAC in stolen bases as he is 9-for-12 on the base paths this season.
Slattery is the only relief pitcher on the all-conference squad, being honored as a second-team honoree. Slattery enters the MASCAC Tournament with a 3-1 record, nine saves and a 1.37 earned run average in 19 appearances. Slattery has also fanned 36 in 26.1 innings.
Slattery shattered the single season record of saves which was set last season by All-New England closer Kevin Hayes and should he continue to pitch well, Slattery will finish the season with one of the best earned run averages for a reliever in school-history. Slattery's saves are currently tied for sixth in DIII while only eight other players have as many saves as he does.
Slattery was instrumental in seven out of the squads nine conference wins. Slattery recorded the winning decision with four scoreless innings against regular-season champion Westfield State, the triumph in a 1-0 ten-inning victory against Bridgewater State and five stops.
The Lancers (22-12, 9-5), under the direction of 17th year head coach Dr. Dirk Baker, have earned their ninth MASCAC Tournament berth since the four-team competition started in 2001. WSU, who earned the second-seed in the upcoming tournament, will entertain #3 Bridgewater State at 7 PM at Tivnan Field. The Blue and Gold are 11-3 all-time at home in the tournament.