Westfield, MA --- Worcester State junior teammates David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA) and Ben Libuda (Auburn, MA) along with freshman Adam Barry (Auburn, MA/Holy Name) have been named to the All-MASCAC Baseball Team after a vote by the conference's eight head coaches as announced by league publicist Emily Diekelmann
Ruggiero and Libuda were selected to the First-Team while Barry received a nod to the Second-team. Lancer head coach Dr. Dirk Baker also was recognized with Champions Choice MASCAC Coach of the Year honors for the third time in his career at Worcester State.
Ruggiero established himself this season as one of the most consistent defensive shortstops in the conference this season and an outstanding hitter at the top of the line-up with the fifth best average in the MASCAC (.395). He is also second in triples (5), fourth in slugging (.535) and total base-knocks (45), eighth in RBIs (21) and tied for 11th in runs (21).
In conference only games, Ruggiero batted .444 with 10 runs, 13 RBIs, four doubles and a pair of three-baggers. Among 31 batters in the league with at least 100 at-bats, Ruggiero is one of five with seven or fewer strikeouts.
Since taking over as the primary shortstop midway through the campaign, Ruggiero has committed just one miscue in 89 chances all the while helping the squad turn 14 double plays in 17 starts at the position.
This season, Libuda has taken over the role as a top of the rotation starter for the Lancers. He becomes the fifth All-MASCAC Worcester State pitcher in the last six years selected by the leagues head coaches.
While posting a 2.00 earned run average for the fifth lowest total in the conference, Libuda has yielded just 10 earned runs in 45 innings to go along with 27 strikeouts.
Against MASCAC opponents, Libuda has gone 4-1 with five complete games and a 2.25 ERA. The southpaw has also fanned 18 batters in 36 frames.
As a rookie, Barry has made tremendous contributions as the everyday right fielder and third hitter in the line-up. While swatting .324 for the third-best average on the club, Barry has driven in 24, hammered two homers, six doubles and a pair of triples.
His RBIs are tied for sixth in the MASCAC while he is tied for second in the conference in homers. In 14 league contests, he has a .333 average and 11 plated runs.
Baker helped the squad post their 13th 20-win season in his 19 years as head coach while the Lancers shared the league title for the seventh time in club history with an 11-3 mark. For the fourth time since 2002, the Blue and Gold also claimed the top seed and the rights to host the MASCAC Tournament. WSU will try to make their fifth appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament this weekend under Baker.
Against conference opponents since taking over the reigns of the program, Baker has gone 159-87 in league play for a .639 winning percentage.
Worcester State (22-14) entertains the winner of the matchup between fourth-seeded Westfield State and #5 Fitchburg State on Friday at 3 PM in the quarterfinals of the MASCAC Tournament.