WORCESTER, Mass. – Worcester State University's freshman first baseman, Ben Palatino (Hudson, Mass.) has been tabbed the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Rookie of the Year and was named to the second team All-Conference, as voted on by the coaches in the league.
Worcester State's Adam Barry (Auburn, Mass.) was named to the first team, while classmate Jake Ryan (Northbridge, Mass.) joins Palatino on the second team.
Palatino batted .341 and led the team with a .459 on-base percentage. He collected 11 doubles, a triple, two home runs, 24 RBI and 35 runs scored in his first season with the Lancers. He leads the team defensively with 315 putouts and 12 assists for a .982 fielding percentage.
Designated hitter, Barry, led the team in at bats (150), hits (52), home run (3) and RBI (34). He batted .347 with a .388 on-base and .500 slugging percentage on the 2017 year. He is ranked third in the conference in hits, RBI, and total bases. He currently hold the Worcester State records in career singles (150) and career at bats (577).
Centerfielder Ryan, led the team with batting average of .370 and also registered .437 on-base and .541 slugging percentages. Ryan collected 10 doubles, three triples, three home runs, 24 RBI. He led the conference 42 runs scored, and is second in the conference in hits (54) and total bases (79). He presently holds the Worcester State all-time career record in triples in a single season (13) and is second in the books with 62 career walks.
The Lancers completed the regular season with a 7-7 conference record. As the No. 4 seed, the Blue and Gold won the MASCAC Tournament Championship on Tuesday, May 9 as they went 4-0 in post season play. With the title, the Lancers earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Baseball tournament and await their regional bracket, which will be announced on Sunday, May 14.
Bridgewater State's Ryan Feeney (E. Bridgewater, Mass.) was tabbed the MASCAC Player of the Year while Kevin Connelly (Bolton, Mass.) of Framingham State was named the MASCAC Pitcher of the Year. MCLA's head coach Mike Gladu earned the 2017 Champion's Choice Baseball Coach of the Year after leading the Trailblazers to their first MASCAC Tournament berth since 2009.