The Worcester State University baseball team was supposed to host its Senior Day on Saturday afternoon in a home doubleheader against Westfield State, before the season was cancelled after just two games due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Worcester State Athletic Department would still like to honor the seven members of the senior class who were unable to compete for a MASCAC title in their final season.
The Worcester State baseball Class of 2020 combined to bat .278 in their collegiate career, with 325 hits, 189 runs scored, 154 RBIs, and 77 extra base hits. On the bump, the pitchers combined for an ERA of 5.45, with five wins, 55 strikeouts, and two saves. The Class of 2020’s crowning achievement came as freshmen, when they won the program’s sixth conference championship.
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The first Lancer senior being honored today, hailing from Sterling, Mass., is #1 Kenan Kolanda.
Kenan was a two-year captain for the Lancers, batting .274 in his career with 58 runs scored, 42 RBI, and 20 extra base hits. Kenan was selected to the MASCAC Sportsmanship Team in 2019, and is a three-time MASCAC All-Academic Team honoree.
“Kenan possesses an amazing passion and energy for the Worcester State baseball program,” said assistant coach Ron Rakowski. “Not only a tremendous player on the field, but an outstanding teammate and team leader as well. His dedication and work ethic are a constant reminder to his teammates and coaches about what it means to be a collegiate student-athlete and a Lancer baseball player. His impact on our program has set the standard by which all future Lancers will be measured.”
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The next senior, from Leominster, Mass., is #3 Cooper Bigelow.
Cooper transferred into Worcester State after playing one season for MASCAC rival Fitchburg State, and played a big role on the Lancers from the outset. He batted .283 in his Worcester State career, with 44 runs scored and 23 runs scored. Cooper was named to the MASCAC’s Second Team All-Conference as a junior in 2019.
“Cooper has shown to be one of the best players in our conference and has been an outstanding teammate,” said Coach Rakowski. “He showed up every day and worked extremely hard both on the field and in the weight room. His passion for the game of baseball and his commitment to his teammates was evident on a daily basis. Finding another player of his ability and leadership is going to be extremely difficult to accomplish. We can’t wait to see all the amazing things Cooper accomplishes in the future.”
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The third Worcester State senior, from Rocky Hill, Conn., is #10 Kevin Larkin.
Kevin will graduate with a career batting average of .306, with 34 extra base hits, 56 runs batted in, and 56 runs scored in 114 games played. Kevin will forever be remembered in Worcester State baseball lore for driving in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning of the 2017 MASCAC Championship game, the contest’s only run.
“Kevin has been one of our better hitters and an important component to the team’s offense,” said Coach Rakowski. “His ability to hit in the middle of the order and provide power has been a tremendous asset. That, along with his confidence and intensity are what every team needs out of a player if they expect to win baseball games. A great teammate and good always good at keeping the team loose and ready to compete.”
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The next senior we are honoring today, from Bridgewater, Mass., is #16 PJ Walsh.
PJ made 24 career appearances on the hill for the Lancers, winning three games and recording an earned run average of 5.12. PJ struck out 38 batters in his career, while also notching a pair of saves in his junior season.
“PJ is one of the top pitchers in our program and we were really looking forward to his presence on the mound and his leadership with the pitching staff (this season),” said Coach Rakowski. “What makes PJ special is not just his athletic ability, but how he treats his teammates and his leadership by example. An outstanding teammate and mentor to the younger players, he was always ready to offer whatever was needed to help win a game, help a teammate, and move the program in a positive direction. PJ is a phenomenal young man with all the attributes to experience great success at anything he attempts.”
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Worcester State’s fifth senior, from Springfield, Mass., is #19 Sam Allen.
Sam appeared in 91 career games for Worcester State, and had a breakout season as a junior in 2019, batting .261 with two home runs and 20 runs batted in. Sam was also briefly a pitcher for the Lancers, throwing 4.1 innings in four appearances as a freshman in 2017.
“Sam was a tremendous player and teammate during his time with the program,” said Coach Rakowski. “He was always looking to improve his game and compete at a high level. He became a stable leader on the team and always led by example. It was his low-key demeanor that hid an immense desire to compete that provided the most impact on the team. It is extremely disappointing to have the season cut short because we were really expecting a tremendous year from Sam. We definitely look forward to great things from him in the future.”
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The next Lancer senior, from Springfield, Mass., is #35 Seth Allen.
Seth began his career as a pitcher on Worcester State’s staff, but turned heads when he transitioned into a position player for his brief senior season. He made 13 relief appearances in his first three seasons with an ERA of 4.60, but in his first start in the field this spring, went 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs and an intentional walk in a loss to Dean. Unknown at the time, the contest turned out to be Worcester State’s final game of the season.
“Seth has been an incredible player and even better person during his time with our program,” said Coach Rakowski. “It wasn’t just his playing ability that has made him such a tremendous player, but his mental toughness as well. While Seth played with a quiet intensity that helped make him a tremendous competitor, it was his calm, steady demeanor regardless of the situation that has been such a positive influence on his teammates. It has been a pleasure to have Seth in our program and we are excited to watch him accomplish his goals in life.”
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The final member of the baseball program’s Class of 2020, from Worcester, Mass., is #43 Alphonse Caruso.
Alphonse had an abbreviated career with the Lancers after transferring into Worcester State after one season playing baseball for Quinsigamond Community College. He made one relief appearance in his career, throwing one inning in a loss to Albertus Magnus as a junior.
“Alphonse has been a great example of what it means to be a member of our baseball program,” said Coach Rakowski. “He gave everything he had when he was needed on the field while also serving as a great teammate. He provided our pitching staff with quality depth and has done whatever was needed to help the team win games. Always great with the rest of the guys, his presence and personality are going to be missed. We look forward to following his success after college.”
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On behalf of the entire Worcester State community, we would like to thank all seven of our baseball seniors for their contributions to the program, and wish them all the best in their future endeavors!
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