Worcester, MA --- Senior outfielder Matt Hart has been selected to the All-New England First team by the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association regional baseball coaches this past week. Hart was the only player to earn the accolade from the MASCAC.
Hart, a native of North Easton, MA had an outstanding senior-year campaign as he helped pace the Lancers (30-15) capture their seventh MASCAC regular season championship with a 13-1 record in conference play. As of last week, Hart led the MASCAC in six statistical categories which includes batting average (.412), hits (63), runs (53), homers (14) on base percentage (.492) and slugging (.810). Hart was also tied for third in steals (26) and he was ninth in runs batted in (34).
Through this past weekend Hart is currently 15th in the NCAA Division III in total bases, 11th in homers and 23rd in slugging. Hart, the squad's lead-off hitter, and reached base safely 46 times to start off the inning out of 72 attempts (.639) which includes 22 times in 45 games. Hart also hammered five lead-off homers in 14 MASCAC contests.
Hart had one of the most impressive season's ever put up in WSC baseball history. Hart's single season marks of hits and stolen bases were the second highest while his homers and total bases tied for third-most. Hart also distinguished himself with a .379 batting average with is 17th all-time.
Senior Shawn Gilblair of Eastern Connecticut was named the NEIBA Player of the Year, junior Jeremiah Bayer of Trinity received the nod as the NEIBA Pitcher of the Year while Southern Maine's Ed Flaherty was tabbed as the NEIBA Coach of the Year.
Worcester State ended their 2009 campaign with a 10-1 loss in the ECAC New England Baseball Championships to WPI. The Lancers under the tutelage of 14th year head coach Dirk Baker finished the year with the second 30-win season in program history.