Worcester, MA --- Senior outfielder Matt Hart (North Easton, MA) has been named a participant in the upcoming New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) All-Star game by New England Coaches. Hart will start as an outfielder in the upcoming game at Campanelli Stadium on Thursday, June 4 in Brockton, MA. The game will showcase a Division III and II squad facing off against a team comprised of New England Division I players.
Hart along with second baseman Brad Koneski (North Dighton, MA) of Bridgewater State were selected to the squad from the MASCAC. Locally, Mike DiReda (Shrewsbury, MA), Derek Migrants (Ayer, MA) and Mike Baillargeon (Worcester, MA) of Assumption along with Conor Fahey (Cumberland, RI) of WPI were chosen as well.
Hart is the ninth Worcester State player to be distinguished on the NEIBA Division III squad and the third in the last four years. Last season 40th round MLB draft pick Nate Nelson started as a first baseman and Jeff LaHair started as an outfielder in 2006.
This is the 35th Annual NEIBA New England College Baseball All-Star Game. A University team made up of the All-New England Division 1 First and Second Teams will face a College squad consisting of All-New England Division 2 players and a New England Division 3 Senior All-Star team. The University team leads the series 21-11-1, though the College Team has won the last two games.
Hart, the 2009 MASCAC Player of the Year, was tabbed as the ninth NEIBA first-team selection in program history last week. Hart helped pace the Lancers to a 30-15 season as well as capture their seventh MASCAC regular season championship with a 13-1 record in conference play. As of the final conference stats of the season, Hart led the MASCAC in average (.426), hits (69), runs (54), homers (14), on-base percentage (.500) and slugging (.815) while he was tied for second in doubles (13), third in stolen bases (27) and he was ninth in RBIs (27).
Through week before the NCAA Regional's, Hart was 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 program 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 career average with is 17th all-time.
NEIBA Senior All-Star Game Roster