Buzzards Bay, MA --- A program best seven baseball players have been named to the All-MASCAC baseball team in a vote by league coaches this past week. Senior Joey Lucier (Brockton, MA), junior teammates Johno Hinkell (North Adams, MA), Nick Fluegge (Ware, MA) and Corey McDonald (Hudson, MA) were selected to the first team while fourth-year classmates Ryan LaPrade (Leominster, MA), TJ Magnell (Leominster, MA) along with freshman Chris Creen (Worcester, MA/St. John's) received second team accolades.
Lucier, a three-time all-MASCAC first-team selection, went 6-2 in nine starts with a 4.70 earned run average with 49 strikeouts in 51.2 innings. Lucier also completed three games, two of which came in conference play. He tied for first in the MASCAC in wins and starts while he was also fourth in innings and strikeouts. Lucier also held opponents to a .264 hitting clip and with runners on base, he held batters to a .250 batting average.
With a 13-8 lifetime record, Lucier is now second to Chad Cosby in WSC’s record book in strikeouts (178) and innings (201.1). In MASCAC regular season and tournament play, Lucier has pitched at his best as he has a 10-3 record and a 3.63 ERA with 97 strikeouts in 111.2 innings.
Lucier has also helped the Lancers lead the MASCAC in ERA (3.96) as they are currently ranked 25th in the NCAA Division III in the category.
McDonald, a transfer from CCRI, was outstanding as the third hitter in the lineup for Worcester State. McDonald was primarily a designated hitter (22 of 37 games), but he was also called upon to play both corner outfield spots and first base in 15 games. He was selected as a first-team utility player.
McDonald led the MASCAC in batting average (.431), slugging (.719), on base percentage (.544) while he was second in total bases, third in runs (38), fifth in hits (50) and tied for fifth in RBIs (38). McDonald hit at a .435 clip against conference opponents while he also had a 22-game hitting streak, which tied him with WSC Hall of Famer Jason Akana’s mark that was set in 1996 for the second-most consecutive hits.
Fluegge receives his first nod to the all-conference team as he played at first base and served as the team’s clean-up hitter. Fluegge hit .391 with 12 doubles, seven homers, and 38 runs scored. Fluegge was second in the conference in slugging (.718), on base percentage (.518) while he was fifth in batting. He also ranked fourth in runs, total bases (80) while he tied for fifth with 34 runs driven in. With 20 career homers, Fluegge is now fifth on the all-time list.
Hinkell, who was a first-team honoree last season as a catcher, batted .318 with nine doubles, seven homers, 35 runs batted in and 28 runs scored. Hinkell was tied for second in the MASCAC in homers and he was fourth in RBI’s. He was outstanding in his second full season behind the dish as he made just one error in 188 chances for a fielding percentage of .995.
Hinkell, Fluegge and McDonald combined to account for 20 of the 45 home runs that the squad has jacked this season. The Lancers are ranked first in New England in the category and 11th in Division III.
LaPrade, a four-year starter at second base, has been distinguished with his only all-conference honor. LaPrade batted .299 during the regular season with nine doubles, three triples, a homer, 17 RBIs and 28 runs scored. LaPrade led the MASCAC in steals as he was 21-for-23 in the category. With 70 swiped bases he is only 15 away from the all-time mark set by Tim Leonard (1998-01) and with 101 singles, he has tied Akana’s mark which is sixth in the record book. LaPrade shattered the school record in steals as he ran away with 33 bases.
Magnell, a transfer last season from Bryant, ends his two-year career at Worcester State with an all-league honor as a shortstop. Magnell filled the void at the lead-off spot that was left by last year’s MASCAC Player of the Year and All American Matt Hart as he batted .359 with eight doubles, four homers, 32 RBIs and 42 runs scored. Magnell ranked in virtually every category in the MASCAC as he was tied for first in hits (51) and runs scored while he was third in steals (12), fifth in walks (20), sixth in total bases (73) and eighth in RBI’s. Magnell also swatted .320 in MASCAC play with 11 runs scored.
Magnell and LaPrade teamed up for a unit that helped to turn 31 double plays this season. LaPrade led all starting second basemen in the MASCAC in fielding percentage (.968) while Magnell was third among active conference shortstops (.929). With 100 assists this season, Magnell is closing in on the school record set by LaPrade (112) last season.
Creen was the only freshman to receive a nod to the all-conference team. In 31 starts this season between center and left field, Creen batted .330 with seven doubles, four triples and four homers with 29 runs and 23 RBIs. Creen ties for the league lead in triples, while he is one of only two first-year players to be ranked in on base percentage (.449- 9th) and the only rookie ranked in slugging (.608 – 6th). Creen also had five appearances out of the bullpen as he fanned six in seven innings pitched as he also notched a three-inning save in a victory against Albertus Magnus.
Worcester State is currently 28-9-1 overall under the guidance of 15th year head coach Dr. Dirk Baker. The third-seeded Lancers head to #2 Framingham State on Thursday for the first round of the MASCAC Tournament at Bowdich Field for a 7 PM first-pitch. WSC looks to get even with the Rams as they were handed a pair of 7-3 defeats in a conference twinbill on April 24.
The semifinal round continues at Westfield State on Saturday in the morning loser's bracket elimination game and the afternoon winners bracket contest. The Owls will host the championship round on Sunday.