Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Baseball Team finished ranked fifth with 28 points in the MASCAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced Thursday by the league.
The Lancers, who fell to Salem State in the MASCAC playoffs last year, look to advance to the MASCAC Championship this season. Worcester finished fifth in the preseason ranking with 28 points. The Lancers collected a 13-8 mark in the conference schedule in 2022. Returning to the mound is Ben Smith, the NCAA Statistical Champions for ERA last season, he also led the MASCAC last season at 0.90 with three wins, including a shutout and complete game over 50 innings pitched to nab a spot on the All-Conference team.
Grabbing the top spot in the poll was Bridgewater College who tallied 48 points and six first place votes, followed by Westfield State with 43 points and two first place votes. In the third spot, Mass. Maritime tallied 34 points with Salem State coming in with 29 points. Framingham State, Fitchburg State and MCLA closed out the poll in 6th, 7th and 8th spots with 18, 17 and 7 points apiece.
While non-conference play begins the end of February and beginning of March for the MASCAC schools, conference competition will get underway the weekend of March 31- April 1.
The Lancers begin their season when they travel down to Myrtle Beach to take on Suffolk on March 10.
2023 MASCAC Baseball
Pre-Season Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes In Parentheses)
1. Bridgewater State (6) 48 points
2. Westfield State (2) 43 points
3. Mass. Maritime 34 points
4. Salem State 29 points
5. Worcester State 28 points
6. Framingham State 18 points
7. Fitchburg State 17 points
8. MCLA 7 points