Brockton Enterprise: "Easton’s Hart had a baseball season to remember at Worcester State"

Easton’s Hart had a baseball season to remember at Worcester State

By Jim Fenton, Staff Writer

May 21, 2009

Matt Hart was not satisfied with the first season he had playing for the Worcester State College baseball team in 2008.

The Easton resident compiled a .329 batting average and had two home runs, 14 doubles and 20 RBI, but he felt he could have done more for the Lancers.

Hart, who played the first two years of his career at Massasoit Community College, suffered a broken toe on his left foot early last season, which sidetracked him for a while.

“Last year, I came in and there were high expectations,’’ said Hart. “I got hurt and you feel like you kind of let everybody down a little bit.

“It was real important to come out this year and show I could help everybody out and pick it up from last year.’’

Hart exceeded his goal in a big way during the 2009 season, putting together a season to remember.

The senior center fielder was named the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference player of the year after batting .426 with 69 hits in 44 games. He was also the lone MASCAC player to make the All-New England first team.

The Lancers’ extraordinary leadoff hitter had 13 doubles, four triples and 14 home runs while driving in 34 runs.

He had an on-base percentage of .500, a slugging percentage of .815 and stole 27 bases in 27 attempts.

“It was,’’ said Worcester State coach Dirk Baker, “borderline ridiculous the year that he had. The thing with Matt is he’s a six-tool player. He even pitched for us (four games in relief, 0.00 earned run average with a save).

“He was just spectacular at the plate. You were on the edge of your seat every time he swung the bat.

“It was that kind of year. He could hit a home run, it seemed, any time he wanted. He could steal a base whenever he wanted. People never ran on his arm, either.’’

Hart, who helped the Lancers (30-15) reach the championship round of the MASCAC and ECAC New England tournaments, is tied for 11th nationally in home runs. He reached base a remarkable 44 times when leading off an inning this season.

During the conference tournament, with the Lancers facing elimination, Hart hit a two-out homer in the top of the ninth inning to tie the game, and Worcester State added three more runs to pick up the win.

Hart said all the accolades he is receiving for his standout season are nice, but he’d rather have made a return trip to the NCAA Div. 3 tournament.

“You want to go out having a good year in your last year,’’ said Hart, an Oliver Ames High graduate. “At the same point, I’d trade everything I’ve done offensively to win the MASCAC tournament and go to the regionals again. All the guys on the team deserve it, so it’s tough.

“I think what I did this year will sink in a little bit down the road. Right now, I’m still caught up with the (title) game we lost, and I haven’t had too much time to look back on it. It’s all about winning games.

“I guess (being MASCAC player of the year) is something you think of, but I’m always focused heavily on winning. Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve been a terrible loser. I’d rather win the championship than get that.

“But it’s a very good honor with all the good kids in the league and all the good kids on our team.’’

Hart had 110 hits in two seasons at Massasoit, batting .409 and .450 to earn All-New England honors. He transferred to Mount Olive College, a Div. 2 school in North Carolina, but after one semester left and wound up at Worcester State College.

During the Lancers’ spring trip to Port Charlotte, Fla., last year, though, Hart broke his toe, and he is unsure if it happened while running the bases or sliding into a catcher.

“It was pretty much bad the whole season getting through it,’’ said Hart. “It was my back foot when I hit. It affected me at the plate because I couldn’t really stay back on balls.

“I had to hit more on my front foot. Defensively and running, obviously, the first couple of steps were real slow. It was more frustrating than anything because I like to play hard and not being able to really go hard after everything was really disappointing. But we had such a good year and it was a great group of kids, so it was all right.’’

Hart said the foot was back to normal by the summer, and he hit .500 for the Rockland Cardinals, earning the most valuable player award in the Cranberry League.

That got Hart ready for his final collegiate season, and he made the most of it, having a year that will go down as one of the best ever in the MASCAC.

“You always think it’s possible,’’ said Hart of the season he had. “You have to set high goals for yourself. Luckily, I had kids around me that played well through everything. They got me good pitches.

“The bottom of our lineup was on base. The kids behind me were hitting, so there was no real choice but to pitch to me, and it worked out. When you get zoned in, the ball just stands out.’’

Hart, who had 228 hits in 159 games at Massasoit and Worcester State, would like to give professional baseball a shot now that his college career is over.

“Hopefully,’’ he said. “That’s kind of everybody’s goal. All you really look for is an opportunity and then you try to work as hard as you can and go on from there.’’

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