Baseball Claims 6th in MASCAC Preseason Poll

Westfield, Mass.— Reigning MASCAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions Bridgewater State are  tabbed by the coaches from around the league to win their fourth straight championship during the 2025 season. 

The Bears took home five first place votes for 45 points in this year’s poll. They ended the season tied at 14-7  in MASCAC play to earn a share of the regular season championship and the tournament crown. 2024 All Conference honoree Scot Emerson returns after starting all 40 games while hitting .360 with 58 hits in 161 at bats, 16 extra-base hits from the leadoff spot with eight doubles, five triples and three homers while driving in 29  runs.  

Earning two first place votes for 43 points in second place is Westfield State. The Owls were 13-8 during last  season’s MASCAC action. Sam Palmer earned a spot on the MASCAC first team, piling up a .333 batting average  with seven home runs and 34 RBI. He was second in the league with five doubles, 45 runs scored and 25 stolen  bases on the year. 

Tying for third is Massachusetts Maritime and Salem State with 33 points. The Buccaneers had a 10-11 record  in league play in 2024 while the Vikings were 14-7 for a share of the regular season title and top seed in the  tournament. For Mass. Maritime, Brett Velzis batted .365 with five home runs, a team-high 36 RBI, nine doubles,  two triples and 23 walks helping him to a .513 on-base percentage to grab a spot on the All-Conference squad.  For Salem State, Cam Fisher earned MASCAC Rookie of the Year honors after the freshman pitcher collected  a 6-1 mark which included two complete games and a shutout. He finished the season with a 2.16 ERA, 29  strikeouts (5.22 per game), 1.18 WHIP and .262 batting average against. 

Sitting in fifth is Framingham State with 27 points. The Rams were also regular season champs with the Bears  and Vikings at 14-7. After earning All-Conference last season, Dane Frellick returns after hitting .400 on the year  with 36 hits, 21 RBI, five doubles, 22 runs scored and a .511 slugging percentage. 

Landing is sixth is Worcester State with 20 points. The Lancers had nine wins last season in MASCAC  competition. Ben Smith earned an All-Conference spot as a pitcher after finishing the 2024 season with a 2.75  ERA, four wins, five complete games, including one shutout.  

Closing out the 2024 preseason poll is Fitchburg State and MCLA in seventh and eighth, respectively. The  Falcons had 16 points while the Trailblazers received seven. Back in 2025 for Fitchburg State is Jacob Hurrell  who batted .329 with a career high 48 hits, nine doubles, three triples, and ten home runs. He also brought in a  team-high 41 runs and scored 40 times himself. For MCLA, Nate Morse returns to the mound for the team this  season. Last year, he pitched 29.1 innings with 20 strikeouts and a win. 

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 28-29. 

2025 MASCAC Baseball
Preseason Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

1. Bridgewater State (5) 45 points
2. Westfield State (2) 43 points
3. Mass. Maritime 33 points
Salem State (1) 33 points
5. Framingham State 27 points
6. Worcester State 20 points
7. Fitchburg State 16 points
8. MCLA 7 points