Baseball Picked Fourth in NECC Preseason Poll

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Elms College baseball team was voted fourth in the 2015 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll, released by the league office Tuesday evening. Mitchell College claimed the top spot, receiving 47 of a possible 49 points, including five of seven first-place votes.

The Blazers are returning 24 players, including six starters, from the 2014 squad who finished fourth in the conference with an 8-10 mark, along with a 13-20 overall record. First Team All-NECC selection Tom Weldon (Springfield, Mass.) will anchor the Elms rotation, while Second Team selections senior Brady Forrest (Hampden, Mass.), junior Nolan Medeiros (Taunton, Mass.), and sophomore Tim Gelzinis (North Dighton, Mass.) will return to the Blazers lineup.

Mitchell is the defending NECC Champion having finished 12-6 in Conference play a year ago. The Mariners were 24-14-1 overall and defeated Becker College 27-11 in the NECC Championship game.

Becker was picked as the second place finisher with 37 points. The Hawks had a 12-6 record in the NECC, finishing 20-18 overall. Becker was picked first on one ballot, second on four ballots, third on another, fourth on one ballot and also had a sixth place selection.

Southern Vermont College edged Elms College for the third spot by a single point. The Mountaineers earned 28 points on a first place ballot, three thirds, and one each for fifth, sixth, and seventh. Elms was selected twice each for third and fourth places, with three fifth place picks.

The 2015 NECC Baseball Coaches' Preseason Poll:

1. Mitchell College (47 points, 5 first place votes)
2. Becker College (37 points, 1 first place vote)
3. Southern Vermont College (28 points, 1 first place vote)
4. Elms College (27 points)
5. Newbury College (22 points)
6. Lesley University (19 points)
7. Daniel Webster College (15 points)