Baseball looks to rebound from disappointing 2010 season, opens play Friday

North Adams, MA- The MCLA Baseball is looking to improve upon a difficult 2010 campaign as they prepare to open their season this Friday against SUNY-IT in Winter Haven, Fl.  The Trailblazers finished last season at 8-22, however they return eight position players that saw significant action last year.

MCLA, under the direction of 9^th year head coach Jeff Puleri, opens with a ten game Florida slate before returning north.  The Trailblazers return four players who hit over .300 last season and also their top two run producers.  Here's a look at MCLA position by position:

Catching- The Trailblazers lost three year starter Ken Recore to injury early on in 2010.  The injury provided valuable experience for both Vince Bordino and Evan Frank.  The duo, now in their junior seasons, will be counted on to be solid receivers in 2011.  Frank hit .296 in limited action, while Bordino earned 11 starts.   Competing for time will be newcomer Zach Theulen.  Theulen transferred from Dean Junior College and possesses a strong arm and bat from behind the plate.  Freshman Sean Coyle could see time in a designated hitter role or a spot start.

Infield- MCLA returns all four starters from a year ago in the infield.  The quartet is led by three year starters John Ripepi (SS) and Paul Procopio (3B).  Both of them have been mainstays in the lineup since their sophomore seasons and will be looked upon as leaders in many ways.  Ripepi batted .275 last season while stealing 11 bases, while Procopio hit .326 and drove in 17 runs.  Both will hit near the top of the lineup.  Returning as well will be fellow seniors Mike Meaney (2B) and Osiris Mendez (1B).  Meaney took hold of the second base job a year ago hitting at a .316 clip while Mendez batted .322 with 14 RBI's in his first year with the Trailblazers.  Senior Bobby Beauchesne will also see time at first base and the designated hitter.  The senior started 19 games a year ago and will be counted on to provide stability in the batting order.  Others vying for opportunities in the infield include Derek Lescarbeau and Cody Weaver.  Both are hard workers pressing for opportunities.

Outfield- Leading the way in the outfield is four year starter Joe Parillo.  Parillo led the team in batting average and RBI's a year ago.  His season was derailed by a wrist injury a year ago, but he still managed to bat .382 with three homers and 22 RBI in only 20 starts.  Rick Massey will take over center field duties after seeing limited action in his first two seasons.  The speedy left handed hitter will be counted on to wreak havoc on the bases.  The right field spot has many players competing for the job.  Included in the mix are Weaver, Joe Duncan, Jared Gersch, and Joe Vaverka.  All are relatively inexperienced but talented players.

On the Mound- On the hill, MCLA will look to Sean Hermance to provide innings from the top of the rotation.  Hermance started 7 games a year ago and will look to be the horse of the staff.  Danny Gaines will look to rebound from a tough 2010 and try to regain the form he had as a freshman.  Rounding out the rotation will be newcomer Mike Bullett, Massey, and Weaver.  The bullpen will be inexperienced but talented.  Newcomers Ross Miner and Joe Vaverka will see time, while two way players Beauchesne and Meaney will also pitch.  Nick Mancini will also compete for time out of the pen.

Schedule- MCLA opens it southern swing on Friday with a double header against SUNY-IT in Winter Haven.  That game kicks off the ten game Florida slate.  MCLA opens at home on Wednesday March 23^rd against WNEC while they will begin conference play on April 2^nd as they travel to MMA.  The regular season finale is set for April 30^th at Framingham.