Your 2009-2010 Wolverine Baseball Team

BA Championship Bid Comes Up Short

The BA Wolverine baseball team took its unblemished 12-0 record in the New England Club Baseball Association’s into the championship game against two-time defending title holder Northeastern University and came up on the short end of a 9-6 victory for the Huskies. BA struck for two runs in the first and held the lead until Northeastern scored five runs in the third. The Wolverines answered with one in the bottom half of the same inning to close the gap, 5-3. But the Huskies all but slammed the door as they responded with a mammoth three-run homer with two outs in the top of the next inning to jump out to an 8-3 lead. BA scored single runs in the fourth, fifth, and ninth innings, but wasn’t able to mount a sustained offensive attack as they left men in scoring position in three of the last four innings. Tad Gold (Vineyard Haven, MA) led all Wolverine hitters with two doubles and two singles. The Wolverines end the fall baseball season with an overall record of 16-2, and 12-1 and runner-up in their first season in the NECBA. “Despite the bittersweet ending, I can’t help but be pleased with our overall effort,” comments head coach Brad Smith. “Our fall schedule is a great addition to our overall program. It will only get better.”

Wolverines Ride Whittemore’s Arm to Championship Game

The BA Wolverine baseball team to one giant step in its quest to capture its first New England Club Baseball Association championship by downing the Terriers from Boston University by a convincing score of 6-0. Wolverine pitching ace Will Whittemore (Waltham, MA) was dominate on the mound, hurling a complete game two-hitter on his way to his fifth win of the season. The crafty southpaw retired the first nine BU batters he faced and did not allow a runner to reach second until a two-out double in the sixth. Whittemore was supported greatly by an excellent defensive effort, led by shortstop Nick Billingham (Edgartown, MA) who made several outstanding plays. Billingham and Tad Gold (Vineyard Haven, MA) each aided the offensive cause with a double and a single, while Tom MacInnes (Plymouth, MA) garnered two singles. BA struck first blood in the first with one run, then put the game away in just the second with four more. Coach Brad Smith was pleased with his team’s overall effort. “Will was very effective today mixing his pitches and keeping the ball down. Nick Billingham led a great defensive effort at short, and we were able to get timely hitting. All in all, a solid team effort.” The victory puts the Wolverines against Northeastern University, defending NECBA title winner over the past two seasons, in the championship game on Sunday.

Wolverines Capture Conference Title, #1 Tournament Seed

Not since the University of New Hampshire accomplished the feat in 2001 with a record of 6-0 has a team in the New England Club Baseball Association gone undefeated in the regular season. Now the 2009 Wolverines can stake their claim as they swept three games this weekend to end the season with an unblemished mark of 11-0. In the process, they won the Northern Division title and head into the NECBA championships seeded #1.

In Friday’s game, pitcher Gabe May (Portsmouth, NH) was supported by a fifteen hit attack as BA topped Merrimack College 8-4. In the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader, the Wolverines held a 2-1 lead into the seventh inning over Southern Division leader Fairfield University. But Fairfield struck with two runs in the top of the seventh to go up 3-2, but BA struck back with two runs in the home half to secure a thrilling 4-3 victory. Southpaw Will Whittemore (Waltham, MA) helped his own cause with a lead off double in the seventh and scored the tying run on a RBI single by Tad Gold (Vineyard Haven, MA). Gold immediately stole second and scored the wining run on Tom MacInnes’ (Plymouth, MA) single to right.

BA’s final game was a 5-2 win over Holy Cross College. MacInnes and reliever Dustin Brown (East Falmouth, MA) limited the Crusaders to two unearned runs. Down 2-0, Mike Bullett (Stamford, VT) tied the score in the third inning with a two run double to centerfield. BA added one in the fifth and two in the sixth inning on good base running and a well executed hit-and-run by Mike Murphy (Lancaster, MA).

Seeded #1, the Wolverines will take on the winner of the U/Maine-Boston University Saturday afternoon at 2:00. The championship game is slated for Sunday at 11:00 at Clancy Field in Lynn, MA.

Wolverines Tune Up For Big Weekend

A scrimmage may seem unusual in the closing days of the season, but it was just what the doctor ordered as the BA baseball team faces its biggest challenge of the season with four NECBA conference games this weekend. The results of those games will determine whether or not the Wolverines’ season will be extended to the playoffs the following week. “Today’s scrimmage with Frozen Ropes followed a format that we’ve done over the past three years,” commented Coach Smith. “We didn’t even exchange line-up cards. I was more concerned that all of our pitchers threw today after a layoff of almost two weeks.” Gabe May (Portsmouth, NH) and Sam Stauber (Cumberland, ME) each pitched two innings. Then hurlers Will Whittemore (Waltham, MA), Mike Bullett (Stamford, VT), Tom MacInnes (Plymouth, MA), and Dustin Brown (East Falmouth, MA) each threw one inning apiece. Smith added, “These guys need to be game ready at any point in any game this weekend. Different pitchers also allowed us to take a look at different defensive alignments as well, whether it was guys coming off the bench or starters moving to different positions.” The Wolverines open their quest for the Northern Division championship on Friday as they travel to Lynn, MA, to take on Merrimack College at 7:30.

Wolverines Face Formidable Task

With three games lost to Mother Nature this past weekend, the Wolverine baseball team now faces the daunting task of finishing the 2009 fall season by playing five games within a five-day span, beginning on Wednesday. The schedule is as follows:

21 Wednesday Frozen Ropes/Portland 3:30 HOME

23 Friday Merrimack College 7:30 Breed’s Middle School, Lynn, MA

24 Saturday University New Hampshire 12:00 AWAY (Niver Field)

25 Sunday Fairfield University 12:00 Breed’s Middle School, Lynn, MA

Holy Cross College 4:00 Breed’s Middle School, Lynn, MA

“It’s going to be tough,” says BA mentor Brad Smith, “but everyone is pretty much in the same boat. We just need to concentrate on one game at a time.” The NECBA playoffs, which begin on October 31, are still up in the air for the Wolverines, despite an unblemished 8-0 conference record. “We’re certainly in the driver’s seat, but we have no reason to be complacent, because anything can happen.” Smith hopes that the strength of his pitching staff will make a deciding difference. Hurlers Will Whittemore (Waltham, MA), Tom MacInnes (Plymouth, MA), Gabe May (Portsmouth, NH), Dustin Brown (East Falmouth, ME), and Sam Stauber (Cumberland, ME) are all expected to see action on the mound before the weekend’s over. “The guys are very excited for the challenges that lie ahead. No one would have predicted back when we got together in August that we’d be in this position we’re in right now.” The Wolverines play their final home game of the 2009 fall season this Wednesday at 3:30 (note change from 4:00) against Frozen Ropes/Portland.

Schedule Update

Saturday's Showcase games in Lynn, MA against Holy Cross and Fairfield University have been canceled. No make up date has been scheduled as of now. Sunday's game vs. UNH is still on.