It’s springtime, which to many sports fans means only one thing: the return of America’s favorite pastime! Bentley’s baseball and softball teams are gearing up and preparing to return to conference play for the first time since 2019, as the 2020 spring season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This season, 67% of the games scheduled for both baseball and softball (who travel together) are conference bouts, a major difference from the usually non-conference-heavy early schedules. The season will also be significantly shorter than normal, with the traditional first week of February start being pushed back until late March, and will consist of many doubleheaders. This is mainly the result of a condensed schedule due to COVID-19 fears along with a lack of travel to Florida, a trip Bentley normally takes in preparation of the season.
2019 saw the baseball team finish .500 (21-21) and end in a heartbreaking first round loss to Merrimack in the Northeast-10 Championships by a score of 6-5. The season was a story of highs and lows, a roller coaster ride for a team that started 0-10 before a late 12-2 run heading into the postseason. Over the past few years, we have seen a resurgence in performance, finishing near .500 the past two seasons. The Falcons suffered a tough dip from 2015-2017, going a combined 36-78. In the Northeast-10 Preseason Coaches Poll, Bentley slotted 3rd in their division and 7th overall. Incoming freshmen for this season include 3B Cory Bright, OF Joe Cacciatore, and P Bobby DiCapua. Also, be on the lookout for competitive practices from C Ryan Kolakowski, Jackson Odams, Matt Olazay and Sean McGivern, all freshmen vowing for that future starting job. Bob DeFelice will return for his 53rd (!) season, continuing his reign as the longest tenured active college baseball coach in the country.
On the women’s side, softball returns after the near two-year layoff in hopes of improving from their previous 18-24 record, their best season in recent memory. The NE-10 Preseason Coaches Poll placed the Bentley women 4th in the division, good for 7th overall, similar to the baseball team. Incoming freshmen include OF Gabrielle Longo and Kylee Amato, IF Samantha Hess, Morgan Fraitzl, Sarah Beckett, Jacqueline Cupoli, and Lauren Massry, and P Payton Doiron. HC Terry M. McDonough will return to the dugout for her 6th season.
March 20-21 denotes Opening Day weekend for Bentley baseball and softball as they each kick off a four-game series, composed of two doubleheaders, against Stonehill College. Location is still to be announced.
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