Jan. 22, 2009
BEVERLY, Mass. - The Endicott College men's baseball team faces a daunting task this year as they have scheduled some of the top teams in the region this season. Endicott wrapped up its year last season with a 19-21 record after losing to Gordon College in the TCCC Semifinals. This year, the Gulls will face six teams that participated in the NCAA tournament last year and combined for a 190-54-1 record last season, good for a winning percentage of .776.
Endicott opens up in its first week of the season by facing off against the defending NCAA Division III National Champions, Trinity College, on March 15th in Winter Haven, Florida. The Bantams went 45-1 last season en route to their third NCAA Division III World Series since 2003. The Gulls will face off against the team that lost to Trinity in the NCAA Regional Championship, Southern Maine on April 7th. The Huskies went 36-14 last season and will host the Gulls in Gorham, Maine.
Amherst College will play the Gulls while they are in Florida and could prove to be another difficult opponent. The Lord Jeffs went 24-12-1 last season and lost to Trinity in the NESCAC finals. Endicott takes the field against Amherst three days after facing Trinity on March 18th at 12:30 p.m.
Endicott will also face two other difficult non-conference opponents when they host both Wheaton College and Worcester State College during the season. Wheaton has won the NEWMAC Championship nine straight times and been to the NCAA tournament eight straight times by going 34-10 last season. Worcester State went 18-4 and won their MASCAC Championship last season. The Lancers moved on to play in four NCAA tournament games before losing to Western New England College. The Gulls will host Wheaton on March 27th at 3:30 p.m. and Worcester State on March 31st at 3:30 p.m.
The Gulls will also face one of the top teams in the region that comes from The Commonwealth Coast Conference, Western New England. The Golden Bears won the TCCC Championship last season while going 33-13 and playing in four NCAA regional tournament games. The TCCC double-header will take place on April 5th starting at 12:00 p.m.
The Blue and Green travel to Winter Haven, Florida to begin their season on March 14th and will have a double header against Bowdoin College starting at 12:00 p.m.