AMCATS crowned 2011 ECAC DIII New England Baseball Co-Champions

PAXTON, Mass. (05.15.11) – For the first time in program history, the Anna Maria College baseball team was crowned Co-Champions of the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III New England Baseball Championship on Sunday morning. Inclement weather and field conditions washed out what was sure to be a thrilling finals matchup between the AMCATS and the Gulls of Endicott College, forcing officials to crown both clubs as Co-Champions.

This achievement was just the cherry on top of what was a historically successful season for Anna Maria. The team finished the year with a program record 26 wins, impressively surpassing last season's mark by five victories. The club compiled a 13-9 record in a highly competitive The Commonwealth Coast Conference, earning a postseason berth for the second consecutive year, and eliminated seventh seed Curry College and second seed Roger Williams before finally bowing out in the semifinals. However, the AMCATS weren't done, earning their second consecutive ECAC Championship berth as the #7 seed. Anna Maria made the most of their opportunity defeating #2 seed Brandeis by a score of 8-5 before knocking off #6 seed Coast Guard 2-1 to earn a share of the Championship.

It was also a season of individual accomplishments for Anna Maria. Senior Jeffrey Lander (Gloucester, Mass.) became the program's all-time leader in home runs and was selected as the 2011 TCCC Scholar Athlete of the Year. Senior Andy Fallon (Worcester, Mass.) became the program's all-time leader in stolen bases, earning All-TCCC Honorable Mention. Senior Jim McNamara (Worcester, Mass.), who was already the program's all-time leader in wins, captured his 20th career victory, while sophomore Justin Hyland (Spencer, Mass.) set the AMC single season record for ERA (2.73). McNamara also joined junior Jeff Scafidi (Worcester, Mass.) in driving in the 100th run of their careers. Senior Mike Galvin (Rutland, Mass.), sophomore Mike Guarnieri (Wallingford, Mass.), and senior Jeff Kodys (Holden, Mass.) each collected their 100th career hit. Senior pitcher Zach Rafferty (Worcester, Mass.) broke the school's single season mark for strikeouts (75), while also setting the program's all-time records for strikeouts (153) and batting average-against (.209).

This was unarguably the most successful season in the history of the program, and also the AMCATS last as members of the TCCC. For Coach McNamara and the seniors it marks an amazing four-year turnaround, taking a team that was a combined 1-50 the previous two seasons and turning it into a champion. The AMCATS will look to continue their outstanding growth and success moving forward as they enter their first season as members of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) in 2011.

Photo Courtesy of David Sheridan for AMC Sports Information