Baseball set for 40 game slate starting next weekend
North Adams, MA- After weeks of practicing indoors, the MCLA Baseball program will start their season for the first time in the month of February as they open up the 2020 season next weekend with a four game set in Long Island, NY against SUNY Cobleskill. The Trailblazers will play a full 40 game schedule this spring. The Trailblazers are seeking a return to the postseason after missing the playoffs last year. MCLA was voted 8th in the MASCAC preseason poll. Westfield State was selected as the preseason favorite.
MCLA, led by fifth year head coach Mike Gladu, will start their season earlier than ever. The Trailblazers head to Baseball Heaven on Long Island to take on the Fighting Tigers in the first four games of the season. MCLA then returns the following weekend to battle Mount Saint Vincent. From there, the Trailblazer nine are off to the RussMatt Invitational in Florida for a nine game trip before returning north.
Gladu's roster will take on RPI in a non league tilt on March 24th before beginning conference play with a three game set against Fitchburg State. The home opener is set for Saturday, March 28th against the Falcons in a twinbill.
That stretch begins twelve straight MASCAC games for MCLA. After their set with Fitchburg, MCLA heads to Westfield State and then Bridgewater State for single games before they embark on a five game homestand. The Bears kick off the home stand and are followed by the Owls. MCLA wraps up the home stand with a matchup against Worcester State on April 9th.
From there, MCLA plays 10 of their next 12 games away from North Adams. MCLA wraps up the series with the Lancers on the road to kick off the trip before heading to Union (NY) for a non league game. A home tilt with Salem State interupts the road trip, but the following day MCLA heads to the North shore to battle the Vikings. Another non league contest with Anna Maria looms next before MCLA hosts MMA on April 24th. The Trailblazers conclude the series with the Bucs on the following day in Buzzards Bay. MCLA hooks up with Williams College and Framingham State to close out the road schedule. The regular season finale is set for May 2nd against the Rams.
MCLA went just 10-28 a year ago which included a 4-17 mark in the conference. The Trailblazers do return a host of veterans on the offensive side, but will need to replace a pair of key starters in the rotation. Leading the charge for MCLA on offense will be a trio of seniors in outfielder Christian Seariac, first baseman Jake Ferrara, and the versatile Logan Rumbolt. The trio combined for 99 hits last season. Seariac led the team with 19 RBI and Ferrara added 18. Rumbolt belted a team best 8 doubles. Also back in 2020 after a solid rookie season is outfielder Austin Rachiele. The speedster started 38 games and swiped 14 bases last season. He also led the team in runs scored as a first year contributor.
While the offense should be in good hands, the pitching staff should undergo some significant changes. Lost to graduation were MCLA's top two starters in Bobby New and Brendan Kelly. The Trailblazers will have to replace over 125 innings that the duo tossed last season. The top returning starter for MCLA will be sophomore Mike Urbanski. Last season he started 8 games for the Trailblazers and threw 45+ innings. Veterans Shawn James, Ryan Ruef, Kevin Speach, Jimmy Miller, Dillon Maxon, and Brett Norman will compete for time in the rotation and out of the bullpen. A host of newcomers will also compete for starting spots in the Trailblazer lineup.