Three Baseball Players Earn All-Conference Status

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

Source: (NECC)

CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Elms College baseball team wrapped up their 2015 campaign with three players earning recognition on the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) All-Conference teams, released by the league office on Monday. Senior Brady Forrest (Hampden, Mass.) and sophomore Jordan Zima (Berlin, Conn.) were selected to the First Team, while freshman Michael Bombard (Chicopee, Mass.) collected Second Team honors.

Forrest concludes his Elms career batting .317 from the dish in his final season. Brady clubbed 40 hits, including a team-high nine doubles, while scoring a team-high 30 runs with a team-high 11 stolen bases. Forrest started all 30 games in centerfield, posting a .983 fielding percentage with just one error on the season. Forrest receives his second NECC All-Conference award, pairing his First Team honor with a Second Team selection in 2014.

Zima had a breakout season as a sophomore en route to his first conference award. Jordan led the Blazers in batting average (.382), hits (52), runs batted in (24) and slugging percentage (.478) during the 2015 season. Jordan ranked second in the NECC in hits, and third in batting average. Zima set the single season record for putout, registering 292 putouts at first base this season.

Bombard wrapped his first season in green and gold with a designation on the NECC Second Team. A two-time NECC Rookie of the Week, Bombard was one of the top rookies in the conference, batting .341 in 31 games with 31 hits, including four doubles, a triple, and a home run, and 20 RBIs. Bombard came around to score 18 times, and stole six bases on the season. Michael contributed on the mound as well, posting a 1-2 record with 25 strikeouts in 25.1 innings of work.

Becker College designated hitter Niko Bedell earned Player of the Year honors, Mitchell College junior Al Jordan Johnson was selected Pitcher of the Year, and Lesley University hurler Tom Muratore was named Rookie of the Year in All-Conference balloting by the New England Collegiate Conference baseball coaches.

Bedell, a sophomore from Manorville, N.Y., was named Player of the Year after leading the NECC in hitting, batting .544 in 2015. Bedell also led all NECC players in Conference action in home runs (6), total bases (55), on base percentage (.629), and slugging percentage (.965). He walked 17 times in NECC play, good for second, and his 31 hits were also second in the NECC.

Johnson set the Mitchell College record for wins in a season with 10. His six wins in NECC action lead the Conference, as he sported a 1.27 earned run average in Conference play which was second in the league. The Groton, Conn., native struck out 28 and issued only 10 walks to NECC batters, while allowing only five earned runs in 35 1/3 innings.

Muratore led all NECC pitchers in Conference play with 49.2 innings pitched. The freshman from Mamaroneck, N.Y., also led the Conference with 41 strikeouts, five complete games, and two shutouts. His 1.63 NECC ERA was good for third in the Conference and he held opposing NECC players to a .219 batting average.

Mitchell College coach Travis Beausoleil was voted the recipient of his first NECC Coach of the Year award by her peers. Beausoleil led the Blazers to a 16-2 NECC record and the school's second consecutive NECC Championship Tournament title. Mitchell is 32-5 overall heading into the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.

Daniel Webster College was voted the Team Sportsmanship Award.

2015 NECC Baseball Awards

Player of the Year – Niko Bedell, Becker, So., DH, Manorville, N.Y.

Pitcher of the Year – Al Jordan Johnson, Mitchell, Jr., Groton, Conn.

Rookie of the Year – Tom Muratore, Lesley, Fr., P, Mamaroneck, N.Y.

Coach of the Year – Travis Beausoleil, Mitchell College

Team Sportsmanship Award – Daniel Webster College

2015 NECC  Baseball All-Conference First Team

• Catcher – Ryan Goodwin, Mitchell, Sr., Tunkhannock, Pa.
• 1^st Base – Jordan Zima, Elms, So., Berlin, Conn.
• 2^nd Base – Matt Consigli, Becker, Sr., Whitinsville, Mass.
• 3^rd Base – Rafael Garcia, Mitchell, Sr., New Britain, Conn.
• Shortstop – TJ Sempkowski, Becker, So., Oceanport, N.J.
• Outfield – Neftali Arroyo, Mitchell, Jr., New Haven, Conn.
• Outfield – Brady Forrest, Elms, Sr., Hampden, Mass.
• Outfield – Kenneth Olszewski, Mitchell, Sr., Canterbury, Conn.
• Designated Hitter - Niko Bedell, Becker, So., Manorville, N.Y.
• Pitcher – Al Jordan Johnson, Mitchell, Jr., Groton, Conn.
• Pitcher – Tyler Shamas, Mitchell, Jr., Westbrook, Conn. 

2015 NECC  Baseball All-Conference Second Team

• Catcher – Craig Barnett, Newbury, Jr., Narre Warren, Victoria, Australia.
• 1^st Base – Colby LaBadia, Southern Vermont, Sr., Howes Cavern, N.Y.
• 1^st Base – Dakota Williams, Daniel Webster, So., Hudson, N.H.
• 2^nd Base – Gustavo Polidor, Lesley, Jr., Caracas, Venezuela
• 3^rd Base – Kyle Brigham, Daniel Webster, Jr., Hudson, N.H.
• Shortstop – Billy Stephen, Newbury, Fr., Windermere, Fla.
• Outfield – Michael Bombard, Elms, Fr., Chicopee, Mass.
• Outfield – Steven Broy, Newbury, Sr., Gorham,. Maine
• Outfield – Robert Parson, Lesley, Sr., Comack, N.Y.
• Designated Hitter – Robert Parson, Lesley, Sr., Comack, N.Y.,
• Pitcher – Ethan Forrest, Newbury, So., East Bridgewater, Mass.
• Pitcher – Tom Muratore, Lesley, Fr., Mamaroneck, N.Y.
• Pitcher – Tyler Wagar, Becker, So., Uxbridge, Mass.

2015 NECC Baseball All-Conference Honorable Mention

• Francis Baldino, Becker, Fr, OF, East Brookfield, Mass.
• Dan Ierardi, Daniel Webster, 2B, Dunstable, Mass.
• Richard Rios, Southern Vermont, Jr., Pico Rivera, Calif.