July 23, 2011
WNEC relishes first CWS appearance
by Ed Flaherty/
While the Western New England College baseball team’s trip to the school’s first Division 3 College World Series officially started March 4 with the 2011 season opener, head coach Matt LaBranche traces the journey back even further.
Twelve years to be exact.
Since taking over at Western New England in 2000, LaBranche and the Golden Bears have been aiming for the College World Series and, ultimately, a national championship.
After rolling through the 2011 NCAA Division 3 New England Regional in Harwich, Mass., LaBranche and WNEC had met the first part of their goal.
“For us, it was really the culmination of 12 years of hard work,” said LaBranche, a Windham, N.H., native. “I think about all the players and assistants I’ve had over 12 years that helped us break through.”
Western New England’s stay in the College World Series was short-lived, as the Golden Bears dropped their first two games, against Keystone College (Pa.) and Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Still, WNEC’s first trip to Appleton, Wis., site of the Div. 3 College World
Series each year, was a memorable one.
“It was a great experience,” LaBranche said. “I knew what a great experience it would be for the kids. The city of Appleton does a great job of hosting and making the kids feel special.”
After six NCAA tournament appearances over the past six seasons, winning the New England Regional and advancing to the College World Series also will have an impact on the Western New England program, LaBranche said.
“It provided us an opportunity to expand our brand on a national level. It can only help our program,” he said. “Western New England College is establishing a real tradition.”
Western New England fielded a veteran team in 2011, led by its pitching staff, which posted a 3.32 team ERA.
“We were very experienced on the mound,” LaBranche said. “We had our entire pitching staff back. We had three seniors that were just sturdy and consistent and poised.”
The Golden Bears were led on the mound by senior Matt Rogers (Portsmouth, R.I.), who was 11-2 with a 3.24 ERA. Evan Michaud (Windsor Locks, Conn.) was 8-0 with a 2.48 ERA, while Zach Cloft (Glastonbury, Conn.) went 8-3 with a 4.01 ERA.
Offensively, WNEC was paced by Mike Rubino of Northford, Conn. (.412 average, 42 RBI), Kyle McKelvey of Schenectady, N.Y. (.359, 33 RBI), Tim Clark of Avon Old Farms, Conn. (.345, 13 RBI), Andrew Fatse of Hamden, Mass. (.342, 37 RBI) and Ryan Dudzinski of Bristol, Conn. (.339, 44 RBI).
“We had a very veteran team. They never doubted themselves,” LaBranche said. “We had different guys step up at different times.”
Despite the loss of seven seniors, LaBranche said the Golden Bears will look to build on the momentum of 2011’s College World Series run.
“We’ve been to six straight NCAA tournaments now. We’re going to be good year-in and year-out,” he said. “We don’t think about rebuilding, we focus on reloading.”
This article originally appeared in the July 2011 issue of New England Baseball Journal.
Ed Flaherty can be reached at feedback@baseballjournal.com
