Experience has been a great teacher at Merrimack College this spring.
After having their first season of Division 1 play -- which included wins over Michigan State (three), Oral Roberts (two) and Wofford -- cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Warriors were able to bring back a cast of six players to fulfill the additional year of eligibility that was granted by the NCAA and provide the dugout with a high-level veteran presence.
“It just creates a sense of calm among the rest of the team because those guys have been there and seen everything,” seventh-year head coach Nick Barese (Braintree, Mass.) said after his team finished off its first-ever Northeast Conference sweep against Wagner with two Sunday wins.
“Making the jump to D1, we didn't feel like the game itself would change all that much, but it was just going to be a bit more talent and better quality opponents. To have a group that has been through so many different scenarios has been huge for the rest of the guys.”
