D1 report: Hartford looking to get back to 2018 form in 2020

Hartford junior left-hander Nick Dombkowski figures to serve as the Westfield ace. (Courtesy photo)

Editor’s note: This is the 15th in an offseason series profiling the region’s Division 1 baseball programs.

There is a lot to like about Hartford entering the 2020 season.

Ninth-year head coach Justin Blood (Keene, N.H.) returns the America East’s top third baseman from a season ago in senior Zachary Ardito (Ansonia, Conn.), a pair of reigning All-Rookie honorees and a 1-2 starting punch that powered the Hawks to a conference championship just two years ago.

Starting a season with confidence in a group of veterans is a good thing, but Blood, too, saw progress in his team during the all-important fall schedule.

“Every year is a little different because there are different personalities,” Blood said. “You never really know exactly how the chemistry is going to shake out, but this group seems to be coming together well and also mentioned that they feel like there have been significant gains made in the weight room.”