It’s June of 2022, and the Austin Prep baseball team is celebrating its third Massachusetts state championship in six seasons, this time at LeLacheur Park in Lowell. The Reading-based Catholic school is the envy of coaches and players all over the state.
Postseason success has been a staple for Austin Prep in recent years. In addition to its Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) D3 championships in 2017, ‘18 and ‘22, AP won Catholic Central League championships in ‘17, ’18, and ’19. On the horizon is Austin Prep’s move from the MIAA to the New England Prep Schools Athletic Conference (NEPSAC), which is suddenly booming with talent due to a recent wave of transfers during the pandemic.
Fast-forward two years, and Austin Prep is still adjusting to its new lot in life. The squad laden with college prospects continued its winning ways on the field last spring, posting an 18-4 record in its first NEPSAC season. However, there was no postseason tournament for AP, as the school has yet to gain acceptance into a NEPSAC league – with its one application to a Central Mass., conference getting rejected. In addition, the offseason development opportunities haven’t been as plentiful for AP coaches as they expected; the school is sticking to the MIAA model of requiring volunteers to administer offseason workouts.
So, was it worth it?
