Wentworth Institute of Technology: Athletics > Varsity Sports

After eight seasons of not cracking the 10-win plateau and only qualifying for the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament four times during that span, the 2007 edition of the Wentworth baseball team took a giant step in the rebuilding process by finishing with a 13-18 overall record and a 9-9 record in conference play.

The season began with the Leopards’ annual trip to Port Charlotte, Fla., where they went 3-5 in eight games. The three wins were the most on a Southern Trip since 1998, and three of the five losses were by a combined five runs, while another was a 13-inning loss to Fitchburg State.

A late-winter No’Easter put Wentworth’s northern debut on hold for 11 days, and when the Leopards finally took the field again, they dropped a frustrating, 3-2 decision to Clark. In that game the Leopards left an astonishing 13 men on base and could not capitalize on six Clark errors.

Over the course of the next seven games, Wentworth was 2-5—all in conference games—and was outscored 25-13. The Leopards failed to score more than three runs in any of those contests, including being shutout twice in a doubleheader against Colby-Sawyer.

A 3-2 win over Nichols and a 2-1, eight-inning win over New England College sparked a stretch of three wins in four games and gave the Leopards an 8-13 overall record and were still alive for the post-season with a 5-7 record. Wentworth would sweep Anna Maria to eclipse the 10-win mark for the first time since 1998, but was swept by Curry the following day to stand at 10-16 (7-9) with four games remaining.

With a doubleheader sweep of Endicott, Wentworth assured itself of a berth in the CCC Tournament and now had 12 wins on the season. The Leopards would not have a chance to improve on their regular-season standing, as the final two conference games were not played due to scheduling back-ups.

Seeded eighth Wentworth had the unenviable task of facing Curry in the opening round and the Colonel offense came to life, jumping out to a 9-0 lead after five innings. The Leopards tried to claw back, but having made six errors in the contest, they ran out of time and lost, 11-7.

In the first elimination game Wentworth would play in, the Leopards chased the Crusaders’ starter after two-thirds of an inning and three runs given up. However, in the home half of the first, Eastern Nazarene scored once and then used a six-run second to take a 7-3 lead. Wentworth rallied with six of its own in the fifth inning to take a 9-7 lead before the hosts tied the game at 9-all after six. The Leopards pushed across the go-ahead run in the seventh and added a pair of insurance runs in the ninth for a 12-9 win—the program’s first playoff win since 1999.

Riding the momentum of the win against Eastern Nazarene, Wentworth traveled to Roger Williams to try and extend its season and face Curry in the finals of the bracket. The Hawks drew first blood, scoring in the second inning before Wentworth tied the game in the fifth, thanks in part to a Roger Williams miscue. However, the hosts would go ahead, 2-1 in the last of the inning by scoring an unearned run and mounted a threat to break the game open in the seventh, but would leave the bases loaded.

Down to their final at bat, the Leopards used a leadoff single by sophomore Mike Roberts (Chelmsford, Mass.) and stolen base to get a runner in scoring position with no outs. A sacrifice bunt moved Roberts up 90 feet and he was driven in on a squeeze bunt by junior Bryan Kuefner (Islip, N.Y.) to tie the game. With two outs Wentworth had a pair of runners in scoring position, but could not get the go-ahead run home.

Looking to win the game in their last at bat, the Hawks went quietly, and Wentworth would be playing its fifth extra-inning affair of the season. A leadoff walk led to a stolen base an advance to third on a wild pitch. However, Roger Williams got the next two batters out, leaving the go-ahead run at third. The Hawks led off the last of the 10th with a bunt that, while fielded cleanly, was thrown away, putting the winning run in scoring position. Looking to get the winning run 90 feet closer, Roger Williams employed the same play, and another throwing error led to the winning run crossing the plate and Wentworth’s season ending at 13-18.

Offensively, freshman catcher Pete Oggeri (Sandy Hook, Conn.) batted .283 (28-for-99) with six doubles, one triple, 24 runs scored, and eight runs batted in. He stole 19 bases in 20 attempts and tied a school record being hit by a pitch 14 times.

Sophomore Nick Cunningham (Pembroke, Mass.) batted .280 (28-for-100) with three doubles, two home runs, nine runs scored, and 19 runs batted in.

Sophomore Phil Costello (Medford, Mass.), a transfer from Nichols, batted .263 (25-for-95) with six doubles, one home run, 18 runs scored, and 11 RBI.

On the mound, sophomore Aaron LaPlante (Charlestown, N.H.) posted a 6-1 record with a 2.23 earned run average. In 48.1 innings, he allowed 47 hits, walked 13, and struck out 33.

Freshman Chris Sandini (Upton, Mass.) started eight of his 10 appearances, posting 3-4 record with a 2.56 earned run average. In 52.2 innings, he walked 20 and struck out 59, while opponents hit just .217 against him.

Freshman Scott Borges (Westport, Mass.) posted a 1-5 record with a 2.66 earned run average and tied a school record with two saves. He struck out 38 batters in 47.1 innings of work. Borges got a three-inning save in the playoff win against Eastern Nazarene and, two days later, went 7.2 innings against Roger Williams.

Sophomore Matt Chymbor (Meriden, Conn.) made 12 relief appearances, posting a 2-1 record and tying the school record for saves in a season with 2. In 22.2 innings of work, he struck out 19 batters and had a 0.79 ERA.

Postseason honors were bestowed upon Sandini and freshman second baseman Anthony Carbone. Additionally, Sandini, Chymbor, and Oggeri earned an invitation to tryout for the prestigious Cape Cod League. Sandini would get a chance to pitch an inning in a pre-season game.

As a team Wentworth set a pair of school records on the pitching side—compiling a 3.00 earned run average (knocking 4.86 runs off the 2006 ERA) and averaging 7.62 strikeouts per nine innings. Both of these were ranked among Division III leaders at 12th and 20th, respectively. Individually, Sandini was ranked 24th in strikeouts per game (10.08), LaPlante was ranked 57th in earned run average (2.23), and Oggeri was ranked 15th in hit by pitch per game (0.45).

“I truly believe that this was the season that will be remembered for turning the program around,” said head coach Steve Studley. “With such a young team making the post season was the goal. Not only did we accomplish that but we exceeded it by winning a round and taking our third round opponent to extra innings.”

“Having three players invited to tryout for the Cape Cod League was a great honor and sign of recognition for the program,” added Studley. “It was made even better when the Harwich Mariners selected Chris Sandini to represent them and pitch against the U.S Military All Star Team.”

Looking Ahead

Graduation hits the Leopards by way of the loss of three seniors. With many talented underclassmen on the squad and another solid recruiting class, the Leopards should rise within the standings of the CCC and hopefully be in the hunt for its first CCC baseball title since 1996.

Schedule

The baseball team plays a 40-game spring schedule, which includes an eight-game trip to Florida during Spring Break. Included in CCC play are games against Curry, Colby-Sawyer, Endicott, Salve Regina and Roger Williams. The non-league schedule is highlighted with games against Mass. Maritime, Babson, and MIT. In addition, a non-traditional segment is played during the fall.

History

Since 1985 the baseball team has won three CCC championships (1989, 1990, 1996) and reached the semifinals of the ECAC Tournament in 1995.

Meet the Coaching Staff

Steve Studley (Castleton State '94) is entering his fourth season as the Leopards' baseball coach. Prior to being named Wentworth's head coach, he had served for four seasons as an assistant coach at Stonehill College. He is assisted by Billy Sittig (Stonehill '06), Matt Moyen '06, and Brian Nelson (Stonehill '06).