The AMC baseball team entered the 2009 season with high expectations after capturing 12 wins in 2008, and barely missing the Conference playoffs by just one game. Although the team improved their TCCC record to 8-14 this year, they struggled down the stretch and once again fell short of the playoffs by just one game, finishing with an overall record of 12-27-1. On a positive note, the team’s total of eight one-run losses is evidence of how close they are to becoming one of the top teams in the Conference.
Although they missed the playoffs, the 2009 season was a very successful year for the program as they continued to grow and improve. Their eight Conference victories were the most for AMC since the 2001 season, and the second highest total in the program’s history. This year’s team set program records for runs scored (215), batting average (.299), hits (356), doubles (61), home runs (14), runs batted in (190), total bases (475), and earned run average (6.08) since the team stats were kept in 2004.
Freshman Jeff Scafidi (Worcester, Mass.) and sophomore Jim McNamara (Worcester, Mass.) both had record breaking seasons for the AMCATS this year. As AMC’s starting center fielder, Scafidi set single season program records for hits (54), runs batted in (38), and total bases (83), while also tying the record for doubles (13) and triples (5). He finished the season leading the club in batting average, hits, doubles, triples, total bases, slugging percentage, and runs batted in, while also tying for the team lead in runs scored and stolen bases. In addition, Scafidi was selected as the TCCC Rookie of the Week twice in his first season. Excelling both on the mound and at the plate, McNamara set the program’s career marks for wins and doubles during the year. This season, he led the pitching staff in wins (4), complete games (3), innings pitched (50.1), and strikeouts (37), while also finishing in the top five in almost every offensive category including batting average (.322), hits (47), doubles (7), runs batted in (25), and total bases (59).
Sophomore Jeff Kodys (Holden, Mass.) manned the catcher position for the AMCATS this year and was selected as a member of the All-TCCC Second Team. He completed the season batting .327 with 36 hits, seven doubles, three homers, 26 runs batted in, 20 runs scored, and 52 total bases; finishing among the top five on the club in each category. Junior Craig Doyle (Worcester, Mass.) and sophomore Nick Aromando (Oxford, Mass.) completed a solid core of catchers for the AMCATS this season.
Third baseman Alex Roycewicz (Oxford, Mass.) started 35 games at the hot corner for the AMCATS this season and was a major contributor with his bat. “Royce” batted .341 on the year with seven doubles, 21 runs batted in, and a team leading .386 on base percentage. During one outstanding stretch, Alex collected a hit in eight consecutive at bats spanning over four games.
Up the middle, AMC went with a combination of Andy Fallon (Worcester, Mass.), Brendon Tivnan (Worcester, Mass.), Dave Beauregard (Leicester, Mass.), and Judson Evarts (North Ferrisburgh, Vt.). With Michael Galvin (Rutland, Mass.) recovering from foot surgery, Fallon did a fine job taking over as the starting shortstop. Leading off for the AMCATS, Fallon batted .299 while tying for the team lead with seven stolen bases. Tivnan and Beauregard made 24 and 16 starts, respectively, between second and third. Evarts came on strong at the end of the year, starting seven games at second while making important contributions such as a walk-off single in extra-innings versus Wentworth.
Left fielder JK Vaughn (Simsbury, Conn.) and right fielder Matt Touhey (Mendon, Mass.) joined Scafidi as the team’s starting outfield. Vaughn had a terrific junior season, finishing second on the team with eight doubles and a .352 batting average, while also ranking among the top three on the club in hits (45), runs (24), and on base percentage (.382). Touhey made 22 starts for the AMCATS and tied for second on the team by drawing 12 walks in just 80 plate appearances.
Battling an elbow injury the entire season, Jeff Lander (Gloucester, Mass.) was relegated to starting as the team’s designated hitter. Lander led the club with four home runs in 93 at bats, finishing with a .280 batting average and a .362 on base percentage.
Led by McNamara, the AMCATS five-man starting rotation also included Brian Richard (Auburn, Mass.), Zach Rafferty (Worcester, Mass.), Brendon Tivnan, and Jeff Scafidi. Richard went 1-3 in seven starts despite a solid 4.50 earned run average, while Sacfidi and Rafferty each finished 1-4 over six starts. Tivnan compiled a 1-2 record in six starts, striking out an impressive 28 batters in 31.2 innings of work.
The AMC bullpen was comprised of Matt Fournier (Worcester, Mass.), Tim Henderson (Wayland, Mass.), Pete Labelle (Gardner, Mass.), Derek Malkowski (Corbeil, Ont.), Michael Allard (Monson, Mass.), and Kyle Green (Worcester, Mass.). Perhaps the staff’s most versatile pitcher, Fournier made 10 appearances out of the pen as well as four starts. He compiled a 3-2 record and led the team with a 3.50 ERA, two saves, and a .215 batting average against. Henderson led the team with 15 appearances in his freshman year, earning a win and a save while striking out 26 batters in 29.1 innings.
After dramatic improvements over the last two seasons, the AMCATS will enter the 2010 season looking to make a return to postseason play. AMC will welcome back nine seniors and 10 juniors next year while losing just one graduate. The club now appears poised to take the next step and make a run at one of the top spots in the Conference in 2010.